WinXP Pro license question

[ksherman]

How many PCs can I legally install XP Pro on? They are all in my house. Is there a difference in regards to this with OEM and Retail? Is there any paticular place where I shold buy XP at?

 

[timswim78]

Basically, one license for one computer. Retail licenses can be transferred from one machine to another, once you uninstall it from the first machine. OEM licenses are not supposed to be transferrable. (This means that if you do some major upgrades, your OEM license may no longer be valid).

 

[ksherman]

Originally posted by: timswim78
Basically, one license for one computer. Retail licenses can be transferred from one machine to another, once you uninstall it from the first machine. OEM licenses are not supposed to be transferrable. (This means that if you do some major upgrades, your OEM license may no longer be valid).

That really kinda stinks... for years I have used pirated versions of Windows and was thinking of late going legit... but there is 5, soon to be six computers in my house... and i cannot afford that many versions of windows... I always thought that one copy could cover your whole house hold... erg

 

[networkman]

Hence one of the major reasons so many people have chosen to explore various Linux possibilities. 😉

Or in my own case, simply chosen not to upgrade to the latest and greatest. Between Windows 2000 and Win98(on a couple machines), I'm quite happy - and legal. 🙂

 

[ksherman]

Except that everyone esle in the family is generally computer illiterate... maybe i will put linux on my little sister machine... now theres a thought! But i dont have any experience with it yet, guess that will make it an adventer then! Except that their "eduactional" software wont be compatible...

 

[timswim78]

Originally posted by: ksherman

Originally posted by: timswim78
Basically, one license for one computer. Retail licenses can be transferred from one machine to another, once you uninstall it from the first machine. OEM licenses are not supposed to be transferrable. (This means that if you do some major upgrades, your OEM license may no longer be valid).

That really kinda stinks... for years I have used pirated versions of Windows and was thinking of late going legit... but there is 5, soon to be six computers in my house... and i cannot afford that many versions of windows... I always thought that one copy could cover your whole house hold... erg

This is one thing that Apple does well. You can buy a single-user license of Tiger (OS X) for $129.00 or a family pack that covers five machines for $199. However, some would argue that you are paying a premium for Apple hardware.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

Originally posted by: ksherman
Except that everyone esle in the family is generally computer illiterate... maybe i will put linux on my little sister machine... now theres a thought! But i dont have any experience with it yet, guess that will make it an adventer then! Except that their "eduactional" software wont be compatible...

i remember reading on slashdot or somewhere that someone just released some distro of linux that is specifically geared towards elementary-ish aged audiences with educational software preinstalled.

 

[ksherman]

Originally posted by: unfalliblekrutch

Originally posted by: ksherman
Except that everyone esle in the family is generally computer illiterate... maybe i will put linux on my little sister machine... now theres a thought! But i dont have any experience with it yet, guess that will make it an adventer then! Except that their "eduactional" software wont be compatible...

i remember reading on slashdot or somewhere that someone just released some distro of linux that is specifically geared towards elementary-ish aged audiences with educational software preinstalled.

really... i will have to do a search for that...

 

[Kriz]

Originally posted by: unfalliblekrutch

Originally posted by: ksherman
Except that everyone esle in the family is generally computer illiterate... maybe i will put linux on my little sister machine... now theres a thought! But i dont have any experience with it yet, guess that will make it an adventer then! Except that their "eduactional" software wont be compatible...

i remember reading on slashdot or somewhere that someone just released some distro of linux that is specifically geared towards elementary-ish aged audiences with educational software preinstalled.

that would be Edubuntu, a version of Ubuntu specifically geared towards young students.

http://www.edubuntu.org/

 

[ksherman]

Originally posted by: Kriz

Originally posted by: unfalliblekrutch

Originally posted by: ksherman
Except that everyone esle in the family is generally computer illiterate... maybe i will put linux on my little sister machine... now theres a thought! But i dont have any experience with it yet, guess that will make it an adventer then! Except that their "eduactional" software wont be compatible...

i remember reading on slashdot or somewhere that someone just released some distro of linux that is specifically geared towards elementary-ish aged audiences with educational software preinstalled.

that would be Edubuntu, a version of Ubuntu specifically geared towards young students.

http://www.edubuntu.org/

Wow, thats flippin awesome... THanks!

