Upgrading entire office to current Windows/Office versions.....

Damar

Supreme [H]ardness
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Jun 20, 2004
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So I've found myself in a pickle, thanks to being the "go to" guy in the office when it comes to the computers. (aka I know how to force quit an application and they think I'm a God or something).

The owner wants to get every PC in the office on Windows 10, and also the latest version of Office 2019. Some are running 7, some 8.... and some (3 or 4) are already on 10.

I know MS is heavily pushing the whole Office 365 subscription thing, but for our uses, I'm not sure its the better way to go, and honestly, after trying to figure out the cost both ways I'm completely lost. One 365 license is good for 5 PC's??

Out of the 35 or so machines in the office, around 5 or 6 of them would also need the current version of Visio (which only seems to come as a single PC license either way, single copy or sub).

Anyone who's sailed the waters of this type of mess able to help me figure out the cost per PC to do it with standalone copies versus the 365 route?

We don't need all the online stuff. Though one of the engineers does access our server to open Visio files and I guess the version of Visio on the server atm isn't the same as the version on her laptop and it's causing issues? This is not something I've dealt with before at all.

Personally I'd like to buy spare keys off the FT/FS forum for Windows 10 where needed and get the copies of Office 2019 from MS, if I can figure out the costs. But maybe I'm wrong?
 
I know this thread is a bit old, but since no one has replied -

Which version of Windows 10? Going Pro or Enterprise? Is there a Windows server in the mix? Which programs from Office are being used?
Remember, the 5 PC version of O365 is for personal use, not business use, so there is different licensing if you are wanting to be fully on the up and up.
 
I would not under any circumstance buy licensing for software from a forum, especially for a business. My God. It's not your money so please do it correctly. I would say most of the keys sold here are grayware HUP or VLK keys anyways.

Regarding 365, no, you have to have separate licensing for each person. 5 PC per account is for an individual user. Say they have a desktop and laptop, they can use that license on both devices.

You need to work with a vendor like CDW. If you have 35 PC's, buy 35 Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise licenses and 35 Office 2019 Pro licenses. Buying them would grant you access to the Service Center site where you can download license keys and software.

Regarding how you deploy it, well, that's a different thing all together. Unless your comfortable setting up MDT you'll probably end up manually upgrading each PC.
 
Noted about the keys and the FS/FT section! I'll try to push them towards the more legit paths but they know about people selling keys cheap and to them that means "big savings" without realizing the long term potential for issues.

The owner is still debating what to do, since only 1 engineer is having issues that require attention, so if they can shut her up for little to no money, they'll probably just go that route. We're running so many different versions of things atm that its scary every time someone comes over and says, "Can you fix this problem?".

I'd love to see them standardize to Win10 and Office2019, but sadly I don't get a lot of say when it comes to big $$$ purchases like this.

And yes, there's a server involved... and its not backed up for beans... and if it goes down we're seriously hosed.... but that's another matter I keep hinting to them to do something about that's going nowhere. ;)
 
How are you currently handling email/messaging, are you running your own Exchange and Lync/Skype for Business servers or doing something else? You have several options from going volume licensing, doing Microsoft 365 Business which includes both Windows and Office licensing for a monthly subscription or moving to Office 365 Business for a subscription to just the office suites or hosted services in addition to the office suites.
 
How are you currently handling email/messaging, are you running your own Exchange and Lync/Skype for Business servers or doing something else? You have several options from going volume licensing, doing Microsoft 365 Business which includes both Windows and Office licensing for a monthly subscription or moving to Office 365 Business for a subscription to just the office suites or hosted services in addition to the office suites.

Sadly, I have zero knowledge of how things are set up with the server. I didn't do it and it's been 12+ years since I worked the software side of things so I've already told them I wont touch the server. I can do PC installs and builds and the like but that's about it. Told them they should call back whoever set it up for them in the first place for any upgrades.

Personally I'd love to drop this whole kettle into someone else's lap, but atm, they seem to think I'm the one to do it. :(
 
Ask for a raise First.

If they balk, I'd Run, not walk away.

Find that you 'really must dedicate your free time to a shelter for Abused Nuns' or something.

If they won't pay for you to step up and fix their mess, I would Not mess with it, because You'll be the fall guy when it doesn't work as planned, because they cheaped out.

Can you imagine coming in one morning and finding out MS banned ALL the shady keys they bought?

Now there's NO Computers, and it's your fault. :)

Screw that.
 
Op you are too nice. This is your boss not your mom you are helping. It's business and should be profitable for you. Negotiate, or play dumb so they get a professional.
 
you should just ask to work at night time.
do the update at night one by one.
 
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