Simple question about buying an XP OS

M

mrmatt

New Member
I am doing my first computer build, and now need to get an OS. I prefer XP

I thought I would go with this, and asked about it - and got an ok

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511&nm_mc=AFC-Bleeping&cm_mmc=AFC-Bleeping-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA

Then someone told me no, do not go with that, but this one

http://www.nextag.com/Microsoft-Corporation-Windows-XP-79064374/prices-html


Then someone told me to go with the first but felt if I do major hardware change( HD change maybe?) I would have to re-register XP which sounds like a real pain.


Could you help with this decision?



XP seems to suit my needs and have no complaints about it, so not heavily considering Vista-Win7 upgrade - (not yet?)

Thanks!

m
 
Replacing or adding a hard drive will not make you reactivate XP. It's more of a major hardware change, like a lot of things at once. Like perhaps if the motherboard goes out and the original one isn't available anymore, you have to buy a new motherboard. Technically you can't use the same key because the key is actually tied to the first motherboard you install it on. But Microsoft is known for their leniency, they may issue you another key to activate windows on another motherboard. If you find the full retail version of XP, you may want to think about getting that instead, however the price will be higher. If you get the full retail version, you can install that on as many computers as you want, just as long as you uninstall it from the previous computer. You can only run once instance of it at a time. But usually you can just get away with using the OEM version, which is all that I buy anyway.
 
johnb35 said:
Replacing or adding a hard drive will not make you reactivate XP. It's more of a major hardware change, like a lot of things at once. Like perhaps if the motherboard goes out and the original one isn't available anymore, you have to buy a new motherboard.
Click to expand...

i can confirm this. i've added and removed hard drives, memory modules, video cards and even upgraded the cpu on my DFI mobo. i only got a reactivation notice once and was fairly painless, it goes out to internet land and returns with a biscuit. :)
 
I'll second Newegg.
This is the second motherboard that I've put my OEM copy of XP Home on (the first one was an eMachines where I have since re-used the original restore discs). Both the first one and this one had more additions and swaps of hard drives, video cards, optical drives, network cards, CPUs, etc than I can count. Not once have I ever had to even phone Microsoft. I just click the "Activate now" button and presto. Done.
 
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