Did you pay for your version of Windows?

[Das Capitolin]

I am curious about this: how many of you would be in trouble if you were asked to show proof of purchase for your installation of Windows?

[Scott Sherman]

yep I payed for all 20 of my licenses.

[dracos]

what do you mean by proof, a reciept?

I have the original discs with keys, I have the original packaging from one of the them actually, and NewEgg keeps copies of your old purchases in your account...

So I guess I do have proof......

[werty316]

Nope, my rig is a pirate machine.
http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/4436/newpiratetee6yd.jpg
Argh matey! argh!

[Kasrkin Guard]

I got some legally through my parents friend who works for M$. As for the proof, that could be another thing.. :???:

[Das Capitolin]

what do you mean by proof, a reciept?

I have the original discs with keys, I have the original packaging from one of the them actually, and NewEgg keeps copies of your old purchases in your account...

So I guess I do have proof......

You would be ok. What I mean is this: if Microsoft or the BSA were to audit your computers O/S, would you be legal, or not.

[mousiness]

:-D my dads work gives him any software he wants for free

[Kougar]

You would be ok. What I mean is this: if Microsoft or the BSA were to audit your computers O/S, would you be legal, or not.

For both this desktop and my laptop that I upgraded to XP Pro? Yes, I can even find both holographic stickers with the serial #s, given a little time... :wink:

They already know regardless, as I had no issues with WGA and it's been installed on both of these machines when it first came out... I even registered Vista with the key they kindly provided from their website.

[mousiness]

i order systems (laptops and desktops) with basic home edition included and if no OS can be a choice i do it, i just install the free boxed OS my dads work gives him, or i just make the technician drive 30 minutes to my house and install it for the fun of it :wink:

[1stStrike]

my version of windows xp is completly legit except that i used the same cd key for my other 2 computers and laptop. when i tryed to reinstall xp on a much larger and newer hard drive it said i have exceeded the number of times i could install it. so i did the next best thing and installed vista beta

[Miles]

Yep I own licenses for:

Windows XP Professional x 3
Windows 2000 Professional x 2
Windows Office Professional 2003 x 1
Windows Office 2000 x 1

Each are used on only one machine except for the copies of Windows 2000 Professional which has been retired :mrgreen:

I also have a rig which in the next day or two will be converted solely to Ubuntu Linux 6.06 ( No License Necessary):rolleyes:

[tomato]

i could tell you about the legality of my copy of Win XP, but then I'd have to kill you ;)

[Das Capitolin]

my version of windows xp is completly legit except that i used the same cd key for my other 2 computers and laptop. when i tryed to reinstall xp on a much larger and newer hard drive it said i have exceeded the number of times i could install it. so i did the next best thing and installed vista beta

So what you are saying is that of your four computers, only one has a legal install of Windows. You would not pass an inspection. So that you know, Windows XP receives a $375 minimum fine per infraction, with a 2x multiplier penalty.

[Das Capitolin]

i could tell you about the legality of my copy of Win XP, but then I'd have to kill you ;)

I don't want you to tell me, I want you to vote in this poll. Thanks. Oh, and read my reply just before this one.

[tomato]

I did vote. And this thread is slowly gathering a "holy then thou" attitude... I don't think that the world will come crashing down if every person who has a PC doesn't neccessarily has a legal version of Windows... That should be the least of M$'s worries at the moment...

[mousiness]

M$ will fine up to $5000 USD for a pirate opy of any of its products... and yes its one of the last things M$ cares about its already got billions and billions of dollars

[Das Capitolin]

I did vote. And this thread is slowly gathering a "holy then thou" attitude... I don't think that the world will come crashing down if every person who has a PC doesn't neccessarily has a legal version of Windows... That should be the least of M$'s worries at the moment...

It's that I have grown very tired of the people who complain about Microsoft, and put down the product, when all they have done is stolen it. There is an underlying principal that disturbs me; just remove Microsoft's name and you see it. It's just like the person who steals cable TV and then complains about the lack of programming by the cable provider.

You should be worrying more about the kind of person who steals and feels justified in doing it.

[werty316]

Yeah its one thing to get it for free but complaining about it not working right is dumb. I read about it all the time in the world of warez.

[mousiness]

It's that I have grown very tired of the people who complain about Microsoft, and put down the product, when all they have done is stolen it. There is an underlying principal that disturbs me; just remove Microsoft's name and you see it. It's just like the person who steals cable TV and then complains about the lack of programming by the cable provider.

