XP Pro retail

[Superczar]

Is there any place to get a cheaper (than $280) copy of XP Pro retail? I mean holy hell, no damn wonder people pirate shit like that. What a joke charging an arm and a leg for an O/S that is so old... Newegg and Tiger are both over $280... :doh:

[Steve]

Is there any place to get a cheaper (than $280) copy of XP Pro retail? I mean holy hell, no damn wonder people pirate shit like that. What a joke charging an arm and a leg for an O/S that is so old... Newegg and Tiger are both over $280... :doh:

Any particular reason why you want the retail version? OEM is just as good - If you need to install the OEM copy on another computer just give MS a call (I did that with my copy of Vista Ultimate OEM)

XP pro OEM $139.99:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116059

edit: ooo... they're out of stock ;)

[Superczar]

Yeah, I didn't want the hassle of having to call M$ for that anytime I needed to install it in a new PC. Maybe I'll just suck it up and buy the OEM anyway... :o

[Scotty]

If MS sold XP for half off, nobody would buy Vista. As the retailers don't get a break on XP, you're not going to get one, either.

Given how many ppl hate Vista, MS could probably sell XP for more than Vista, but that would put them on the hook to extend XP's lifecycle.

[Steve]

If MS sold XP for half off, nobody would buy Vista. As the retailers don't get a break on XP, you're not going to get one, either.

Given how many ppl hate Vista, MS could probably sell XP for more than Vista, but that would put them on the hook to extend XP's lifecycle.

XP OEM versions here are on average $10 more than Vista :o

[Wamplet]

Your best bet is to just buy the XP Pro Upgrade and just do the full install by booting off it and feeding it an old OS CD in the setup. :o

[Babe]

Wait till XP SP3 comes out and then buy the disc. Also by that time since Vista SP1 will be out (hopefully), the price of XP may come down.

[Superczar]

Your best bet is to just buy the XP Pro Upgrade and just do the full install by booting off it and feeding it an old OS CD in the setup. :o

I may just wait til SP3 comes out hopefully on an upgrade CD Wamplet...

[Wamplet]

I didnt even know they were doing SP3. :o

Dx10 support, i hope. :lie:

Just to let you know, I don't know for sure if an SP3 Upgrade CD would work as a full install. All the upgrades I have tried from work have gone up to SP2. Not sure if they took the full install feature out or not in the SP3 if they decide to make a full/upgrade set.

My memory may be a bit vague, but i think they removed the full install from the Vista upgrade, but maybe someone can confirm it or not.

[Scotty]

It's a trend for newer software: Upgrades require the qualifying software to be installed. It's too easy to pass around a previous version CD to pass an upgrade check.

The Vista Upgrade media will do a full install, but as soon as you punch in an upgrade key to activate, you're toast.

There is a "dodge" to do a clean install with Vista Upgrade, but it's as big a pain in the ass as it is to install XP and then Vista.

This trend pisses me off: I had to pay for a full copy of Diskeeper, only because my prior qualifying version wouldn't install on Vista. :mad:

[shiranui]

The idea that OEM versions (of Xp at least) requiring phone re-activation more often than the boxed version is bollocks.

I bought the OEM for my main machine years ago and was never asked to activate by phone, despite multiple hardware changes.

A few years later, when I installed MCE on the main machine, I transferred my oem version to my laptop, which again survived various hardware changes.

I've always bought oem/dsp versions and have never had to speak to Mr. Steve 'dance monkey' Ballmer.

Anyway, get Vista.

[Scotty]

A few MS employees that posted on the private Windows XP newsgroups while Windows XP was in the beta/release candidate phase posted that MS reserved the right to maintain tighter licensing restrictions on the OEM versions.

Ppl that have posted here over the years have posted that reactivation of OEM XP licenses has tended to require a phone call, versus ppl with retail copies that rarely (if ever) have to activate by phone. Nobody here was ever denied reactivation, but the phone call was more common.

Presumably this would run up support costs for little benefit to MS, so it wouldn't surprise me if MS eventually treated OEM licenses the same as retail licenses (activation status dropped from MS servers after 120 days).

Similarly with Vista, MS had originally posted that they were going to keep a tighter rein on Vista licenses (both OEM and retail this time). Whether they'll actually follow through and do it remains to be seen.

[Superczar]

Eh, I grabbed an OEM...

And shiranui, no thank you to Vista man... :mryuck:

[Inanimate Carbon Rod]

Similarly with Vista, MS had originally posted that they were going to keep a tighter rein on Vista licenses (both OEM and retail this time). Whether they'll actually follow through and do it remains to be seen.


I had to phone in when I reinstalled vista home premium oem (changed mobo's). They just asked "how many computers was it installed?" and "why are you reinstalling?". It was a fairly painless experience.

[peoplessi]

It is, I don't really see why people see calling as a problem. It's not like you'd have to do it daily.

[Wamplet]

Yeah, I have had to call up once for one of my computers at home when i had replaced about 5 things finally and went through a few reinstalls. took only about 5-10 mins. A majority of the call time was reading back the activation numbers. :o

At work, we have had to call in a few, because for a while we had bought XP Pro full retail licenses and were putting them on old 95/98 machines and even though we did our best to tie a license to a machine, we sometimes didn't have all the licenses matched up with a specific pc, so after a few installs under a certain time period, i would have to call them up.

[peoplessi]

Thing that I didn't really think of, Vista versions can be downgraded to certain XP editions, was it like that Home Premium and Business were equivalents for Windows XP Professional, and Ultimate too. Since those are usually more cheaper, that might have been a good move too. I have used WXP Pro oem for years now, and reinstalled even few times. They tend to interrogate you more if you have oem, but for retail they just activate with no questions asked.

[Superczar]

I had to call in to activate my OEM copy (I used the key update tool) - it was done by automated voice, I didn't speak to a real person...

[Steve]

I had to call in to activate my OEM copy (I used the key update tool) - it was done by automated voice, I didn't speak to a real person...

My father does that for his copy of XP home (he doesn't have the net to activate it). Pretty easy stuff :)

[Jiminator]

my understanding of vista downgrades to xp is that it will only work for corporate editions, you might be taking a chance otherwise.

[peoplessi]

For OEM following is true, for Retail I'd imagine you'd be able to downgrade to any previous Windows version. This is straight from Microsoft, you can call them and ask, I'm sure they'll help. The best side in this is, that you have the possibility to use Vista in the future, when the driver situation settles and all that. nVidia seems to lack the most on Vista 64-bit side, drivers are from 2007.

Can I downgrade my OEM version of Windows Vista Business to Windows XP Professional?

Yes. OEM downgrade rights for desktop PC operating systems apply to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate as stated in the License Terms. Please note, OEM downgrade versions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate are limited to Windows XP Professional (including Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP x64 Edition). End users can use the following media for their downgrade: Volume Licensing media (provided the end user has a Volume Licensing agreement), retail (FPP), or system builder hologram CD (provided the software is acquired in accordance with the Microsoft OEM System Builder License). Use of the downgraded operating system is governed by the Windows Vista Business License Terms, and the end user cannot use both the downgrade operating system and Windows Vista Business. There are no downgrade rights granted for Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium.

my understanding of vista downgrades to xp is that it will only work for corporate editions, you might be taking a chance otherwise.

Yeah, that's right, but corporate meaning Business or Ultimate. Business is around the same price as Home Premium, bit more expensive with OEM. XP Professional retail and Vista Business Retail cost the same.

[Inanimate Carbon Rod]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116400 $135 for those who really want it.