Updated: July 14, 2020 (February 24, 2014)

Windows SKU Changes

Rob Horwitz analyzes and writes about Microsoft licensing programs and product licensing rules. He also trains organizations on best Microsoft... more

The Windows-related stock keeping units (SKUs) customers will need to purchase will change in some circumstances. The accompanying table lists five common scenarios, along with a comparison of the old and new SKUs that customers need to acquire. The SKU changes become effective Mar. 1, 2014.

“L-only” represents a SKU that consists of a license by itself, while “L&SA” is a bundle of a license and a two- to three-year term of Software Assurance (SA) coverage. A Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) subscription, listed in one of the rows, provides almost all of the same use rights and other benefits as SA coverage for a Windows OS license.

The (new) Windows Enterprise Upgrade L&SA SKU is priced the same as the old Windows Pro Upgrade L&SA SKU. Consequently, costs will not change in many scenarios.

Licensing Scenario	Applicable Old SKU(s) (pre-Mar. 1, 2014)	Applicable New SKU(s) (post-Mar. 1, 2014)	Notes
Upgrade a PC to the latest version of Windows Pro	Windows

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