Buying Windows XP second hand

[Chas Uno]

Looking to upgrade my operating system from Windows 2K to XP, and have been looking at second hand copies of XP.

However, I've been told that XP Home can only be installed on one computer, so if I buy a second hand copy how do I know it will legitimately run on my PC? Does the original owner have to de-register it or something? If they don't, then how come I get told that you can't run copies of it on other machines?

Oh, and is it possible to get hold of hacked copies?

 

[herpsuk]

do NOT buy second hand operating systems ever, its most commonly a con, the CD key will have been used by the person you brought it of, even if it is a legit copy. So go out and buy a new copy, its not much more and its worth it

 

[Luke]

Its all about activation. They can sell you the software, and even a legitimate key which will install, but it will ask you to activate the install very soon after - and its this which is the problem - as this can only be done once.

If you want, and ask very nicely, i have a legitimate key thats unregistered for XP Pro (SP1) that you can have (get free from Uni and wont be using it)... But you will have to get an XP install CD that has Service Pack 1 incorporated with it already (as thats the only cd the key will work for). This will activate fine etc etc etc.

If you want to go down the dark route, you can get a hack which resets the windows activation timeout everytime you log in - so essentially you're always on a never ending time trial (which has unlimited use). Or use a leaked corporate key (but these eventually get found out and disabled with new servicepack updates / windows genuine advantage updates).

 

[dave]

you are a student, so can legaly go buy a student teacher licence one for cheap new

 

[arc]

If you want to go down the dark route, you can get a hack which resets the windows activation timeout everytime you log in - so essentially you're always on a never ending time trial (which has unlimited use). Or use a leaked corporate key (but these eventually get found out and disabled with new servicepack updates / windows genuine advantage updates).

install the corp edition of xp (no activation), use a keygen to generate as many keys for the corp edition as you want, install the latest WGA crap and then kill it to death.

you end up with a copy of winxp pro that shows as geniune and will recieve any updates you want. easy peasy.

 

[jug]

please dont pay for software. it is morally wrong. just download it instead.

 

[arc]

i paid for win95, i see winxp as an upgrade im entitled too

 

[Chas Uno]

please dont pay for software. it is morally wrong. just download it instead.

Having been a programmer in the past with a commercially released product, people buying software paid my wages...

However, I do feel that MS Windows is out of order sometimes when they upgrade and don't support the older operating systems. Or like with Vista, you have to upgrade/ replace your machine just to be able to run the damn thing. I've used Vista a few times but can't quite see what it has over XP other than a few fancy GUI's, but then again I probably haven't used it enough to find out.

Anyway, looks like I got a copy of XP sorted for my new machine now so I'll report back when I've finished building it and installed all the software. Cheers for all the advice Arc, Dave and Luke, and thanks for the offer of the keygen too Luke If the XP I'm getting doesn't work (shouldn't be a problem with it hopefully) I'll get back to you

 

[Jamie]

Having been a programmer in the past with a commercially released product, people buying software paid my wages...

However, I do feel that MS Windows is out of order sometimes when they upgrade and don't support the older operating systems. Or like with Vista, you have to upgrade/ replace your machine just to be able to run the damn thing. I've used Vista a few times but can't quite see what it has over XP other than a few fancy GUI's, but then again I probably haven't used it enough to find out.

Anyway, looks like I got a copy of XP sorted for my new machine now so I'll report back when I've finished building it and installed all the software. Cheers for all the advice everyone

dont get me started on vista, frigging IPv6 :bang:

 

[Gav F]

i got media centre for free
all my pc is legit, i found it haha its sick
mega fast and plenty of storage for my DnB
i also got a Dell with XP lol....for sale

 

[Xen]

dont get me started on vista, frigging IPv6 :bang:

TBH mate, we all hate it, but we all know its the only way forward. necessary evil im afraid, so i reluctantly support it

Having been a programmer in the past

OK this is getting wierd... just posted a reply your thread about musicians, being that we both are... now this... I'm also a programmer (not for a job or anything.. just as a hobby thats carried on from my STOS on Atari ST days.) Anything else u wanna copy??? hmm????? Why don't you just be me!

