Microsoft Desktop Reimaging Rights
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Often misunderstood, Microsoft's Windows Desktop Reimaging Rights is one of the more common and important aspects of Windows licensing that companies need to understand.
First: This seems to always be forgotten, but Microsoft Volume Licensing of Windows Desktops is always an upgrade license, there is no means by which to buy installation licenses for Windows Desktop OSes via Volume Licensing (of Action Packs.) All VL desktop licenses requires that the machine in question already have a valid OEM license or a full retail box license and must be a Pro, not Home, license.
Second: OEM and Full Retail Box licenses do not come with reimaging rights. You may reinstall your OS via the full process from the original media, but you do not get the rights to do a standard image.
That being covered, getting Windows Desktop Reimaging Rights is simple and cost effective. All that is required from Microsoft is a single Windows Desktop Volume License. Not one per machine, not one per user, just one. This is because all companies that volume license Windows Desktop, at any quantity, are granted reimaging rights. It's that simple.
Because this is so simple and low cost, there is little excuse for all but the tiniest of companies to license these rights as they allow for so much power and flexibility.
References:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/learn-more/brief-reimaging-rights.aspx
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Licensing/learn-more/brief-reimaging-rights.aspx
https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/124056-reimaging-rights-for-windows-10-licensing-how-to -
FYI - to get into a Volume License agreement with Microsoft, you must purchase 5 licenses to start. Any 5. For example 5 Windows desktops Software Assurance licenses.
The cheapest option that I am currently aware of is 4 Windows Server CALs and a single Windows Desktop upgrade or SA.
