XP Pro: For What It Is Worth:

[rhodges]

I have a Toshiba Laptop that I occasionally use on trips, if my desktop is on the blink, when I need something portable etc. It came with the abundance of Toshiba addon junk that is a pain in the XXXX at times if you know what I mean. Of course, all I have with it is the Manufacturer's OEM instalation CD which includes all of the stuff I am not interested in at all. I have intended to get another XP package for some time and replace the Operating System, which I did. I installed it, and then from the Toshiba CD installed only the drivers I needed to run the associated hardware.

My purchase included the following:

XP Pro Full Installation
Second disk with SP2
Price: $54.99
Shipping: $8.49

I received the CD's in a plastic sleeve, no box, literature, documenatation or folder similar to the replacement packaging I had with other copies I previously purchased for other computers (which made me just a little apprehensive) However, the labels look like legitimate MS products. The label on the master CD says the following:

"Version 2004 Corporate" (A little different from what I have seen before.
"Microsoft WindowsXP
Professional with Service Pack 2" (The Service Pack is on the second CD)
Printed on the main installation CD was the installation code.

Over the Holidays, in less than 24 hours, CDSFU sent me my order by Priority Mail.

It has been some time since I installed XP on my other computers, but if I remember correctly I always had to go on line to authenicate the installation to MS. I had the choice of delaying for up to 30 days or so. After reinstallation several times for my main desktop, I have had to do this with a phone call to MS (I am sure you know the hassle routine if you have had to reinstall many times).

This time, before I activated my Network, or was even connected to go on line, I was able to enter my code just like we did with Windows98, Office 97 etc. and it played like a charm. Either MS had dropped the hassle for reinstallation of Windows XP, or this purchase is different (Possibly the "Version 2004 Corporat bit?????).

Looked like a great price to me, in fact far less than I could find Windows XP Home anywhere else so I thought I would pass this information on.
I am pleased as punch. My Laptop runs much faster, smoother, and without all the garbage on it now.

The WebSite is: http://www.cdsfu.com/
Search for Windows XP
Scroll down through the display to see the XP package.

Respectfully:
RTH

[loki]

If it was not asking to activate, then yes, it was the corporate edition. Which is also not usually sold, either retail or OEM, to end users. Microsoft products typically at least come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and a CD with a holographic label. You might want to check out Microsoft's Genuine Advantage site.

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en&PartnerID=4

[angels355]

I've heard vague hearsay that people have installed a corporate xp, then later installed the windows genuine advantage, and the WGA shut their corporate xp down. I'd be curious how your corporate xp responds.

If you're not running flight simulator, I've found Linux to be incredibly excellent. I use the photo editor Gimp and openoffice.org , and fire fox 3 is outstanding.

[mgh]

The site you bought from states that the package "does NOT include any COA label or a sticker from the manufacturer & comes on a CD ,There is no technical support provided by the software manufacturer. You can still get automatic updates. You will receive the Full version on CD & a volume license key number only. All the software we offer in the English language only."

[angels355]

& a volume license key number only. "

Hmmmmm. I suggest installing the Windows Genuine Advantage program and see what happens. The one thing that is good about the WGA, although it has been faulty on occasion in the past, is that it can test whether xp is bogus or not. Back in the old days of centuries past, people trading goods in exchange for gold had a special stone called a "TOUCHSTONE" where it was used to test the purity or not of the gold (or silver) offered in the trade. (info from James Burke techno historian, host of "Connections" the tv series) You'd take the gold or would be gold and rub it across the touchstone, then compare it to a good mark of real gold, if it matches then the gold in question is good. If however it turns out to be bronze for example, the touchstone will indicate that, and that would be customer can just take his bronze and go find his yak hair toothbrush somewhere else!!! Wally World maybe!! Aisle 17 on sale!!

The website offers a 30 day money back guarantee if not satisfied. Check the results of the WGA, then if it is bogus then either contact Microsoft for a possible reward, and/or get a refund.

At some point in time xp will no longer require activation, do you guys know when that will be? I have liked 98se/ME/2000 because I can change hardware frequently without having to get permission from Microsoft. Sometimes that's workable as a modern video driver will work on those old OS's, other times it's passably OK as it will work but with a video driver that's several generations old, but gets OK results still. But xp is a prized OS with the very best video drivers, it amazes me that it was discontinued, seemed like a cash cow to me despite the big brother programming on it.

Any way I just do without until I have a valid license, have one unused license for a build project I haven't gotten to. I have many of the older OS licenses, and use Linux. Linux is very desirable! I love to use it.

That package you purchased just doesn't seem right. Microsoft offers rewards, or sometimes a free operating system, now days that would be vista, or just money. Then there's the money back guarantee from the website.

[azur]

Hmmmmm. I suggest installing the Windows Genuine Advantage program and see what happens. The one thing that is good about the WGA, although it has been faulty on occasion in the past, is that it can test whether xp is bogus or not.

Not much point, the pirates have already figured out how to trick WGA into thinking it's a legitimate copy. So it may pass, but that still doesn't tell you it's legitimate.

The copy sounds dodgy anyway, it doesnt include the CoA and Microsoft don't sell the corporate edition for prices like that -- and the corporate edition is the one most commonly used by pirates.

Might be worth googling your "volume license key" - it'll probably be dodgy and available on a range of illegal websites.