Firstsoft Blog

Ratgeber

Office 2021 End of Support on October 13, 2026: What to Do Now

In a few weeks, support for Office 2021 will end. What that means in concrete terms, who really needs to act, and what the upgrade to Off...

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In-Place Upgrade from Server 2016 to 2025: What's Possible Since the N-4 Path

Since Windows Server 2025, Microsoft has allowed direct upgrades from Server 2016 to 2025 in one step. What this path achieves, where it ...

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Why your old server CALs become worthless when you upgrade

Windows Server CALs are backward-compatible, not forward-compatible. Anyone who overlooks this during an upgrade typically forgets half o...

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Windows Server 2016 End of Life: Cost Comparison of the Four Options

Support for Windows Server 2016 ends on January 12, 2027. ESU, new hardware, in-place upgrade, or Azure: an honest cost comparison with f...

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Legally purchasing used server licenses: What applies to businesses

Short answer: Yes, even server licenses such as Windows Server and SQL Server may be resold second-hand according to the ECJ ruling. For ...

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Windows Server Core Licensing: How many cores do you really need?

Short answer: Microsoft requires a minimum of 8 core licenses per processor and a minimum of 16 per server - regardless of the actual cor...

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Windows Server 2012 R2: Why an Upgrade is Long Overdue

Short answer: Extended support for Windows Server 2012 R2 ended on October 10, 2023 - since then, there have been no more security update...

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SQL Server Licensing: Server+CAL or Core-based?

Short answer: Microsoft SQL Server can be licensed in two ways: Server+CAL (one server license plus CALs per user or device) or Core-base...

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RDS CAL Explained: What You Need for Remote Desktop Services

Short answer: For Remote Desktop Services (RDS), a normal Windows Server CAL is not sufficient – you also need an RDS CAL, per user or pe...

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User CAL or Device CAL: Which is right for your business?

Short answer: A User CAL is worthwhile if one person accesses from multiple devices – for example, with a laptop and a home office PC. A ...

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RDS CALs explained: why they are an addition and not a replacement

The most common licensing error in SMEs: RDS CALs do not replace regular ones; they are an addition. When RDS applies, when the administr...

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Windows Server Standard or Datacenter: What the Price Difference Gets You

The surcharge for Datacenter buys you almost no features, but virtualization rights. When this pays off, which two additional functions a...

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User CAL or Device CAL: which access license you need

Two calculation examples show which access license wins when. Also, the option to mix both types, which hardly anyone uses in practice, e...

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Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11: Keep your data and license

The upgrade is free if the license and hardware are correct. What three checks are needed beforehand, what happens to the license, and th...

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Windows 11 Pro or Home in Business: BitLocker, Domain, Hyper-V

Four requirements determine whether a company PC needs Windows 11 Pro – and hardly anyone knows two hardware limits. Including the honest...

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Reactivate Windows license after motherboard replacement

New motherboard and Windows reports as not activated. Whether the license can be saved depends on the license type. Here are the steps fo...

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Windows 10 ESU: Costs and who the update program is still worthwhile for

The first ESU year for private users ends in October 2026. We calculate when extending becomes more expensive than switching, and when it...

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Windows 11 on older hardware without TPM 2.0

TPM 2.0 missing, Windows 11 refusing to install? Usually, the chip is just disabled in the BIOS. And for TPM 1.2, there's a method docume...

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Surviving a License Audit: Which Documents You Need for Office

How a license audit works, which three documents you need per Office license, and why used licenses with complete documentation are legal...

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Office activation fails: the most common errors and their solutions

Four causes explain almost every failed Office activation. The symptoms, the respective solutions, and how telephone activation via Micro...

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Office without a subscription: the true cost over five years

Perpetual License or Microsoft 365? A five-year cost analysis with current Firstsoft prices – including scenarios where the subscription ...

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Office for small businesses: how many licenses do you really need?

Office is licensed per device, not per person. A calculated example from a six-person company shows why this often means four licenses in...

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Checking your Office license: how to spot a legitimate used license

Four documents determine whether your used Office license will stand up in an audit. Also included: the command you can use to check the ...

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Volume License vs. Retail for Office: What's Truly Transferable

OEM, Retail, or Volume License: Only one license type for Office 2019 and newer can be legally transferred. Learn how to recognize legiti...

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Using Office Home & Student commercially: why it's not allowed

Home & Student is around €60 to €80 cheaper – and the wrong license for any professional use. What the license terms really say, what hap...

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Office 2024 or Office 2021: Is the extra cost worth it?

Office 2024 Professional Plus costs €153 more than Office 2021. We calculate what the extra cost per month for security updates means – a...

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Transferring an Office License to a New PC: The Guide

When an Office license can be transferred to a new computer, how the transfer works step-by-step, and what helps with activation errors.

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Which Office version do I need for Windows 11?

All Office versions from 2016 to 2024 run on Windows 11 – but only two still receive security updates. An overview with system requirements.

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Buying Used Office Licenses Legally: The ECJ Ruling Explained

The ECJ ruling UsedSoft/Oracle permits the trade of used software licenses. What four conditions apply and what evidence you need for an ...

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Office Editions: Difference Between Standard, Home & Business, and Professional Plus

Standard, Home & Business or Professional Plus? Which programs are included in each and when the surcharge is really worth it.

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Office 2016 and 2019 End of Support: What to Do Now

Office 2016 and 2019 will no longer receive security updates as of October 2025. What that specifically means, how great the risk is, and...

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Office 2021 or Microsoft 365: Subscription or One-Time Purchase?

Perpetual license or subscription? A direct comparison including cost analysis, support periods, and a clear recommendation for both user...

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Windows Licenses for Students and Universities

What students should know about Windows licenses — from university portals to their own affordable license.

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Windows 7 in 2026: Is it still worth upgrading to Windows 11?

Security risks, lack of support, outdated hardware: Why upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 11 makes sense today.

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Activate Windows License Key: Step by Step

Step-by-step guide: How to activate your new Windows license key in minutes.

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OEM, Retail, or Volume License: An Overview of Windows License Types

OEM, Retail, or Volume License - we explain the differences and when each license type is worthwhile.

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Windows 11 System Requirements Explained Simply

TPM 2.0, UEFI, Processor Generation: We explain simply what hardware Windows 11 really needs.

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Windows 10 End of Support: What you need to know now

Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. We explain what this means and what options you have.

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Is buying a used Windows license legal?

ECJ UsedSoft/Oracle Ruling: Why Buying Used Windows Licenses is Legal and What to Look Out For.

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Renting or buying a Windows license: which is more worthwhile?

Buy once or pay continuously? We compare purchase and rental models for Windows licenses.

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Windows Home or Pro: which edition do you really need?

BitLocker, Remote Desktop, Hyper-V: We explain when Windows Pro is truly worth it over Home – and why we deliberately do not carry Home i...

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Windows 10 or Windows 11: what's the difference?

TPM 2.0, End of Support, new design: We show the most important differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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Used or new? How to make the right purchasing decision

Legal foundations, savings potential, and what to consider when buying used licenses.

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Windows Server Licenses Explained: The Grand Overview

Core Licenses, CALs, and Editions Explained — How to Find the Right Server License for Your Business.

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Office 2016, 2019, 2021 or 2024: which version is right for you?

We compare the features, system requirements, and price of the current Office versions in detail.

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