Member Avatar for Member #23858

I was reading an article in maximum pc about building a $1500 pc. Anyway one of the components was xp pro oem. It said the price was $99. Where did he get this for that price? I want it.

  • 4 Contributors
  • 4 Replies
  • 114 Views
  • 1 Day Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by jbennet

Dani AI

Generated

Maximum PC was almost certainly quoting the low-cost "System Builder" / OEM channel copy of XP Professional. and have already hit the key points in practice: those copies are sold through parts retailers (sometimes bundled with a cheap HDD or other part) and are cheaper than retail. The extra detail worth having here is how that affects long‑term use and what to watch for when buying one today.

OEM/System Builder licensing is intended to be tied to the first PC the software is installed on. Repairs and small upgrades (RAM, video card) are normally fine; swapping major pieces can trigger reactivation. The motherboard is the usual trigger that makes Microsoft treat the install as a "different PC." Keep the original media, the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker/product key, and the seller receipt — they are the best evidence if activation problems arise or you need phone support.

If activation fails after hardware changes, use the Windows Activation utility and choose the telephone option. Be prepared to supply the installation ID and to explain that the machine was repaired, not moved to a different owner. is correct that phone activation is the fallback; Microsoft support frequently authorizes legitimate owners in these cases, but it is not guaranteed.

A final, important note for anyone finding this thread years later: Windows XP is obsolete and unsupported. Running XP on an Internet‑connected machine exposes it to security risks. For legacy applications, prefer running XP inside a virtual machine on a modern, supported host, or use vendor-supported compatibility options (for example, Windows 7’s XP Mode). When buying "cheap" OEM copies online, verify seller reputation and the presence of a genuine COA to avoid counterfeit/licensing headaches.

Recommended Answers

All 4 Replies

Member Avatar for DaveB

I imagine that he purchased XP Pro OEM. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/O/OEM.html

XP Pro OEM is cheaper than XP Pro Retail product, but the license only allows you to buy this at the same time as the PC (or will be the version shipped with a new PC), or PC Components.

If you wanted to buy XP on OEM, then you would need to replace a main component of your PC, such as MOBO, CPU or Harddrive. (I'm not sure of the exact terms).

Most Computer Component retailers will sell OEM software, but being from the UK, I can't give you any good US links.

Regards, Dave

Member Avatar for jbennet

i got OEM xp pro with a £20 hdd for a total of less than £180 (xp home full price) off of novatech

only lets you install on 1 hardware though. if you change the cpu/mobo/hdd xp will not run anymore - also i think there is a max of 3 reinstalls

Member Avatar for RobertEB

i got OEM xp pro with a £20 hdd for a total of less than £180 (xp home full price) off of novatech

only lets you install on 1 hardware though. if you change the cpu/mobo/hdd xp will not run anymore - also i think there is a max of 3 reinstalls

All that happens after the limited number of reinstalls is that you have to ring Microsoft and convince them that its not a new machine. Mobo is probably the significant factor. You are certainly allowed to expand and repair machines.

Member Avatar for jbennet

ram and graphics card etc.. upgrades are fine just primray hard disk, cpu and mobo arent liked

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.