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Technical News & Discussion => Windows News & Discussion => Topic started by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 10:53:49

Title: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 10:53:49
Hey guys,

I've kinda somehow ran into "You may be a victim of counterfeiting" message but lets not go there.

I'm under the impression there is an XP pack which allows you to use for system building perhaps allowing unlimited installs? (Or am i going crazy?) Perhaps an XP retail (if its similiar to the Vista retail) would be suitable?

I just want a proper copy (but dont see the point in vista understandably) which i can use on client machines as well as my own.

Ideas on price and where to buy from?  :-X

thanks guys
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Rik on Aug 31, 2008, 10:57:04
I'm not quite sure what you're after, here, Sam. XP disks are tied to a serial number (in practice a group of serial numbers), so you couldn't, potentially, use your disk with someone else's PC. Are you looking more towards a licensing agreement?

(Any news on the job?)
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 11:03:06
Well depending on the cost Rik - potentially yes

Im just looking for the best solution MAINLY for me  :laugh: and we all know how i like to reinstall (every 6 months at the latest) but i'm getting more and more people wanting me to reinstall xp or similiar.

Still no response as of now  >:(
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Rik on Aug 31, 2008, 11:10:20
A copy of XP Pro seems to be about £90 from a quick look about, but that isn't going to be a complete solution for you. Were you to use it on other people's machines with your serial number, I'd expect you to hit activation problems. If you use their serial number, you'd probably find it was rejected. The simplest way would be to get people to supply their disk if they want you to re-install.

Otherwise, you'd probably have to talk to someone like Misco about the licensing schemes, which I can't find on the website.

We'll continue to cross our toes for you. :)
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: kinmel on Aug 31, 2008, 11:14:12
search google for "windows xp OEM" and prices for XP home start at about £54

Some sellers (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WINDOWS-XP-HOME-SP2-B-EDITION-WITH-COA-LABEL-SERIAL_W0QQitemZ230252952066QQihZ013QQcategoryZ41887QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem?refid=store) include a MS "qualifying" product in the price, others require you to buy something
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Simon on Aug 31, 2008, 12:49:21
I've just bought an XP Home (SP3) licence from Scan for £56.74, with the free shipping perk through AV Forums.  Next cheapest I found was Ebuyer at £59.01 using the free shipping option.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 13:35:59
Ideally i was looking for a product to do both as im asked quite a lot recently to reinstall xp/remove vista.

SO my best bet is to get myself an xp pro retail just for myself - then everytime some1 asks to have xp put on, up the price to include an oem version (unless they have their own?)

cba spending loads on vista when windows 7 will surpass it...altho xp x64 is quite a pita! Maybe ill have to go for vista x64 :s
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: ducky22 on Aug 31, 2008, 14:08:55
Provided you have the hardware for it, Vista x64 is an unbeatable operating system. I've been using it since January last year. Every performs better over XP/Vista x86. XP x64_86 was very disappointing and I haven't touched it since a brief 5minute stint.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 14:11:44
true true

damn xp x64 is oem only...plus i dont really wanna be spending craploads when windows 7 is out soon...it pretty much has to be x64 but im not sure how many times il use it (oem is 3 reinstalls right?)

perhaps i could get xp  x64 oem for myself (hmm but support is almost zero) but u can usually call up after 3 reinstalls and say ur mobo broke or something - doubt that works with vista. Is it only the retail vistas that get x64?

the only thing with getting vista...ultimate has more half open ports (utorrent loves this)..but also costs more. Is it retail that comes with x64? Perhaps home premium x64 is the way for me
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: ducky22 on Aug 31, 2008, 14:20:03
For OEM I'm not sure, 3 reinstalls isn't really an issue. Simply call the activation line and they'll give you a manual code.

Half open ports aren't as big an issue as a lot of people make out. There is a simple hack available which changes the limit in the tcpip stack. Will see if i can dig up the link.

OEM and Retails hould both come with x86_64 with Vista Ultimate/Business. Not sure about home premium.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: drummer on Aug 31, 2008, 14:24:00
Although I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve, BartPE (http://nu2.nu/pebuilder) might be of some use, and it's free.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: ducky22 on Aug 31, 2008, 14:25:54
http://redchaos.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/increase-your-bittorrent-p2p-download-speed-in-windows-vista/

4a:

Increase the maximum limit of half-open TCP/IP concurrent connections using klitetools batch file (http://216.32.65.34/~svb/h/vistapatch.zip)

Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 14:33:39
The sp1 kinda stopped all the patches afaik.

Ok im kinda decided on Vista x64 home premium - oem will probably do (by the time iv used 3 licenses it will be windows 7 time)

I can always make an acronis image of a new system to save me having to format when things get slow
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Rik on Aug 31, 2008, 14:44:29
It's what I always do, Sam.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: ducky22 on Aug 31, 2008, 14:46:25
I've only reinstall Vista x64_86 once since last January and that's because I made a schoolboy error and downloaded a bad torrent and ignored the antivirus warning.

No slow downs at all. Runs exceptionally well.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: ducky22 on Aug 31, 2008, 14:46:47
As for antivirus... I'd highly recommend Avira.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 15:00:35
Vista home premium x64 OEM it is then...Acronis image it with the new setup so i dont have to reformat  8) ace

Im already sorted with my eset nod32 thanks  :thumb:

What do you recommend to install prior to acronis image? Shall i literally, once it has booted, make an image before even installing updates?
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Rik on Aug 31, 2008, 15:03:57
Well, it will probably help if you install Acronis, Sam. ;D :out:

I usually do just that, install TI and image, then add the updates and image again.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: ducky22 on Aug 31, 2008, 15:04:28
I'd install service pack and all current updates, activate windows then image.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Aug 31, 2008, 15:20:52
To put it simply:

Nothing installed but Windows (and associated necessary stuff aka updates) and acronis  ;D

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/123067 - best buy?
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Rik on Aug 31, 2008, 15:40:55
Seems a pretty good price, Sam.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Sebby on Aug 31, 2008, 17:38:43
That looks good to me, Sam.
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: mrapoc on Sep 01, 2008, 15:37:16
Buying tonight  :laugh:  :thumb:
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Rik on Sep 01, 2008, 15:41:29
Have fun. :)
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Inactive on Sep 01, 2008, 15:50:24
It's Vista, it goes without saying Rik.. ;D
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Rik on Sep 01, 2008, 15:51:36
In a manner of speaking. ;)
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Sebby on Sep 01, 2008, 19:20:02
Quote from: Inactive on Sep 01, 2008, 15:50:24
It's Vista, it goes without saying Rik.. ;D

Vista is a lot of fun. My favourite is the random hard drive activity. :P :out:
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Steve on Sep 01, 2008, 19:55:26
Quote from: Sebby on Sep 01, 2008, 19:20:02
Vista is a lot of fun. My favourite is the random hard drive activity. :P :out:

Got to keep things moving otherwise they'll cease up ;D
Title: Re: Cheapest XP for me?
Post by: Sebby on Sep 01, 2008, 21:55:43
Ah, so that's the reason! ;D