The Church And Windows Licenses

My bishop told me that the church purchased a corporate Microsoft license for Windows XP Pro, and that we can install it on any of our ward PCs. I cannot find anything to verify that.

What is the policy on Windows XP Pro licenses?

ubuntuFan wrote:My bishop told me that the church purchased a corporate Microsoft license for Windows XP Pro, and that we can install it on any of our ward PCs. I cannot find anything to verify that.

What is the policy on Windows XP Pro licenses?

By ward PCs I assume you are referring to Church provided administrative computers. There is no need to get a license for these computers since the operating system is provided with them either through the Destop 5.5 image disks or it is included with the computer on discs when the computer is delivered. There is no need to be concerned about the licenses for these computers. However, if you are referring to computers in which the stake or ward purchases a computer, then the responsibility of purchasing the operating system, or license, is the responsibility of the unit.

For the administrative (clerk's office) computer, they are supplied by the church (donations are NOT accepted). All of the ones I've seen have a XP license sticker right on the side from when they were purchased.

For computers belonging to an official FHC, you're to contact the Family History department. Since all of our computers have stickers, I'm not sure what happens. I know in the past that the FHD would allow you to load Windows 2000, but you had to tell them on how many machines you did that to.

Now, if you're talking about other computers, such as a unofficial FHC, then you're on your own. I'd ask Bishop to show you that policy. I simply can't see the Church allowing you to put it on anything and everything with no accounting.

Clarification

These are for the FHC computers.

Follow Up

I found the FHC Computer Policy online and it says:

Operating Systems

Approved operating systems are available from the
FamilySearch Support Office for family history center
computers. Computers will need to be fully capable of
running the operating systems without any hardware
upgrade. Contact the FamilySearch Support Office to
learn more about what operating systems are available
or to place a request for the software.

ubuntuFan wrote:These are for the FHC computers.

But the correct answer to your original question depends on whether these computers are for an "official" FHC or an "unofficial" FHC.

RussellHltn wrote:For computers belonging to an official FHC, you're to contact the Family History department. . . .

Now, if you're talking about other computers, such as a unofficial FHC, then you're on your own. I'd ask Bishop to show you that policy. I simply can't see the Church allowing you to put it on anything and everything with no accounting.

(Emphasis added by jbh001).

ubuntuFan wrote:My bishop told me that the church purchased a corporate Microsoft license for Windows XP Pro, and that we can install it on any of our ward PCs. I cannot find anything to verify that.

What is the policy on Windows XP Pro licenses?

I might add that the Stake Technology Specialist is the person responsible for the maintenance of the computers in the stake and wards. If you are not that person, and it's unclear if you are or not, then you should be contacting that individual and working with him. The installation of software, operating systems, updates, etc, etc, is under his stewardship.

For an official family history center you should contact FamilySearch Support at 1-866-406-1830 or send an e-mail to FHCSupport@ldsmail.net to get the licensing information packet. (See the link in my next post.)

The method of licensing depends on how the computer was obtained and the current operating system installed - if any. Computers supplied by the Church (new or cascaded) will have a licensing sticker on the case. If it has a Windows 2000 license sticker (normally a cascaded system), no license is required. However to install Windows XP you will need to order the "Family History Department, Windows XP Pro SP2, Standard & Digital Imaging System, Desktop 5.8 Installation Disc" from FamilySearch Support. This is a disc imaging installation that will erase everything on the hard drive. Once LANDesk Manager is installed and you run the 'Policy Based Delivery' to get the latest updates to LANDesk Manager and download of other Church licensed software the serial number of the computer will be transmitted to the support center for inclusion in the bulk license tracking. Nothing else is required.

For a new computer supplied by the Church the computer will come with the operating system and most FHC software already installed. The sticker on the case will indicate that the system is licensed for the Windows XP operating system.

For a donated computer meeting the minimum hardware requirements the license depends on whether Windows XP or Windows 2000 is installed on the computer. If Windows XP is installed you should have received the distribution discs and the license with the donation. Otherwise you must treat the donated computer as not having an operating system. Accepting computers without the operating system license (evidenced by the distribution discs) is highly discouraged. I mention this because some time ago (1 to 2 years ago?) I was able to get authorization to use the imaging discs supplied at that time to be installed on a donated computer that had Windows 98 installed but without the distribution discs. This may not be possible now.

For a donated computer with Windows 2000 you would treat it nearly the same as a Church provided (cascaded) computer with Windows 2000 installed. The only difference is that you must call in some information to obtain the license before installing the imaging disc.

There is no provision for locally purchased computers since using Church funds to purchase computers is not authorized for official family history centers.

For unofficial family history centers the cost of obtaining the operating system and license is at the expense of the stake or unit (depending on whether the stake president is willing to foot the bill).

