Windows XP Home (upgrade)

[estew33]

Originally posted by: 1Cheap2Crazy
March 13-19 Best Buy will have Windows XP Home for $90-$50MIR=$40. Seems like a decent deal for those that need/want XP.

edit:

Originally posted by: allisolm
Rebate is Best Buy offer #56486, PO Box 7200, Calais, ME 04619-7216

one per person/household/address. Requires a copy of the UPC.

Still don't see the rebate online.

rebate info courtesy of cnIsfg at FW.

Thanks allisolm. Over at the obese purse people are saying that the rebate prints out at the register. I don't know if this is a B&M deal, or if BB is just slow to put up the rebate form online. But it is legit.

I'm not able to find the rebate form anywhere. Any and all help is appreciated

 

[1Cheap2Crazy]

I'm not able to find the rebate form anywhere. Any and all help is appreciated[/quote]

I just called my local BB B&M and it appears as if it's only available instore. She told me they have the rebate but that's it's not online.

 

[JETFIRE714]

my rebate printed out at the register when I bought it at the store!!

 

[dew042]

Originally posted by: Garlic
"Upgrades" ARE full versions.

You can format your drive and boot this "upgrade" just like the full version. The only difference is this "upgrade" version will ask you to insert and previous copy of windows. Thats all. You insert the previous copy of windows, It spins the CD to verify its windows, and the installation continues.....

true -- but doesn't it defeat the point of purchasing legal software, only to violate the lisc agreement two seconds later thus making it illegal?????? amuzing.

nice price however.
dew.

 

[unclebud]

that is a calais me rebate?!! oh its looking good now!
i'm tempted myself! saw that the boxes come with sp2 now... hmm

 

[Lanyap]

Originally posted by: dew042

Originally posted by: Garlic
"Upgrades" ARE full versions.

You can format your drive and boot this "upgrade" just like the full version. The only difference is this "upgrade" version will ask you to insert and previous copy of windows. Thats all. You insert the previous copy of windows, It spins the CD to verify its windows, and the installation continues.....

true -- but doesn't it defeat the point of purchasing legal software, only to violate the lisc agreement two seconds later thus making it illegal?????? amuzing.

nice price however.
dew.

You can do the clean install with the upgrade version and be legit as long as you legitimately own the previous copy of windows you are using for verification. What is your basis for saying this is illegal?

 

[SirPappy]

plus, half the time the rebates dont print out, and they deduct the MIR off the price(instant discount)

 

[Mucker]

Got one, this is a great deal......

m

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: 1Cheap2Crazy

Originally posted by: StarTech
Will this work with a W95 upgrade CD?

From Overclock's post

That's actually the wrong link. That's referring to the ability to perform an in-place upgrade of the existing OS, and retain currently-installed program settings, etc.
Try this one: WinXP Home Upgrade Eligibility
Note that Win95 is sadly not included. (I'm a bit surprised at that one as well - why wouldn't MS want any straggling Win95 users to upgrade to XP? Or perhaps MS assumes that their hardware is so old (pre ACPI BIOS era), that it wouldn't function correctly or efficiently with XP?)

I wonder if the reason that MS is reducing the price on existing XP Home packages, is because they are about to release a refresh for the XP OS platform, or because they are phasing out the "Home" edition of XP, in favor of XP MCE 2005?

 

[Mucker]

If the $40 deal is run repetitively from now on, maybe so. Personally, I think a window like this opens up every so often and one should jump on it. The price is going back up in a couple of days and I would doubt it will be down that low again for quite some time (hopefully I'm wrong)

m

 

[soflawill]

upgrade software-one great reason never to throw away old disks-still have my 98 upgrade cd, the 95 cd that i upgraded from, and who knows how many norton or symantec disks-great for upgrade rebate bundles

 

[rivethead]

If I have Windows 98 loaded on my current PC (a Gateway that came with it pre installed), will this upgrade work? I went through all the CDs Gateway sent with my system five years ago and all I see is a "System Restoration CD" that contains "Windows 98 restoration program".

I've never had to reinstall Windows 98, so I have no idea if this is the OS or something else.

Also, is this product at Best Buy the same thing that sells for about $88 at NewEgg and is called OEM?

And one more question.....I'm in the process of building a new system. It install Windows XP would I have to first install my IDE hard drive with Windows 98 into the new system and then upgrade, or could I use the "Restoration CD" and then the upgrade and do a fresh install on the new SATA hard drive?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[tjmjr]

Rebate link

 

[SirPappy]

Originally posted by: rivethead
If I have Windows 98 loaded on my current PC (a Gateway that came with it pre installed), will this upgrade work? I went through all the CDs Gateway sent with my system five years ago and all I see is a "System Restoration CD" that contains "Windows 98 restoration program".

I've never had to reinstall Windows 98, so I have no idea if this is the OS or something else.

Also, is this product at Best Buy the same thing that sells for about $88 at NewEgg and is called OEM?

