Cheapest XP for me?

[mrapoc]

Hey guys,

I've kinda somehow ran into "You may be a victim of counterfeiting" message but lets not go there.

I'm under the impression there is an XP pack which allows you to use for system building perhaps allowing unlimited installs? (Or am i going crazy?) Perhaps an XP retail (if its similiar to the Vista retail) would be suitable?

I just want a proper copy (but dont see the point in vista understandably) which i can use on client machines as well as my own.

Ideas on price and where to buy from? 

thanks guys

[Rik]

I'm not quite sure what you're after, here, Sam. XP disks are tied to a serial number (in practice a group of serial numbers), so you couldn't, potentially, use your disk with someone else's PC. Are you looking more towards a licensing agreement?

(Any news on the job?)

[mrapoc]

Well depending on the cost Rik - potentially yes

Im just looking for the best solution MAINLY for me  and we all know how i like to reinstall (every 6 months at the latest) but i'm getting more and more people wanting me to reinstall xp or similiar.

Still no response as of now 

[Rik]

A copy of XP Pro seems to be about £90 from a quick look about, but that isn't going to be a complete solution for you. Were you to use it on other people's machines with your serial number, I'd expect you to hit activation problems. If you use their serial number, you'd probably find it was rejected. The simplest way would be to get people to supply their disk if they want you to re-install.

Otherwise, you'd probably have to talk to someone like Misco about the licensing schemes, which I can't find on the website.

We'll continue to cross our toes for you.

[kinmel]

search google for "windows xp OEM" and prices for XP home start at about £54

Some sellers include a MS "qualifying" product in the price, others require you to buy something

[Simon]

I've just bought an XP Home (SP3) licence from Scan for £56.74, with the free shipping perk through AV Forums.  Next cheapest I found was Ebuyer at £59.01 using the free shipping option.

[mrapoc]

Ideally i was looking for a product to do both as im asked quite a lot recently to reinstall xp/remove vista.

SO my best bet is to get myself an xp pro retail just for myself - then everytime some1 asks to have xp put on, up the price to include an oem version (unless they have their own?)

cba spending loads on vista when windows 7 will surpass it...altho xp x64 is quite a pita! Maybe ill have to go for vista x64 :s

[ducky22]

Provided you have the hardware for it, Vista x64 is an unbeatable operating system. I've been using it since January last year. Every performs better over XP/Vista x86. XP x64_86 was very disappointing and I haven't touched it since a brief 5minute stint.

[mrapoc]

true true

damn xp x64 is oem only...plus i dont really wanna be spending craploads when windows 7 is out soon...it pretty much has to be x64 but im not sure how many times il use it (oem is 3 reinstalls right?)

perhaps i could get xp  x64 oem for myself (hmm but support is almost zero) but u can usually call up after 3 reinstalls and say ur mobo broke or something - doubt that works with vista. Is it only the retail vistas that get x64?

the only thing with getting vista...ultimate has more half open ports (utorrent loves this)..but also costs more. Is it retail that comes with x64? Perhaps home premium x64 is the way for me

[ducky22]

For OEM I'm not sure, 3 reinstalls isn't really an issue. Simply call the activation line and they'll give you a manual code.

Half open ports aren't as big an issue as a lot of people make out. There is a simple hack available which changes the limit in the tcpip stack. Will see if i can dig up the link.

OEM and Retails hould both come with x86_64 with Vista Ultimate/Business. Not sure about home premium.

[drummer]

Although I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve, BartPE might be of some use, and it's free.

[ducky22]

http://redchaos.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/increase-your-bittorrent-p2p-download-speed-in-windows-vista/

4a:

Increase the maximum limit of half-open TCP/IP concurrent connections using klitetools batch file (http://216.32.65.34/~svb/h/vistapatch.zip)

[mrapoc]

The sp1 kinda stopped all the patches afaik.

Ok im kinda decided on Vista x64 home premium - oem will probably do (by the time iv used 3 licenses it will be windows 7 time)

I can always make an acronis image of a new system to save me having to format when things get slow

[Rik]

It's what I always do, Sam.

[ducky22]

I've only reinstall Vista x64_86 once since last January and that's because I made a schoolboy error and downloaded a bad torrent and ignored the antivirus warning.

No slow downs at all. Runs exceptionally well.

[ducky22]

As for antivirus... I'd highly recommend Avira.

[mrapoc]

Vista home premium x64 OEM it is then...Acronis image it with the new setup so i dont have to reformat  8) ace

Im already sorted with my eset nod32 thanks 

What do you recommend to install prior to acronis image? Shall i literally, once it has booted, make an image before even installing updates?

[Rik]

Well, it will probably help if you install Acronis, Sam.

I usually do just that, install TI and image, then add the updates and image again.

[ducky22]

I'd install service pack and all current updates, activate windows then image.

[mrapoc]

To put it simply:

Nothing installed but Windows (and associated necessary stuff aka updates) and acronis 

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/123067 - best buy?

[Rik]

Seems a pretty good price, Sam.

[Sebby]

That looks good to me, Sam.

[mrapoc]

Buying tonight   

[Rik]

Have fun.

[Inactive]

It's Vista, it goes without saying Rik..