XP x64 SP2

[seeker]

Due to the fact that my CD became cracked, I want to replace it, but everytime that I look at the Windows specs I get confused with some of their terms. For instance, what does DSP mean? When I Google it, I only find reference to digital signal processing...does this relate? Many of the versions offered say nothing about SP2, which I consider essential, so I assume that they are simply SP1. However, I noticed that the ones that did state the SP said SP2c...is that different than SP2? I once called MS to clarify some of my questions, but that did not help at all. All that I got was alot of vague responses.

[Q]

SP2c is for XP only, not XP64. I believe the c portion only added some valid serial numbers for volume customers.

DSP info:
http://www.xxera.com/faqs/faq_s4.html

[seeker]

SP2c is for XP only, not XP64. I believe the c portion only added some valid serial numbers for volume customers.

DSP info:
http://www.xxera.com/faqs/faq_s4.html
Your link answered my question regarding DSP...thanks, and you may be correct about SP2c, but take a look at this link, and you will see that it is speaking of XP x64 SP2c:

http://www.pricewatch.com/public/info2.aspx?i=182&z=3584&ro=4&aid=17873401&a=267051

[Q]

Your link answered my question regarding DSP...thanks, and you may be correct about SP2c, but take a look at this link, and you will see that it is speaking of XP x64 SP2c:

http://www.pricewatch.com/public/info2.aspx?i=182&z=3584&ro=4&aid=17873401&a=267051

http://microsoft.blognewschannel.com/archives/2007/08/23/windows-xp-sp2c/

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http://microsoft.blognewschannel.com/archives/2007/08/23/windows-xp-sp2c/
Assuming that blog is accurate, it would appear that you are correct...but the link that I gave is only an example, there are many more that also say that they offer XP x64 SP2c, so I am still a bit confused. Since that blog is a bit dated and XP 32 bit is now going to SP3, it leaves the label SP2c is somewhat of a limbo.

My current installation only says that it is SP2, but I guess that it wouldn't pose any problem in terms of compatabllity...I hope. It's probably just a matter of alot of oblivious venders, but if they are wrong on this, I'm a bit wary to trust them not to sell me a copy of SP1.

[S.SubZero]

The "c" thing is not something the end user will ever see. It's not identified anywhere. All it is, is XP with a new key algorithm. The software itself does not identify itself as "c".

As for XP64, there's no "c" since the key volume is relatively small in comparison to XP32. XP64 comes in OEM and volume license versions, and that's it. There's no retail.

[seeker]

After shopping around, I have found that there is a significant difference in price between OEM and NFR versions of the OS. Actually, my current installation of x64 is NFR, but even though I once called MS about it, I have never really understood this. Googling, I found some items that seemed to infer that NFR was a grey market item, but when speaking with MS or the retailers offering it, I was not given this impression. Is this something to be concerned about, or is it just another marketing tactic?

[S.SubZero]

Code-wise there's probably nothing different, the most there would be is the key generation. OEM is what is sold on systems, while NFR is what one would get at a trade show or some other "legally free" way. I have Vista and Server 2008 NFR from the "Heroes Happen Here" event a couple of months ago. NFR stuff isn't meant to be sold, period. OEM stuff just isn't meant to be sold by itself.

[seeker]

Code-wise there's probably nothing different, the most there would be is the key generation. OEM is what is sold on systems, while NFR is what one would get at a trade show or some other "legally free" way. I have Vista and Server 2008 NFR from the "Heroes Happen Here" event a couple of months ago. NFR stuff isn't meant to be sold, period. OEM stuff just isn't meant to be sold by itself.

That may be what is intended for NFR, but on occassion I hasve found NFRs available online cheaper than OEM.