Lost Server user CALs, any recourse?

[Mushkins]

In a case of "too many hands in the pie" over the years, I was going through server documentation for a company we just recently acquired since they're about to hit the magical 6th user, and I found a *receipt* for 5 additional user CALs for Server 2008, but not the actual CAL paperwork.

Is there any recourse to recover lost CAL paperwork, or is it strictly a "you're hosed, buy more" situation since MS moved to the honor system with user CALs?

 

[dawks]

If you've ever purchased enterprise software from MSFT you should have gotten information to setup an account on Microsofts system (www.microsoft.com/licensing). If you knew your account info you'd be able to log in and retrieve what you need.

But yea, if you don't have all the info, and you're only talking about 5-6 licenses, buy more. Its probably not worth the hassle otherwise.

 

[Mushkins]

If you've ever purchased enterprise software from MSFT you should have gotten information to setup an account on Microsofts system (www.microsoft.com/licensing). If you knew your account info you'd be able to log in and retrieve what you need.

But yea, if you don't have all the info, and you're only talking about 5-6 licenses, buy more. Its probably not worth the hassle otherwise.

Unfortunately small businesses don't have all those fancy enterprise purchasing perks. They were bought retail through whatever small time computer shop they bought the server from, definitely no microsoft accounts tied to any of it.

 

[seepy83]

Unfortunately small businesses don't have all those fancy enterprise purchasing perks. They were bought retail through whatever small time computer shop they bought the server from, definitely no microsoft accounts tied to any of it.

If you can track down what reseller the licenses were purchased from, then they may be able to help. I work with a Microsoft Partner/VAR fairly frequently, and they have been able to provide me with licensing information for what my organization has purchased through both them and other resellers dating back to before I started working here.

Also, if the CALs were bundled with the server that was purchased, then the hardware manufacturer (HP or Dell or whoever) may have records.