Where to get XP?

[GoYouSalukis]

I just got a donor laptop for a barcade. It needs an OS. It shipped with vista and has a product key. Should I try to find a vista install disk, or get XP? Any recommendations where to get a legit copy of XP? It originally had a recovery partition, but no longer has one.

Thanks,
Justin

[jdbailey1206]

Is your computer bootable?  If so I would recommend upgrading to 7.  Vista from what I have heard is finneky and needs to be removed.  It depends on what you want to do with your computer.  I have used both XP and 7 and found them quite stable.  Vista on the other hand is about as useful as Windows Millenium.

[GoYouSalukis]

It actually boots into a non-legit version of XP that the previous owner tried to install and shouts to activate online. I'm not keen on putting vista back on it, but it might save some money.

[Fursphere]

1) Download the Microsoft Key Changing application.  This is so you can change the product key while the system is online (google it)

2) Find a legitimate key.  This won't be hard.  Go to a surplus store that has a ton of used workstations  on the shelf - they'll most likely have their XP key stickers still on the box.  Dell's are most common for it.  But the case from the surplus guy for like $10.  Or just ask if you can have the sticker - I've had a few just give them to me.  (use a razor blade to get them off cleanly)

[GoYouSalukis]

Cool - thanks for the info I'll try to locate a legit product key.

[jdbailey1206]

Thats what I would do.  And if you have to use an older operating system stay with XP.  Fix it once and fix it right.   

[knave]

Vista is not so bad now that they've patched it. you can burn your own legit install disk. Seems like less work...

[BadMouth]

Vista is not so bad now that they've patched it. you can burn your own legit install disk. Seems like less work...

I'm using it on my stand-up cab because of DirectX11 support.
Once you turn off all the user account control garbage, the only downside is that bootup cannot be completely hidden.
At least I haven't been able to hide it.  I can make the boot screen look like whatever I want, but it still shows the windows logo after it.

[GoYouSalukis]

Thanks Knave,

I was unaware that I can burn my own install for vista. Can you point me in the right direction?

[Dcpmark]

I bought a brand new XP Pro 64-bit (good for 3 computers) that has never been installed or used. My plan was to dual boot my new speedy desktop that came with Win 8 pre installed, but I have everything I want working perfectly in Win 8 so I don't need it anymore. If anyone is interested in buying it PM me.

[JDFan]

Thanks Knave,

I was unaware that I can burn my own install for vista. Can you point me in the right direction?

Official MS download files link can be found HERE ( http://downloadsnfix.blogspot.com/2012/08/microsoft-windows-vista-official-iso.html ) Along with a decent write-up of how to download and create the disk. - just download the files and follow the tutorial.

[GoYouSalukis]

Thanks everyone! That was exactly what I needed!

[ark_ader]

Windows 2000 Workstation is $18 on  ebay.

[SlammedNiss]

2) Find a legitimate key.  This won't be hard.  Go to a surplus store that has a ton of used workstations  on the shelf - they'll most likely have their XP key stickers still on the box.  Dell's are most common for it.  But the case from the surplus guy for like $10.  Or just ask if you can have the sticker - I've had a few just give them to me.  (use a razor blade to get them off cleanly)

Will that work? I was always the understanding that OEM versions of Windows will ONLY work on the PC it was originally installed to. If you tried to move that copy of Windows to a different PC, it wouldn't work because of the hardware differences.

[Dawgz Rule]

OEM Windows licenses (stickers on the computer) are non transferable so they are not legitimate.   Retail versions of XP are transferable.   That isn't to say they won't work, but if the goal is to be 100% legitimate, that isn't necessarily going to do it.  Kind of an irony considering...well...arcade cabinets.

[JDFan]

OEM Windows licenses (stickers on the computer) are non transferable so they are not legitimate.   Retail versions of XP are transferable.

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]

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.

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]

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.

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?

[JDFan]

Perhaps -- though I was just saying it could be argued that the license was paid for when the original purchase of the system was made and thus using that key on a system could be considered legitimate (assuming the original system parts were not still being used in another case)  - since no court that I know of has actually ruled on whether a license of a software product can legally be tied to a specific set of hardware and is not relocatable to different hardware for use (ie. there are Fair Use Laws in some jurisdictions that seem to contradict this) - Sure it may violate the EULA that microsoft has written but can that EULA actually be enforced Legally 

Kind of the same situation as Dumping a ROM that you purchased and using it on a different platform that some would argue is Legal while others would say it is not.

