Cheap Windows XP

segasega

So where the cheapest place to pick up Win XP Pro?
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=313485&s=sc
€144 on Komplett, anyone know anywhere cheaper?
Thanks

Sparky

segasega wrote:

So where the cheapest place to pick up Win XP Pro?
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=313485&s=sc
€144 on Komplett, anyone know anywhere cheaper?
Thanks

You have to buy a piece of hardware like a mouse etc. So you can add another €20 or so onto it.

You can get Win XP pro really cheap sub €100 if you are a student.

segasega

Sparky-s wrote:

You have to buy a piece of hardware like a mouse etc. So you can add another €20 or so onto it.

What do you mean?

aidan_walsh

segasega wrote:

What do you mean?

Just that. Its an OEM copy, so it can't be sold without hardware.

pkeno

Sparky-s wrote:

You can get Win XP pro really cheap sub €100 if you are a student.

Really? Where?

I am looking for a copy as i can't upgrade from Win2k pro to XP home(Well at least thats what it says on the Microsoft website!)

RoyalMarine

ring microsoft and buy it off them....

Sparky

pkeno wrote:

Really? Where?

I am looking for a copy as i can't upgrade from Win2k pro to XP home(Well at least thats what it says on the Microsoft website!)

I only know of here
http://www.studentoptions.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Locale=en_IE&id=ProductDetailsPage&SiteID=msftie&productID=10755600

Its an upgrade tho.
and you download it and burn to cd

Ive checked, you can upgrade straight from 2kpro.

segasega

aidan_walsh wrote:

Just that. Its an OEM copy, so it can't be sold without hardware.

Planning on getting a hard drive too anyway.

seamus

You can't use the OEM copies of Windows XP to upgrade from a previous version - they can only be used to do a fresh install.

Your best bet is to wipe your existing installation and go with XP Home. Although I really don't see why you feel the need to move from 2k Pro to XP Pro. Upgrade to Service Pack 4 and you're pretty much not missing much.

pkeno

I need to upgrade to XP because i was given an mp3 player(iRiver H10) and the supplied software needs XP to work.
I could get my hands on a copy of XP but if i do a fresh install will i have to format my drives?
Theres about 30gigs of stuff i don't want to lose but i have no way of backing it up save buying an external HD.

rogue-entity

Just go with the upgrade version from Student Options, its just 80 yoyos. I bought Office 2003 Pro from that site.

All the software is full retail unless it says upgrade (which I think is only XP). It is just sold under a student licence which means you cannot sell it on to someone unless theoretically they were also a student. However since it is a full version you can install it on as many PCs as you want provided that you uninstall from the old PC first so that you are only ever running one copy at a time.

conzy

Its a hassle to have to upgrade an OS just to use the supplied software (which is usually crap) im sure you can drag and drop to Iriver players, or use the WMP10 sync function........

pkeno

You can drag and drop, but only on XP. The player automatically installs its own drivers when connected to an Xp machine, but doesn't for a win2k machine. Its not compatible for some reason.
Also, is WMP 10 not only for XP?

seamus

pkeno wrote:

You can drag and drop, but only on XP. The player automatically installs its own drivers when connected to an Xp machine, but doesn't for a win2k machine. Its not compatible for some reason.

I'd be very shocked if you couldn't install the XP drivers on a 2k machine. Have you tried installing it manually?

conzy

Download WMP10 here

It doesnt check if you have winxp and should install seen as Windows 2000 is windows XP......

pkeno

Tried to download WMP10 there. It says "setup has detected you are running: wimdows 2000" then automatically selects WMP9 to be downloaded.
Havn't tried installing the players drivers manually yet, i will do it today hopefully

maidhc

rogue-entity wrote:

All the software is full retail unless it says upgrade (which I think is only XP). It is just sold under a student licence which means you cannot sell it on to someone unless theoretically they were also a student.

Thats what M$ would like you to think, but they don't have any right to stop you selling a licenced copy either The EU Computer Software directive provides as follows:

The first sale in the Community of a copy of a program by the rightholder or with his consent shall exhaust the distribution right within the Community of that copy, with the exception of the right to control further rental of the program or a copy thereof. (Article 4 (c))

As a result you are entitled to buy or sell any secondhand copies of software, so long as they are legitimate: http://www.discount-licensing.com works with the blessing of MS, but does not offer XP because MS don't necessarily agree that OEM licences can be resold. Although since the OEM issue has never been tested in the courts it is hard to say if they are entitled to take this view.

Capt'n Midnight

seamus wrote:

You can't use the OEM copies of Windows XP to upgrade from a previous version - they can only be used to do a fresh install.

Your best bet is to wipe your existing installation and go with XP Home. Although I really don't see why you feel the need to move from 2k Pro to XP Pro. Upgrade to Service Pack 4 and you're pretty much not missing much.

Don't forget if you upgrade an OEM version of 2K then your shiney new copy of XP is locked to the same Hardware the 2K OEM was bound to and can't be used on different hardware - ever !

If you use the classic theme for everything in XP ( as microsoft do for server 2003 ) they you might as well use 2K. Just use NtBackup or similar to take snap shots in place of system restore

easy_as_easy

XP for €119.99 plus free delievery with laser

http://www.buy4now.ie/galaxy-computer/shopping.asp?location=SD&catid=134.7&productid=2899

zuma

Key Features
Manufacturer Sku: N09-00560
Brand: Microsoft
Product Line: Windows XP
Version: Home Edition
License: OEM
Number of Users: 1 License
Operating System Compatibility: PC
Requirements
CPU Speed (Recommended): 233 MHZ
Disk Space (recommended): 1.5 GB
Memory Size (Recommended): 128 MB
**This Product can only be purchased as part of a PC Build from Galaxy Computers**
Pay using your Laser Card and receive Free Shipping.

[someguy]

A bit off topic here, but pkeno you can use a H10 with the mps system with win2k pro.

- turn off the H10
- take out the battery
- plug the usb cable from the H10 into your computer
- put battery back in
- hold down the select button (the one on the front with the circle on it)
- turn on the H10 (still holding the select button)

and badda bing, it connects like a mass storage device to your pc and you can put all sorts of files on it, not just music.

[someguy]

for some stupid reason, the H10 won't identify with win2k in any other way.

Sparky

Btw a friend of mine used that student options website, after you pay you can download the software that can be extracted to make a CD, or if you prefer a straight upgrade, they also email you your product key.
So even if you had a borrowed XP pro CD, you have a cheap legit product key.

They dont ask for proof of student identity, they just ask you to tick a box saying your a student.