Buy XP Professional OEM??

rushm001 · 27 Jul 2005

I have got a laptop which has got XP home on it. I would like to upgrade this to XP professional. Obviously I can buy the upgrade version of the software, but my question is can I buy the OEM version of XP pro?

Just curious really.

Electronic Punk · 27 Jul 2005

ebay has alot of copies, look for sellers with stupidly high feedback as they usually use it as a "selling vessel" so there is very little risk.

I got MCE 2005 that way.

Johnny · 27 Jul 2005

The Oem version won't include drivers and such with it .. It's better to go with retail. You can find a good price on them on like mentioned - Ebay ..

zeke_mo · 27 Jul 2005

Johnny, it does I have it and it is 100% the same as retail.

@rushmoo1 I would go for it, I got mine over a year ago and I havent had any regrets. Its the same as the retail but it comes in a plastic sleeve and not a nice box. But who needs a 100$ box anyway?

Johnny · 27 Jul 2005

zeke_mo said:
Johnny, it does I have it and it is 100% the same as retail.

The home OEM I got with my dell didn't have the drivers, I had to use a disk fro to install them. A buddy of mine got a dell with OEM Pro, it didn't have the drivers either. Maybe, it is just diff if you buy from a manufacturer as apposed to buying it from a retail outlet. If that is the case, then I would go with OEM. You don't need the stupid packaging, or book anyhow ..

As a note when I say drivers .. When you use a retail version of xp it has driver for whatever is on your computer. The OEM version I had wasn't like that. When I used it I had to use the drivers disk that came with my computer. If I used the retail version, I didn't have to. It will all there ..

zeke_mo · 27 Jul 2005

Its probably because it didnt come with a service pack, if you dont have sp1 the you wont have usb 2.0 drivers, and if you dont have sp2 you wont have bluetooth drivers. There might be others, but those are the main ones

Johnny · 27 Jul 2005

zeke_mo said:
Its probably because it didnt come with a service pack, if you dont have service pack one the you wont have usb 2.0 drivers, and if you dont have sp2 you wont have bluetooth drivers

Look above. The version I am talking about don't even have service pack one ..

melon · 27 Jul 2005

Generic OEMs probably include everything, such as the OEM XP CDs that are sold on NewEgg.com with a nominal "hardware" requirement. Buy a 3.5" disc drive or a printer and you qualify for the OEM CD.

The ones packaged by Dell or whatnot are probably customized by Dell themselves, and they have a nasty habit of crippling their OEMs to the point that they're useless on any other computer except the one you bought.

Melon

zeke_mo · 27 Jul 2005

melon said:
Generic OEMs probably include everything, such as the OEM XP CDs that are sold on NewEgg.com with a nominal "hardware" requirement. Buy a 3.5" disc drive or a printer and you qualify for the OEM CD.

I found a loop hole in that

When I bought XP from them they gave me a free hat and the hat counted as hardware

Im sure they have fixed it by now but it made me feel cool

Admiral Michael · 27 Jul 2005

Do you need to activate an OEM?

zeke_mo · 27 Jul 2005

Yes. Its corporate that you dont have to activate

Admiral Michael · 27 Jul 2005

and how much is corporate? I have 4 systems that I need to install xp on.

zeke_mo · 27 Jul 2005

You can only by it direct from microsoft and its very expensive, unless you have ungodful amounts of money, I would just stick with the OEM. Newegg even sells a 3 pack I think....I dont remember

EDIT: here it is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102154

Admiral Michael · 28 Jul 2005

darn it. Aw well, guess I could use 1 legit to get the files.

If xp wasnt so much or they allowed you to use it on 5 comps at $200 I would consider purchasing it.

kcnychief · 28 Jul 2005

The cheapest reliable option for XP, from what I have found, is here..

http://www.salesintl.com/product.asp?0=218&1=235&3=158

I have used them several times, never had a problem. That particular copy I don't believe has SP2, but you can get the CD for free here..

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

Just apply that before hooking up to internet, should be MONEY

Admiral Michael · 28 Jul 2005

Im guessing thats in US dollars.

Blue Jack · 28 Jul 2005

I've been meaning to try this, but I don't have an XP home cd to try it with...
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/software/howto-change-windows-xp-home-to-windows-xp-pro-105486.php

I *think* this was originally posted on this site, if not I'm sorry, you all can delete this post.

zeke_mo · 28 Jul 2005

Admiral Michael said:
Im guessing thats in US dollars.

yeah, so its like 1,000 canadian dollars

rushm001 · 28 Jul 2005

Admiral Michael said:
and how much is corporate? I have 4 systems that I need to install xp on.

I think corporate is geared to businesses with more computers than that. Imagine having to activate over 300 pc's like which have been installed at my work recently!

Oh thanks everyone for their replys!

Admiral Michael · 28 Jul 2005

Blue Jack said:
I've been meaning to try this, but I don't have an XP home cd to try it with...
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/software/howto-change-windows-xp-home-to-windows-xp-pro-105486.php

I *think* this was originally posted on this site, if not I'm sorry, you all can delete this post.

ya it has, I cant find it. Does anyone have a link to it?

Buy XP Professional OEM??

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