You should be worrying more about the kind of person who steals and feels justified in doing it.theres no right to bash M$ if you have stolen the product, its like reviewing a product you have never even seen, i agree completely with this quote

[Das Capitolin]

So far we have 11 votes: 7 legal, and 4 illegal. I regret posting a topic along side the poll, because I would like a blind poll for the most reliable figures.

[werty316]

7 legal and 4 illegal; someone needs to work on their adding skills hehe jk ;)

[Das Capitolin]

7 legal and 4 illegal; someone needs to work on their adding skills hehe jk ;)

Typo, punk. I was thinking 4 and looking at the 33%.

[Coolest-Tech]

I got XP Pro from a friend at my fathers work place, and it was a legal copy. Also got Media Center from Newegg.com

But, BF2 is not legal, it Torrented. :twisted:

[werty316]

I got XP Pro from a friend at my fathers work place, and it was a legal copy.

"Could you provide proof of purchase that you paid for your installation of Windows?" So thats a no then...

[GIBSON]

Most people (yes I am one of those) HAD a legal copy, but when the damn thing crashed and you didn't get a cd-rom with your pc then you just install a pirated one. Not like i'm going to pay twice!

[Das Capitolin]

Most people (yes I am one of those) HAD a legal copy, but when the damn thing crashed and you didn't get a cd-rom with your pc then you just install a pirated one. Not like i'm going to pay twice!

Gibson (and others): So that you know, the BSA and Microsoft do not care about the CD media, or the Certificate of Autenticity label. When they audit a person, they want to see proof of purchase. A receipt. If you kept the receipt for the purchase of a system, you are fine.

On a seperate note, when they audit software such as server or Office, they do not care about license certificates or CAL's, the attorneys ask for proof of purchase.

[GIBSON]

Gibson (and others): So that you know, the BSA and Microsoft do not care about the CD media, or the Certificate of Autenticity label. When they audit a person, they want to see proof of purchase. A receipt. If you kept the receipt for the purchase of a system, you are fine.

On a seperate note, when they audit software such as server or Office, they do not care about license certificates or CAL's, the attorneys ask for proof of purchase.
One thing i've read though is that the serial seems to be bound to the pc, if the pc dies, your xp copy "dies" too. So if you want to install xp on your new assembled pc (your other one died) you have to buy a new one.

[Das Capitolin]

One thing i've read though is that the serial seems to be bound to the pc, if the pc dies, your xp copy "dies" too. So if you want to install xp on your new assembled pc (your other one died) you have to buy a new one.

That is correct; but only with branded (not OEM) licenses. Most OEM licenses can be transferred with new hardware without anyone being able to prove differently.

[GIBSON]

That is correct; but only with branded (not OEM) licenses. Most OEM licenses can be transferred with new hardware without anyone being able to prove differently.
Are you absolutely positive about this? I'd understand more if this was the case with an OEM copy, but not with a copy you bought at the store. In my opinion this is just a money making rule.

[werty316]

Are you absolutely positive about this? I'd understand more if this was the case with an OEM copy, but not with a copy you bought at the store. In my opinion this is just a money making rule.

I'll be the second person to confirm this; yes XP keeps a sort "shot" of you hardware and if anything changes, XP no longer responds/works.

[GIBSON]

I'll be the second person to confirm this; yes XP keeps a sort "shot" of you hardware and if anything changes, XP no longer responds/works.
I remember reading a how-to about it on madshrimps though, there is a way to get round it. e.g. you bought a new mobo and install it in your current pc, than it will not longer boot, but there seems to be a workaround for it. I'll do a quick search on the article.

EDIT: for those interested, here it is: http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=Articles&go=read&arc_id=36

[werty316]

Theres always a "hole" of some sort in a M$ products. Great find.

[Kougar]

It is driving me nuts that I can't find an article I read that broke down how this system really works.

Basically you can change anything on your system, even the motherboard, and XP won't suddenly decide to stop working.

WPA, or whatever you call it will measure something like 10 or 12 different aspects of the system. Based on a points rating scale, if any changes to the original detected hardware configuration occurs it will make note of it, and after so many points (I think the magic number was 7) is reached, then you need to call MS to reactivate XP.

