Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Microsoft Campus Agreement?
  2. Which Microsoft software products are available under Purdue's EES?
  3. Are there any prerequisites for installing EES-acquired software?
  4. If I upgrade my operating system, can I throw away the old operating system's distribution media?
  5. Are other Microsoft products available at reduced prices?
  6. Is printed documentation included with each product?
  7. Will we be able to get new versions of these products as they become available?
  8. What level of free service and support is provided by the EES?
  9. Since no free service and support is provided by the EES, what can I do if I encounter problems getting the software installed?
  10. Where can I get service packs, services releases, et al, for these software products?
  11. Are the Purdue regional campuses covered by the EES?
  12. What is the procedure for University departments on the West Lafayette campus to order Microsoft software?
  13. Who is eligible to use EES software on their personally owned computers?
  14. Are incoming students who are in West Lafayette for STAR allowed to buy the software media?
  15. Where can West Lafayette faculty, staff, and students buy personal copies of software under the EES?
  16. May faculty and staff borrow Microsoft software media from their departments for installation on a personally owned computer?
  17. May University departments use media other than those distributed by the University?
  18. Is a personally owned machine that's used on campus for University work eligible for Microsoft software under the EES?
  19. Are there any special terms and conditions for use of software acquired under the EES?
  20. May I purchase software media for my roommate or another eligible person?
  21. Do we have the right to use these software products forever?
  22. Does this agreement mean that we can omit buying the covered products when purchasing new computers?
  23. Are any server licenses included in the EES?
  24. The face of my DVD says "UNLICENSED SOFTWARE - Illegal without separate license from Microsoft." Can I use this legally?
  25. What are Microsoft Product Activation and the Office Registration Wizard?
  26. Where can I get more information about 32-bit and 64-bit Windows?
  27. How can I get answers to questions about the Microsoft Campus Agreement that aren't included in the above list?
  1. What is the Microsoft Campus Agreement?

    Purdue University and Microsoft Corporation have entered into an agreement for volume licensing of selected Microsoft software products. The Microsoft Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES), formerly know as Microsoft Campus Agreement, licenses any version of these products for use on all University owned computers. In addition, Purdue faculty and staff may also purchase selected products for use on one computer that he or she owns, for University-related work.

  2. Which Microsoft software products are available under Purdue's EES?

    Any version of each of the products is included in the agreement, but the University will only distribute the versions listed. Availability and pricing (subject to change). For more information, go to Purdue IT Software Licensing and Distribution.

  3. Are there any prerequisites for installing EES-acquired software?

    In order to install the Microsoft Windows operating system, you must already have a valid license for another version of Windows on the computer. For example, if you build a PC or buy one without an operating system, you must purchase a retail or OEM license for a base (a.k.a. "full") version of Windows. Subsequent upgrades to newer versions of the operating system are then covered by the Agreement.

  4. If I upgrade my operating system, can I throw away the old operating system's distribution media?

    If you ever have to reinstall your operating system (for example, if your hard drive crashes or gets erased or corrupted), you'll need the distribution media (DVD, electronic file) for your current operating system and possibly for the operating system you used previously. Whenever you install an operating system upgrade onto a clean disk, the setup process may ask you to insert the distribution media for your old operating system as verification of upgrade eligibility.  A base operating system (sometimes called a full version) can be installed directly onto a clean disk without needing the previous operating system's media. A base operating system typically comes bundled with a new computer from most vendors.

  5. Are other Microsoft products available at reduced prices?

    University offices can get other products under the Microsoft Select program from SHI. Contact SHI by email ( edgov@shi.com ) or telephone 800-477-6479.

    Faculty, staff, and students can buy popular software through On The Hub.

  6. Is printed documentation included with each product?

    No, printed documentation is not included with the software. Most local bookstores carry a considerable variety of detailed documentation for these products.

    Microsoft documentation may also be ordered from the SHI team (edgov@shi.com ) or telephone 800-477-6479.

  7. Will we be able to get new versions of these products as they become available?

    Yes, downloads for new versions will be made available for purchase as soon as possible after the national retail release.

  8. What level of free service and support is provided by the EES?

    None.

  9. Since no free service and support is provided by the EES, what can I do if I encounter problems getting the software installed?
    1. Go to Microsoft's support web page at http://support.microsoft.com/ and click on Support Information and FAQs by Product in the left column. Select the product from the list to see if there is a question and answer related to your problem.
    2. Search Microsoft's Knowledge Base for the same or similar symptoms. Common problems and their solutions or workarounds can often be found here.
      • Go to the web page at http://support.microsoft.com/ and click on Search the Knowledge Base.
      • Select the applicable product name.
      • Indicate that you want to do a keyword search.
      • Type the error message or appropriate keywords in the Search For box and click on "go".
    3. Pay Microsoft for help. Go to http://support.microsoft.com/ and click on Contact Microsoft. Microsoft paid support does have a cost per incident for either online or telephone support. Reminder: EES products are not eligible for no-charge support.
    4. An alternative to Microsoft's assistance is support from one of the Microsoft Gold Certified Partners for Support Services.
  10. Where can I get service packs, services releases, et al, for these software products?

