Windows XP Home $29.99 or less AR

[allisolm]

Office Depot has a one page ad for 12/14-12/16 in the newspaper today. The ad is available for viewing online - if you can't find it for your zip, try 32308 - that works.

They have Windows XP Home for $99.99 less $70 MIR. Says In-store. SKU 774400. Also in the ad is a coupon for $5 off of $10. Restrictions do not exclude software and, if you have an empty ink cartridge, you can save another $3.

Rebate form here.

 

[wayliff]

You may want to indicate that this is the upgrade version.

 

[isekii]

can u qualify for the rebate if you buy online ?

 

[FreedomGUNDAM]

picked one of these up a couple of months ago. Sent in the rebate and it has been approved, just waiting for the check

 

[Desslok]

Originally posted by: isekii
can u qualify for the rebate if you buy online ?

yes, I have done it several times.

I also think there is a 20 dollars off 100 coupon over at xpbargains.

Desslok

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: wayliff
You may want to indicate that this is the upgrade version.

That really doesn't mean anything. Upgrade versions have always (at least every one I have used) installed on a blank drive. Hopefully, that has not changed.

edit: sorry, looks like it HAS changed since I last used one other than the one that came with the machine.

 

[WDEagle]

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: wayliff
You may want to indicate that this is the upgrade version.

That really doesn't mean anything. Upgrade versions have always (at least every one I have used) installed on a blank drive. Hopefully, that has not changed.

It does mean something if you do not have a disk to upgrade from (i.e. Win 98). You can do a clean install but you will need to "prove" that you have an older version of Windows by inserting the old disk.

Great price OP.

 

[lsman]

thanks.

 

[kenton]

I had an illegal copy of XP Pro Corp on my hard drive before I bought this a few months ago (my rebate just got approved as well, waiting on check to be mailed) and it never asked me for a Windows 98/ME/2K CD, I guess it thought the upgrade from piracy to something a little more legal was good enough

 

[jsxlynn]

The earlier mentioned $20 off $100 does NOT work when I just tried to use it placing an online order. It does appear though if you want one for $30 AR, that the rebate should work for an online order.

Edit: There is also a 10% off order coupon--this too does NOT work online.

 

[Basilisk]

Off Topic, but:
That same advert offers a "Famous Brand Maker 42" Plasma HDTV SAVE $300 INSTANTLY $1099" -- That's a Philips 42PF5321D, I believe. 'Not going to say it's the model I'd buy, but the price seems lower than elsewhere. (And there's always that $5 coupon! )

Edit: They later list a Philips for $1999; both of these are 42" 720p. let's hope it's not the same model under a different SKU!

 

[Basilisk]

Originally posted by: kenton
I had an illegal copy of XP Pro Corp on my hard drive before I bought this a few months ago ... and it never asked me for a Windows 98/ME/2K CD, I guess it thought the upgrade from piracy to something a little more legal was good enough

REALLY??? That almost -bothers- me, as I'd have sworn a M$ rep' told me one could NOT "upgrade" from Pro down to Home.

I was sort of in the same position: I had a Univ. mass-licensed XP legally installed on my computer, but I'd ceased working for them. Then that new validation cr*p at M$ decided I was illegit' and it wouldn't permit updates. I wanted to do this Upgrade to Home but was advised that wouldn't work -- that I'd have to get a full license (not Upgrade) to XP or do a full-install to Home... so I just haven't updated since! Well... I believe you, but I now wonder what I was being told.

 

[Melectricus]

I just installed upgrades from scratch on two different computers with two different xp home software packages. Both required a disk of previous OS be inserted during install. I had some win98's laying around so I was good.

Fyi I never noticed before, but during install, on the windows screen that tells you to insert the previous version disk, it lists win 95. This stuck me as really odd. I don't think it would work because microsoft specifically excludes 95 on their website.
Wonder if it would work?

 

[Jester666]

Originally posted by: Basilisk

Originally posted by: kenton
I had an illegal copy of XP Pro Corp on my hard drive before I bought this a few months ago ... and it never asked me for a Windows 98/ME/2K CD, I guess it thought the upgrade from piracy to something a little more legal was good enough

REALLY??? That almost -bothers- me, as I'd have sworn a M$ rep' told me one could NOT "upgrade" from Pro down to Home.

I was sort of in the same position: I had a Univ. mass-licensed XP legally installed on my computer, but I'd ceased working for them. Then that new validation cr*p at M$ decided I was illegit' and it wouldn't permit updates. I wanted to do this Upgrade to Home but was advised that wouldn't work -- that I'd have to get a full license (not Upgrade) to XP or do a full-install to Home... so I just haven't updated since! Well... I believe you, but I now wonder what I was being told.

AFAIK you cannot 'upgrade' your existing XP pro OS to XP home with all your applications intact. But it will let you do a full install over XP pro without asking you to insert a Windows CD.

 

[Basilisk]

My brain hurts from trying to reason through ANY of this! Why they wouldn't ask for a CD (XP->Home); why they allow Clean Install but not Upgrade (XP->Home). I was always so much happier understanding UNIX problems/solutions...

Thanks for your "AFAIK", devilish jester....

 

[spittledip]

I am still waiting on my rebate for the last XP Home offer from Office Depot. Same exact deal. If the rebate comes it is a great deal.

 

[unclebabar]

Do you still have to go through some clown re-registration with M$oft if you change the hardware on your computer (or swap motherboards) after installing?

 

[bloodthirster]

Originally posted by: unclebabar
Do you still have to go through some clown re-registration with M$oft if you change the hardware on your computer (or swap motherboards) after installing?

Yes they do. Just 2 months ago I installed a new copy of XP onto a new machine. After setup finished I installed the AMD 4 in 1 drivers then rebooted. upon bootup I was hit with the hardware changed you have to re-activate. So I did. Installed the video drivers and guess what? You have to re-activate. It was a total pain in the A$$!

 

[kenton]

I was also told I could not downgrade from Pro to Home. I had my old trusty Windows 98SE CD in my hand waiting for it to ask me for it, but it never did.

I suppose when it scanned my hard drive for "Previous versions of Microsoft Windows" it accepted my illegal Pro/Corp copy as a legitiment OS to "upgrade" from.

 

[dummy2001]

Fyi I never noticed before, but during install, on the windows screen that tells you to insert the previous version disk, it lists win 95. This stuck me as really odd. I don't think it would work because microsoft specifically excludes 95 on their website.
Wonder if it would work?

Yes, it does, my win98se was corp and it wouldn't accept it but I got an old win95 cd from someone and it installed no questions asked.

 

[Speedwagon]

It figures the day after I buy XP Pro Upgrade for $99 after $100 rebate. I knew the stores would be dumping XP since Vista is coming out soon!
I guess I could get a copy of XP Home for the kids.

 

[GeezerMan]

I plan on using my XP Home for awhile yet. What is the main reason people are hot to switch to Vista? Is it just because it's the latest thing?

 

[Speedwagon]

It's all about marketing and everyone wants the latest Greatest!
I'm going to wait for the bugs to get worked out of Vista!

 

[mikeford]

I am sure M$ will do as much as possible to "encourage" migration to Vista, but this current move could be more aimed at collecting the last few bucks from you sneaky illegal users, and the last handfull of 98 holdouts.

So if I buy this home version and install on my illegal corp XP pro system, does it leave applications etc intact? My All in Wonder card sorely wants a fresh media encoder install that greedy M$ denies me.

 

[SOONER]

I just tried to use this XP home upgrade to install over an XP pro version. It would not let me. Within a few seconds it gave me some sort of error message about "invalid upgrade path". Is my only option to do a clean install?