And one more question.....I'm in the process of building a new system. It install Windows XP would I have to first install my IDE hard drive with Windows 98 into the new system and then upgrade, or could I use the "Restoration CD" and then the upgrade and do a fresh install on the new SATA hard drive?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

just install winXP, while installing XP, it will ask you to verify you own a previous win OS by inserting the win95/98/me/2000 cd in. when it reads the old cd, it will tell you to take it back out and re-enter the win XP cd.
then continue on with the installation till finished.

a previous win OS doesn't have to be installed.

 

[SirPappy]

btw, that restoration cd might be needed for drivers for your pc.

 

[rivethead]

So you're saying that the "Restoration CD" that contains the "Windows 98 restoration program" will be enough to satisfy the Windows XP package that I legally own a copy of Windows 98 and it'll install Windows XP no problem?

Thanks!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: soflawill
upgrade software-one great reason never to throw away old disks-still have my 98 upgrade cd, the 95 cd that i upgraded from, and who knows how many norton or symantec disks-great for upgrade rebate bundles

Well, the reason that they are sold as "upgrade" packages, is exactly that. You are expected to retain your older-version CDs and documentation and whatnot. The idea is that if you resell your older software versions, you no longer qualify for the lower-prices "upgrade" version, and thus must purchase the "full" version instead. In fact, for MS software, it used to be that the software itself was no different, but that you were required to rip the front cover off of the manual for the prior version of the software, and bring that in to your software reseller to obtain the discounted "upgrade" pricing on the newest version. MS discontinued that practice, and instead changed the installer routines in the software itself to prompt the user for some install media from a prior version. (I can only assume that this was due to reseller fraud or poor compliance, similarly to how "academic edition" software also used to be sold. Now MS requires documented proof of current student enrollment or teacher position.)

 

[rivethead]

Anyone use this Upgrade product and upgrade a Dell, Compaq, Gateway, HP or other computer system that ships with windows pre-loaded.

I'd really like to get this upgrade, but if I have to have a Windows CD (I only have a "restoration CD"), I'm out of luck.


Comments?

Thanks

 

[dew042]

Originally posted by: Lanyap

Originally posted by: dew042

Originally posted by: Garlic
"Upgrades" ARE full versions.

You can format your drive and boot this "upgrade" just like the full version. The only difference is this "upgrade" version will ask you to insert and previous copy of windows. Thats all. You insert the previous copy of windows, It spins the CD to verify its windows, and the installation continues.....

true -- but doesn't it defeat the point of purchasing legal software, only to violate the lisc agreement two seconds later thus making it illegal?????? amuzing.

nice price however.
dew.

You can do the clean install with the upgrade version and be legit as long as you legitimately own the previous copy of windows you are using for verification. What is your basis for saying this is illegal?

Per the EULA: "UPGRADES. To use Software identified as an upgrade, you must first be licensed for the software identified by Microsoft as eligible for the upgrade. After upgrading, you may no longer use the software that formed the basis for your upgrade eligibility."

Merely having an old windows disk lying around doesn't prove prior lisc. CD media is not proof of ownership. If you don't have your old COA around as well you are technically in violation of the EULA. Its not as if MS has nothing better to do than hunt you down, but technically speaking.... When I see ten posts saying "All you need in a old windows cd" - It does not lead me to believe that these folks have real proof of pervious ownership....

dew

 

[ChineseGuy]

Check your local Good Will for a Windows 98 CD

 

[spaztech]

 

[spaztech]

Okay, this is strange. I purchased the XP Home Upgrade and the register-printed rebate form says to send it with a "copy of receipt" and a "photocopy of the UPC barcode from the box."

Problem is...there is no UPC barcode on the box. There is a barcode on the Microsoft COA on top of the box, but no UPC on the box or the plastic shell enclosing the box. The Best Buy price sticker has an SKU on it, but no UPC.

So how am I to send a photocopy of the UPC barcode ?!?!

I am going back to the store to ask a manager.

 

[Lanyap]

Originally posted by: spaztech
Okay, this is strange. I purchased the XP Home Upgrade and the register-printed rebate form says to send it with a "copy of receipt" and a "photocopy of the UPC barcode from the box."

Problem is...there is no UPC barcode on the box. There is a barcode on the Microsoft COA on top of the box, but no UPC on the box or the plastic shell enclosing the box. The Best Buy price sticker has an SKU on it, but no UPC.

So how am I to send a photocopy of the UPC barcode ?!?!

I am going back to the store to ask a manager.

The UPC barcode is on the box top in the bottom right hand corner of the COA label. It's small and not printed well but if you look close you can see it.

BTW, I hear that BB has the same thing on sale this coming week but you get a $60 BB GC instantly instead of a MIR.

 

[compcons]

Thanks for the new update. If this is true, I'm sure I can spend $60 gift card. I actually need a copy of XP home (odd as it may seem).

Thanks,
EH

 

[1Cheap2Crazy]

Originally posted by: compcons
Thanks for the new update. If this is true, I'm sure I can spend $60 gift card. I actually need a copy of XP home (odd as it may seem).

Thanks,
EH

It's true