Windows XP

joy29_2

Any ideas on where is the best (cheapest) place to buy Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade?

Many thanks

Joy

--Tony--

Aria £63.39 for XP Home
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=2048

Ebuyer if you can fit accodemic use @ £59.50 for XP Pro what a bargin!!
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=65802

parley

Have you tried ebay.co.uk

ukbill69

yer get a xp pro dell disk for around £25-£30 and works the same as a normal one.

have a look: http://search.ebay.co.uk/windows-xp-professional

andreboyle

ukbill69 wrote:

yer get a xp pro dell disk for around £25-£30 and works the same as a normal one.

These certainly will work well but this is totally illegal. The version as shipped with Dell is an OEM version. This is only a valid installation if put on appropriate Dell kit. The OEM license model, as use by companies other than Microsoft as well, usually restricts a set of serial numbers to a given model within a manufaturers range.

When you re-sell a piece of kit the OEM license does not necessarily 'stick' with the kit.

Quote from Microsoft System Builder Site

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The end user license agreement (EULA) is granted to the end user by the System Builder and relates to the license on the PC with which it was originally distributed. Because the System Builder is required to support the license on that original PC, a System Builder can not support a license that has been moved from a PC they manufactured to one that they did not. This is one of the key reasons why an OEM System Builder license can’t be transferred. To put it simply, OEM software is tied to the original computer system on which it was installed.

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Given that a requirement for OEM software distribution is that is MUST be pre-installed with the PC then the software has technically been used/installed, though not with the media you have in your hand.

I know this doesn't sound fair but the OEM price is shockingly cheap to the retailer hence the restrictions.

Also, when you see companies selling OEM versions of XP and other Microsoft operating systems, I'd avoid like the plague. I know eBuyer have done this in the past. This is dodgy dodgy ground as they're not supplying you a computer, they technically cannot provide you with the OEM software which has as one of it's conditions that it is restricted to certain PCs.

Again, please don't bash Microsoft on this as it's standard practise in the software industry.

The Dell solution is no better than out and out piracy in the eyes of FAST and the BSA.

Sorry if I sound a little harsh but I'd hate to see someone spend hard saved cash on something that could land them in 'bother'.

southernscouser

joy29 wrote:

Any ideas on where is the best (cheapest) place to buy Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade?

Many thanks

Joy

I bought a copy of XP Home from ebuyer only a week or so ago. It is an OEM copy which should only be sold with a computer system or computer component. Think they might be changing the rules to system only though.

What I did was just buy a mouse that cost about 87p! With P&P it all came to about £65. I was thinking about ebay but for the extra £20 odd I knew I would be getting a totally legal, totally working copy of XP.

gizmoleeds

Many money savers build their own PCs, though - it is surprisingly easy to do. They are thus legitimate purchasers of OEM software.

andreboyle

I'd suggest looking at the Microsoft Licensing website as eBuyer is trying to take advantage of a loophole where they are passing licenses onto other 'system builders'

Certainly the eBay approach is not legal as the software has already been installed/used though the seal is not broken.

rdwarr

gizmoleeds wrote:

Many money savers build their own PCs, though - it is surprisingly easy to do. They are thus legitimate purchasers of OEM software.

Yes, but not OEM software that says For use with DELL Systems Only

You might as well buy a pirate disk down the boot sale for £5 - it's just as legal (i.e. 0%).

--Tony--

Aria are today doing Home for just £55.17 inc VAT.

http://www.aria.co.uk/productinfocomm.asp?ID=2048&SpecialStatus=1

andreboyle

If you look at the description you'll see a host of terms of purchase which, as I said earlier, is for system builders only.