WinXP Product Codes

[kerneldebugger]

Can you believe the prices that Windows XP Professional is commanding on
ebay these days? I've been trying to purchase an XP CD or two to install on
new machines I've built for friends and relatives, but the bidding is
ferocious...and eXPensive. Now you know what XP really stands for.

There must be gobs of product codes going to waste when Win 7 is installed.
Doesn't seem reasonable that a fellow should have to pay upwards of a
hundred bucks for an old operating system (albeit a good one). Vista is
cheap! Retail versions of XP Pro are as high or higher than Win 7.
Whodathunkit.

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/Wind...ftware&_catref=1&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

 

[Alias]

Can you believe the prices that Windows XP Professional is commanding on
ebay these days? I've been trying to purchase an XP CD or two to install on
new machines I've built for friends and relatives, but the bidding is
ferocious...and eXPensive. Now you know what XP really stands for.

There must be gobs of product codes going to waste when Win 7 is installed.
Doesn't seem reasonable that a fellow should have to pay upwards of a
hundred bucks for an old operating system (albeit a good one). Vista is
cheap! Retail versions of XP Pro are as high or higher than Win 7.
Whodathunkit.

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/Wind...ftware&_catref=1&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

The price of something is what people are willing to pay. If you don't
want to pay for an operating system, check Linux out. I like
http://www.linuxmint.com/ It's free and very user friendly for people
used to Windows except they won't have to update anti malware and anti
virus programs.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Can you believe the prices that Windows XP Professional is commanding on
ebay these days? I've been trying to purchase an XP CD or two to install on
new machines I've built for friends and relatives, but the bidding is
ferocious...and eXPensive. Now you know what XP really stands for.

Beside the price, who knows what you might get if you buy XP on eBay.
It's very dangerous and I wouldn't do it.

 

[VanguardLH]

Can you believe the prices that Windows XP Professional is commanding on
ebay these days?

Sure. It's still in high demand. Just go over to Expert-Exchange and
notice that Windows XP is still the highest by far for number of users
asking questions on that version. Vista and 7 didn't add anything
critical to impel users to migrate away from XP. Yeah, there are some
nice features (some of them well hidden inside the OS) but not enough
oomph to make users decide to spend more money to switch.

I've been trying to purchase an XP CD or two to install on
new machines I've built for friends and relatives, but the bidding is
ferocious...and eXPensive.

One of the biggest problems with anything sold on eBay is that the boobs
doing the bidding haven't even bothered to notice how much the product
costs to get it retail (online or at a store) and will often bid up to
or more than its retail cost. These boobs also neglect to notice the
price will include shipping & handling charges (which some sellers
charge excessively). With auctions, sometimes you get items sold for
way less than they are worth but too often the bidders get excited and
over bid an item.

Despite eBay's policies, it's pretty obvious that some sellers will bid
using another account on their own auctions to raise the price. To
them, it's better to suffer the cost for fees of several "failed"
auctions to ensure they get a high enough price, and they don't want to
set a reserve (minimum price) because that turns away many bidders.
Shilling one's own auction is forbidden but eBay has no way to avoid it.

Then there's the sniping services and software that lets a bidder put in
their maximum bid in the last 3 seconds of the auction. This pisses off
the real humans trying to bid on an item. eBay doesn't care because
they still get their selling fees.

Now you know what XP really stands for.

eXPerience. Microsoft has no control over prices at eBay. Microsoft
doesn't even produce XP anymore. So when you choose to be amongst
thousands of eager bidders on a highly desirable antique car, you bitch
about the manufacturer of the car somehow affecting the price? You and
everyone else bidding on XP are the ones affecting the price.

There must be gobs of product codes going to waste when Win 7 is installed.

What product code is wasted is the OS is installed? The majority of
Win7 installs are NOT upgrades or migrates from WinXP. They are fresh
installs. There were no wasted XP licenses for those installs.

