cheapest place to buy winxp home?

[imported_Kainz]

lookin for windows xp home w/ SP 2... cheapest place anyone?

 

[poisonthewell]

If OEM works ZZF is usually cheapest. They had it down to $79.99 last week. Otherwise if you get lucky there will be a good deal involving rebates, coupons, etc on an Upgrade Edition (meaning you'll need a disc from a previous version of Windows). Check the hot deals forum.

 

[imported_Kainz]

is there a difference with OEM and Retail for the OS? I know what they mean but is it safe to get an OEM?

 

[mike3uz]

OEM doesn't have the fancy stuff the retail one has. OEM only can do clean install but thats recommended anyways. You have to buy it with hardware. Some retailers include a audio cable so you can buy it alone. OEM cant be used as an upgrade also. I hope this helps.

 

[imported_Kainz]

so getting retail would be best?

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: Kainz
so getting retail would be best?

OEM is perfectly fine... MS doesn't provide support for OEM other than what is on line ( knowledge base etc...) but what else do you need. For value price ratio oem is the way to go unless you will need one on one tech support from MS. Which you don't really need anyway with great support groups such as this around.

pcgeek11

 

[redgtxdi]

Thoroughly depressing when ya' think about the '98 days when you could have one copy & install it on all your PC's at home. Buy one copy, have it, own it, sleep good at night and don't have to get hit for another $100 'cuz your 5 year old kid wants to play games on their computer & you have to buy another copy of XP.........or re-install the friggin' thing every 30 days..........niiiice. I just wanna say thanks to slick Willy for encouraging even more hacks & piracy!! Thanks Bill!! Thanks a lot!! :disgust:

I don't even know what to tell folks that want me to build for 'em anymore. Point 'em to where they can pick up a corp copy & have XP free forever???

Buy a Dell & essentially get the same thing??? (Keep in mind, Dells don't ask for crap. You can uninstall/reinstall as many times as you like, swap as much hardware as you'd like.......well, except to a non-dell mobo........and never get a single-solitary "activation" or "call us" warning in your tray......EVER!!!!)

I still have old Win98 licenses in my desk that I think I paid $30 a piece for back when an OEM copy was still $80+. Heck, you can't TOUCH XP for under $79.99 unless you're buyin' it off somebody generous on the forums. Then, of course, you're going to have to inevitably make that call to MS during activation 'cuz every single piece of hardware will have changed. And what do you do?? Do you dare say you *bought* that copy on a forum??

The whole thing makes me sick. I'm not for stealin' but if not a hot copy of XP, why not just a Dell??

 

[johnnqq]

Originally posted by: mike3uz
OEM doesn't have the fancy stuff the retail one has. OEM only can do clean install but thats recommended anyways. You have to buy it with hardware. Some retailers include a audio cable so you can buy it alone. OEM cant be used as an upgrade also. I hope this helps.

you are an idiot

 

[imported_Kainz]

umm.. i have xp pro on my pc but it was "borrowed" from a family member and it still installs each time I reformat.. bad thing is that I cant install SP2 on it cause the cd-key is invalid.. would I have same problem if I loaded xp home on my pcs?

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Kainz
umm.. i have xp pro on my pc but it was "borrowed" from a family member and it still installs each time I reformat.. bad thing is that I cant install SP2 on it cause the cd-key is invalid.. would I have same problem if I loaded xp home on my pcs?

No, for this XP Home copy you will be paying M$ for the software. That Pro version, you didn't pay M$ one cent for.

Get XP Home OEM from a reputable seller (even if it's a few more $$ than www.bargainbasementquestionablesoftware.com) and you'll be able to load SP2 onto it. You buy from the super-bargain websites, and you're going to get a copy no more legit than the pirated XP Pro copies everyone has had at one time.

 

[imported_Kainz]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: Kainz
umm.. i have xp pro on my pc but it was "borrowed" from a family member and it still installs each time I reformat.. bad thing is that I cant install SP2 on it cause the cd-key is invalid.. would I have same problem if I loaded xp home on my pcs?

No, for this XP Home copy you will be paying M$ for the software. That Pro version, you didn't pay M$ one cent for.

Get XP Home OEM from a reputable seller (even if it's a few more $$ than www.bargainbasementquestionablesoftware.com) and you'll be able to load SP2 onto it. You buy from the super-bargain websites, and you're going to get a copy no more legit than the pirated XP Pro copies everyone has had at one time.

I would be able to load it onto as many computers as I want or just my one machine? thats my main question..
Newegg.com is a reputable place isnt it?

 

[Varun]

One machine per copy of XP.

 

[imported_Kainz]

god damn :-/

 

[redgtxdi]

Well, there is an exception...........

Exception #1.........

You have a half-dozen Dell desktops/laptops in your home = You would be able to load any ONE Dell Windows XP "OEM" cd on any and all of those machines no matter what & as often as you'd like without activation, phone calls, blood samples or anything else Big Brother would like of you.

Exception #2........

You could load your regular plain-jane "OEM" version of Windows on any PC as many times as you'd like for 30 days at a pop.

Obviously #2 becomes a bit of a PITA but, hey, it's an exception.

Just remember that outside of exceptions #1 and #2 above...........Big Broth...........err............"BILL"..............is watching!!