Any place left to buy a legitimate copy of XP?

[mechBgon]

When the computer prompts you to do something, do nothing. You'll have to hang tough; the machine is very persistent, but after enough failures to get you to do something, you'll be kicked over to a real person :^)

OK cool, I was planning to just roll my forehead back & forth across the phone's keypad when the time came :sneaky:

 

[notposting]

Thanks! I just ordered one from TD. Media Center Edition is XP Pro - fantastic.

John

EDIT: I may order another one. I have yet to speak to anyone who is in love with Windows 7. Most of the ones who like it like it better than Vista, not XP Pro.

Bollocks. Would hate to get stuck going back to XP. Have Win 7 on my gaming rig, laptop, wife's machine, and htpc. A billionzilliontimesinfinity times better than XP lol.
edit: but these are all on modernish (dual core, sata, pcie etc) hardware as well.

 

[Nothinman]

Thanks! I just ordered one from TD. Media Center Edition is XP Pro - fantastic.

John

EDIT: I may order another one. I have yet to speak to anyone who is in love with Windows 7. Most of the ones who like it like it better than Vista, not XP Pro.

Then you're talking to the wrong people, going back to XP after using Win7 is nothing less than painful.

 

[craftech]

Do you know if it supports Software Restrictions Policies like Pro does? If it does, then I'm probably going to pick up a couple.

Edit: With SRP, and a Limited User Account, XP Pro is practically bulletproof with regards to drive-by malware. At least I've NEVER been infected, once I implemented those two things. Even without any active anti-virus or anti-malware software.

It is my understanding that all versions of Windows since XP support SRP.

John

EDIT: Never mind - I'm wrong:

http://www.mechbgon.com/srp/

I did find this in one of the User Reviews at TD for the XP MCE dated Aug 14, 2010:

This is XP Pro with Media Center. I've used this OS since 2006. It came with an HP laptop I purchased. Never had an OS problem. You can set it up for simple or advance file sharing. The latter allows you to set file permissions just like XP PRO, cause it is XP PRO. You could run this in a business workgroup environment, since it is XP PRO bundled with Media Center. Just disable Media Center.

 

[craftech]

Maybe I should have done more research. I am not sure if it will be that easy to stop the Media Center from interfering with other software and it doesn't appear that it is all that easy to disable. Examples:

http://thedailyreviewer.com/windows...oplay-whenever-any-disc-is-inserted-102160855

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/124595-install-xp-only-from-xp-mce-disks/

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software...ter-from-windows-xp-media-center-edition.aspx

I have searched for methods of installing without the Media Center. That appears to be impossible. Inserting a DVD will bring up the Media Center no matter what you do, and many times it will issue an error refusing to play it.

I may end up returning these two unopened for a refund unless someone here knows how to get around the media center?

John

 

[craftech]

The benefit is that the Win7 Pro OEM license entitles you to use WinXP Pro in its place. So you could legitimately use your WinXP Pro from Newegg on two systems at once, and you could always switch up the second rig to Win7 Pro if you wanted. It's a nuisance to call in for activation, yeah, and I'm not 100% sure how you escape the automated activation lady robot to get a live representative, but at least you know you've got authentic Windows XP when you're done, no rootkits or backdoors.

OK. I understand how it works now. I actually have one used XP Pro OEM with SP3, and one used XP Pro Retail version of the first XP Pro release.

I did a search on the downgrade and found this:

http://www.windows7news.com/2010/05/14/windows-7-sp1-will-end-downgrade-rights-to-windows-xp/

It seems that after Windows 7 SP1 is released, you will no longer be able to downgrade to XP. Not even temporarily.

John

 

[Nothinman]

It seems that after Windows 7 SP1 is released, you will no longer be able to downgrade to XP. Not even temporarily.

This has been a long time coming, it's time to move on folks...

 

[mechBgon]

OK. I understand how it works now. I actually have one used XP Pro OEM with SP3, and one used XP Pro Retail version of the first XP Pro release.

I did a search on the downgrade and found this:

http://www.windows7news.com/2010/05/14/windows-7-sp1-will-end-downgrade-rights-to-windows-xp/

It seems that after Windows 7 SP1 is released, you will no longer be able to downgrade to XP. Not even temporarily.

John

Good find, I hadn't heard that.

 

[Mem]

This has been a long time coming, it's time to move on folks...

Sooner XP dies the better,btw I'm another happy Win7 fan and yes there are millions of us plus more every day .

 

[Fardringle]

This has been a long time coming, it's time to move on folks...

Sadly, some people really don't have a choice. There are various business applications that companies HAVE to use if they want to do that type of business, and Vista and Windows 7 simply won't allow those programs to run at all (not even in the Windows 7 XP compatibility mode). One of my clients is in this situation, which is why I'm looking for a legitimate source for actual XP Pro licenses as all that I purchased in the past have been used.

