ESU usage question.

[River Valley Computer]

We are VERY inexperienced in the function of Microsoft ESU. This is the first time we have to use it. We have a auto repair center that have 3 computers barely 5 years old and will not run Windows 11. We suggested doing the ESU thing to buy them some time to save up for new computers. Can each computer use the same user name for all three or do we need to create three separate user accounts and three serarate email addresses? Thi has got us bumfugeled. HELP PLEASE.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

For a business, it's a "per device"...$61.00 for the first year "per device"

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates'

 

[fincoder]

computers barely 5 years old and will not run Windows 11

For what exact reason?
Download and run WhyNotWin11 (open source). That's the easiest way to determine the reason.

If it's only the TPM requirement at issue, it might just need the TPM function enabled in the BIOS. If the CPU is compliant with Win11 then it should have the onboard TPM component. The BIOS should have an option for enabling TPM, also called Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT) or AMD fTPM. If the CPU is correct but TPM enable option not in the BIOS, update to the latest BIOS and it should appear (and probably enable automatically). I've had to do this on half a dozen PCs in the last few months, all custom-built PCs with retail motherboards.

Can each computer use the same user name for all three or do we need to create three separate user accounts and three serarate email addresses?

A Microsoft account is required during the ESU enrolment, same on can be used for all PCs. No need to actually switch to MS account PC login.

For a business, it's a "per device"...$61.00 for the first year "per device"

In some places it says the ESU is free (for 1 year only) for INDIVIDUALS with Win Home and Pro. The owner of a micro-business could be described as an individual. I'm pretty sure the paid option is designed for corporate users.

 

[River Valley Computer]

The BIOS was checked and it CPU does not have TPM capability. Come to find out the are about 6 years old.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

In some places it says the ESU is free (for 1 year only) for INDIVIDUALS with Win Home and Pro. The owner of a micro-business could be described as an individual. I'm pretty sure the paid option is designed for corporate users.

For "Microsoft Personal" licenses....yes it is free, has been free. Personal licenses are not for use in businesses, per Microsoft EULA, as we IT professionals should advise our clients.

 

[fincoder]

Personal licenses are not for use in businesses, per Microsoft EULA

I'm talking about individual business owners with Windows Home and Pro, using the consumer ESU program. Here is the Microsoft language on that:

"The consumer ESU programme can’t be used by commercial devices. Consumer ESU enrollment won’t be offered to devices in the following scenarios:

• Devices in kiosk mode.
• Devices joined to an Active Directory domain or that are Microsoft Entra joined.
  
  • However, devices that are Microsoft Entra registered can use the Consumer ESU programme.
• Devices enrolled in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
• Devices that already have an ESU license.

If a device is enrolled in the Consumer ESU programme and then participates in one of the Commercial ESU scenarios listed above, the Consumer ESU enrollment on the device will be suspended until it is no longer being used as a Commercial device."

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates | Microsoft Windows

Use Windows 10 securely with the Extended Security Updates programme See how it helps protect your PC and find out how to get it.

www.microsoft.com

Those dot-points seem to define what Microsoft means by "commercial devices" in the context of ESU. I'm happy to be corrected if someone can quote from the Consumer ESU terms and conditions.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

This was always the easy peasy, no way to be confused....answer to me...for personal/home.


The link you have above, IMO a big mistake by MS....as it opens up mis-use IMO....because so many businesses are poorly setup.."entra registered"....

But still, we're sticking to the simple one. We don't support "personal/family" setups anyways, 100% business clients.

 

[britechguy]

The link you have above, IMO a big mistake by MS....as it opens up mis-use IMO

As is just all-too-common when it comes to Microsoft. I can't count the number of times where conflicting and/or absent information makes accurate interpretation impossible.

That being said, I'd still far rather tiny "mom and pop" businesses use the ESU program if they are not willing or able to dump their Windows 10 hardware by tomorrow. It's better for all of us that as few "unpatched" Windows 10 ecosystems as possible exist in the wild.

That doesn't mean that I'd be the one enrolling those machines, mind you. But if someone were to ask me how, I'd point them to the directions for doing so themselves.

 

[River Valley Computer]

As is just all-too-common when it comes to Microsoft. I can't count the number of times where conflicting and/or absent information makes accurate interpretation impossible.

