Microsoft Action Pack update+questions

['BARtMAN']

this is about that one deal at this thread... I was gonna post it in there but it got archived

I just got a bunch of betas (2003 software, office, outlook, server stuff), Server 2003 Enterprise, some keys, and product information...

One thing that got me, is in the EULA addendum, stating they are upping all the licenses/client access licenses to 10... What caught my eye here is the top title for the section that talks about this that says "This section does not apply to Microsoft Action Pack Basic Subscribers." I guess this means it's only for Plus subscribers, but why did they send me more licenses?!? I checked the other licenses I originally got, they are all different... They sent me new licenses for everything but win XP and mappoint 2002... So like, did the old ones expire or did they mess up?? Did anyone else get new licenses?

 

['BARtMAN']

*bump*

anyone get this yet in the mail? or am I the only one?

 

[LeeTJ]

call them. they are good about answering those types of questions.

 

[Staples]

Well here is the standard package.

http://members.microsoft.com/partner/salesmarketing/partnermarket/actionpack/actionpack_standard.aspx

It says licences for many of the products is 10. Does that mean you can use Windows XP and Office on 10 computers? That is a hellava deal then. Can someone varify that is what it means because if so, I'm signing up today. If you jumped on the $50 Windows XP a year ago, then you are qualified for the deal.

 

[LeeTJ]

yes, you can use it on 10 machines. but be aware. the subscription and the licenses are for 1 year. at the end of the year in order to keep the numbers valid you have to sign up again.

for me, i need to keep each copy of MS as they come out so it's a bargain.

 

[OatMan]

I just got mine yesterday and have many of the same questions. I can answer the "basic" one tho. The Basic package was the cheapest option that did not include the software, just the marketing crap, which I assume no one bothered with. So in that case none of this applies 'cause you wouldn't have had the licenses in the first place.

I specifically have questions about:

1) Beta 2 Kit 2003 - Comes with S2K3 Enterprise RC2. Is this the release version? Has it officially been released??? If I have a release version will this license work?

2) Win XP Pro - it says (as you point out) that the XP licenses have been expanded to 10 (from 5) but there were no additional Key#s. Does this mean that each previouse Key can be activated twice? Its a one year license from time of activiation?

3) Win XP Pro 1 year License: What happens after one year? It says I'm supposed to destroy the CD reformat my drives, but if I don't will I still get updates via windows update?

4) I'm trying to test the 2003 AD replication and transit performance so I want to emulate 2 forests. Basically I have a couple cheap boxes in my appartment and I'm practicing for MCSE tests and such, is there some way I can do this??? It would appear not with only the one server license. Or can I accomplish it with the one 2000 AS license, plus the 2003 beta license and I guess the Small biz server license??? (assuming small buz can be something other than a stand alone server which I doubt)

Anyway That's a lot of dumb questions so big TIA!!!
OM

 

[Staples]

I don't know anything about the licenses in this package but I do know that RC stands for release candidate. They are usually their final betas which include all the features the final release will include.

I don't know about your XP key, it may be a corporate key where they will trust that you are only using it a max of ten times and then the copies of Windows do not require you to activate them. You will have to install one of them and see if that is the case.

This deal sounded pretty hot except for the fact that it is only a one year license. There are a few computers in this house running older versions of Windows because I can't justify paying $500+ for multiple copies of XP. I sure hope they have a deal like this when Longhorn comes out in 2005. Longhorn sounds like it will be so much different than XP in terms of its changes from its predecessor, both in programming and a user perspective.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: OatMan
I just got mine yesterday and have many of the same questions. I can answer the "basic" one tho. The Basic package was the cheapest option that did not include the software, just the marketing crap, which I assume no one bothered with. So in that case none of this applies 'cause you wouldn't have had the licenses in the first place.

I specifically have questions about:

1) Beta 2 Kit 2003 - Comes with S2K3 Enterprise RC2. Is this the release version? Has it officially been released??? If I have a release version will this license work?

2) Win XP Pro - it says (as you point out) that the XP licenses have been expanded to 10 (from 5) but there were no additional Key#s. Does this mean that each previouse Key can be activated twice? Its a one year license from time of activiation?

3) Win XP Pro 1 year License: What happens after one year? It says I'm supposed to destroy the CD reformat my drives, but if I don't will I still get updates via windows update?

4) I'm trying to test the 2003 AD replication and transit performance so I want to emulate 2 forests. Basically I have a couple cheap boxes in my appartment and I'm practicing for MCSE tests and such, is there some way I can do this??? It would appear not with only the one server license. Or can I accomplish it with the one 2000 AS license, plus the 2003 beta license and I guess the Small biz server license??? (assuming small buz can be something other than a stand alone server which I doubt)

Anyway That's a lot of dumb questions so big TIA!!!
OM

1. they will send you the final version. not the rc. i just got mine last week.
2. yes, 2 activations per number.
3. at the end of 1 year, u renew or the activation will be cancelled.
4. small biz can work as stand alone win 2k server, just don't install the other stuff. but the other stuff is actually pertty good for mcse practice stuff on small bus. it has ISA, web server, everything built it.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Staples
I don't know anything about the licenses in this package but I do know that RC stands for release candidate. They are usually their final betas which include all the features the final release will include.

I don't know about your XP key, it may be a corporate key where they will trust that you are only using it a max of ten times and then the copies of Windows do not require you to activate them. You will have to install one of them and see if that is the case.

This deal sounded pretty hot except for the fact that it is only a one year license. There are a few computers in this house running older versions of Windows because I can't justify paying $500+ for multiple copies of XP. I sure hope they have a deal like this when Longhorn comes out in 2005. Longhorn sounds like it will be so much different than XP in terms of its changes from its predecessor, both in programming and a user perspective.

staples

you can buy this now and if longhorn comes out before the year is over they will just send you longhorn too.

if not, you renew and it will come out the following year.

if you are going to use Office etc, this package is worth it.