I recall that the primary NIC used on the system is one example. To prevent people from just cloning XP and using in systems with identical hardware one of the things on the list is the NIC's MAC address. SCSI cards are another thing it will make note of, amongst the usual other hardware. Changing ONLY the motherboard doesn't add 1 point to that accrued number though, it adds 4 or 5, so it goes a long ways towards reaching the magic number needed to require a reactivation.

I also recall from the article that when XP first takes it's "snapshot" file, it notes the primary CDROM drive. From then on, as long as it detects that same CDROM somewhere in the system (Even as a slave or on another IDE channel) it won't care. If it doesn't find the original primary cd drive then it adds another 1 to that number. Once it does that XP will not add any extra numbers if you change the drives around further, regardless of what you do with them. It's just a one time mark. Putting the original primary drive back in the system will not undo that 1 from XP's running tally though.

I really wish I could find this article again, it explains everything very well, and you can calculate easily how much you can get away with changing without having to phone MS afterwards. If I can find it again I'll post the link here...

[harry18]

microsoft are a bunch of thiefing scumbags, i always bought legit copys of windows, but i refoated reguarly, and now ive exceeded the no. of times i can install it, so i have like 20days till i need to spend another £60

how do you go about a pirate copy anyways...?

[Das Capitolin]

microsoft are a bunch of thiefing scumbags, i always bought legit copys of windows, but i refoated reguarly, and now ive exceeded the no. of times i can install it, so i have like 20days till i need to spend another £60

how do you go about a pirate copy anyways...?

We don't discuss how you can go about illegal activity here on this forum.

You should use the activation phone number for your area to re-activate Windows. Just simply explain to them that you have had to reinstall the Operating System.

[harry18]

really i can just call them, sweet, thanks das

[markkleb]

I have been using the free trials of Win XP 64. And I got the Vista Beta 2 trial. I figure that should hold me out till real Vista comes out.
I was gonna buy a XP disk the other day (so I can use all the programs that XP64 wont run) but I think I can wait.
I think its a age thing, the older I get the more important it is to have things like Insurance and Legit Programs.

[Mirrim]

I've got two legal copies of XP Pro and one of Home. In a former job, I kept track of all the business' licenses for software, so am somewhat anal about it. Although if pressed to find actual receipts, I could do the Home version as that was recent. The two XP Pro copies are getting quite old now. Even made my roommate buy a copy of XP Home when I built her computer. She's kind of a pirate sort though. (Arrrrrr, matey!) Makes me nuts, especially when she installs something funky on her machine and wants me to troubleshoot it. Told her no more ;P

[Kougar]

Good! I'd have told her the same thing, if she wants to pirate stuff then fine, but she can clean or learn to clean up the mess afterwords. ;)

[interpim]

I got hosed on a deal on my main comp when I put it together.... I bought an OEM copy of XP pro, and when I went to d/l the new IE7 it did a little check and now its telling me that my copy of XP is pirated, and I remember distinctly purchasing it legitimately. I guess either I got a bad copy or someone happened to generate my serial.

Anyways, I'll spend the extra cash and get a retail copy next build and register it as soon as I install it.

[BigD]

man i got cd keys for windows i dont even use, but will soon:roll:

[vfrex]

It's that I have grown very tired of the people who complain about Microsoft, and put down the product, when all they have done is stolen it. There is an underlying principal that disturbs me; just remove Microsoft's name and you see it. It's just like the person who steals cable TV and then complains about the lack of programming by the cable provider.

So what you are saying is, pirates should put on TWO eyepatches to blot out the flaws in XP? That doesn't make any sense. Microsoft chose their licensing model. One of the downfalls of this model is that it is easy to steal. And you know what? They've made a lot of money off of it regardless. I'm not going to cry when there are people who exploit the flaw of their licensing model, when microsoft themselves exploit and plunder.

[Das Capitolin]

So what you are saying is, pirates should put on TWO eyepatches to blot out the flaws in XP? That doesn't make any sense. Microsoft chose their licensing model. One of the downfalls of this model is that it is easy to steal. And you know what? They've made a lot of money off of it regardless. I'm not going to cry when there are people who exploit the flaw of their licensing model, when microsoft themselves exploit and plunder.

Doesn't make any sense to you?

If I steal a Lexus SUV from a car lot, should I have the right to complain to the manufacturer about its gas consumption?

I am saying that if you are a thief, then you have no real rights to complain. Oh- and the "high gas prices drove me to stealing the Lexus" excuse is very pathetic.

