what's w/ these no media COA licenses of WinXP? are they legit?

[Tanner]

Pricewatch linky for what I'm talkin' about...

I've already read everything that came up on OEM and NFR when I searched...but I never found anything about COA and NO MEDIA!!! What the HECK is THAT all about? is that legit ASSUMING that I can find a copy of WinXp for someone to let me "borrow?"

I'm completely confused on this, however I'm REALLY trying to put a system together for my little sister whose leavin' for college @ the end of the summer. I did start a WTB thread for WinXP but I don't know how to find out if ppl have already USED the license key and if they're just ripping me off. Know what I mean? I mean honestly,you can ALWAYS SEE the license key if it's an OEM ver. so, whose to say that haven't got it written down or USING it currently?

what to do????!!!

TIA! and God Bless!
Tanner

 

[brisco]

I do know that you can buy these COA's in a legit manner. It's designed to allow large companies install the OS over the network as opposed to passing the CD around. Ex... they already have one copy, put it on the server and everybody in the new dept installs it on their new machine. This way they only buy 25 licenses. They already have the software..... saves them money.

With the companies on pricewatch though, I'd be mindfull of what you said and make darn sure they aren't already registered COA's. Throughly checkout the company and read the reviews before you try buy.

 

[mastertech01]

I think they are for home use as well, so you can put the OS on lappy and other computers at home without buying the whole package. One disk and several liscenses can save you a bit. However the FS forum often has unused versions for less than a liscense alone on PW

 

[Tanner]

I'm so confused...I ck'd out some of those resellers...and man...I just don't know about 'em. Resellerratings CERTAINLY didn't think that they were very good! So, now what to do? hmmmmmm....

 

[wjsulliv]

I just want to make sure I understand this properly.

1) Go anywhere and buy one legit copyof Windows XP that comes with a CD (Corp, Retail, OEM, etc.).
2) Go to one of those venders mentioned at pricewatch and buy additional liscenses (a liscense consists of a Certificate, and CD-Key I assume?).
3) Use your one XP disk and install the OS on as many PC's as you have liscenses for. This can be done because each liscense has a unique CD-Key that is used for activation (I.e. You could borrow somebodies XP disk, and use your own CD-Key)

Is this correct? Are the liscenses only valid for certain releases of the OS, like Retail or OEM or Corp?

 

[Workin']

I think you can only use those COA/no media licenses if you are already a volume license holder or an OEM partner - you can't use it with a regular retail or OEM license, AFAIK.

But then again I could be wrong. In any case I would not buy ANYTHING, especially software, from a questionable vendor.

An OEM version of XP Home is $94 shipped from newegg.com, I'd go with that. Well, I'd go with XP Pro, but you know what I mean.

 

[mastertech01]

Staples sells the liscenses last time I checked. I dont know the exact particulars but you are gonna pay more thru a retail chain thats for sure. But you sure dont want to buy from some e-store with no more rep than a bug on a stick either. I guess you will have to research the facts from MS.