General Vista Licensing Questions

Am I licensed to run Vista?

Consult with your Divisional Liaison before planning to upgrade from Windows XP to Vista.
ITS Support Center desktop support staff will only migrate computers from XP to Vista if there is a clear business need.

• If you purchased a new computer with a Vista license, you are licensed to run Vista on that computer.
• If your unit has purchased the Campus Desktop package through the Microsoft Consolidated Campus Agreement (MCCA), your computer is licensed to run Vista.
• If your unit does not subscribe to MCCA, you need to purchase a Vista upgrade license from SHI, our campus software reseller.

What edition/version of Vista should I purchase?

Consult with your Divisional Liaison before planning to upgrade from Windows XP to Vista.
ITS Support Center desktop support staff will only migrate computers from XP to Vista if there is a clear business need.

If your unit has purchased the Campus Desktop package through the Microsoft Consolidated Campus Agreement (MCCA):

• You can purchase a new computer with Vista Home Edition and ITS will upgrade you to Vista Business.
• To upgrade an existing computer, MCCA subscribers are licensed for Vista Business

Non MCCA subscribers:

• You should purchase a new computer with Windows Vista Business.
• To upgrade an existing computer from Windows XP to Vista, you should purchase a Vista Business upgrade license from SHI, our campus software reseller.

Is there a campus site license for Vista?

There is no campus site license for Windows Vista or any Microsoft product. Licenses must be purchased by departments or individuals.

Is there a bulk license discount for Vista?

SHI, our campus software reseller, sells Vista and Microsoft products at deep discounts under UC-wide contracts that account for the volume purchased by the entire UC System.

I'm in the School of Engineering - is Vista available to me?

Faculty, staff, and students associated with the School of Engineering are licensed for Vista under the Microsoft Developer's Network Academic Alliance.

Information on MSDN Academic Alliance is available at: http://www.cse.ucsc.edu/administration/computer/facilities/software.html

Vista for current computers

Where do I get Vista for my current computer?

Consult with your Divisional Liaison before planning to upgrade from Windows XP to Vista. If your upgrade is approved:

• Order Windows Vista Business upgrade from SHI, our campus software reseller
• If your unit is a MCCA subscriber, submit an IT Request ticket to request Vista Business from ITS

Vista for new computers

I'm ordering a new computer. Should I order it with Vista? Which version?

Consult with your Divisional Liaison before planning to upgrade from Windows XP to Vista. If your upgrade is approved:

If your unit has purchased the Campus Desktop package through the Microsoft Consolidated Campus Agreement (MCCA):

• You can purchase a new computer with Vista Home Edition and ITS will upgrade you to Vista Business. This will save $58.

Non MCCA subscribers:

• You should purchase a new computer with Windows Vista Business (see Standard Desktop recommendations)

I purchased a computer with Vista but want to downgrade to Windows XP. What can I do?

Downgrade rights are available for:

• MCCA Campus Desktop subscribers are licensed to downgrade from any Vista edition to Windows XP.
• Non-MCCA subscribers must own a license for Vista Business or Vista Ultimate in order to downgrade to Windows XP.
• If your unit does not subscribe to MCCA and you purchase a computer with Windows Vista Home, you must purchase a separate Windows XP license in order to downgrade. We do not recommend that non-MCCA units purchase Vista Home.

I need a new computer, but I need to run Windows XP. What should I do?

If your unit has purchased the Campus Desktop package through the Microsoft Consolidated Campus Agreement (MCCA):

• You can purchase a new computer with Vista Home Edition and ITS will downgrade you to Windows XP Professional. This will save $58.

Non MCCA subscribers:

• You should purchase a new computer with "Genuine Windows Vista® Business Downgrade, XP Pro Installed" (see Standard Desktop recommendations)

Vista licensing for personally-owned computers

I'm faculty/staff. Can I buy Vista for home use through UCSC?

• You can purchase a Vista license from the Bay Tree Bookstore
• You can purchase a Vista license from e-academy (http://ucsc.onthehub.com/). You will need to register and provide proof of employment.

I'm a student. Can I run Vista on my personal computer? How can I purchase Vista?

• You can purchase a Vista license from the Bay Tree Bookstore
• You can purchase a Vista license from e-academy (http://ucsc.onthehub.com/). You will need to register and provide proof of enrollment.

Licensing Vista for Macs

I'm running Mac OS X and would like to run Vista under virtualization (using Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion). What Vista license should I buy?

NOTE: ITS does not support Windows Vista under virtualization at this time. Do not plan to receive support from ITS if you run Vista in this manner.

If your unit has purchased the Campus Desktop package through the Microsoft Consolidated Campus Agreement (MCCA):

• You are licensed to run unlimited copies of Vista in virtualization. Request the software and license codes by submitting a ticket in IT Request.

Non MCCA subscribers:

• You need to purchase a Windows Vista Business with Software Assurance license (Mfg Part #: 66J-00818) from SHI, our campus software reseller.

I want to run Vista on my Mac using Boot Camp. What Vista license should I buy?

NOTE: ITS does not support Windows Vista under Boot Camp at this time. Do not plan to receive support from ITS if you run Vista in this manner.

If your unit has purchased the Campus Desktop package through the Microsoft Consolidated Campus Agreement (MCCA):

• You are licensed to run unlimited copies of Vista in virtualization. Request the software and license codes by submitting a ticket in IT Request.

Non MCCA subscribers:

• You need to purchase a Windows Vista Business with Software Assurance license (Mfg Part #: 66J-00818) from SHI, our campus software reseller.