That being said, I'd still far rather tiny "mom and pop" businesses use the ESU program if they are not willing or able to dump their Windows 10 hardware by tomorrow. It's better for all of us that as few "unpatched" Windows 10 ecosystems as possible exist in the wild.

That doesn't mean that I'd be the one enrolling those machines, mind you. But if someone were to ask me how, I'd point them to the directions for doing so themselves.

I agree on everything you said. I just think it's unfair for an automobile shop to have three computers they bought at different times to have to have a business license. One is used for Emails and general business needs like banking, another one for scanning cars, and the other is just there with very light use. A one man shop.

 

[HCHTech]

A one man shop.

"Shop" = business. They are using the computers to generate revenue as a business. I don't understand the reticence here. The number of bodies does not come into this equation.

 

[britechguy]

I don't understand the reticence here.

I do. A number of "mom and pop" shops are, and have been for a while, just scraping by. That matters when I think about that in reference to the multi-national money churning machine that is Microsoft.

As I said earlier, I would not perform the enrollment myself. But I would feel no compunction whatsoever by telling a client like this to go to the Microsoft Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) webpage and telling them that enrollment directions are presented there. There are times, and this is one of them, where bending the rules to just slightly before the breaking point, from my end of the equation, is not something that will make me lose sleep at night. All the more so if the alternative is the machine not being enrolled at all, which is the likely outcome for those really watching their pennies.

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge doesn't bother me even the tiniest bit in this case.

 

[River Valley Computer]

"Shop" = business. They are using the computers to generate revenue as a business. I don't understand the reticence here. The number of bodies does not come into this equation.

I guess I am missing something. So a woman go out and buys a computer for her crocheting at home and sells them at flea markets is considered a business?
Also what does a "business" buy in software since they are a "business"?

Been in this business a long time and this is the first time we have run into this. I know about cooperate license and such but I don't see how this would apply.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I guess I am missing something. So a woman go out and buys a computer for her crocheting at home and sells them at flea markets is considered a business?
Also what does a "business" buy in software since they are a "business"?

Well, it's not terribly hard to figure that...."Does Microsoft really want to spend the time chasing down a little ol' lady that crochets mittens and sells them at the Church bazaar on Sundays"?

Or...some kid that has a lemonade stand on the corner block in the summer?

While not as severe as say, the police officer that lets speeders go ticket free all the time, or the bouncer at a bar that lets friends in with false IDs...there's a level of professionalism, (IMO), to maintain. Most of us that cater to "business clients"...know how to separate "business"...from the kid that raises earthworms and sells a bucket full at the neighborhood boat launch.

 

[britechguy]

@River Valley Computer

In this case, I don't know how much more specific Microsoft could be than "revenue generating acivities."

I do think that this must be interpreted as "primarily used for . . ."

I mean, the laptop I'm typing from now is the only "daily driver" I have, and it's certainly used for my business. But my business is a tiny part of my overall computer use, and I refuse to use the "one drop rule" for a case like this one were I to be using a Win10 machine and wanted the ESU.

But if I had a storefront, and the computer was in that store, and used only for business, then it is, without question, used primarily for revenue generating activities. I'd probably "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" myself, given how much of a side gig my business is, and could sleep fine having done so. But since I'm using Windows 11, it's a moot point.

 

[HCHTech]

I guess I am missing something. So a woman go out and buys a computer for her crocheting at home and sells them at flea markets is considered a business?

THat is not the scenario I was replying to. You said "Automotive shop",. It's hard to argue (although I'm sure you will try) that this is the same as a woman selling crochet's sweaters at flea markets. As I said before, this seems very clear to me and I've never had and trouble with the distinction between who should have a business license and who shouldn't.

 

[fincoder]

answer to me...for personal/home.

But your quoted text isn't specifically about ESU is it?

The link you have above, IMO a big mistake by MS....as it opens up mis-use IMO

How do you know it's a mistake and not intentional?

never had and trouble with the distinction between who should have a business license and who shouldn't.

We're talking about Windows 10 ESU for Consumers. In the text I quoted above from Microsoft's consumer ESU page, it seems to be a different criteria than what is being argued by the business techs here. For some reason @YeOldeStonecat is discounting Microsoft's text because they believe Microsoft got it wrong?!