About this tag
Volume licensing on WindowsForum.com covers Microsoft's enterprise licensing programs, including Key Management Service (KMS) activation, Volume Licensing Contract Management (VLCM) migration to VL Central, and Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10. Discussions highlight the July 2026 transition where eAgreements and VLCM become read-only for non-Enterprise Agreement programs, requiring administrators to move contract workflows to VL Central. Other topics include used Microsoft volume license resale with audit-ready compliance, the historical FCKGW Windows XP activation leak as a security case study, and KMS TPM readiness checks in Windows Server 2025. These threads provide practical guidance for IT professionals managing volume licensing agreements, activation keys, and software deployment in enterprise environments.
-
Windows Server 2025 Adds KMS TPM Readiness Checks in August 2026
Microsoft will require TPM-based attestation for KMS Hardware-Secured activation with the next Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel release, shifting KMS host trust from a software-only configuration to a hardware-verified identity. The change is intended to make it harder to abuse cloned...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- enterprise security kms kms activation kms hardware secured server security tpm attestation volume activation volume licensing windows server windows server 2025
- Replies: 5
- Forum: Windows News
-
VL Central Cutover: eAgreements Goes Read-Only July 24, 2026
Microsoft’s operative cutover date for non-Enterprise Agreement volume licensing partners is July 24, 2026, not the July 10 date circulated in earlier guidance. By that date, both the eAgreements web interface and VLCM Smart Client become read-only; teams that still need to create, renew...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- contract migration microsoft licensing vl central volume licensing
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
VLCM July 24 Read-Only: Verify Windows ISO and Key Access
Microsoft’s July 2026 VLCM change is not an automatic loss of every Windows ISO, EXE installer, or volume-license key your organization relies on. The immediate priority is to separate non-Enterprise Agreement contract administration in eAgreements/VLCM from the Microsoft 365 admin center’s...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- iso media management microsoft 365 admin center volume licensing windows deployment
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
VL Central: Move Non-EA Licensing Workflows Before VLCM Retirement
Microsoft licensing partners should move every active non-Enterprise Agreement transaction workflow to VL Central now, not wait for the final August 2026 shutdown notice. Since July 10, 2026, eAgreements and the VLCM path have been read-only for the seven supported non-EA programs, which means...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- microsoft licensing vl central vlcm volume licensing
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
VLCM Read-Only Since July 10: Move Contracts to VL Central
Microsoft’s eAgreements/Volume Licensing Contract Management portal became read-only on July 10, 2026, so partners can no longer use it to create, renew, or extend agreement packages. Any active non-Enterprise Agreement workflow still tied to VLCM now needs an immediate owner, status review, and...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- contract migration microsoft licensing vl central vl central contracts vlcm vlcm migration volume licensing
- Replies: 2
- Forum: Windows News
-
Used Microsoft Volume Licenses in 2026: Legit Savings with Proof and Audit-Ready Compliance
Used Microsoft license reseller Soft & Cloud used a June 15, 2026 advisory from Münster, Germany, to argue that businesses can save materially by buying second-hand Microsoft volume licenses, but only if they can prove origin, transferability, deployment fit, and audit-ready compliance. The...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- european exhaustion software asset management used microsoft licenses volume licensing
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
The FCKGW XP Activation Leak: A Licensing Security Case Study
When a single 25‑character code became the shorthand for every Windows XP pirate’s triumph and Microsoft’s worst pre‑release embarrassment, it didn’t just embarrass a software giant — it exposed a design and distribution gap that still reads like a cautionary textbook for modern licensing...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- piracy volume licensing windows activation xp history
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
Windows 10 ESU 2025: How Extended Security Updates Work for Consumers and Businesses
Microsoft has given Windows 10 users a clearly signposted escape hatch: Extended Security Updates (ESU) will let eligible PCs continue to receive critical and important security patches for up to three years after the operating system reaches end of support on October 14, 2025. The program...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- 22h2 azure virtual desktop commercial esu consumer esu end of support esu extended security updates migration patch management security updates volume licensing windows 10 windows 11 upgrade windows 365
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
Consumer Reports Pushes Free Windows 10 Security Patches Beyond Oct 2025
Consumer Reports has formally urged Microsoft to extend free support for Windows 10, warning that tens — possibly hundreds — of millions of still-working PCs will be left exposed when mainstream updates and security patches stop on October 14, 2025. The advocacy group’s letter to Microsoft’s CEO...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- 22h2 advocacy azure virtual desktop chromeos flex cloud backup cloud pc commercial esu compliance risk consumer advocacy consumer esu consumer protection consumer reports consumer rights costofownership cybersecurity device retirement device upgrade digital equity e-waste edge updates education end of support enterprise it environmental impact esu esu pricing esu program extended security updates forced obsolescence hardware compatibility hardware refresh hardware requirements hardware upgrade household tech it admin it planning linux mainstream support microsoft microsoft account microsoft policy microsoft rewards microsoft support migration os lifecycle os migration patch management pc health check per device cost policy policy debate pricing privacy public safety regulatory scrutiny rewards secure boot security updates small business software lifecycle sustainability tech policy advocacy tech regulation tpm 2.0 trade-in upgrade path volume licensing windows 10 windows 10 end of life windows 10 end of support windows 11 windows 11 requirements windows 11 upgrade windows 365 windows backup windows defender windows lifecycle windows update
- Replies: 42
- Forum: Windows News
-
