It is usually cheaper to buy just the COA and maybe we do not need the
install disk. Why pay extra to get the CD if we already have one. That is
why most people were buying these COAs in the first place since they do not
need the CD.
orchirdchild
Sorry, Steve. While I am all for using Generic OEM licenses of XP, I
am ALWAYS for the user abiding by the terms of the OEM EULA.
The facts are, these stand-alone COAs are NOT sold according to the
terms of the License, and are therefore in violation of the License.
The LEAST you will get away with when purchasing a valid XP license is
by purchasing a "Generic" OEM edition (these are produced by Microsoft
themselves, not a third-party system manufacturer). In addition, this
license MUST be sold along with a "necessary hardware item", such as a
powercord or mouse. Many sellers will include the "necessary hardware
item" in the purchase price. Do NOT purchase so-called "DSP OEM"
editions of XP, unless it also comes with a complete system, and the
copy was produced by the system builder which built the machine (or a
licensed third-party who produces the media for the system builder).
These are usually sold by major system builders. If you purchase one
"stand-alone", it is almost ALWAYS a "pull" from a machine which was
returned, or is excess stock. These "stand-alone" DSP copies are NOT
properly licensed.
By the way, there is no such thing as an "open source" license of XP.
Windows XP is NOT an "open source" OS, and ALL the code for the OS
belongs EXCLUSIVELY to Microsoft. Do NOT purchase ANY so-called
"open-source" copies of XP, since they are more than probably PIRATED,
which is why such copies are usually so cheap. While Microsoft HAS
released older PORTIONS of it's PAST OS software to "open-source",
this "open-source" license is NOT the "GNU Public License", and as far
as I know, NOTHING of XP is released to "open-source".
If I'm not mistaken, it IS possible to purchase a COA directly from
Microsoft, but it will usually be priced at about 10%-12% below the
RETAIL price of an official Microsoft boxed copy, not $44.95. In
addition, you must ALREADY own a valid (Retail) license of XP (and
therefore the distribution Media) to do this.
This is why many purchase Generic OEMs. We can purchase them for
$120-$150, rather than $299 (the Retail price of XP). But make sure
you purchase a TRUE "Generic" OEM. I usually purchase mine directly
from Amazon.com, which always guarantees their authenticity. Just
remember the limitations of this type of license. They may be $10-$15
more expensive than most OEMs, but they will be genuine.
True "Generic" OEM copies will ALWAYS have FULL edge-to-edge
MULTI-COLORED (and very vivid) holograms. OEMs produced by system
builders are many times silver, and with very indistinct holograms.
These indistinct "holograms" are probably printed on the CDs, rather
than made part of the physical manufacturing of the CDs themselves (or
they are very cheaply manufactured.)
In addition, OEMS produced by system builders will many times have
BRANDED COAs. This is especially true for so-called "DSPs" and
"pulls".
==
Donald L McDaniel
Please Reply to the Original Thread.
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