How do I purchase XP Pro Corporate version?

[nebula]

I'm building some machines for our lab and I'm going to put XP Pro on them but I don't want to deal with activation. How do I get the corporate version of XP Pro? I Googled a bit and didn't seem to have any luck.

 

[spherrod]

If they're lab machines maybe MSDN would be the way to go?

 

[nebula]

I'm not all too familiar with the whole MS thing, so are you saying that I can download/buy XP Pro Corp with an MSDN subscription? Really what I want is to get a XP Pro Corp CD, then purchase licenses as I need.

 

[MrChad]

You're looking for volume licensing. Might want to take a look here.

 

[SGtheArtist]

I've heard that WinXP Corp is simply WinXP Pro with a Corp key that results in the activation requirement being dropped so acquiring a WinXP Corp CD would simply be the same as a WinXP Pro CD.

Am I wrong?

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: nebula
I'm not all too familiar with the whole MS thing, so are you saying that I can download/buy XP Pro Corp with an MSDN subscription? Really what I want is to get a XP Pro Corp CD, then purchase licenses as I need.

As MrChad says, volume licensing is what you are after. Most companies will have one of these agreements and then an MSDN subscription to use in Labs and for testing software builds.

 

[nebula]

Originally posted by: spherrod

Originally posted by: nebula
I'm not all too familiar with the whole MS thing, so are you saying that I can download/buy XP Pro Corp with an MSDN subscription? Really what I want is to get a XP Pro Corp CD, then purchase licenses as I need.

As MrChad says, volume licensing is what you are after. Most companies will have one of these agreements and then an MSDN subscription to use in Labs and for testing software builds.

OK well I only need a few, maybe even only a couple to start, just don't want to deal with the activation in this environment. So, looking at the matrix, it looks like I'd go with the "open license" option. But it says, "media must be acquired seperately", so where do I get my CD?

 

[nebula]

Originally posted by: SGtheArtist
I've heard that WinXP Corp is simply WinXP Pro with a Corp key that results in the activation requirement being dropped so acquiring a WinXP Corp CD would simply be the same as a WinXP Pro CD.

Am I wrong?

I think this is wrong. I recall reading some info back when XP was first out that to change your Pro into a Corp version, you had to modify some files. This may have changed.

 

[nebula]

Reading a bit more, it does say MS supplies the media.

So now I guess I'd like to know, to get a Corporate version on CD, is this only possible through MS or a VL reseller? I can't go to buy.com or Newegg, etc. and buy a corporate version with one license? OR for that matter, just the media with no license?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: nebula
Reading a bit more, it does say MS supplies the media.

So now I guess I'd like to know, to get a Corporate version on CD, is this only possible through MS or a VL reseller? I can't go to buy.com or Newegg, etc. and buy a corporate version with one license? OR for that matter, just the media with no license?

There is no "corporate version". There IS a volume licensing version that does not require activation. "Coporate version" is just the name that was given in underground pirating scenes.

 

[nebula]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: nebula
Reading a bit more, it does say MS supplies the media.

So now I guess I'd like to know, to get a Corporate version on CD, is this only possible through MS or a VL reseller? I can't go to buy.com or Newegg, etc. and buy a corporate version with one license? OR for that matter, just the media with no license?

There is no "corporate version". There IS a volume licensing version that does not require activation. "Coporate version" is just the name that was given in underground pirating scenes.

OK...

I guess I shall go do some reading on the link you gave. I'm not in the IT dept., just an Engineer building a machine or two, so I really wanted to be able to go the "traditional" route and just buy me a copy of XP w/o activation. I have a feeling that I'll have to go through an entire process... unless someone else helps me out with some ideas.

 

[nebula]

This looks like the media only, and this is the license.

So if I were to buy both of these, that would do want I want correct?

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: nebula
Reading a bit more, it does say MS supplies the media.

So now I guess I'd like to know, to get a Corporate version on CD, is this only possible through MS or a VL reseller? I can't go to buy.com or Newegg, etc. and buy a corporate version with one license? OR for that matter, just the media with no license?

There is no "corporate version". There IS a volume licensing version that does not require activation. "Coporate version" is just the name that was given in underground pirating scenes.

Really? Because corporate edition is the only term I've ever heard used for it, and I'm not in underground pirating. IT pros call it corp edition.

 

[quikah]

Originally posted by: nebula
This looks like the media only, and this is the license.

So if I were to buy both of these, that would do want I want correct?

That looks right, but I would call CDW to be sure, they are generally pretty helpful.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Malak

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: nebula
Reading a bit more, it does say MS supplies the media.

So now I guess I'd like to know, to get a Corporate version on CD, is this only possible through MS or a VL reseller? I can't go to buy.com or Newegg, etc. and buy a corporate version with one license? OR for that matter, just the media with no license?

There is no "corporate version". There IS a volume licensing version that does not require activation. "Coporate version" is just the name that was given in underground pirating scenes.

Really? Because corporate edition is the only term I've ever heard used for it, and I'm not in underground pirating. IT pros call it corp edition.

"Enterprise Edition" would be more accurate.

 

[nweaver]

VL edition here...corp when my old pirating buddies were talking about it.

tbh, regular XP would work in a lab, just image the box after you activate. Acronis (never used) ghost (don't like) and Altiris thumbsup are all decent for a lab.

 

[Nocturnal]

There are different versions of the Windows installation CD. You cannot use a retail XP Pro with a Corp key, it wouldn't work, period. I fix and install OSs on a daily basis so unless there was a drastic change recently then I'm pretty sure I stand correct.

 

[Robor]

One of my coworkers looked into this a while back. If I remember correctly you have to purchase a pretty large amount of licenses to qualify for a "corporate edition" that doesn't require activation. I believe he said it was 250 minimum. We only wanted like 50 or so and the only option was retail. Microsoft sure doesn't make it easy to be legal. :frown:

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Robor
One of my coworkers looked into this a while back. If I remember correctly you have to purchase a pretty large amount of licenses to qualify for a "corporate edition" that doesn't require activation. I believe he said it was 250 minimum. We only wanted like 50 or so and the only option was retail. Microsoft sure doesn't make it easy to be legal. :frown:

ouch.. that's painful

 

[HighCalibreHooch]

I believe you're all wrong: Microsoft released the Corporate Edition to the torrent and p2p communities as the primary distribution channel. Thank you everyone for your input though.