[There's a reason that Yoda is the unofficial mascot of SBS. Size indeed matters not.] Does the action pack no longer include XP licenses? - THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"
Tue, Sep 19 2006 7:19 bradley

Does the action pack no longer include XP licenses?

Why doesn't Action Pack include the full version of Windows XP?
In response to feedback we are receiving from partners, and to address piracy and abuse of the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription, Microsoft is taking steps to bring compliancy to this subscription by changing some of the software media available. Beginning July 2006, Microsoft will provide the upgrade version of the Windows XP desktop operating system within Action Pack, which is consistent with how this product is distributed to our Volume Licensing customers. The total number of Windows XP Upgrade licenses will remain at 10.

https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/managemembership/actionpack/40016472

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I've been hearing a fair number of folks ask if XP licenses have been removed from the action pack.... so I'm blogging this.... No.  The XP licenses are still there exactly as they were before...but I don't think folks realized that the license in the action pack is like VL licenses... they go "on top" of an XP license.  You have to have a prior copy of XP OEM or Retail box for a VL license.
Because it's now a VL license, just like a VL one, you install it as an upgrade.. not from original media.  If they were using it as "full" media before to build new machines, they are/were in violation of the eula.
So, yes, Action pack still includes XP licenses.
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# Vlad Mazek - Vladville Blog » Blog Archive » Microsoft deals a blow to Action Pack Pirates

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 1:00 PM by Vlad Mazek - Vladville Blog » Blog Archive » Microsoft deals a blow to Action Pack Pirates

PingBack from http://www.vladville.com/2006/09/microsoft-deals-a-blow-to-action-pack-pirates.html

# re: Does the action pack no longer include XP licenses?

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 4:33 PM by Mark Mulvany

In my personal opinion the Volume licence argument is a complete crock in other words I disagree with Eric's pitch that Action pack was a volume licence anyway and now Microsoft is just validating this by change the XP media to ugrade only. I agree piracy has to be tackled but come on Microsoft as some other people have already commented just validate the online transaction if a company is called AN Other Doctors Clinic the chances they are a valid partner are slim. Being honest I'm afraid this could mean a lot of legitimate IT Pro shops who use the Action Pack to run their 2 or 3 office machines which up until has been totally legitimate and I would be happy to debate this with anyone and used the other offerings in the pack to test new technologies will simply switch to MSDN which will probably result in less appropiate licence use. Lets cut to the chase if this happens with Vista, then Office in the action pack etc, etc it will make the Action pack useless for what it was intended for and if the criminals out there stand to save $15 Dollars by using the Action pack this won't stop them one bit it will if Micrsoft extend this ugrade to other software simply punish small IT firms

# re: Does the action pack no longer include XP licenses?

Thursday, October 26, 2006 10:13 AM by Mike

That comment would have been much easier to read with some punctuation.