[markkleb]

Also for those that knock Microsoft take a sec to think what we would be using for a computer if it had been left up to IBM.

Windows isant perfect (it cant be as it has to work with every possible combination of hardware not to mention all the user error).

I remember my Vic-20 (cost like $1300) and Basic. It was fun for a week and than it ended up in the closet and never used again. Windows allows regular people to enjoy computers.

For <$90 Win XP is one of the best values there has ever been.

[vfrex]

Ok, let's redesign the scenario to be more accurate...

Lexus is the only large car company in existence, because they forced every other one out of the market. There are a couple of small ones that are gaining some attention, but they aren't really so important at this point. Lexus has such money and influence, world leaders stop by the CEO's mansion before continuing on to Washington DC. Despite solid evidence in an anti-trust case, Lexus came away unscathed due to their strong political connections.

Lexus continues to release a new car every 3-4 years. Although these new cars have few real advantages over the previous model, the price remains fixed at a strangely high price. People wonder whether this would be the case if Lexus had some competition like in the good-ole-days.

With each passing revision, the Lexus vehicle is eating more and more gas. They continue adding on features irrelavent to most drivers that continuously consume more power and thus fuel. Despite the fact that huge numbers of drivers complain about these increasing energy requirements, Lexus continues adding features that consume more power...

[Absolut352]

I can say that I purchased xp home when it came out originally and thats about it. Ive obtained several copies of xp pro corp edition thru work and such but out of my 3 personal computers only 1 of them doesnt pass the wga. And it drives me crazy having to remove and patch to get rid of it. I really dont want to buy a new legit copy right now but plan on it as soon as vista comes out. But i have the belief that 75% compliance is fair enough so i dont lose sleep over it. I use the same policy at work with just about all software and its harmless as far as im concerned. As long as you dont get too greedy. Haaaaaaaaarrrrr

[Das Capitolin]

Ok, let's redesign the scenario to be more accurate...

Lexus is the only large car company in existence, because they forced every other one out of the market. There are a couple of small ones that are gaining some attention, but they aren't really so important at this point. Lexus has such money and influence, world leaders stop by the CEO's mansion before continuing on to Washington DC. Despite solid evidence in an anti-trust case, Lexus came away unscathed due to their strong political connections.

Lexus continues to release a new car every 3-4 years. Although these new cars have few real advantages over the previous model, the price remains fixed at a strangely high price. People wonder whether this would be the case if Lexus had some competition like in the good-ole-days.

With each passing revision, the Lexus vehicle is eating more and more gas. They continue adding on features irrelavent to most drivers that continuously consume more power and thus fuel. Despite the fact that huge numbers of drivers complain about these increasing energy requirements, Lexus continues adding features that consume more power...

vfrex, your point is well illustrated, and well taken. However, you forgot to mention the part about people stealing those gas guzzling Lexus' and then complaining about it.

My point it simply this: when you pay for a product, you have purchased the right to say what you want about it.

Complaining about the product you choose to illegally steal makes no sense at all. People who think they are entitled to complain about their stolen merchandise are dilusional.

[vfrex]

I was just setting the scenario Das. I wanted to see how you'd react to that before going on. So let me continue that thought in Microsoft's actual situation...

Like I said before, they chose their licensing scheme. They forced other companies (for example Netscape) out of business so that they could hold onto and dominate the market. Microsoft uses their monopoly on OS's to monopolize web browsers. Is it any surprise that their webpage editing software creates proprietary formats and tags that only their web browser can read? Of course it isn't surprising. If you can't display a large number of websites properly without their browser, and you can't use their browser without using Windows, how can you switch to another OS? Microsoft Office is another big one. Recently they started releasing a verion for OSX. Anyway, every product they release is designed to trap users into staying with Windows.

Mark brought up an interesting point. Also for those that knock Microsoft take a sec to think what we would be using for a computer if it had been left up to IBM.

Of course, we do owe the pirates of silicon valley for their part in bringing the PC to where it is today. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but didn't Apple/Microsoft steal the GUI from Xerox? Wasn't microsoft's split from Apple deceitful? I realize that Gates was following his dream, and he probably brought PC's to a place they wouldn't be if he didn't. I suppose I can excuse him for his early shady practices. But it is over 20 (25?) years later now. The company has $40,000,000,000 stockpiled, sitting, waiting. Much of that money was earned through choosing their current license scheme, monopolizing the OS market, and using that to build a foundation that is very difficult to break.

