Where to buy XP from?

normal

Hi

I was just wondering where is the best / cheapest place to buy XP pro from. Also, is there any advantage in buying Media Center instead?

Thanks!

Browntoa

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=25139

Microsoft XP Home OEM + Vista Upgrade Voucher* (Release date 30th Jan 2007)

£47.5 exc, £55.81 inc.

sco0ter

Browntoa wrote:

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=25139

Microsoft XP Home OEM + Vista Upgrade Voucher* (Release date 30th Jan 2007)

£47.5 exc, £55.81 inc.

Can anybody tell me how this would work with the upgrade..???

When I went to the Microsoft vista claim site it asks for PC make,model,SN,and date of purchase as well as payment details.. It also asks for the COA to check with the manufacturer to verify it was bought when I said..

sco0ter

Just did a little digging and it looks like this method might not work... Microsoft changed the OEM license.

Also Microsoft Vista homepage states

If you're in the market for a new computer this holiday season, be sure to ask your retailer about the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista, being offered by participating PC manufacturers. When you buy a qualifying Windows Vista Capable PC between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007, you may be eligible for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista.

The words participating and qualifying seem a bit restricting..And now microsoft are listing qualifying manufacturers that the upgrade is available from.

That and the fact Microsoft changed the OEM software license to this

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/Public/sblicense/English_SB_License.pdf

It looks like unless the OEM software is pre-installed by one of thier approved system builder then you wont get the upgrade. Can anybody throw more light on this???

ian02

sco0ter wrote:

It looks like unless the OEM software is pre-installed by one of thier approved system builder then you wont get the upgrade. Can anybody throw more light on this???

I would say your correct. And I also think that this time(with OEM versions of Vista)any reactivations, due to hardware upgrades etc, that MS will be a lot more strict than what they have been with xp in the past. I belive that you will not be able to change the motherboard(unless its a replacement under warrenty of the same model or similar off the manufacturer if discontinued)unless you buy another license.

As I quite often upgrade my pc, I will be buying the retail boxed version which enables me to upgrade & reactivte as many times as I like.

normal

So where would be the best place to buy a retail copy of XP pro from?

imho

normal.Sorry to be nosy but why do you want the pro version ? my old computer had Pro on and as a home user i couldnt find any difference with Pro and Xp

normal

don't know! Just what I've got on my old computer! So what are the differences?

ian02

normal wrote:

So what are the differences

Quite a few actually, have a look here http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

normal

Thanks for that!

One question then. Would I still be able to run my home network (ie desktop and two laptops) off XP home?

If so, where's the cheapest place to buy XP home?

ian02

normal wrote:

One question then. Would I still be able to run my home network (ie desktop and two laptops) off XP home?

Yes

normal wrote:

If so, where's the cheapest place to buy XP home?

It may be hard to get hold of a retail copy of xp now because vista is here at the end of the month, but for a copy of oem xp, try either http://www.scan.co.uk/http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/ or http://www.overclockers.co.uk/

Hope this helps.