What's the Cheapest Way to Get a Legitimate Copy of Windows XP? - Page 2

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What's the Cheapest Way to Get a Legitimate Copy of Windows XP? (Page 2 of 2)

Posted: 4/5/2006 3:22:20 PM EDT

[#1]

Get an MSDN subscription through your employer. Download any and every operating system and add in suite M$ puts out, with legal product keys for FREE.

That's what I did.

Posted: 4/5/2006 3:29:03 PM EDT

[#2]

I've never activated my windows. I patch it. I change hardware often enough that the activation would be a pain in the ass and I'm not going to beg them to unlock my code every time I change something.

Posted: 4/5/2006 7:06:56 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
Get an MSDN subscription through your employer. Download any and every operating system and add in suite M$ puts out, with legal product keys for FREE.

That's what I did.

Free for you, but somebody has to pay for the MSDN subscription....

Av.

Posted: 4/5/2006 8:48:08 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Become a M$ partner

Order the annual action pack - $320

Get full licenses for just about all products for up to 5 PCs

https://partner.microsoft.com/us/40016455

Annual...is that Rent-A-Soft?

It is

But, you get a TON of software and quarterly updates.

For instance:

Office 2003 professional - $500
Visio professional - $500
XP pro - $300
Mappoint - $300

etc....

You get all that, and tons more, continually updated. Five licenses. It's a steal especially if you want to keep your software current.

Now, I'm no M$oft fan, just the opposite. But if you have to have the crap, you may as well get it as cheap as possible.

It /sounds/ good, but I generally build a system and stick with it for about five years. By three years in, I doubt my hardware will run the updated software.

Jim

Posted: 4/6/2006 3:35:59 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:

So what do they consider a new machine?
A new harddrive? that's where the software resides
A processor? that's the engine
ect,ect

Last time I talked to the rep. they said the mother board was considered a new machine. I was pretty ticked about that. I had it out with a woman at Microsoft, told her that it was BS that I can't replace a damaged part and that the software was basically null and void. She would not reactivate the computer for me so I hung up on her and called right back and talked to someone else and they activated it. That was before they went into detail describing what was considered a "new" computer and OEM licensing.

Posted: 4/6/2006 5:39:53 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Hell, according to the EULA, it can onlly run on one processor per computer. Does that mean that you cannot use it on a dual processor computer, since they would run at the same time?

I thought Pro supported dual processors?

Posted: 4/6/2006 6:11:31 AM EDT

[#7]

For future reference, here are some internet price guides:

Active Compare
Bizrate
NexTag
PriceGrabber
ResellerRatings
Shopping.com

FWIW, ReselllerRatings.com is pretty cool because you can review comments and ratings other people have posted so you won't get burned.

Posted: 4/6/2006 7:41:02 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Wow imagine how much more money Microsoft would have if all the "illegals" were paying for the "stolen" intellectual property.

I have a friend that works for microsoft and yes we have loaded up to 5 computers with no problems. I'm even running their corporate anti virus and firewall on my home computer.

And if I had to buy XP my price is $30.

Are you talking about a standard XP Home or Pro retail version of XP?

Any software I get from him is $30, If I have to buy it. Most of the time he is like, do you have this, I say no. Here try this. Those cost me $0. I was buying Xbox games for $10. And he just gave me some programs awhile back that ran $900 at compusa, just give it to me. It's nice having friends at microsoft. They have an e store and they are allowed so many dollars a year to buy whatever.
And when they are beta testing some software, we always get them for nothing just for the imput.

Edit to add: I'm not saying it can't be done under the proper set of circumstances, I am saying it's usually illegal. I also found a complete link that shows the End User Licensing Agreement for EVERY Microsoft product. It tells in detail but you must have Adobe Reader.www.microsoft.com/legal/useterms/default.aspx

Posted: 4/6/2006 7:52:55 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
It /sounds/ good, but I generally build a system and stick with it for about five years. By three years in, I doubt my hardware will run the updated software.

Jim

Good point. It saves me $$$ because I have 5 active systems that I have running and they all need software. Just shelled out a TON to Symantec for a 5-user license.

Posted: 4/6/2006 8:03:21 AM EDT

[#10]

get a friend at a state college where they get it for like $15. someone has to have said that by now, but just incase they didnt, there you go.

now back to studying..

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:52:15 PM EDT

[#11]

You can pick up an OEM copy off ebay with a broken piece of hardware in the box (to qualify for OEM license) for about $50 or so.

Posted: 4/6/2006 12:54:32 PM EDT

[#12]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm all set once again.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What's the Cheapest Way to Get a Legitimate Copy of Windows XP? (Page 2 of 2)

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