If you get the Pro, Ultimate, or Enterprise versions of Windows 7, that
includes a copy and license of Windows XP Pro (called XP Mode, a
virtualized guest that runs Windows XP Pro). From newegg, you can get
Win7 Pro (OEM) for $140 and you are getting *2* OS licenses (albeit
concurrent rather than separate): one for Win7 and one for WinXP Pro.
That's cheaper than just Windows XP Pro (OEM) from, say, VioSoftware at
$195 (http://www.viosoftware.com/Windows+XP+Professional/).

Doesn't seem reasonable that a fellow should have to pay upwards of a
hundred bucks for an old operating system (albeit a good one).

Wow, you really are bitchy. In the single example you provided below of
just one seller of Windows XP on eBay, the cost was $45 (if you trust
that auction to sell you a usable copy of Windows XP). Seems pretty
cheap compared to Vista or 7. Oh, you thought it should be free just
because Microsoft dropped support for it. Uh huh.

Vista is cheap! Retail versions of XP Pro are as high or higher than Win 7.
Whodathunkit.

Bidders like you keep its price high. You and others like you create
the demand. Demand keeps the price up. Shortage of stock hikes up
prices for items in demand. Capitalism is something new to you?

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/Wind...ftware&_catref=1&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

Be leery of any Windows copies you buy from here or anywhere as they
claim it is Windows XP but is probably a branded version that may not
install on anything but the particular brand and model for which it was
intended (i.e., it could be a BIOS-locked version). Even if not BIOS-
locked, it could be an image or install that includes drivers and other
software that targeted the brand and model for which that disc was
intended for installation. You don't want a branded version of Windows.
You want a Microsoft-generic version. Despite what the seller shows for
a picture of their product, contact them to make sure it is a
non-branded version of Windows and includes the COA sticker (not some
sticker/label on a CD sleeve). This will also let you know if the
seller is responsive to e-mails regarding their auction. If they don't
respond, you don't want to buy from them. They will be just as
responsive after the sale.

 

[Mint]

Can you believe the prices that Windows XP Professional is commanding on
ebay these days?  I've been trying to purchase an XP CD or two to install on
new machines I've built for friends and relatives, but the bidding is
ferocious...and eXPensive.  Now you know what XP really stands for.

There must be gobs of product codes going to waste when Win 7 is installed.
Doesn't seem reasonable that a fellow should have to pay upwards of a
hundred bucks for an old operating system (albeit a good one).  Vista is
cheap!  Retail versions of XP Pro are as high or higher than Win 7.
Whodathunkit.

http://computers.shop.ebay.com/Windows-/41882/i.html?_nkw=software&_c....

A seller has the right to set any price he wants.

I was lucky in that about 6 months ago, I got a genuine legal copy for
$ 11.00.

Wish I had bought more.

Andy

 

[kerneldebugger]

Beside the price, who knows what you might get if you buy XP on eBay.
It's very dangerous and I wouldn't do it.

Now you tell me! I bought Win XP Pro OEM on ebay, $37 it was. It
activated! Voila! But when I went to get some
updates, the WGA thingiepoo went berserk...COUNTEFIET...GO TO JAIL, DO NOT
PASS GO, etc. It was truly a sight to behold. So I contacted Microsoft to
report the seller, name, address, my method of payment, the whole nine
yards. I sent them the counterfeit CD and all the paperwork, they sent me a
replacement in about a week. I wonder if the seller is behind bars?

The seller had quite a few for sale; I suspect he acquired a bunch of them
by some dubious means, so M$ blocked all of those product codes at WGA in
lieu of activation. There's not all that much risk so long as Mr. Gates
will replace them if they are counterfeited hologrammed CDs with COAs. If
you watch the bidding frenzy on ebay when XP Pros get down to the final few
mintues you'd see a lot of pent up demand.

Thanks Ken for providing all of us with years and years of stellar advice;
I've probably read several thousand of your posts, and saved many of them
for referencing later. You, many other MVPs, and our beloved Mr. Nichol
have been invaluable.

