Activating your Open Value Software Assurance benefits, step by step (Part 2)

In my earlier, “Activating your Open Value Software Assurance benefits, step by step (Part 1)” post, I walked you through how to get your Software Assurance benefits activated on the MVLS website and the steps needed to be taken by the person who receives your volume license notices and the Software Assurance Benefits Administrator. In this post, I’ll walk you through the steps to activate and distribute several of the individual benefits themselves, such as: Microsoft eLearning, Home Use Program, Employee Purchase Program, Microsoft Training Vouchers, Microsoft Windows Pre-Installation (WinPE), and Virtual PC Express (with Vista Enterprise). Be sure you have completed the steps in Part 1 first so you can see your benefits on the MVLS website.

First, go to Microsoft Volume License Services (MVLS) at https://licensing.microsoft.com to begin activating your Software Assurance benefits and select the employees you authorize to use those benefits. For each benefit, please follow the instructions below:

MICROSOFT eLEARNING

  • Click on the IW, Client, or Server eLearning hyperlinks from the agreement benefits summary page.
  • Designate the benefit contact who is eligible to receive the media and manage the benefit (only one contact is allowed).
  • Activate the benefit for the designated contact.
  • For IW, Client, or Server, the eLearning modules will be distributed via the training module CD kit, or can be downloaded from the MVLS site.
  • Upon activation, a notification e-mail with program details will be sent to the designated contact.

HOME USE PROGRAM

  • Click on the Home Use Program hyperlink from the agreement benefits summary page.
  • Designate at least one contact to distribute access to the benefit to employees.
  • Activate the benefit to enable the HUP Program Code (this is needed to access the HUP Web site). Upon activation, a notification e-mail with the HUP Program Code will be sent to each contact explaining how to administer the benefit and distribute access to employees.

EMPLOYEE PURCHASE PROGRAM

  • Click on the Employee Purchase Program hyperlink from the benefits summary page.
  • Designate at least one contact to distribute access to the benefit to employees.
  • Activate the benefit to enable the EPP Program Code (this is needed to access the EPP Web site). Upon activation, a notification e-mail with the EPP Program Code will be sent to each contact explaining how to administer the benefit and distribute access to employees.

MICROSOFT TRAINING VOUCHERS

  • Click on the Training Voucher hyperlink from the agreement benefits summary page.
  • Designate at least one benefit contact who is authorized to generate training vouchers.
  • Activate the benefit for the designated contacts.
  • Designated contacts create and distribute training vouchers for employees (trainees).
  • Trainee signs up for CPLS course and provides voucher information for redemption.
  • Upon voucher creation, a notification e-mail with the voucher will be sent to the trainee explaining the benefit.

MICROSOFT WINDOWS PRE-INSTALLATION (WinPE)

  • Click on the WinPE hyperlink from the agreement benefits summary page.
  • Designate the benefit contact who is eligible to receive the media and manage the benefit (only one contact is allowed).
  • Activate the benefit for the designated contact.
  • The WinPE tool will be distributed via the EA/Select program CD kit, or can be downloaded from the MVLS site.
  • Upon activation a notification e-mail with program details will be sent to the designated contact.

VIRTUAL PC EXPRESS

  • Activate the Windows Vista™ Enterprise, Virtual PC Express benefit by visiting https://licensing.microsoft.com/
  • Download or order a CD to be delivered by standard mail delivery.
  • Install Windows Vista Enterprise, Virtual PC Express on each desktop that is covered by Software Assurance for Microsoft Windows®.
  • Load legacy application(s).

Need help activating your benefits? Let us know.

You can also download a 1-Page (double-sided) Software Assurance Activation Guide in PDF format which contains this information for your use offline.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman
Microsoft US Senior Manager
Small Business Community Engagement
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights