I need an OS!!

[pjwinkler]

Im buying a computer and I can't afford Windows XP pro with the cost of the computer. What I'm wondering is can i download Windows XP pro, get a serial number and the drivers off the internet. If not is Linux a good solution?

 

[pjwinkler]

btw I'm gonna being using this computer for gaming

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: pjwinkler
Im buying a computer and I can't afford Windows XP pro with the cost of the computer. What I'm wondering is can i download Windows XP pro, get a serial number and the drivers off the internet. If not is Linux a good solution?

Linux might be a good solution. The other option would be illegal and should not be discussed in these Forums If your new computer will be an Athlon64, you can get a free 360-day trial version of WinXP 64-Bit Edition from Microsoft so you can save up for a legally-licensed WinXP of your own.

 

[MrChad]

1. Get XP Home
2. Downgrade some of your new computer specs so you can afford Windows.

Linux is an option, but not a good one for gaming.

 

[pjwinkler]

ok mech, i really like the sound of the one year trial. no catches? few questions though. If im building my computer and have no OS how do i access this free trial? (can you give me tons of info on this, its sounds like a sweet deal )

 

[mechBgon]

You can download the .ISO from Microsoft and burn it to CD, or order a CD for the cost of shipping, either one from here. I think I might try it myself sometime. The main downside in my mind is that it's not a production OS and you may have a fun time finding drivers for stuff. See the thread stickied at the top of this section of the Forum for some leads.

 

[Nothinman]

i really like the sound of the one year trial. no catches?

The catch is that it's beta, so there's no doubt you'll run into more problems than normal.

If im building my computer and have no OS how do i access this free trial? (can you give me tons of info on this, its sounds like a sweet deal

If you don't have a current computer to use you could use Linux, but you still need a machine to download it from.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

i really like the sound of the one year trial. no catches?

The catch is that it's beta, so there's no doubt you'll run into more problems than normal.

If im building my computer and have no OS how do i access this free trial? (can you give me tons of info on this, its sounds like a sweet deal

If you don't have a current computer to use you could use Linux, but you still need a machine to download it from.

Well if he doesn't have access to a machine, then I would be interested in how he was able to make a post here.

linuxiso is a decent place to find links to iso image downloads of installation cdroms.

 

[Nothinman]

Well if he doesn't have access to a machine, then I would be interested in how he was able to make a post here.

It's possible that he posted from work or an Internet terminal, some place were he can browse the Internet but wouldn't be able to download/burn an ISO.

 

[pjwinkler]

yes i have access,this is a crapy family computer, I'm building a new computer (for me). So.. If I get the XP64 trial do you think I'd be able to:

-Play UT 2004
-Play Americas Army
-Have MSN messanger
-Surf the internet

That's pretty much all i'll ever be doing on this computer.

 

[pjwinkler]

oh, and would Linux work for doing this?

 

[pjwinkler]

heh.. one more thing, if linux would be fine for this which version would i want ?

 

[NewBlackDak]

Originally posted by: pjwinkler
yes i have access,this is a crapy family computer, I'm building a new computer (for me). So.. If I get the XP64 trial do you think I'd be able to:

-Play UT 2004
-Play Americas Army
-Have MSN messanger
-Surf the internet

That's pretty much all i'll ever be doing on this computer.

You can do all those things on a linux box as long as you don't buy an ATI video card. Also MSN messenger doesn't work in linux, but there are uncountable apps that are able to use the MSN messenger service.

 

[hopejr]

Originally posted by: NewBlackDak

Originally posted by: pjwinkler
yes i have access,this is a crapy family computer, I'm building a new computer (for me). So.. If I get the XP64 trial do you think I'd be able to:

-Play UT 2004
-Play Americas Army
-Have MSN messanger
-Surf the internet

That's pretty much all i'll ever be doing on this computer.

You can do all those things on a linux box as long as you don't buy an ATI video card. Also MSN messenger doesn't work in linux, but there are uncountable apps that are able to use the MSN messenger service.

AMSN is an excellent app that is used on linux (even windows) instead of msn messenger. Get it at http://amsn.sourceforge.net/

Linux is a good way to go if you don't have the money for windows, and as NewBlackDak said, you can do all those things that you want on it. BTW, AFAIK, ATI drivers are improving on linux now.
A good distro for noobs is Mandrake. Another is SuSe.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: MrChad
1. Get XP Home
2. Downgrade some of your new computer specs so you can afford Windows.

Linux is an option, but not a good one for gaming.

Still best idea here.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Originally posted by: hopejr
Linux is a good way to go if you don't have the money for windows, and as NewBlackDak said, you can do all those things that you want on it. BTW, AFAIK, ATI drivers are improving on linux now.
A good distro for noobs is Mandrake. Another is SuSe.

Improving, but still not good enough for me to play UT2K4 without all the textures eventually tearing/disappearing. Happens on 9550, 9600Pro, and 9800Pro.

 

[Nothinman]

Improving, but still not good enough for me to play UT2K4 without all the textures eventually tearing/disappearing. Happens on 9550, 9600Pro, and 9800Pro.

Talk to ATI about their crap, nVidia's drivers are perfect.

 

[StuckMojo]

mmmm..."perfect" is a bit of a stretch
but they're at least as good as the windows drivers

and UT2k4 and AA have native linux ports.

 

[PlatinumGold]

i must have missed something. did the OP ask about warez or am i reading way too much into his post.

i'm surprised more people haven't commented on it yet.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
i must have missed something. did the OP ask about warez or am i reading way too much into his post.

i'm surprised more people haven't commented on it yet.

He hinted at it, but then immediately mentioned using Linux as an alternative to Windows, permanently endearing himself to the OS forum .

 

[forpey]

Get XP Home. I don't know how competative it is in the US, but in th UK you can get it for about £60, which is only £20 more than Half-Life 2. Not sure what all that is in dollars.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: pjwinkler
Im buying a computer and I can't afford Windows XP pro with the cost of the computer. What I'm wondering is can i download Windows XP pro, get a serial number and the drivers off the internet. If not is Linux a good solution?

Try the FS/FT forum. See if somebody will sell you an old copy of 98se or ME for dirt cheap. I use 98se on the rig in my sig w/o a prob

 

[Nothinman]

Try the FS/FT forum. See if somebody will sell you an old copy of 98se or ME for dirt cheap.

Paying anything for those OSes is a rip off.