[CoryBee]

Uh oh jdfan......I forsee a conversation starting in this thread that could turn bad.....

[Dawgz Rule]

No question that any of those could be challenged in court and I hear your argument loud and clear.  I am speaking purely in regards to the license agreement per Microsoft.  No comment on ROMs.   

[404]

There are hacked 'lite' versions of vista around. They have some unnecessary services and things removed to speed up boot time, save ram and disk space.

Since you already have a legit windows vista key, you are legally entitled to install windows vista. Since slipstreaming or streamlining your own install is legal, I'd just put one of those lite installs on there.

[danny_galaga]

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.

Problem is MAME for Linux isn't very well supported I find. So it will all depend on how good you are with this stuff. I like Ubuntu, but pull my hair out on any MAME that isn't MAME32

[jdbailey1206]

In my opinion you don't have to force yourself to put Vista on.  As long as you have a legitimate copy of a Windows Certificate of Authenticity for the operating system you are running then you should be fine.  At some point if your computer lasts long enough or can run it you will have to upgrade to a new operating system at some point.  But this is your choice.  If it was up to me I would still be running 2000 on my machines but the support and software began to become outdated.   

As for buying a sticker it says right on the Certificate of Authenticity that it's illegal.  If you've got some extra cash laying around (which I know most people don't now-a-days) you can pick up a upgrade or a complete new OS install for fairly cheap. 

As far as free operating systems go I would say that they are worth a try.  When I tried Ubuntu about ten years ago it was very sleek and suprisingly user friendly.  The only draw back was the fact that you had to use a CLI (command line interface) to get anything done.  Now at this point they may have switched over to a GUI (Graphics User Interface) which is like Windows where you point and click.  So in the end it comes down to what you want to do.  I enjoyed Ubuntu because when I used it I felt like I learned a lot and it wasn't that hard to catch onto the command interface.  But if you are building a arcade do you really want to take the time to learn something else while building your arcade....

In the end my idea is the following...

1.  If you are using it for an all together day to day machine switch to XP or 7 (even Ubuntu if you want to learn).  Look on online for the best deal on a new Windows Certificate and you can find tons of how-to's to help you install.

2.  If it is going to be part of a Arcade use XP.  It is going to require less resources to work and still has updates.  Don't be afraid to spend a little bit of money on an operating system.  They last you 5-6 years.  And if you run into another situation like this you can transfer the OS to an older computer if you have a new OS on a new computer.  I know this contradicts what we said earlier but as long as you have the OS on one computer you should be fine.  My version of XP has gone through about two computers I have owned.  And as many computers there are out there I don't think any one will come knocking down your door for moving operating systems around to another computer.

Hope that make sense.  I tend to rant.  (     ).  And don't be afraid to ask questions when you finally decide what you want to do.  Edison once said that it took him 2000 tries on how NOT to invent the light bulb.

[AGarv]

Best place to get XP = Killing boars in the forest.

[Dawgz Rule]

Best place to get XP = Killing boars in the forest.

 

And as many computers there are out there I don't think any one will come knocking down your door for moving operating systems around to another computer

+1.  There are bigger fish to fry in the MS world.  Why go after a single user when you can go after corporations.  More bang for the buck there.  Even then, MS is pretty lenient in that they will require you to get compliant but have a "get legal" program that offers significant discounts on licensing.

[Malenko]

amazon seems to have it for around $40

[Fursphere]

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?

Notice how I first said "buy the box the sticker is on".   Then you are in physical possession of the physical "device" the license applied too. 

(Now that I'm done being a smart@ss)

To get one of those OEM keys to work - what I've done in the past is install XP with an illegitimate key - get it up and running and let it freak out about not being genuine, THEN use the key swapping program I mentioned above (an official microsoft program) and swap in the OEM key.

Never had an issue doing this. 

Now that Microsoft has killed TechNET for reasonably priced licenses...  things will get interesting.

[Dawgz Rule]

To get one of those OEM keys to work - what I've done in the past is install XP with an illegitimate key - get it up and running and let it freak out about not being genuine, THEN use the key swapping program I mentioned above (an official microsoft program) and swap in the OEM key.

Have to admit, that is very innovative.  Never considered that one before.   

[UFO]

Linux?

(awaits backlash)

But if its for an arcade cab, why not?

[Jack Burton]

This is a MAME cab, isn't it?  Just get one off a torrent site and be done with it.