I have asked for the licensing information packet I mentioned above from tech support. If there is any change in the directions provided in that packet from what I wrote I will post the changes. If possible I will also post the document. (See the link in my next post.)

This linkhas the information regarding Windows XP licensing on FHC computers.

jdlessley wrote:Once LANDesk Manager is installed and you run the 'Policy Based Delivery' to get the latest updates to LANDesk Manager and download of other Church licensed software the serial number of the computer will be transmitted to the support center for inclusion in the bulk license tracking. Nothing else is required.

True, but LANDesk has no way of knowing what sticker is on the side of the computer. To say that nothing else is required for computers with a Win2000 sticker, that doesn't sound right.

jdlessley wrote:For a donated computer meeting the minimum hardware requirements the license depends on whether Windows XP or Windows 2000 is installed on the computer. If Windows XP is installed you should have received the distribution discs and the license with the donation. Otherwise you must treat the donated computer as not having an operating system. Accepting computers without the operating system license (evidenced by the distribution discs) is highly discouraged.

I believe the license sticker/certificate is sufficient. I don't know of any requirement to have the distribution CDs as well.

Just as a side note, when I retire machines, I wipe the hard drive. IF the machine has a sticker, and I can find the appropriate CDs, I may load the OS back on to it. In no situation would I let a church licensed machine go to a member or other chartable organization. Usually the church provides a way for having the old machine shipped back for proper disposal.

One issue not covered is if the machine is license for XP Home but one desires to install XP Professional. I suspect that it's a "talk to the FHD" issue.

jdlessley wrote:This linkhas the information regarding Windows XP licensing on FHC computers.

The link stated Microsoft will "discontinue support for Windows 2000 in the next year or so". That date is July 13, 2010. After that Microsoft will no longer create security patches for the product.

RussellHltn wrote:True, but LANDesk has no way of knowing what sticker is on the side of the computer. To say that nothing else is required for computers with a Win2000 sticker, that doesn't sound right.

LANDesk Manager sends the information about the computer for inclusion on the bulk licensing tracking. From the FAQ at the link I provided it says this:

Computers provided to family history centers by the Family History Department since 2004, even if they were Win2000 machines, were licensed to run WinXP. Even though family history centers were not authorized to use WinXP on center computers at that time, the licenses purchased by the Family History Department were for WinXP and were downgraded to 2000. So, those computers have licenses for WinXP. Note that the FH Department only licenses for individual family history center computers, and has never provided site licenses.

This was also confirmed by a FamilySearch Support technician over the telephone.

RussellHltn wrote:I believe the license sticker/certificate is sufficient. I don't know of any requirement to have the distribution CDs as well.

You are right that if the donated computer has a licensing sticker or certificate that that is sufficient. How often does a donated computer have either accompany it? Of all the donated computers I have dealt with there have been none. For those cases the distribution CDs are the last proof of license.


After talking to the people at FamilySearch Support it appears that donated computers must have either Windows XP or Windows 2000 license accompany them. As discussed above the proof of license can come in several forms. I have been told any computer licensed to run either of these systems even XP Home qualifies for upgrade under the Church's XP Professional licensing agreement. A FAQ at the link I provided says this:

When should the WinXP SP2 Desktop 5.8 DVD be used?

• The WinXP SP2 Desktop 5.8 DVD should be used to upgrade a system from a previous version of Windows to Windows XP Professional SP2.
• The WinXP SP2 Desktop 5.8 DVD should be used if the current operating system on a PC ceases to function correctly.

From the FamilySearch link:

A valid Windows XP or downgraded Windows Vista license sticker must be attached to the computer case before installing this DVD. If a license sticker is not attached to the PC, please call 1-866-406-1830 to obtain one.

I think we can stop right there. Everything else is how we can expect that conversation to turn out. If there's a sticker, go. If there isn't, call.

Computers provided to family history centers by the Family History Department since 2004, even if they were Win2000 machines, were licensed to run WinXP.

This is true for NEW computers provided by the FHD. There is a XP sticker on the side, even if Win2000 was loaded on the hard drive. This doesn't change my statement above.

This is less clear for cascaded (used) computers from the FHD. IF FHD had provided any that didn't have XP stickers, it's possible they accounted for them before sending them out. Maybe. I'd still go by the rule, if it doesn't have a XP sticker, call.

I still have a question about XP Home vs XP Professional. The stickers I've looked at show "Professional". Certainly any computers provided by the church, new or cascaded would have Professional if they had XP. The question comes up with donated computers. Last I knew, there was a cost to upgrade XP Home to XP Pro. So I'm thinking it requires a call to get a upgrade if the sticker is XP Home.

So I'd amend my rule above to "if it has XP Pro, go. Otherwise, call."