 

[humanure]

Take a look at the prices people are charging there, humanure. It's not actually Amazon selling them, but greedy "scalpers" selling through the Amazon store for ridiculous amounts

yes I noticed that too, although the full retail did sell for $299 before, I did find "scalpers" as high as $600 or more. I've never ordered from here, might be a possibility.

http://www.discountmountainsoftware.com/miwixpprofuv.html?cmp=gp

 

[Mem]

Sadly, some people really don't have a choice. There are various business applications that companies HAVE to use if they want to do that type of business, and Vista and Windows 7 simply won't allow those programs to run at all (not even in the Windows 7 XP compatibility mode). One of my clients is in this situation, which is why I'm looking for a legitimate source for actual XP Pro licenses as all that I purchased in the past have been used.

I see your point but what about when XP was first released,is it not the same sort of situation ie older software hoping it would be compatible with XP,so in a sense same sort of position,end of the day it will always be this way.

New operating systems do bring obvious advantages ie better security that any business company would welcome.

I think even the most stubborn business company will realize XP is coming to its end and sooner or later they will have to upgrade,even software companies upgrade their software,sure it all costs but thats progress and the way things are.

 

[Fardringle]

yes I noticed that too, although the full retail did sell for $299 before, I did find "scalpers" as high as $600 or more. I've never ordered from here, might be a possibility.

http://www.discountmountainsoftware.com/miwixpprofuv.html?cmp=gp

That site (the site itself and the prices they list) looks pretty questionable. Add on that they only have 3 reviews in 12 months on Reseller Ratings and all three are "magically" perfect 10 scores, and it smells like a scam to me. I do appreciate the suggestions, but it's looking more like the only legit way to get XP Pro now is to go through the hassle of the Windows 7 downgrade license process.

 

[Nothinman]

Sadly, some people really don't have a choice. There are various business applications that companies HAVE to use if they want to do that type of business, and Vista and Windows 7 simply won't allow those programs to run at all (not even in the Windows 7 XP compatibility mode). One of my clients is in this situation, which is why I'm looking for a legitimate source for actual XP Pro licenses as all that I purchased in the past have been used.

So continually bitch at those software companies until they update their shit. If they're still in business they should listen and if they're not, your client should be looking to migrate to something that's actually maintained.

New operating systems do bring obvious advantages ie better security that any business company would welcome.

Up front, yea. But as soon as those security features become inconvenient, and they always do to some extent, they'll be asking how to turn them off.

I think even the most stubborn business company will realize XP is coming to its end and sooner or later they will have to upgrade,even software companies upgrade their software,sure it all costs but thats progress and the way things are.

It's already "later" and it's been for a few years now.

 

[craftech]

That site (the site itself and the prices they list) looks pretty questionable. Add on that they only have 3 reviews in 12 months on Reseller Ratings and all three are "magically" perfect 10 scores, and it smells like a scam to me. I do appreciate the suggestions, but it's looking more like the only legit way to get XP Pro now is to go through the hassle of the Windows 7 downgrade license process.

I should have posted back here. Before someone mentioned that place I had cancelled the order with TD and ordered two copies of XP Pro OEM from them. I couldn't go through the hassle of trying to either remove or go around the media center (after reading all the complaintsI found Google searching it). I called Discount Mountain Software first and got someone right away who reassured me that "refurbished" meant that they were from manufacturers who used to install XP Pro into refurbished computers and the COA had never previously been activated. He said the software was sealed. He didn't sound like he had recently moved out there from The Bronx so I ordered them.
They shipped them out immediately and I'll let you know what happens within 1-2 weeks. Free shipping was USPS to NY so it will be slow getting here.

Hopefully, the software is legit.

John

 

[craftech]

Follow-up:

I installed one of the Windows XP Pro SP3 (refurbished) software discs that I purchased from Discountmountainsoftware on a new build and activated it online successfully. Windows validation didn't have a problem with either when I installed the 86 (Yikes!) Windows Updates.

It appears that the company is legit and so is the software.

Thanks,

John

 

[VirtualLarry]

Follow-up:

I installed one of the Windows XP Pro SP3 (refurbished) software discs that I purchased from Discountmountainsoftware on a new build and activated it online successfully. Windows validation didn't have a problem with either when I installed the 86 (Yikes!) Windows Updates.

It appears that the company is legit and so is the software.

Thanks,

John

Is the hologram on the disc a sticker? Take your fingernail and gently scrape it along the edge towards the center. Is there a small ridge just in from the edge? If so, you have a high-quality fake.

 

[craftech]

Is the hologram on the disc a sticker? Take your fingernail and gently scrape it along the edge towards the center. Is there a small ridge just in from the edge? If so, you have a high-quality fake.

No. I went through this whole thing, and it checks out:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/m.whybrow/The fake Windows XP problemFrame1Source1.htm

John

 

[Emulex]

you can always downgrade all the way back to windows 2000 with the right license. Might just cost a few $$ more than you are willing to pay.