windows xp

aakayb

hi,

does anywhere know where the cheapest place to buy windows xp is?

john-boi

ebay

woo

though if you do you can't be completely sure of it's a legal copy or not.

kaaloo

Ebay is the place to get a cheaper one but as Woo says, you have to be careful as you prob end up with a pirate copy.

The problem with this is that the activation code can only be used once (I think) cos of Microsofts anti-piracy campaign so if you get a copy you may have probs using it.

K ;D

scheming_gypsy

each time you install it gives you a different activation code so you can install more than once. We've got 5 servers at work with 2003 Server (XP with a padlock) and i just used the one copy to install rather than open them all.

kaaloo

each time you install it gives you a different activation code so you can install more than once.  We've got 5 servers at work with 2003 Server (XP with a padlock) and i just used the one copy to install rather than open them all.

Hi SG

Can you elaborate please - you install the same copy of XP on more than one pc?? How do you do it (im not very techy im afraid)

parley

You can use the same CD to install XP but you need different product key to activate each one. ;D

kaaloo

so where does the new activation code come from if it changes each time ???

scheming_gypsy

XP generates a code, then that code matches up with an activation key at Microsoft which you then enter... or it does it automatically if you do it via the net

Debt_Free_Chick

Can you elaborate please - you install the same copy of XP on more than one pc?? How do you do it (im not very techy im afraid)

Normally, no. You need a license to install XP on each PC. My license states

"You may install, use, access, display and run one copy of the Software on a single computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device ("Workstation Computer"). "

I assume Scheming Gypsy had a mulit-user license, which most companies have, that allowed him to install XP on more than one PC.

You only need the CD once - but you need a license to install it on every PC.

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/how_licenses.mspx

chateauneufdupape

If you can get hold of a student card, a teacher or someone who works for BT or the NHS, you can get big savings on legit copies. See previous threads.