 

[glee]

Now you tell me! I bought Win XP Pro OEM on ebay, $37 it was. It
activated! Voila! But when I went to get some
updates, the WGA thingiepoo went berserk...COUNTEFIET...GO TO JAIL, DO
NOT PASS GO, etc. It was truly a sight to behold. So I contacted
Microsoft to report the seller, name, address, my method of payment,
the whole nine yards. I sent them the counterfeit CD and all the
paperwork, they sent me a replacement in about a week. I wonder if
the seller is behind bars?

The seller had quite a few for sale; I suspect he acquired a bunch of
them by some dubious means, so M$ blocked all of those product codes
at WGA in lieu of activation. There's not all that much risk so long
as Mr. Gates will replace them if they are counterfeited hologrammed
CDs with COAs. If you watch the bidding frenzy on ebay when XP Pros
get down to the final few mintues you'd see a lot of pent up demand.

Thanks Ken for providing all of us with years and years of stellar
advice; I've probably read several thousand of your posts, and saved
many of them for referencing later. You, many other MVPs, and our
beloved Mr. Nichol have been invaluable.

There are reputable dealers with totally legal copies of WinXP for sale,
on ebay and other sites. The problem is, as Ken suggested, trying to
determine which of the many dealers and copies are legit. It's a big
risk...like buying something on craigslist... as you found out!

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I heartily second the thanks for your advice. I also greatly
appreciate that you are staying in this area with your wisdom, not
having forsaken us for the accursed Microsoft Forums.

Thanks very much to you too. I do need to tell you, though, that I now
do both the "accursed" Microsoft Forums (despite their many
deficiencies), using an NNTP bridge, and what's left of the old
newsgroups. And as activity in the newsgroups dwindles (which, to
nobody's surprise, has been happening), one of these days, I'll decide
that there's not enough to continue here. Sorry to say that, but it's
just the reality of the situation.

 

[Alias]

Thanks very much to you too. I do need to tell you, though, that I now
do both the "accursed" Microsoft Forums (despite their many
deficiencies), using an NNTP bridge, and what's left of the old
newsgroups. And as activity in the newsgroups dwindles (which, to
nobody's surprise, has been happening), one of these days, I'll decide
that there's not enough to continue here. Sorry to say that, but it's
just the reality of the situation.

And another MS sheeple falls in line.

 

[glee]

And another MS sheeple falls in line.

It has nothing to do with "falling in line." If you are trying to help
users with computer problems, you go where they are posting, if you can
deal with the annoying posting mechanisms on those forums.

 

[Alias]

It has nothing to do with "falling in line." If you are trying to help
users with computer problems, you go where they are posting, if you can
deal with the annoying posting mechanisms on those forums.

If all the MVPs who said they didn't like the web forums didn't fall in
line, where would the web forums be now?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

It has nothing to do with "falling in line." If you are trying to help
users with computer problems, you go where they are posting, if you can
deal with the annoying posting mechanisms on those forums.

Exactly! And thanks for your comment. I wouldn't otherwise have seen
Alias's message; he's long been killfiled here.

And to add to your comment, I have complained to Microsoft (both in
person to a couple of people there, and by e-mail to a couple of
others, including my MVP lead) about many of the problems with the
"accursed" Microsoft Forums. Doing that is very far from "falling in
line."

 

[Alias]

Exactly! And thanks for your comment. I wouldn't otherwise have seen
Alias's message; he's long been killfiled here.

Your loss.

And to add to your comment, I have complained to Microsoft (both in
person to a couple of people there, and by e-mail to a couple of
others, including my MVP lead) about many of the problems with the
"accursed" Microsoft Forums. Doing that is very far from "falling in
line."

Yet despite your "heroic" efforts with the MS Jello Wall, you give up
and fall right in line just like you've been told to do.

 

[glee]

If all the MVPs who said they didn't like the web forums didn't fall
in line, where would the web forums be now?

The forums would be exactly where they are now. MS hired people to man
their forums, so even if there were no MVPs there, it would not matter a
bit to them. Users would suffer, though, because many of the hired
hands are not particularly knowledgeable. Besides, MS can simply give
other forum users the MVP Award....there is no shortage of fanbois who
would like nothing better than to be an MS "evangelist".