Also, you can't really directly compare stealing a Lexus to downloading, burning, and installing a pirated copy of Windows. Lexus payed a large percentage of that money of the car purchasing the materials, parts, labor, and shipping. That isn't including the R&D expenses that brought the latest version to the lot. Microsoft doesn't pay very much overhead in a pirated copy of Windows...a box? A cd? In bulk, we're talking about pennies. Even stealing that copy of Windows XP Pro Corporate, supposedly worth hundreds of dollars, Microsoft only really loses pennies. Have you considered what they gain though? They continue their dominance of market share. They have one more person to release MS only software to. That person might be a full fledged pirate, and will never buy a product that he can nab for free. But he is still helping microsoft by locking in their standards.

Das, XP's security flaws between 2001-2003/4 effected everyone. A constant barrage of worms literally slowed down the internet for everybody. The ease of turning large numbers of XP machines into botnets for the purpose of attacking commercial webservers effects EVERYBODY. I don't see why a person who pirates XP can't complain about the security flaws when they effect the entire internet.

Also, my college job is on-campus tech support. The majority of the issues are dealing with Windows XP. Suppose I use a pirated copy of windows (not actually the case, but hypothetically). I see the problems and flaws of XP that bite end users. I spend time troubleshooting the crap. Do I not have a right to complain about the OS?

[Das Capitolin]

Suppose I use a pirated copy of windows (not actually the case, but hypothetically). I see the problems and flaws of XP that bite end users. I spend time troubleshooting the crap. Do I not have a right to complain about the OS?

To this, my reply remains the same: Complaining about the product you choose to illegally steal makes no sense at all. People who think they are entitled to complain about their stolen merchandise are dilusional.

Sure you can complain. But it is the same as complaining about crappy programming on stolen cable TV. (A more fitting analogy)

[Kougar]

Vfrex, MS hasn't "recently" begun support fo Mac computers. Their support for Macs has dated as far back as 1990 with Office 1.

Second, I think your viewpoint is a matter of personal opinion. My opinion is that any OS should have a web broswer included, whether that is Windows, Linux, or OS X. Infact that all do come with their own browsers, and Apple uses their own proprietary Safari browser.

I think Netscape took a risk trying to get their foot in the door, and they all but lost it. Microsoft shouldn't be faulted because Netscape took that gamble and lost for obvious reasons. I expect my OS to have a built in web browser, and just because Netscape couldn't cut it doesn't mean Microsoft intentionally pushed them off the playing field. Opera seems to have done just fine all these years, perhaps it's because they didn't imitate IE in their own browser's design then ask people to pay for it? :P Netscape lost because they expected people would want to pay for a browser that was not much different than IE, and as most people prefer "free" they stuck with a free IE.

And I would agree with Das. For those that didn't buy XP and simple stole it then they should stuff it when they complain about XP's problems and flaws. Tell them to just use Linux or Freespire. :)

[vfrex]

Second, I think your viewpoint is a matter of personal opinion. My opinion is that any OS should have a web broswer included, whether that is Windows, Linux, or OS X. Infact that all do come with their own browsers, and Apple uses their own proprietary Safari browser.

Wasn't the real problem that Microsoft was integrating most of IE into the OS so that it was mostly loaded on boot? Therefore, netscape appeared to be bloated and worthless.

And my point still stands about XP security flaws effecting everyone on the internet. EVERYONE is free to complain about XP botnets DDOSing servers. I also like the irony that Gates stole from Xerox to start Windows. Therefore, he should have no right to complain about theft.

[Das Capitolin]

IE did not load on boot, but it was bundled with the O/S and could not be removed. This was the primary complaint.

The GUI was invented at Xerox, but the whole event is corporate history. Had Xerox patented the design, it wouldn't be an issue.

[markkleb]

Its obviously that Vfrex(and the people who pirate stuff) dont own a house or property. Because when you are younger you can justify pretty much anything (even stealing/pirating).
Once you get a little older and gain wisdom you realise if everybody did whatever they felt like our relatively calm existance would crumble. Also as age progresses wealth increases, most become home owners. And the thought of losing ones home to a company for stealing its product comes into play.

If Bill Gates "Truly" stole the GUI Xerox had the option to sue the crap out of him.

I personally believe that Windows is the best deal there is, without it millions of people would be without the benifet of computers.

And for those who dont like Windows there is always Linux and Apple..

