Windows XP Pro retail

[CaptJordus]

So where is the cheapest place to buy a copy of XP Pro Retail?

I dont want OEM cause it binds to the motherboard and you cant ever use it on another system

Anyway If i can get it for around 200 ill be happy, but 225+ is too steep right now.


I don't want home either, i need Pro for a few reasons so i dont want your Home speeches in here. Just links & pertinent information.

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

I'm pretty sure that you can use the oem version again, you just have to not have any major hardware changes for 120 days. After that it'll reactivate fine.

[CaptJordus]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

really?

I heard that after september 05 it changed so its permanently bound to the first motherboard it works with upon installation. But maybe im wrong.

If i can confirm this ill just get the oem.

[FierceTeapot]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

oem is the same as retail without a glitzy help guide and warranty malarky.

why pay more for crap all?

Why even get Pro?

[CaptJordus]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

Retail is supposed to be an open license that you can use and activate as much as neccessary (to a certain extent)

OEM- as of Sept 2005, is supposed to be locked to the motherboard of the first system its installed to.

If what matdef said can be confirmed then ill get OEM.

I dont want home, I need PRO, and i said we are not getting into that in this thread.

[sarb]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

i always wondered what diff between oem and standard version was. i was told that OEM only works a few times, and then its no good anymore.

[claevade]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

I have done quite some study on this lately, but it's quite simple. All disks are the same, even the upgrade licence has the same disk with files. Though with the upgrade licence you got to have a former Windows licence for it to be legal. If you don't it will just work, but it ain't legal (who comes to check?). OEM is a licence which is upposed to be bought at the same time as you PC, they belong to ecahother. Though the disk installs anywhere, but it's not legal. Retail can be used after buying on wherever you want it.

I got myself a 15 euro student upgrade licence and it works fine, ofcourse I got a Win98 OEM licence still left, so it's even legal.

[SO19Visionaries]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

how can it bind to the motherboard?

unless microsoft gets sent the information somehow during the activation never saw anything about it collecting information about the PC though?

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

how can it bind to the motherboard?

unless microsoft gets sent the information somehow during the activation never saw anything about it collecting information about the PC though?

Yes it does, your installation ID is generated using specifics about your hardware. You didn't read closely I suppose, it's in the EULA.

[Eden]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

^ exactly #8. The only difference between OME and retail is the OME version is cheaper and doesn't come in a box or with any fancy instructions.

It cant lock tou your computer because you would need some sort of invisable internet so it can send your information with out your knowlage (which is illegal) to MS.

[SO19Visionaries]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

Yes it does, your installation ID is generated using specifics about your hardware. You didn't read closely I suppose, it's in the EULA.

right lol luckily i got mine free its not a retail nor an OEM :-D

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

I have done quite some study on this lately, but it's quite simple. All disks are the same, even the upgrade licence has the same disk with files. Though with the upgrade licence you got to have a former Windows licence for it to be legal. If you don't it will just work, but it ain't legal (who comes to check?). OEM is a licence which is upposed to be bought at the same time as you PC, they belong to ecahother. Though the disk installs anywhere, but it's not legal. Retail can be used after buying on wherever you want it.

I got myself a 15 euro student upgrade licence and it works fine, ofcourse I got a Win98 OEM licence still left, so it's even legal.

Closr but not quite. With the upgrade it asks you to insert a disk of a previous windos version is there is none installed, with the full version it does not.

OEM can only be activated on one computer and one computer only, doesn't matter if you throw that computer out the window and smash it and buy another, you cannot use your OEM liscense on the new one (legaly). And you will have problems activating it on another computer, although you may be able to say the right things to the CSR to get the activation code.

Retail can be transfered from computer to computer, but it can only legaly be on one computer at a time.

[Eden]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

Yes it does, your installation ID is generated using specifics about your hardware. You didn't read closely I suppose, it's in the EULA.

Thats just an instalation id, you get the same thing with the retail version. The licence for all versions of XP (exept corporate) says that you can only install it on one computer it also allows you to reinstall it on your computer if you have changed hardware about 3-5 times.

[lil_jimmy_norton]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

^ exactly #8. The only difference between OME and retail is the OME version is cheaper and doesn't come in a box or with any fancy instructions.

It cant lock tou your computer because you would need some sort of invisable internet so it can send your information with out your knowlage (which is illegal) to MS.

Nope sir, you are wrong. Read the EULA, you agreed that they can collect certain hardware info and use it for verification purposes.

Thats just an instalation id, you get the same thing with the retail version. The licence for all versions of XP (exept corporate) says that you can only install it on one computer it also allows you to reinstall it on your computer if you have changed hardware about 3-5 times.

Ok here's how it works, yout installation ID is generated by what hardware you have, when you activate the first time, it stores this info in their computers. When you reinstall with the same hardware, the number stays the same so with you re-activate it and it compares the installation ID you have to the one they have it all matches, so all is well.