 

[earthman]

Where do people get the idea that they can install multiple copies of Windows on multiple machines? This has NEVER been legal, whether you can technically do it or not. It states that clearly in the EULA, which you must agree to to install anything...This is still the number one question/gripe I get from people "well, don't you have a copy laying around I could have?"

 

[ksherman]

Originally posted by: earthman
Where do people get the idea that they can install multiple copies of Windows on multiple machines? This has NEVER been legal, whether you can technically do it or not. It states that clearly in the EULA, which you must agree to to install anything...This is still the number one question/gripe I get from people "well, don't you have a copy laying around I could have?"

well, obviously i have never concerned my self with the EULA 😉... and its ptobably super long... figured i would ask, since there are people here that know, versus me spending extra time to read that crap (esp during finals week)

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: ksherman

Originally posted by: earthman
Where do people get the idea that they can install multiple copies of Windows on multiple machines? This has NEVER been legal, whether you can technically do it or not. It states that clearly in the EULA, which you must agree to to install anything...This is still the number one question/gripe I get from people "well, don't you have a copy laying around I could have?"

well, obviously i have never concerned my self with the EULA 😉... and its ptobably super long... figured i would ask, since there are people here that know, versus me spending extra time to read that crap (esp during finals week)

A survey I made at my college, showed that all the students who failed their finals were using windows as their main OS, while all the students who Aced their finals were using Linux . j/k
So it's not too late to crossover come on if I did it then you can too.

 

[ksherman]

Originally posted by: The Linuxator

Originally posted by: ksherman

Originally posted by: earthman
Where do people get the idea that they can install multiple copies of Windows on multiple machines? This has NEVER been legal, whether you can technically do it or not. It states that clearly in the EULA, which you must agree to to install anything...This is still the number one question/gripe I get from people "well, don't you have a copy laying around I could have?"

well, obviously i have never concerned my self with the EULA 😉... and its ptobably super long... figured i would ask, since there are people here that know, versus me spending extra time to read that crap (esp during finals week)

A survey I made at my college, showed that all the students who failed their finals were using windows as their main OS, while all the students who Aced their finals were using Linux . j/k
So it's not too late to crossover come on if I did it then you can too.

See, but i need Windows... cant do much video editing on Linux... not to mention BF2...

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: earthman
Where do people get the idea that they can install multiple copies of Windows on multiple machines? This has NEVER been legal, whether you can technically do it or not. It states that clearly in the EULA, which you must agree to to install anything...This is still the number one question/gripe I get from people "well, don't you have a copy laying around I could have?"

Many times it comes twisted from MS's policy regarding Microsoft Office, where they do allow a retail copy to be installed on both your own desktop and laptop computer.

Besides, OP, get XP Home, it's ~$50 cheaper per copy.


EDIT to answer more questions, OEM is mainly cheaper because Microsoft will not offer support for it. And I've learned the hard way to always purchase Windows XP from reputable venders. Do not look for bargain prices, you will likely get unlicensed copies which are no more legit than pirated copies.

And FYI, XP Home OEM & XP Home Retail Upgrade are nearly the same price.

 

[TonyRic]

See, but i need Windows... cant do much video editing on Linux... not to mention BF2...

Really? With Cinelerra for video editing, I wouldn't think you would find something better.

For BF2 if you run a google search for BF@ Linux you will get thousands of hits. lol

 

[ksherman]

Originally posted by: TonyRic

See, but i need Windows... cant do much video editing on Linux... not to mention BF2...

Really? With Cinelerra for video editing, I wouldn't think you would find something better.

For BF2 if you run a google search for BF@ Linux you will get thousands of hits. lol

Stop filling my head with Linux propoganda 😉 yeah i know Linux i good... i tried it, but when i couldnt figure out how to install Java, i gave up