Question about purchasing an OEM copy of WinXP

[ZombieRitual]

So I want to buy a legit copy of XP, but clearly I want to spend the least amount of money on XP as possible. I see OEM copy's of XP on newegg and I just want to make sure that if I buy one that I can install it and re-install it on my computer (or another computer) without incident from Microsoft.

A second question is should I go with XP Pro or Media Center Edition? I'm not going to go with home obviously, and MCE is 30 bucks cheaper than Pro. I understand that MCE is just Pro with some media center features tacked on. On that note, I have an All-In-Wonder x800xt and I don't want MCE features interfering with my ATI drivers and all-in-wonder software. Thanks guys!

 

[Noema]

With OEM, you cannot reinstall XP on any other computer after you've have activated it on another one first. In other words, the software becomes bound to the hardware (usually, the defining term for hardware in this case is the motherboard. You can upgrade your system by adding, say more RAM or changing the video card, but if you change your Mobo your computer is considered 'new' and you'll have to get a new copy of XP) and cannot be transferred. Technically you can reinstall it as many times as you want on the hardware you activated it on, as long as you don't replace the motherboard.

Here is some clarification about it.

 

[oynaz]

In many countries, but not in the US, the OEM licencens does not make any sense legally. Thus, OEM copies can be transferred to other computers legally if you live in most European countries, for instance.

 

[ZombieRitual]

Alright, an OEM will be fine since when I get a new computer, I'll probably be using Vista. Bump for the question about Media Center versus Pro.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: ZombieRitual
Alright, an OEM will be fine since when I get a new computer, I'll probably be using Vista. Bump for the question about Media Center versus Pro.

I don't think the Media Center Dashboard will conflict with your AIW features, as long as you don't run both applications at the same time. As you said, MCE is just Pro with the media features and (I believe) the inability to join a domain out of the box. Otherwise it has the same functionality. If you have an X-Box 360, it is specially nice as they have some nice interfacing features with one another.

 

[PianoMan]

You can change mobo's with OEM versions of Win XP, you'll just need to call in and reverify your activation with M$. I've done several mobo/hardware upgrades, and typically, would have to just click on the activiation icon - but major changes and mobo changes would just need a call in. I dreaded it the first time, but it turns out it's relatively painless. As long as you're running ONE copy activated at any one time, M$ is fine with that. Start spawning the same key across multiple platforms, then you're stretching it a bit. I don't think even M$ wants to destroy the hobbyist market, where it's expected major upgrades come fast and often.

I'd opt for XP Pro - only by hearsay, but I've had accounts from coworkers/friends about the instability of MCE. Of course, it could be their installs...

If you don't need the pretty GUI and aren't using it for an HTPC, I'd stick with Pro.

PM

 

[ZombieRitual]

Thanks for the input guys, I decided to go with MCE because it's 30 bucks cheaper than Pro.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: ZombieRitual
Thanks for the input guys, I decided to go with MCE because it's 30 bucks cheaper than Pro.

Media Center 2005 is based on Windows XP Professional and as a user of Media Center 2005, I do need to warn you to use Media Center specific display drivers or your PC will constantly crash.

 

[htne]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: ZombieRitual
Thanks for the input guys, I decided to go with MCE because it's 30 bucks cheaper than Pro.

Media Center 2005 is based on Windows XP Professional and as a user of Media Center 2005, I do need to warn you to use Media Center specific display drivers or your PC will constantly crash.

I have installed MCE 2005 several times, on different computers, and have never used "Media Center specific display drivers". And no problems resulted, either.

 

[Madellga]

Originally posted by: PianoMan
You can change mobo's with OEM versions of Win XP, you'll just need to call in and reverify your activation with M$. I've done several mobo/hardware upgrades, and typically, would have to just click on the activiation icon - but major changes and mobo changes would just need a call in. I dreaded it the first time, but it turns out it's relatively painless. As long as you're running ONE copy activated at any one time, M$ is fine with that. Start spawning the same key across multiple platforms, then you're stretching it a bit. I don't think even M$ wants to destroy the hobbyist market, where it's expected major upgrades come fast and often.

I'd opt for XP Pro - only by hearsay, but I've had accounts from coworkers/friends about the instability of MCE. Of course, it could be their installs...

If you don't need the pretty GUI and aren't using it for an HTPC, I'd stick with Pro.

PM

I have done the same a couple of times (when upgrading mobo), just that the phone call is not so easy sometimes: you have to spell a lot of letters/numbers and get the answer from the operator. The problem is that you can get someone with heavy accent or wait a bit on the line, go through the complete sequence just to hear "the system is down at the moment, please call back later". Or get to answer things like: how many computers do you have this copy on? Why are you upgrading? Which hardware make is your OEM copy originating from?

My answer once was: the guys running ilegal copies do not have to go through this "torture" session; I got an apologie ....

I don't like how this works, suppose in a what-if scenario, you have this old computer running XP in 2015 and you get the message to activate Windows, will MS have still lines open for that?
If MS goes bankrupt, so goes my XP copy?

I have old software and computers still running at home (OS/2 anyone?), but they didn't need activation in the past....