XP Pro licencing a 2nd machine - how?

[CaptainCrash]

Cough up?
They're not for sale anymore!!

I never said I wasn't prepared to cough up for an XP Pro licence....just not the £200odd asked for W7....I only paid £68 for my retail XP pro Sp1 all those years ago...I need nothing more than an extra licence.

You can get XP Pro OEM for £50 or less from fleabay, although I expect you're already aware of it...

[Splash]

Cough up?
They're not for sale anymore!!

I never said I wasn't prepared to cough up for an XP Pro licence....just not the £200odd asked for W7....I only paid £68 for my retail XP pro Sp1 all those years ago...I need nothing more than an extra licence.

You did read all of my post, right?

Also - £68 for a retail XP Pro license - how did you wangle that? Last time I checked (granted, after Vista was released) and XP Pro *retail* license would still set you back around the same as a Vista Pro license.

Do you need to be using a retail license? Are you likely to want to transfer it to another machine? If not then an OEM license will do you nicely, coming in at around £110. If you absolutely must have retail and the benefits it incurs then a Win7 Professional license will set you back around £165 (prices roughly rounded from Scan).

My money is still on you picking up a license fromt he second user channel, but I'd suggest that if you do that then you be *very* careful to buy it from a reputable source.

Also I'd be careful with the "not available any more" line of thought - just because you cannot buy a piece of software through the retail channel does not make it open season for piracy, though I'm sure that's not what you mean by your post.

[jim]

Just paid £43 for W7 Pro from www.software4students.co.uk, they've got Ultimate for £58 as well.

Admittedly it's only one per household and they're upgrade licenses rather than retail, but it's still a good deal.

Got my other licenses (Home Premium) during the pre-order phases, one for £50 and the other £65 IIRC.

[Gibbo]

You can get XP Pro OEM for £50 or less from fleabay, although I expect you're already aware of it...

not a legit copy though

[Gibbo]

You did read all of my post, right?

Yes I did...the 2nd hand licensing place looks like business only but have made an enquiry

Also - £68 for a retail XP Pro license - how did you wangle that?

I bought an OEM licence from RL Supplies which metamorphosed into a retail licence after a telephone call to MS - I can't remeber exactly how but I had a mobo that packed up and could not be replaced with the same mobo and I needed XP re-activating and after reactivation (by phone) it had become a retail version.

Do you need to be using a retail license?

Yes - I upgrade my PCs all the time...my main machine is constantly evolving it's like the broom that's had seven heads and eight handles.

Also I'd be careful with the "not available any more" line of thought - just because you cannot buy a piece of software through the retail channel does not make it open season for piracy, though I'm sure that's not what you mean by your post.

If I advocated that behaviour would I have bothered asking the question in the first place?

[Gibbo]

Just paid £43 for W7 Pro from www.software4students.co.uk, they've got Ultimate for £58 as well.

Admittedly it's only one per household and they're upgrade licenses rather than retail, but it's still a good deal.

Got my other licenses (Home Premium) during the pre-order phases, one for £50 and the other £65 IIRC.

But I am not a student and I need a full licence, not upgrade.

[Splash]

Yes I did...the 2nd hand licensing place looks like business only but have made an enquiry

Let us know how you get on - it could come in handy for a few people here if they sell to the general public.

I bought an OEM licence from RL Supplies which metamorphosed into a retail licence after a telephone call to MS - I can't remeber exactly how but I had a mobo that packed up and could not be replaced with the same mobo and I needed XP re-activating and after reactivation (by phone) it had become a retail version.

So you paid for an oem license and somehow it turned into a retail? Not quite comparable with the retail licenses these days then, right?

Yes - I upgrade my PCs all the time...my main machine is constantly evolving it's like the broom that's had seven heads and eight handles.

You're going to hate me for saying this, but this really grinds my gears: if you're constantly upgrading then what's the problem with factoring in the cost of the OS over the lifespan of the machine? What's £150 or so compared to the amount you spend on the rest of the machine over it's life?

If I advocated that behaviour would I have bothered asking the question in the first place?

Hence my caveat - it was intended genuinely rather than tongue-in-cheek (if only there was some kind of inverse emoticon for this kind of moment!). As for the lack of availability of licenses for the OS it's hardly as if this is some kind of overnight shock is it? Microsoft have been warning us that you won't be able to buy licenses for a while now.

[Gibbo]

So you paid for an oem license and somehow it turned into a retail? Not quite comparable with the retail licenses these days then, right?

Maybe not but it's still a legitimate retail licence for £68.
I'd be happy with an OEM XP Pro as this particular machine is unlikely to see an upgrade anytime soon and when it does it would have to be to W7 - in a couple of years perhaps.

You're going to hate me for saying this, but this really grinds my gears: if you're constantly upgrading then what's the problem with factoring in the cost of the OS over the lifespan of the machine? What's £150 or so compared to the amount you spend on the rest of the machine over it's life?

No problemo...but I want to run XP and I can't.

Microsoft have been warning us that you won't be able to buy licenses for a while now.

really? First I heard of it - I managed to buy a licence for my sister's machine which I built just after christmas without any problem. i am not an IT tech I am a pro rock musician - I do not subscribe to the trade press...I don't even read these forums very often - only when I need something........I did not realise that I wouldn't be able to get another copy of XP Pro right now.

[Gibbo]

I've found an OEM licence for £77

http://digital-sunrise.co.uk/index.p...on=show_detail

Looks like that'll be my best bet.

[Splash]

£77 seems a fair price tbh - I actually saw them earlier when I was looking for the site I link to you but thought that their site looked a little... less than professional so I resisted linking it

Do let us know what the other place say (even if it's nada)

[jim]

But I am not a student and I need a full licence, not upgrade.

Yeah I sussed that you weren't a student, but it's relevant info nonetheless.

And is there genuinely any difference between full and upgrade?

[Gibbo]

I actually saw them earlier when I was looking for the site I link to you but thought that their site looked a little... less than professional

I know what you mean but their 'office' is about 5 miles from me - so maybe they'll take a caller?

[Gibbo]

And is there genuinely any difference between full and upgrade?

Don't you need a Vista/XP install to upgrade from?

[Splash]

Don't you need a Vista/XP install to upgrade from?

Indeed you do if you're sticking within the letter of the license. Also... good for you for not taking the easy route to piracy.

[Gibbo]

Indeed you do if you're sticking within the letter of the license. Also... good for you for not taking the easy route to piracy.

I can't afford to be a software pirate. I feel, as a copyright holder, that it would be hypocritical of me.

however if our records had not been freely distributed on the www these last 20 odd years we would not be getting continental tours and the like now and we most definitely would not have a distribution deal for a new album which we do have.....

[scaryjim]

I just can't afford a Windows7 Pro full retail licence at the moment ...

What about Win 7 Pro OEM? @ £106 it's more than £50 cheaper than a retail license...