    These can be downloaded from http://support.microsoft.com/ 
    Click on Downloads & Updates and select the appropriate product.

  11. Are the Purdue regional campuses covered by the EES?

    The West Lafayette, Northwest, and Ft. Wayne campuses are included. 

  12. What is the procedure for University departments on the West Lafayette campus to order Microsoft software?

    See the EES University Owned Equipment web page for ordering and related information.

  13. Who is eligible to use EES software on their personally owned computers?

    Most, but not all, Purdue faculty and staff may participate in the program. Click here for detailed eligibility criteria.

  14. Are incoming students who are in West Lafayette for "STAR" (Summer, Transition, Advising & Registration) allowed to buy the software media?

    STAR students may purchase Microsoft Select media after STAR has begun and the student's account is active. The license to use the software is contingent upon returning for classes in the fall.

  15. Where can West Lafayette faculty and staff buy software under the MSCA for their personally owned computers?

    See the EES Use on Personally-owned Computers web page.

  16. May faculty and staff borrow Microsoft software media from their departments for installation on a personally owned computer?

    No, faculty and staff must purchase software media from an official University source.

  17. May University departments use media other than those distributed by the University?

    To minimize registration key problems for software installed on multiple systems, we recommend using University-distributed downloads that are specifically labeled for use on Purdue equipment.

  18. Is a personally owned machine that's used on campus for University work eligible for Microsoft software under the EES?

    Yes, the product is available for purchase from On The Hub. Note that if you install an EES product on your personally owned computer that you use on campus, you may not then install the same product on another computer you own.

  19. Are there any special terms and conditions for use of software acquired under the EES?

    The EES states that software products licensed under this agreement may be used only subject to and strictly in accordance with Microsoft's License Agreement . Product Use Rights of the License Agreement specifies the set of rules for how the software may be used, except as revised by Purdue's EES.

  20. May I purchase software media for my roommate or another eligible person?

    No. Each eligible person must read and click to accept an agreement and provide their Purdue identification. You are personally responsible for use of any software you purchase.

  21. Do we have the right to use these software products forever?

    It depends. Licenses for University equipment and for computers owned by faculty and staff are not perpetual. Software licenses are leased for the term of the agreement and the software may be used only as long as the EES is in effect. Purdue has the option to renew the agreement. If the EES is not renewed or replaced by another agreement, we would be contractually obligated either to stop using and remove the software or to purchase licenses for each copy of the software installed.

    Faculty and staff who leave the University or who otherwise become ineligible for the program must stop using any Microsoft products acquired through the EES and remove them from their personally owned computer.

  22. Does this agreement mean that we can omit buying the covered products when purchasing new computers?

    You can choose not to buy an item, such as Microsoft Office, if that option is available from the vendor. You can then get Office through the EES. Note that a Microsoft operating system license must already exist for a computer before an upgrade may be acquired via the EES.

  23. Are any server licenses included in the EES?

    Yes, the University has a Core Server Agreement. Products not included in that agreement may be purchased through the Microsoft Select agreement. Contact Purue IT Licensing for any questions on server licenses. A suite of Client Access Licenses called the " Core CAL " is provided by the EES for Windows Server, Exchange Server, System Center, SharePoint Server and Skype for Business for use by each faculty, staff, and student covered by the EES. CALs are not provided for non-Purdue users of these servers.

  24. The face of my DVD says "UNLICENSED SOFTWARE - Illegal without separate license from Microsoft." Can I use this legally?

    Just having possession of software does not give the right to use it. The right to use a product is granted through a license. Microsoft grants licenses through the EES. Therefore University departments and eligible individuals who have signed EES media purchase forms are licensed to use the software for the license period specified in the agreement.

  25. What are Microsoft Product Activation and the Office Registration Wizard?

    As an anti-piracy feature, most Microsoft products require you to activate your copy of the software before it can be used regularly. You may be limited to a certain number of days or a number of times a product may be used before activation must be completed. Instructions for activation will be displayed during product installation. If you opt not to activate the product during installation, you will be periodically reminded until you activate it via the Internet or telephone. The product will stop working if it isn't activated by the specified deadline. When you activate a product, Microsoft provides a software key for you to enter to disable the reminders.

    Note that product activation and product registration are not the same. Activation enables you to use the software. Registration lets the vendor know that you are using a specific product so that they can send you product-related information as necessary or for marketing purposes. When you activate a product, you have the option of also registering it at that time. You may elect not to register the product or to do it at a later time.

  26. Where can I get more information about 32-bit and 64-bit Windows?

    Visit http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions

  27. How can I get answers to questions about the Microsoft Enrollment for Education Solutions that aren't included in the above list?

    Please submit a request via the Purdue Service Portal.

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