[harry18]

Its obviously that Vfrex(and the people who pirate stuff) dont own a house or property. Because when you are younger you can justify pretty much anything (even stealing/pirating).
Once you get a little older and gain wisdom you realise if everybody did whatever they felt like our relatively calm existance would crumble. Also as age progresses wealth increases, most become home owners. And the thought of losing ones home to a company for stealing its product comes into play.

If Bill Gates "Truly" stole the GUI Xerox had the option to sue the crap out of him.

I personally believe that Windows is the best deal there is, without it millions of people would be without the benifet of computers.

And for those who dont like Windows there is always Linux and Apple..

true, i like windows, but it anoys me so much sometimes:twisted:

but it seems pretty good at the mo

[Kougar]

Wasn't the real problem that Microsoft was integrating most of IE into the OS so that it was mostly loaded on boot? Therefore, netscape appeared to be bloated and worthless.

And my point still stands about XP security flaws effecting everyone on the internet. EVERYONE is free to complain about XP botnets DDOSing servers. I also like the irony that Gates stole from Xerox to start Windows. Therefore, he should have no right to complain about theft.

And what exactly did he steal? As I recall Xerox had no interest in investing in him or his DOS operating system, and showed him the door... Xerox also came along with the mouse (as we know it), which they saw no use for and were happily to sell off to other people. Infact Xerox had the GUI, and failed to see the potential in it. Gates did not steal it and that is just another perpetual myth from what I've seen and read...

ArsTechnica: A History of the GUI (http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/gui.ars/3)

This one seems to have it all in a nutshell, and explains the role of Apple in the mix... technically, by your definition if Gates stole the GUI, then Apple is downright guilty of doing the same. :P http://www.phantomcode.com/projects/whoreallygui/ (http://www.phantomcode.com/projects/whoreallygui/)

[Das Capitolin]

Unrelated, Xerox finally got around to doing something right and patented Ethernet technology. Too bad they didn't get the swing of things earlier, because they could have been a much bigger force then where they are today.

[harry18]

wow, that was easy, i was gonna buy a new copy. but i just called them up and activated it over the phone

[Tank]

There are two computers in my house and mine has a legal copy of WinXP Home Edition, while the other one has an illegal copy of WinXP Pro. So that probably means I would still get fined by inspection? :lol: The thing is there is no way some kind of inspection could get were I live (it's paradise for pirates :twisted: ) and the fact I didnt get anything better or different becasue I bought a legit copy means I wont be legaly buying Vista. 8-)

BTW I called Microsoft like 5-6 times and every time they just gave me the activation number no questions asked or any problems so that is the only postive thing for me in haveing a legit copy. ;-)

P.S. So should I vote that I payed for my Windows, because I did? :???:

[Das Capitolin]

P.S. So should I vote that I payed for my Windows, because I did? :???:

I wasn't thinking about this when I created the poll. You should have two votes; one in each.

[markkleb]

what I dont get is Microsoft for some time now has been giving out free 6 mos trials of Win XP PRO 64.(now its down to 4 mos) I have been using this for over a year.

Why use pirate stuff when you can get it free?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx

[Kougar]

what I dont get is Microsoft for some time now has been giving out free 6 mos trials of Win XP PRO 64.(now its down to 4 mos) I have been using this for over a year.

Why use pirate stuff when you can get it free?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx

:lol:

I didn't even know they were, but that is funny... XP x64 is slightly worse than the original 32bit XP, I guess they couldn't sell it so they had to give it away... :-P

Thanks for the link though Markleb, I know someone that was hounding me for a discounted copy of XP via my local Uni... they had $10 XP SP2 discs last semester, which means I can buy half a textbook with the saved money, and also spend an hour filling out legal/contractual software release forms for it.

[markkleb]

How can free be worse?:lol:

probably cause I am ignorant (a dummy) when it comes to programming. I have been REALLY happy with XP Pro 64. It has worked fine with all my games and apps.

[vfrex]

Mark, XP 64bit editions have a code base more similar to Windows Server 2003 than to XP (from what I understand anyway), and that has the potential to cause some compatibility issues.

[markkleb]

DID I MENTION THE WORD FREE!!!!!!!!:roll:

I have used it on a bunch of systems ( I rebuild weekly) and never had a BSOD or crash.

[eko]

Why should I?
If they offer Office free if I buy XP Professional, I'll buy it. If not, no. Ever.