The long-time MVPs who transitioned from the newsgroups are by and large
neither fanbois nor software evangelists. They are the same people who
spent time in the newsgroups in order to help users, and they put up
with the transition because they'd like to continue helping, especially
since the hired help is so poor.

 

[kerneldebugger]

How difficult is it to fake a sealed boxed copy of WinXP, holograms and
all? That should be the least you ask for.

I'm not sure I get your drift, but here are the relevant points. I'm sure
it is
extremely difficult to reproduce the hologram that Microsoft used on the
CDs.
They will replace the so-called counterfeit CD if it has the hologram, plus
an
authentic COA, and you have a bill of sale with the sellers name and
address.
I'm of the opinion that the illegimate CDs are no so much counterfeit, that
is
a reproduction or copy, as they are orginal CDs that were stolen or
otherwise
appropriated in violation of some contract. How else can one explain the
fact
that the so-called counterfeit CDs will activate, then flunk WGA?

 

[Vote for Pedro]

And another MS sheeple falls in line.

And you still remain a troll like you have all these years.

 

[Alias]

The forums would be exactly where they are now. MS hired people to man
their forums, so even if there were no MVPs there, it would not matter a
bit to them. Users would suffer, though, because many of the hired hands
are not particularly knowledgeable. Besides, MS can simply give other
forum users the MVP Award....there is no shortage of fanbois who would
like nothing better than to be an MS "evangelist".

The long-time MVPs who transitioned from the newsgroups are by and large
neither fanbois nor software evangelists. They are the same people who
spent time in the newsgroups in order to help users, and they put up
with the transition because they'd like to continue helping, especially
since the hired help is so poor.

I can see MS has the same high regard for their MVP's opinions as they
do their customers. A shame, really.

 

[Alias]

And you still remain a troll like you have all these years.

If insulting me helps you get it through the night, be my guest. You, of
course, are incapable of addressing the subject at hand and can only
hurl personal insults but that's to be expected from someone like you.

 

[glee]

Sorry about that, I had comprehensibility partly disengaged.

My point was that, if one is trying to select an an least
possibly legit dealer and copy, one should not accept
a box that has been opened. I couldn't recall offhand
whether the box is normally sealed with a hologram
incorporated in the seal, so that opening and reclosing
would be hopefully detectable. Further, on opening the
box, the contents should not show any sign of having
been examined or used in any way, and nothing
should be missing. To the degree that the package
and the contents share unique numbers, the numbers
should match. Payment should be subject to
passing all these tests. A vendor should be aware
that the product could only pass these tests once,
and would therefore be inhibited from trying to sell
product that would fail, because that would be the
only chance to sell it to a purchaser who was that
alert.

To protect the vendor, the vendor should require that
a rejected package be opened in the presence of
a disinterested witness who could state that the
testing was legitimately done.

Chances of putting a system like this in place:
rather small. More

Nice idea but really doesn't make sense. A person owns a retail XP
disc, opens it and uses it, then later junks the system components when
the motherboard gets fried., and buys a computer with Windows 7
installed. They put the opened but no longer installed XP disc and
Product Key on eBay. Perfectly legit and legal, and a likely scenario
for a home user selling his disc, but fails your "tests"...

 

[glee]

I can see MS has the same high regard for their MVP's opinions as they
do their customers. A shame, really.

Yes, really. It wasn't always so, back when other people were in charge
at MS, and the MVP program was much smaller and made up of volunteers
from newsgroups. For at least the past 6 years, it has changed
entirely, with a few notable exceptions. Ken and a few others from the
"old guard" still hang on in the forums solely to help users.

As for MS, they are in it to make a profit, like any company. They
listen to MVPs that work in areas that produce revenue for
them....mainly enterprise. MVPs in areas that deal with home users
mostly find a deaf ear nowadays, if they can find an ear at all.

The opinions expressed here are my own. If I want your opinion I'll
remove the duct tape from your mouth. ;-)