Microsoft License and Activation Guides

Step-by-step help with installing and activating Windows, Office and Windows Server, and plain-English answers to the licensing questions we are asked most often.

Office guides

How to Activate Microsoft Office by Phone (Confirmation ID)

Activate Microsoft Office by phone: find your installation ID, call the Microsoft activation line, type in the confirmation ID and fix common errors.

How to Change the Office Product Key (2016 to 2024)

Change or replace your Microsoft Office product key with File > Account > Change License, or use ospp.vbs /inpkey and /unpkey to remove an old volume key.

How to Install and Activate Office 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024

Install and activate Office 2016, 2019, 2021 or 2024 on Windows or Mac: pick the right edition, enter your product key and fix wrong edition installed errors.

Office 2021 vs Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365: Which to Buy?

Office 2021 vs Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365 compared: one-time purchase or subscription, apps in each edition, support end dates and who should pick which.

Windows guides

How to Clean Install Windows 10 or Windows 11 from USB

Clean install Windows 10 or Windows 11: download the 64-bit Media Creation Tool, make a bootable USB, boot from UEFI, enter your product key and activate.

How to Upgrade Windows 10 or 11 Home to Pro with a Product Key

Upgrade Windows 10 or Windows 11 Home to Pro with a Pro product key in Settings > Activation. See what changes, what stays and how to fix common errors.

How to Upgrade Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 or Windows 11

Upgrade Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 or Windows 11: supported upgrade paths, TPM 2.0 and other Windows 11 requirements, keeping your files and activation.

Windows Server guides

How to Install Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025

How to install Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 or 2025: get the ISO, choose Desktop Experience or Server Core, convert an evaluation with DISM and activate.

RDS CAL User vs Device: Which Remote Desktop CAL Do You Need?

RDS CAL user vs device explained: which Remote Desktop CAL to buy, version rules, RDS CAL vs Windows Server CAL, and installing CALs on the license server.

Windows Server Core Licensing Explained: How Many Cores to Buy

Windows Server core licensing explained: 8 cores per processor, 16 per server, 2-core packs, Standard vs Datacenter VM rights and worked examples with CALs.

SQL Server guides

SQL Server Licensing Explained: Per Core vs Server + CAL

SQL Server licensing explained: Server + CAL vs per core, Standard vs Enterprise, the 4-core minimum, virtualization and what a 15 user pack covers.

Licensing guides

Is Buying Used Software Licenses Legal? US and EU Law Explained

Is buying used software licenses legal? How the first-sale doctrine, Vernor v. Autodesk and UsedSoft v Oracle apply to pre-owned Microsoft product keys.

Retail vs OEM vs Volume Licenses: Which Microsoft License to Buy

Retail vs OEM vs volume licenses compared: transferability, activation, what you get and which Microsoft license type a home user or small business needs.

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