 

[Chas Uno]

OK this is getting wierd... just posted a reply your thread about musicians, being that we both are... now this... I'm also a programmer (not for a job or anything.. just as a hobby thats carried on from my STOS on Atari ST days.) Anything else u wanna copy??? hmm????? Why don't you just be me!

Lol! Great minds and all that, though I reckon I did it all first

As for your sig, there's even more similarities:

Past: Cinquecento S 900 - Rusted to death
Present: Punto 60S - Work In Progress
Present: Cinquecento SX 900 - Standard
Future: I wanna Coupe!!!

I currently own:

Cinquecento Soleil 900 (runaround)
Punto 75SX (work in progress - well, actually I'm scrapping it )
Plus I also have a mk1 Uno

So we both have Cinqs and Puntos!

But I DON'T want a Coupe. Can only really afford to run the Cinq let alone a temperamental demanding Italian temptress

As for programming, I programmed the Commodore 64 between 1984 and 1987 using 6502 Assembly Language (machine code). I also had an Amiga but only just started to learn 'C' for the 68000, but then decided to work as a computer technician and gave up with the programming.

Music - been in and out of bands since 1985. Was a professional musician for about 5 years, and am still in a band now though it's more a part time thing. Want to get a music setup going on my PC so I can record some music again.

I'm now a mature student studying for my BSc degree in Nursing. Will be extremely weird if you tell me you're in the medical industry as well!

Maybe we were seperated at birth, though I suspect that I'm a lot older than you

 

[Xen]

lol no nursing isn't my thing tbh, but im in need of a career change quite badly now and computer technician of some kind or another is one option im seriously considering.

As for the cars, dont have an uno, but the cinq is my runaround (and the gf learner car) and the punto will be returning to standard if/when i buy that MK2 in the classifieds, so bits will be coming off, but not quite scrapping the coupe thing is a dream really i think, expensive lil things it seems.

I've never programmed as low as assembly, everything i do is in high level languages (VB, PHP, Clarion etc) as its just a hobby, but i did start out on a commodore 64 when i was 8 for a very short time till my dad saw i had an interest in it and bought my atari (he was a programmer at the time,) so then i moved on to a motorola 68000 CPU albeit in an atari rather than an amiga, but still

Music - i was born in 1985, so that wudda been amazing if i was in a band then but still i am in a band, containing myself, my PC, my keyboards and my guitars and bass. Kinda a one man band thing going on, but we still produce new music every so often And yes i have a music setup on my PC to record my music.

But the seperated at birth things kinda impossible

 

[MultiplaAbarth]

I bought a copy of XP OEM that needed a serial number, off ebay for £10 thinking I could use it in some way, I've heard that some people can use "crack" software, but whwn I researched it I found that a lot of cracks have password virus's and diallers embedded in them, and I decided that the risk wasn't worth it. I still have it in a box if anyone wants it for cost price...
No box, no activation, but needs registration within 30 days...or take a chance...
In the end I bought a copy of XP OEM from Amazon, cheap, but I could have saved £10.
To be honest I think Microsoft charge way too much for software, but I would rather pay something or in the end we would all be out of a job....

 

[Jamie]

*cough* wpakill

 

[custard]

I bought a copy of XP OEM that needed a serial number, off ebay for £10 thinking I could use it in some way, I've heard that some people can use "crack" software, but whwn I researched it I found that a lot of cracks have password virus's and diallers embedded in them, and I decided that the risk wasn't worth it. I still have it in a box if anyone wants it for cost price...
No box, no activation, but needs registration within 30 days...or take a chance...
In the end I bought a copy of XP OEM from Amazon, cheap, but I could have saved £10.
To be honest I think Microsoft charge way too much for software, but I would rather pay something or in the end we would all be out of a job....

but without a valid serial the disc is just the same as DLing a copy of xp.
having the OEM disc means nothing