If you install after a large hardware upgrade (motherboard, etc) you will generate a diffrent installation ID, and when you go to activate it, it won't work (after a certain amount of times) and you have to call CS to get a new number. If you have a retail copy they will give you the number no problem, if you have OEM they will not. Simple as that.

http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/ProductActivation.htm

To futher my point

"For purposes of product activation only, a non-unique hardware identifier is also created from general information that is included in the system components. At no time are files on the hard drive scanned, nor is personally-identifiable information of any kind used to create the hardware identifier. Product activation is completely anonymous. To ensure your privacy, the hardware identifier is created by what is known as a "one-way hash". To produce a one-way hash, information is processed through an algorithm to create a new alphanumeric string. It is impossible to calculate the original information from the resulting string. The hardware identifier is used together with the product ID to create a unique installation ID. Whether you choose to activate by using an Internet connection or by speaking with a Microsoft customer service representative, the installation ID is the only piece of information required to activate Windows XP." - from Windows XP SP2's Help and Support.

Some more

Which items of a computer's hardware does Product Activation list and check?

WPA checks ten categories of hardware:

1. - The display adapter - the video card.

2. - SCSI adapter - if present it allows the use of SCSI hard drives and other SCSI devices.

3. - The IDE adapter (the motherboard's IDE hard drive controller)

4. - Network adapter (NIC) and its MAC Address

5. - RAM - amount and range (i.e., 128 to 256MB, 256 to 512MB, etc.)

6. - The processor's type - the make and model of processor(s)

7. - The processor's serial number [not all processors have serial numbers, and some that do allow it to be disabled so that it can't be read]

8. - The hard drive device

9. - The hard drive's Volume Serial Number (VSN)

10. - The make and model(s) of CD/DVD drive(s) installed.

The make and version of the BIOS doesn't count at all. The product-activation code is only locked on to the BIOS with the OEM version of Windows XP that the major computer manufacturers pre-install on their computers.

The activation process calculates and records a number based on the first device of each type that was found during setup. The number is stored on the computer's hard drive. During the actual online activation the number and the Product ID number, which Windows creates from the 25-character unique Product Key that every non-corporate copy of Windows XP has, are returned to the activation centre. If you bought a brand-name PC, the Product Key is usually attached somewhere on the computer's case. If you have bought a retail or OEM version of XP, the Product Key is supplied with the CD. If Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 has been installed, the entire Product Key is also transmitted in order to check it against a list of known pirated Product Key numbers.

Microsoft keeps a record of the information it collects on every licensed copy of XP so that no one can install it on another computer and activate it. It would be a prohibitively costly business to create a computer that has all of the same hardware, MAC Address, the Volume Serial Number, processor serial number, etc., as another computer in order to be able use one copy of XP on more than one computer.

If you format the hard drive (usually the C: drive) and reinstall of Windows, reactivation is usually required because the new installation contains no activation information. However, that can be avoided if you follow the advice provided in the blue table above. But if you do reinstall and reactivate XP, if the hardware is unchanged or substantially the same, the activation will go ahead as easily as if that copy of Windows has never been activated before.

And a little more:

There are two versions of OEM licences for Windows XP. For one of them, the OEM CD is purchased with a qualifying item of computer hardware. Windows XP can be reinstalled and reactivated indefinitely as with the retail version as long as it is done on the original computer. The licence (license) cannot be transferred to a different computer. It is activated as usual, either online or by telephone, but if it were to be installed on hardware deemed as being not sufficiently the same, the activation would be refused full stop (period) for failing to meet the terms of the licence.

In the other type of OEM licence, Windows XP is pre-installed by a major computer manufacturer, such as Dell. In this case, instead of activation, the system is locked to the make and version of the BIOS on the motherboard. Every time the system is booted, Windows checks to make sure that the BIOS is the same. As long as that is the case, the rest of the hardware components can be changed. However, if the motherboard is replaced, it has to be of the same make and model. If a BIOS-locked copy of Windows XP is installed on a motherboard and the BIOS lock fails, the system will go through the normal Product Activation process at startup. However, note well that from March 1, 2005, the Product Key supplied on a label by the computer manufacturer, and used for the initial installation, won't be accepted for activation. A new copy of Windows XP, with a license allowing installation on a different computer, will be needed. This means that any replacement motherboard, or upgrade to its BIOS, must be supplied by the original manufacturer in order to ensure that the BIOS lock is put into effect.

[MonkMachine]

Re: Windows XP Pro retail

I brought a OEM version and upgraded my motherboard and graphics card so I had to reinstall. It didn't activate over the internet but I phoned up(didn't actually speak to anyone just had to input the code) and it gave me another code which activated it. This was in January 2006 so unless they've changed the licence agreement I think you'll be fine. I hope this helps :)

By the way I'm from the UK so I don't know if Europe has a different licence agreement?