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Any place left to buy a legitimate copy of XP?

C

craftech

Senior member
I think I am in love with that OS foolish as it may sound. I used my OEM XP Pro w/sp3 disk on a build two weeks ago. I bought it last spring from Newegg.

I know there are a lot of scams out there, but do any of you know which vendor might be selling a legitimate disk at this point or am I out of luck?

Thanks,

John
 
craftech said:
I think I am in love with that OS foolish as it may sound. I used my OEM XP Pro w/sp3 disk on a build two weeks ago. I bought it last spring from Newegg.

I know there are a lot of scams out there, but do any of you know which vendor might be selling a legitimate disk at this point or am I out of luck?

Thanks,

John
Click to expand...
could also try the for sale\trade forum here, should be able to find it in there pretty cheap
 
It's getting tough to find a legitmate deal on XP. Many of the ones on eBay appear to be fishy. I'm pretty experienced in eBay selling/buying and I'm nost sure that I could pick the legitmate ones anymore.
 
craftech said:
Thanks! I just ordered one from TD. Media Center Edition is XP Pro - fantastic.

John

EDIT: I may order another one. I have yet to speak to anyone who is in love with Windows 7. Most of the ones who like it like it better than Vista, not XP Pro.
Click to expand...

Ordered another one. Thanks again for the find.

Regards,

John
 
Anyone know of a legitimate source for XP Professional? This deal from Tiger Direct for XP MCE seems like a good option for home users, but as far as I can tell, it can't join a domain.
 
Fardringle said:
Anyone know of a legitimate source for XP Professional? This deal from Tiger Direct for XP MCE seems like a good option for home users, but as far as I can tell, it can't join a domain.
Click to expand...

That version is XP Professional with the media center (the media center can be uninstalled).

John
 
craftech said:
That version is XP Professional with the media center (the media center can be uninstalled).

John
Click to expand...

XP Media Center is XP Home with the Media Center software included. XP Home cannot attach to a domain, therefore XP Media Center also cannot attach to a domain. Nothing on that Tiger Direct page says that what they are selling is a different package from what Microsoft has distributed, so what makes you think that it is actually XP Pro?
 
Fardringle said:
XP Media Center is XP Home with the Media Center software included. XP Home cannot attach to a domain, therefore XP Media Center also cannot attach to a domain. Nothing on that Tiger Direct page says that what they are selling is a different package from what Microsoft has distributed, so what makes you think that it is actually XP Pro?
Click to expand...

Media Center is Pro with addons. It's advertised to home market of course, but the core is XP Pro.
 
lxskllr said:
Media Center is Pro with addons. It's advertised to home market of course, but the core is XP Pro.
Click to expand...
In their technical training courses, Microsoft originally said that MCE was XP Professional with additional Media Center features. Later, MS changed its description to XP Home plus.

The main install CD was basically XP Professional, but the Domain join feature was left out because of conflicts with Media Extenders. Other Pro features, like non-Simple File Sharing and Remote Desktop were left in.
 
RebateMonger said:
In their technical training courses, Microsoft originally said that MCE was XP Professional with additional Media Center features. Later, MS changed its description to XP Home plus.

The main install CD was basically XP Professional, but the Domain join feature was left out because of conflicts with Media Extenders. Other Pro features, like non-Simple File Sharing and Remote Desktop were left in.
Click to expand...


Ah, ok. I thought it still had the ability to join a domain.
 
mechBgon said:
Why not just get Win7 Pro OEM and use downgrade rights to install WinXP Pro in its place? Bonus: you can go back to Win7 Pro whenever you feel like it, the license doesn't get "used up."

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx
Click to expand...

It looks like it is saying that you first have to have an XP pro disk with a valid license. Where is the gain?

# Obtain genuine Windows media and a corresponding product key for the eligible version of Windows for downgrade (see next section for eligible Windows versions).

* The media should come from a prior legally licensed version from the OEM or Retail channels.
* Additionally an end user, who is licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL) programs, may provide their VL media and key to their system builder to use to facilitate the downgrade on only their systems.

# Insert eligible downgrade version of Windows media in the CD drive and follow the installation instructions.
# Type the product key.

* If the software was previously activated, you will not be able to activate it online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances.When it is determined that the end user has an eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.

# Activate the software.

John
 
lxskllr said:
Ah, ok. I thought it still had the ability to join a domain.
Click to expand...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_editions#Media_Center_Edition

In describing the final edition MCE 2005 (the ones I just bought):

Media Center Edition retains most of the features included in Windows XP Professional as it is simply an addon to Professional, installed when provided with a valid MCE product key during setup. All Professional features have been left in, including Remote Desktop and the Encrypting File System, however the ability to join an Active Directory domain has been removed as it is marketed as a home product with no need for domain support. One value in the registry is all that is needed to circumvent this restriction;[18] if the installation of MCE 2005 is an in-place upgrade from a previous version already joined to a domain, this ability is retained, unless a user uses a Windows Media Center Extender: in this case, such ability is lost and cannot be reverted back again. Presumably, Microsoft introduced this limit because Media Center Extender devices, introduced in this version, rely on the Fast User Switching component, but this component must be disabled in order to join a domain.

John
 
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Take a look at the prices people are charging there, humanure. It's not actually Amazon selling them, but greedy "scalpers" selling through the Amazon store for ridiculous amounts
 
RebateMonger said:
In their technical training courses, Microsoft originally said that MCE was XP Professional with additional Media Center features. Later, MS changed its description to XP Home plus.

The main install CD was basically XP Professional, but the Domain join feature was left out because of conflicts with Media Extenders. Other Pro features, like non-Simple File Sharing and Remote Desktop were left in.
Click to expand...

Do you know if it supports Software Restrictions Policies like Pro does? If it does, then I'm probably going to pick up a couple.

Edit: With SRP, and a Limited User Account, XP Pro is practically bulletproof with regards to drive-by malware. At least I've NEVER been infected, once I implemented those two things. Even without any active anti-virus or anti-malware software.
 
Last edited:
craftech said:
It looks like it is saying that you first have to have an XP pro disk with a valid license. Where is the gain?

# Obtain genuine Windows media and a corresponding product key for the eligible version of Windows for downgrade (see next section for eligible Windows versions).

* The media should come from a prior legally licensed version from the OEM or Retail channels.
* Additionally an end user, who is licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL) programs, may provide their VL media and key to their system builder to use to facilitate the downgrade on only their systems.

# Insert eligible downgrade version of Windows media in the CD drive and follow the installation instructions.
# Type the product key.

* If the software was previously activated, you will not be able to activate it online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number will be displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances.When it is determined that the end user has an eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Please note that Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.

# Activate the software.

John
Click to expand...

The benefit is that the Win7 Pro OEM license entitles you to use WinXP Pro in its place. So you could legitimately use your WinXP Pro from Newegg on two systems at once, and you could always switch up the second rig to Win7 Pro if you wanted. It's a nuisance to call in for activation, yeah, and I'm not 100% sure how you escape the automated activation lady robot to get a live representative, but at least you know you've got authentic Windows XP when you're done, no rootkits or backdoors.
 
mechBgon said:
...and I'm not 100% sure how you escape the automated activation lady robot to get a live representative...
Click to expand...

When the computer prompts you to do something, do nothing. You'll have to hang tough; the machine is very persistent, but after enough failures to get you to do something, you'll be kicked over to a real person :^)
 
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