Authentication

[Guest]

I have 3 homemade PC's. I would like to install XP Pro on all 3. What is the
cheapest way to install Windows on each pc? Or do I have to buy 3 separate XP
cd's? Is there a way I can get legal authentication codes for my pc's
without having to pay $900 for 3 windows cd's at the store?

 

[Bob]

1 licence 1 computer
3 computers you need 3 licences

 

[NoStop]

I have 3 homemade PC's. I would like to install XP Pro on all 3. What is
the cheapest way to install Windows on each pc? Or do I have to buy 3
separate XP
cd's? Is there a way I can get legal authentication codes for my pc's
without having to pay $900 for 3 windows cd's at the store?

If you find that price prohibitive, take a look at a FREE alternative:

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Just finished installing this on a friend's computer (like 1/2 hour ago) and
he's tickled pink with what his computer can do now. Hundreds of free
software applications just a few clicks away. Runs at least twice as fast
as XP and he doesn't have to worry about viruses, trojans and malware. Give
Ubuntu a shot. Will cost you nothing and you'll probably fall in love with
it.

Cheers.

 

[Frank]

I have 3 homemade PC's. I would like to install XP Pro on all 3. What
is the
cheapest way to install Windows on each pc? Or do I have to buy 3
separate XP
cd's? Is there a way I can get legal authentication codes for my pc's
without having to pay $900 for 3 windows cd's at the store?

Wow that is some cash to outlay. No wonder Microsoft is the
richest......

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have 3 homemade PC's. I would like to install XP Pro on all 3.
What is the cheapest way to install Windows on each pc? Or do I have
to buy 3 separate XP cd's?

If yours is a retail version, not an OEM one, you can buy extra licenses
(see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp). But it's
not generally a good deal. The problem is that Microsoft sells additional
licenses at only a small savings over the list price. You're almost
certainly better off just buying a complete second copy from a discount
source.

Is there a way I can get legal
authentication codes for my pc's without having to pay $900 for 3
windows cd's at the store?

I don't know what country you're in or what kind of dollars those $900 are,
but if it's US dollars, $300 per copy is extraordinarily high.

 

[Paul Johnson]

I have 3 homemade PC's. I would like to install XP Pro on all 3. What is
the cheapest way to install Windows on each pc? Or do I have to buy 3
separate XP
cd's? Is there a way I can get legal authentication codes for my pc's
without having to pay $900 for 3 windows cd's at the store?

Nope, you must have a license for each of your computers, so you have to go
out and buy it again and again. It sounds like you're a good candidate for
Linux if that sounds bogus to you.

 

[Paul Johnson]

I have 3 homemade PC's. I would like to install XP Pro on all 3. What is
the cheapest way to install Windows on each pc? Or do I have to buy 3
separate XP cd's?

One license per machine. Read the EULA: You agreed to it by using Windows.

Is there a way I can get legal authentication codes for my pc's
without having to pay $900 for 3 windows cd's at the store?

Windows may be overpriced, but it's not quite *that* overpriced. Probably
looking closer to $300 for 3 PCs.

 

[Frank]

One license per machine. Read the EULA: You agreed to it by using
Windows.


Windows may be overpriced, but it's not quite *that* overpriced.
Probably
looking closer to $300 for 3 PCs.

US$300...That's if you use XP Home.
When/if the 3 boxen are networked it is a real nightmare.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

US$300...That's if you use XP Home.
When/if the 3 boxen are networked it is a real nightmare.

Not at all true. XP Home networks just fine in a workgroup environment. The
only issues are that XP Home can't join a domain (something very few home
users need to do) and XP Home is limited to only five simultaneous
connections, compared to XP Professional's ten.