Windows XP Pro

[seeker]

I have been planning to buy XP Pro 64bit soon, but since my installation disk that I have has apparently gone bad, I'm going to need it sooner than I expected. However, two questions arise. I have read some posts where people did not like the 64bit and returned to 32bit, would it be a mistake to go for the new system? The second question is that the cheapest prices are for OEM rather than the retail version...what is the downside to buying OEM?

[evilghost]

I believe technically, based on the obfuscated Microsoft licensing scheme, OEM software cannot be sold stand-alone but must be included with a piece of hardware.

If the issue you have is just the lack of the installation media (and you have a valid licensing key), I would be more than happy to provide you with the media (via download) without an installation key.

I can get 32Bit or 64Bit using the MSDN Library (I have access to all MS software through a legitimate source).

[j0j081]

I am lovin the 64 bit version of XP. I've been using it since last summer without any major problems. Driver support has been a bit slow coming but just recently Hauppauge released their 64 bit set which made me happy because my tv tuner was the only thing I had to wait on. You won't see much of a speed increase except w/the OS itself which feels much snappier and boots up a lot faster than regular XP but based on the server core I find it solid as a rock. The only crashes I've had I brought upon myself by messing with beta versions of the Hauppauge driver, not the current version. Gaming also feels a little smoother to me. Not that the fps are any better but memory mgmt is a lot more agile making it faster to alt-tab out of games and whatnot.

[seeker]

I believe technically, based on the obfuscated Microsoft licensing scheme, OEM software cannot be sold stand-alone but must be included with a piece of hardware.

I think that you are correct about the OEM policy, but I'm seeing alot of online vendors that are selling it without any hardware policies.

If the issue you have is just the lack of the installation media (and you have a valid licensing key), I would be more than happy to provide you with the media (via download) without an installation key.

Thanks, but I only have a dialup connection, so it's not practical to download it.

I can get 32Bit or 64Bit using the MSDN Library (I have access to all MS software through a legitimate source).

[seeker]

I am lovin the 64 bit version of XP. I've been using it since last summer without any major problems. Driver support has been a bit slow coming but just recently Hauppauge released their 64 bit set which made me happy because my tv tuner was the only thing I had to wait on. You won't see much of a speed increase except w/the OS itself which feels much snappier and boots up a lot faster than regular XP but based on the server core I find it solid as a rock. The only crashes I've had I brought upon myself by messing with beta versions of the Hauppauge driver, not the current version. Gaming also feels a little smoother to me. Not that the fps are any better but memory mgmt is a lot more agile making it faster to alt-tab out of games and whatnot.
It's good to hear about the Happauge driver, because I use the same brand of tuner.

[ynnek]

I can get 32Bit or 64Bit using the MSDN Library (I have access to all MS software through a legitimate source).

MSDN Lib is only for developmental/testing purposes only.. You techinically shouldn't download a copy of an OS for personal home use. They even state this as an example of what you shouldn't do..

[nrdstrm]

Actually, late last year microsoft changed some things...I work at PC Club...and we had to sell it with a piece of hardware. The cd just came shrinkwrapped with a key code sticker. Since the change, we no longer have to sell it with a piece of hardware, and it now comes in a brown envelope. The main difference between OEM copies of XP and "Retail" copies, are that the Retail versions allow you to do a clean install, or an upgrade. The OEM copies (Called "DSP") only allow a clean install...no upgrading...Our current prices are Media Center $125, Pro 64 Bit $160, Home $100 and Pro $150. I have seen them cheaper on line, and as long as you buy from a "respected" retailer (IE...Newegg), they should be legit...

[seeker]

Actually, late last year microsoft changed some things...I work at PC Club...and we had to sell it with a piece of hardware. The cd just came shrinkwrapped with a key code sticker. Since the change, we no longer have to sell it with a piece of hardware, and it now comes in a brown envelope. The main difference between OEM copies of XP and "Retail" copies, are that the Retail versions allow you to do a clean install, or an upgrade. The OEM copies (Called "DSP") only allow a clean install...no upgrading...Our current prices are Media Center $125, Pro 64 Bit $160, Home $100 and Pro $150. I have seen them cheaper on line, and as long as you buy from a "respected" retailer (IE...Newegg), they should be legit...
Somewhere, it seems that I recall someone saying that the OEM version doesn't have the recovery console, but that's so vague that I'm probably wrong. One version that I know nothing of, is the MCE. Since it's cheaper than XP Pro, I suppose that it is lacking some features...true?

When I have been to the local PC Club, they say they don't carry software, so I guess that you work for PC Club online...yes?

[rewt]

One version that I know nothing of, is the MCE. Since it's cheaper than XP Pro, I suppose that it is lacking some features...true?

I own a copy of MCE 2005 and as far as I can tell it is just Windows XP Professional with an added components package. My retail copy is two discs, the 1st disc being XP Professional with Service Pack 2, and the second disc being the MCE components.

I don't own any OEM versions so I can't comment on those.

[nrdstrm]

Somewhere, it seems that I recall someone saying that the OEM version doesn't have the recovery console, but that's so vague that I'm probably wrong. One version that I know nothing of, is the MCE. Since it's cheaper than XP Pro, I suppose that it is lacking some features...true?

When I have been to the local PC Club, they say they don't carry software, so I guess that you work for PC Club online...yes?

Heh, no...All PC Club's carry Windows and Office. Norton as well. When employees say we dont carry software, they should be more clear and just name the products we do carry (wich is not many titles). I appologize for that employee's ineptness..

[j0j081]

here is the version I traded a hdd for on this very forum.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/j0j081/DSC00004.jpg

[john19055]

I got the downloaded version but it is still to buggy for me to use because some of my games want work.

[seeker]

I really find the options available for XP in general to be very confusing. I'm not going to buy it, but I notice that CompUSA had both XP SP2 and just straight XP, the latter of which was more expensive, which I thought would have been the other way around, since SP2 is the newer.

I found an offer at a place called #9 Software, on the internet, which had the 64bit for $119.00 including shipping, which they called a full version, and did not call it OEM. But I'm going to give them a call when they open up, to clarify this. I do not know if I can just send them a check or not, because their payment options only included CCs. But, that would save me a chunk over the local PC Club's OEM at $160.00 plus tax.

[Superfly]

I can't complain about free, but being on a dialup, downloading OSs isn't practical.

Or legal.

Im amazed a mod has'nt locked this thread.

Buy the software you cheap f**ks.

[Nutty]

Or legal.

Im amazed a mod has'nt locked this thread.

Buy the software you cheap f**ks.

I've just deleted some posts instead. Stop talking about warez on the boards please. Anyone found promoting illegal software here will prolly find themselves booted.

[retsam]

does this mean we cant talk about linux either? (http://www.adequacy.org/stories/2001.12.2.42056.2147.html) ya know it is a hackers OS :D

[seeker]

does this mean we cant talk about linux either? (http://www.adequacy.org/stories/2001.12.2.42056.2147.html) ya know it is a hackers OS :D
How in the world did you dig that up? It reads like a propaganda sheet put out by AOL, MS and Intel combined. The lies in that are blatant. According to it, AMD, Linux and any ISP besides AOL are all in a conspiracy to steal the souls of children. It even said that Linux Torvald is a Russian, when he was born in Finland.

[retsam]

lol hahaha

[rewt]

Lol, if his son is installing "lunix", that guy needs a serious upgrade! I mean, commodore 64 is soooo 80's... I'd love to see someone pull off a DOS attack with that old piece of junk.