Windows 7/8 Activation Loophole Closed: Plan Your Windows 10/11 Upgrades
Microsoft’s long-standing upgrade loophole — where old Windows 7 and 8 product keys could be used to activate newer Windows installations — has officially been closed, and the implications ripple from consumers building DIY PCs to IT managers planning migrations. Microsoft confirmed the move to...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- activation activation loophole clean install digital license esu it administration licensing migration oem license pc build product key refurbishers security updates volume licensing windows 10 windows 11 windows 7 windows 8 windows activation windows lifecycle
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
Windows 11 on Arm: Local Xbox game installs grow; StreamMind AI debuts
Microsoft’s latest moves on two fronts — making Windows 11 more playable on Arm hardware and publishing a lab-grade video AI called StreamMind — mark a sustained effort to reshape the platform story for both consumers and enterprise customers, but the practical benefits will arrive unevenly and...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- anti-cheat arm arm devices arm64 auto sr automatic super resolution battleye cognition gate denuvo enterprise pricing gaming on arm llm gating online licensing perception tokens prism emulator real-time ai streammind volume licensing windows on arm xbox app
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
Microsoft Standardizes Online Services Pricing Across EA and MPSA
Microsoft is standardizing how it prices online services purchased through its volume licensing programs, expanding a single, consistent price across Price Levels A–D to all Online Services sold under Enterprise Agreement (EA) and Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA), with the change...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- budget planning channel partners cloud cost management enterprise agreements enterprise pricing global pricing microsoft licensing microsoft.com price mpsa online services pricing ospa china price levels a-d pricing alignment pricing changes pricing consistency pricing transparency procurement renewal volume licensing
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
Is Cheap Microsoft Office 2019 License Legitimate? Risks & Safe Alternatives
In recent times, numerous online platforms have advertised Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 licenses at prices as low as $30, a significant reduction from the standard retail price of approximately $439.99. While such offers may appear enticing, it's crucial to scrutinize their legitimacy...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- activation issues deactivation legal software microsoft 365 microsoft licensing microsoft office microsoft support office 2019 discount office 2019 license office alternatives online scams pirated software reputable software sellers software legitimacy software purchase software risks software security tech safety unverified software volume licensing
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting Windows Activation Problems in 2025
The process of activating a Windows operating system—whether it’s a routine installation at home or an upgrade in a vast enterprise ecosystem—remains one of the most important, misunderstood, and occasionally frustrating rites of passage for PC users. Microsoft product activation acts as a...- WindowsForum AI
- Thread
- activation code activation issues activation pitfalls digital license kms microsoft account microsoft licensing microsoft support os activation errors phone activation product key tech support troubleshooting volume licensing windows 10 windows 11 windows activation windows error windows recovery windows update
- Replies: 0
- Forum: Windows News
-
B
Windows Volume licensing upgrades
For installing newer version of Windows server, does the volume license server have to be at the latest version for the other servers to get licensed?- bswhipp
- Thread
- deployment it management licensing network management server installation system administration upgrade volume licensing windows server
- Replies: 9
- Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation
-
N
Windows 10 Upgrade Process - How Should I Proceed?
This may not be a question anyone necessarily has an answer for, but would appreciate any opinions. I work at a school and would like to upgrade about 70 computers to W10. Unfortunately, teachers get back around August 5, so it will be a crunch. 1. I have 100 volume licenses for W8. Will these...- NathanNWBD
- Thread
- clean install computer concerns deployment education glitch installation it support licensing opinion release date school software technology timeline upgrade volume licensing windows 10 windows 8
- Replies: 4
- Forum: Windows Help and Support
-
S
Windows 7 Install Key Management Service (KMS) From Command Line
How to Add volume-licensed version key? Office professional plus 2013 Result: C:\>cscript c:\windows\System32\slmgr.vbs /pik YC7DK-####-####-#####-GVGXT Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Unrecognized option: /pik Windows...- squirtmph
- Thread
- activation cache command line configuration dns host installation kms license management tools network office product key professional plus services slmgr software token-based activation volume licensing windows
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Software
-
S
Windows 8 Change PC Settings does not work in Audit Mode (Windows 8 Pro 64-bit)
Here is the problem. I'm an IT pro and I'm in the process of creating Windows 8 Pro (64-bit) images for my workplace using audit mode (i have done this countless times on windows 7). The problem is, the 'Change PC settings' button does NOT work when I click on it in audit mode. Nothing happens...- Stern
- Thread
- activation audit mode bios clean install error event viewer image generation installation local policy microsoft pc configuration pro restart system settings tech support troubleshooting volume licensing windows 8 workaround
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation
-
Windows 8 Windows 8 RTM-August 15th
This is taken from Windows 8 blog: Reference: Blogging Windows- kemical
- Thread
- app august communication developers enterprise it professionals marketplace microsoft microsoft store msdn programs release rtm september software assurance technet upgrade visual studio volume licensing windows 8
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Help and Support
-
S
Windows 7 Windows 7 Volume License
Getting ready to pull the trigger on around 700 licenses for Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. What will I need after I Ghost a machine with Windows 7 in order to activate these licences? I have read that you can actually setup a licensing/activation server?- scj6771
- Thread
- 64-bit activation deployment ghosting it management licensing server licensing volume licensing windows 7 windows pro
- Replies: 1
- Forum: Windows Upgrade and Installation