Cheapest Way to get XP

I'm about to build a computer or two and I need to re-format some of my friends PC's... However, I have no copy of Windows XP Home... I also don't have $150... so what is the cheapest way for me to get XP home that I can use multiple times and such? All these guys but one already have XP home but no disc. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated

Try EBAY! But you wont be able to use it multiple times b/c of the activation stuff. So, still means buying multiple copies.

if you can get ahold of a corporate copy, you dont need to do all that activation stuff ;)
erm,,, I mean. Buy multiple copies... :D

edited:

Please take warez discussions elsewheres. Thank you

- Admin Council

Thanks for the tips guys, I've got it worked out but thank you very much for all the feedback!

you can register and activate multiple home's

i've used my same home XP cd and activated each one online for all 6 of my home network computers

the only time microsoft starts denying activation is if they notice a home edition suddenly tries to register like 20 copies or more

these are all kinda warez posts any use of a one license cd more then once is illegal it's the vlk's which only company's buy wich can do that..

Actually, Microsoft does allow multiple use of the XP Home license up to a certain number of copies, under the assumption that you can't be on all your computers at the same time. However, installing it even once on a computer that does not belong to the license holder is a violation of the license.

Actually being this has to do with my "professional" job. You are technically NOT allowed to install on more than one machine. However there are exceptions such as volume licensing as somewhat mentioned above. You may use the same media (CD) to install on multiple computers but in order to be legal you must purchase additional licenses with cd keys. My last place of employment was almost audited by the BSA, and I have also attended some seminars put on by them.

interesting - so:

If you buy xp home you may install it on your own personal computers *I have 4 comps*?

BUT if I want to help a buddy out by re-formatting his system - even though he HAS XP home already on his system... I have to buy a new copy to do that ?

I'm just curious about how Microsoft does this wacky licensing business because I have four comuters myself - one cheap old Dell for word processing and net surfing, one old crappy Dell for music, one old latitude laptop for taking to class and word processing, and my new rig that i build this summer for living on. :)

EDIT: sorry spoke before reading the above post... you can only use XP home on one computer unless you get a volume license?

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Originally Posted by daftperception

these are all kinda warez posts any use of a one license cd more then once is illegal it's the vlk's which only company's buy wich can do that..

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You are completely wrong and incorrect. Its as simple as that....call microsofts tech support, and ask if you can use your own personal copy of XP on multiple computers in your home, as long as your the legal owner of the computers and its in use in your home....its fine. Thats what i did. So these posts aren't anything related to warez, they're just trying to help dispel the myth thatn XP home = 1 key = 1 computer

cause thats not the case, and microsoft never did intend it to be that way, they just didn't want it to be completely out of hand like past versions of OS's - for example: win98

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TekWarren

Actually being this has to do with my "professional" job. You are technically NOT allowed to install on more than one machine. However there are exceptions such as volume licensing as somewhat mentioned above. You may use the same media (CD) to install on multiple computers but in order to be legal you must purchase additional licenses with cd keys. My last place of employment was almost audited by the BSA, and I have also attended some seminars put on by them.

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I've spoken with countless microsoft reps, for a while i was working with a small local LLC and we built custom PC's. The only time microsoft will care about home on more than one pc, is if its your copy of xp, and its being used on other peoples computers. If microsoft didn't want people to be able to use it on multiple computers, how come they activated the same reg key for all 6 of my personal computers on my home network?

As for XP Pro, microsoft wants that to be 1 reg key, 1 computer, and nothing more.

But this arguement has been beat to death all over the internet, the public already believes that xp home keys can only be used once, and that you wont be able to activate it. Anyone that believes this, or feels that i am wrong, call microsoft OS tech support, they'll be more than happy to explain that its perfectly ok as long as its your own pc, in your own home, and not for any business purposes. At least, thats the exact answer i got when i called, and then later on i heard the same thing from several microsoft company personell that i've dealt with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TekWarren

Actually being this has to do with my "professional" job. You are technically NOT allowed to install on more than one machine. However there are exceptions such as volume licensing as somewhat mentioned above. You may use the same media (CD) to install on multiple computers but in order to be legal you must purchase additional licenses with cd keys. My last place of employment was almost audited by the BSA, and I have also attended some seminars put on by them.

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Also, another thing i forgot to mention, most likely your job deals with XP Pro, thus it entails all the fun of volume licensing and cd key purchasing.......because thats how everything was set up at my old company. Granted when we did custom PC builds, we'd use volume licensed home editions that we installed off of an 8in1-XP cd, thats not quite the same thing as the question being posed.

I suppose you are correct on those accounts. The networks I have designed and supported for schools and such use such volume licensing and the pro versions. I would agree that your statement about my explanation pertains to the "pro" versions more specifically and in doing a bit of research myself I read from the M$ website that it is in fact legal to make a second copy of your media for a portable installation...It stated this is only legal if and when your license contains that exact wording..."giving" you the right to do so.

So in the end one should really consult the licensing paper work or a M$ representative...if your that concerned about it.