Hot? or Not... Windows XP Pro Upgrade for $82.90 plus shipping

[docmanhattan]

MontyBurns-

JOOC, what are your sources for what requires activation and what does not?

 

[odz]

I got a copy of XP home with my Dell Laptop, and when I reinstalled it from scratch I saw nothing for activation. Maybe it doesn't ask, it just does it automatically.

 

[MontyBurns]

My source is myself. I've installed both the retail and academic versions, and both required activation.

But I'm still confused: WHy the big concern over whether or not the products require activation? It seems to me the only people who would be concerned about that would be people who plan on pirating the software (maybe sharing one copy among 10 users).

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, I'm just honestly curious: What's the difference?

 

[docmanhattan]

it the same reason (at least for me) i build my own box.

i like to know what exactly is going own.

i don't profess to know assembly code or have the ability to write device drivers, but i do know how to administrate, maintain, and build PC's and it bothers me to know that there's something decidedly undocumented like this.

Doesn't it seem odd that there's no definitive answer? MontyBurns, you cite yourself for the resource. 😉 Sorry, but that's not good enough. I'm looking for something a bit more substantial.

Plus, the hardware modification proviso it a bit worrisome. a bit "big brother-ish" IYAM.

i guess, i have no real point here. it just bugs me on a ethical level. 🙁

on a sidenote: here's the low down on the TechNet pages.

 

[MontyBurns]

I'm not the source; Microsoft is the source. Every copy (license) of Windows XP has to be activated. The only way to avoid having hte activation take place on your PC is if you activate a license at the corporate level, in which case Microsoft sells you several activated copies and really doesn't care whether you use them all or not -- you've activated them regardless. I'm looking at the two packages I have right here, one for academic XP pro and one for regular XP pro. Both say in the "system information" section that they require "authentication with Microsoft to activate product."

While I, too, inherently bristle at the idea of electronic activation, the truth is that we're talking about the single most pirated piece of software in the world. How many people on this board have an illegal copy of windows at home? The process is incredibly simple, and I have no more reason to believe that they're lying about exactly what information they are collecting than I do to doubt what kind of information Anandtech collects through cookies when I visit the site.

I'm sure your privacy is far more compromised spending an hour on the net than it is installing Windows XP.

At any rate, you seem more focused on whether or not the software requires activation -- not what happens DURING activation. That's the only reason I was a bit... suspicious.

 

[MSAgentII]

<<

<< I got it for 5 bucks. yeee haaaww...😀 >>



Oh, yeah?..........I got mine for nuthin!!........does that mean I can yeee haaaww 500 times more than you?............:Q:Q😀😀 >>



eeerrrr.....hmmm...do i smell something fishy here?:frown:

 

[Madib]

<< I got a copy of XP home with my Dell Laptop, and when I reinstalled it from scratch I saw nothing for activation. Maybe it doesn't ask, it just does it automatically. >>


OEM versions don't require activation if the OEM has "preactivated" XP. They can do this because the OEM copies are tied to the system BIOS and won't install on other machines. I think most of the major OEMs do preactivation, certainly Dell, Gateway and IBM. Now, if you had two identical Dell laptops, you could install XP on both from the same copy and MS would never know.

 

[alrocky]

Shipping to California is $10.85, or $15.40 for two copies. Now gotta find that college ID. Is AE a retail version or is it like an OEM? I was thinking about getting the full OEM (or DSP) XP Pro version at z-buy.com for $134, but at $82.80, it's a no-brainer.

Thank you, Nightwatch, for the information.

 

[docmanhattan]

<< At any rate, you seem more focused on whether or not the software requires activation -- not what happens DURING activation. That's the only reason I was a bit... suspicious. >>



can't a person be curious... geez! 🙂

okay, you say it states the staus in the system information?

start->programs->accessories->system tools->system information

is this the same system information that you're talking about?

if that's the case, then i don't see it. what build are both of your copies?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

<< okay, you say it states the staus in the system information? start->programs->accessories->system tools->system information >>

system tools>Activate Windows...listed right above "Backup" The MS reminder usually sits in the systray and popsup on regular basis unless told to "activate" or ...hehe...pizzoff. But until "activated" the 'countdown' still runs(mine was 30 days...rc1 was 15 days but I got out of 'activating' that by installing Pro final 5.1.2600 ..ok) and by the way under MS copyright ..you are allowed to make a (1) backup copy of your software for your own use. No I will not go thru the EULA again. The EULA is in your WinXP Windows file folder tho.

 

[docmanhattan]

nope. nothing there. incidentally, i have xp pro upgrade final (build 2600).

that's very strange. i certainly didn't miss it in the install...

JOOC, what's the name of the file called that the activation is shortcut is linked to?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A ...hmm... C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools lol...its buried here "C:\WINDOWS\system32\oobe"