EggXpert

i am putting together a home system that i am creating for my family.  i was able to get some older PC's that were going to the junk and had their HD's formated. so they need OS on them.  i would really like to use XPpro, as that is what i am familiar with and these older computers will run it (vs. vista).  how or where can i get a volume license or some type of work-around so that i don't have to spend $200 on each $50 computer just for an OS?  can volume licenses be had for a home user with multiple machines?  when i am done i will probably have 5 computers.

 thanks for any ideas!

You can buy XP Home here on newegg for like 90 bucks.  That makes you legal.  Besides, you won't need Pro, unless you are running a domain at your home, and I highly doubt that.  Pro only gives you extra networking tools and preinstalls the MS backup, but you can add backup right from the home CD.  Otherwise it works just as well and just like Pro, I use it for my home systems.

OEM copies work just as well as retail and cost less.  The difference is, MS won't support OEM, they have to supported by the OEM builder, which in this case is you.    Just be sure not to throw the CD Key on the outside of the wrapper away.  Stick it on the case for the computer you are fixing.

Volume licenses from what I remember aren't nomally sold for less than like 25 systems or some such ****.

Technically you have to have one copy per machine, though I know home bodies fudge that line and do 2 to 1 and it will let them.  But Newegg nor anyone here will support such a setup, nor recommend it.  Including me.

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You can get 3-paks of XP Pro from NE.

We abide by strict rules of no hacking, cracking, probably even slackin, so we can't offer you "work arounds."

There is a MS volume license program for home users here: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/options.mspx, the page sez 5 licenses, but I'm not up on the whole process.

For kicks and sniggles though I went through the options and you'll still pay $90 a pop for Vista Home Prem. They didn;'t offer XP.

I'd try Ebay. You can get XP for $50-60ish every so often if you stick to a dedicated bidding scheme. I get OSs all the time from Ebay, haven't had an issue yet. (Just scrutinize each seller carefully, obviously.)

Penewah!

DTMAce:

Volume licenses from what I remember aren't nomally sold for less than like 25 systems or some such ****.

DTMAce:

Technically you have to have one copy per machine, though I know home bodies fudge that line and do 2 to 1 and it will let them.  But Newegg nor anyone here will support such a setup, nor recommend it.  Including me.

Tallon41