220-1102 Question 309
Single answerLicensing assignmentA technician is preparing 15 refurbished desktop PCs for a nonprofit organization. Each PC currently has Windows 10 Home installed from the previous owner. The nonprofit needs the PCs to join its Windows domain and use Group Policy. The technician considers reusing the existing product keys from the refurbished systems to upgrade them to Windows 10 Pro. Which action is the MOST appropriate to remain compliant and meet the organization's requirements?
- A
Use the existing Windows 10 Home licenses because the hardware is unchanged, then enable domain join through local policy changes
- B
Purchase valid Windows 10/11 Pro upgrade licenses for the refurbished PCs that need Pro features
- C
Install a volume-licensed edition of Windows 10 Pro on all PCs because nonprofits are allowed to use volume media without additional licensing
- D
Clone one properly licensed Windows 10 Pro installation to all 15 PCs because imaging transfers the license with the deployment
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The best answer is to purchase valid Windows Pro upgrade licenses for the devices that require Pro features. In real-world support work, technicians must distinguish between deployment convenience and licensing rights. Windows Home and Windows Pro are different editions with different feature entitlements; domain join and centralized Group Policy management require Pro or higher. Reusing an existing Home key for Pro functionality is not compliant, and cloning or reimaging does not transfer license rights between devices. Microsoft licensing guidance consistently emphasizes that licenses are assigned to devices and that each device must be properly licensed for the edition installed. Best practice is to verify the current qualifying license on each refurbished PC, then acquire and assign the correct upgrade or replacement license needed for organizational use.
- A. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Windows 10 Home does not support joining an Active Directory domain, and local policy changes do not unlock Pro-only features. Also, a Home license cannot simply be treated as a Pro license because the hardware is unchanged. Licensing assignment is tied to the edition and rights granted by the license, not just the device itself.
- B. Correct.
Correct. If the nonprofit needs domain join and Group Policy support, the systems must be licensed for Windows Pro or another qualifying business edition. For refurbished PCs that already have a valid Home license, purchasing legitimate Pro upgrade licenses is the appropriate way to assign the necessary licensing to each device while remaining compliant.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Volume licensing has eligibility and agreement requirements; it is not automatically permitted just because the organization is a nonprofit. In addition, using volume license media does not replace the need for proper underlying license rights. This option reflects a common misconception that special organization status removes normal licensing requirements.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Imaging is a deployment method, not a licensing method. Even if one PC is properly licensed for Windows 10 Pro, cloning that image to other devices does not transfer that license to them. Each device must have its own valid license assignment for the installed edition.