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Where to get XP?

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JDFan:


--- Quote from: Dawgz Rule on July 18, 2013, 03:00:22 pm ---OEM Windows licenses (stickers on the computer) are non transferable so they are not legitimate.   Retail versions of XP are transferable.

--- End quote ---

However -- the stickers on the old cases were usually never actually ever used (since the Major OEMs had mass production keys that validated without the need to input a key since their BIOS included the info and they did not want to have to invest the time and $ to have someone enter each key into a system before shipping) - But MS required that the sticker be applied to each unit to prove they had purchased a separate license for each unit (So technically each unit came with 2 licenses) --- That key normally was only used if you ran into problems reactivating after a reinstall thus most times you enter one of those keys on a new system the activation server will activate the product (technically not legal but usually works !)

It can be argued that they are or are not "legitimate" as the keys were provided by MS and their activation server verifies them as authentic and not having been used anytime prior - so their own servers verify them as legitimate - so why should the end user say that it is not.

GoYouSalukis:

Thanks,
The computer does have it's own original Vista sticker so I will start with that. I'm pretty sure vista will be fine for a simple one player barcade.

CoryBee:


--- Quote from: GoYouSalukis on July 18, 2013, 03:18:43 pm ---Thanks,
The computer does have it's own original Vista sticker so I will start with that. I'm pretty sure vista will be fine for a simple one player barcade.

--- End quote ---

If you are building an arcade around it, go with XP. Especially if you don't have much RAM.

Windows XP Black is what I would go with.

keilmillerjr:

If you are concerned with legality and cost, try ubuntu or xubuntu. It's free. They will even mail you discs for free if you don't want to digitally download a copy. Way better than windows. The only downfall is that support for front ends is mainly for windows. However, if you are content wih a simple front end, then linux might be your way to go.

Dawgz Rule:


--- Quote ---It can be argued that they are or are not "legitimate" as the keys were provided by MS and their activation server verifies them as authentic and not having been used anytime prior - so their own servers verify them as legitimate - so why should the end user say that it is not.
--- End quote ---

You really can't argue whether they are or are not.  They simply are not.  If you ever get into the nitty gritty of MS licensing (something I am involved with regularly), you will find that those stickers are specifically licensed to the original physical device and are non transferable.  Even in the volume license world, when you enter into a VLA program, the OS licenses are non transferable.  Admittedly, this is widely ignored as the VLA key will work, but that doesn't make it any more legitimate.

Either way, it is semantics for obvious reasons.  If my ROMS aren't legal, am I really going to care that the OS is?

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