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Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

Extend the life of older, less secure and less productive hardware and reduce the strain on IT, improve end-user productivity, and close security gaps.

Older computers are expensive to maintain, but it isn't always financially feasible to buy new hardware for a department or your entire business.

Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is based on the Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2 (SP2) operating system. By implementing it, you upgrade to the security and stability of the Windows XP platform. You also ease the transition to the Windows Vista Enterprise operating system when you eventually replace your desktop PCs.

How to use Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

How to use Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs
If You Want	Do This
Reduced cost of ownership	Use existing hardware as Terminal Services clients Move line-of-business and productivity applications to the server Run a fully supported Windows operating system Install only the components that your organization requires to minimize on-disk footprint Reduce Help Desk calls by delivering the same end-user experience to your entire organization
Improved manageability	Use the latest management tools with legacy hardware Bring legacy computers into your well-managed environment Reduce the number of operating systems that your organization must support
Improved security	Use the latest security tools with legacy hardware Reduce the attack surface of all of your computers

For each Windows Professional License covered under Software Assurance, you are eligible to run Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs in place of either or both of the licensed copies of Windows Professional during the term of your Software Assurance coverage.

The following Volume Licensing programs are eligible for this benefit:

Select License with Software Assurance Membership
Select Plus with Software Assurance Membership
Enterprise Agreement/Subscription
Campus, School and Select Academic Agreement with Software Assurance Membership

Steps for the Notices Contact:

Sign the Microsoft Volume License Agreement.
Microsoft will send you a welcome e-mail message that introduces you to the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC).
Go to the VLSC Web site.
Click the Sign In button. On the next screen, enter your Windows Live ID credentials. If you do not have a Windows Live ID, click Sign Up Now and follow the instructions on your screen to obtain an ID.
Create a VLSC account.
Assign a Benefits Administrator(s) to manage Software Assurance benefits (see table above for suggestions as to who in your organization to designate). Microsoft will send a welcome e-mail message to the Benefits Administrator(s).
After the Benefits Administrator(s) registers on VLSC, assign permissions to manage specific Software Assurance benefits.

Steps for the Benefits Administrator:

Ensure that you have administrative rights to activate this benefit, or contact your Notices Contact.
Go to the VLSC Web site.
Click the Sign In button. On the next screen, enter your Windows Live ID credentials. If you do not have a Windows Live ID, click Sign Up Now and follow the instructions on your screen to obtain an ID.
Click on the Software Assurance link. This will take you to the Software Assurance Benefits Summary page.
Select Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs.
Click on the LicenseID for which you want to manage Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs benefits.
Enter contact information and media fulfillment preferences.
Click to activate the benefit.
Promote this benefit to your IT staff.