My squadron has three notebook computers without a viable OS that we would like to install a fresh copy of Windows XP on. I looked on Techsoup but the only Windows licenses I can find are for upgrades - no full OS. Does anyone know if Techsoup has an option to purchase a full OS that I'm not seeing?
Yes you can get Windows, but only Windows 7 not XP. Up untill about 6 months ago you could get XP...
That's true about only being able to buy Win7, but you can purchase Win7 and "downgrade" install WinXP. This is particularly useful for older computers that just don't have the horsepower for Win7.
Quote from: JeffDG on May 09, 2011, 07:46:30 PM
That's true about only being able to buy Win7, but you can purchase Win7 and "downgrade" install WinXP. This is particularly useful for older computers that just don't have the horsepower for Win7.
But I don't even see a full copy of Win7, just an upgrade. Am I missing something? I'm also not logged in, could that be affecting it?
Did the notebooks have XP originally? If so, you can use the original product key to reload the OS without purchasing a new copy.
Quote from: EMT-83 on May 09, 2011, 07:51:50 PM
Did the notebooks have XP originally? If so, you can use the original product key to reload the OS without purchasing a new copy.
They did, but they were donated by a company who wiped the hard drive. I have XP CDs but the license keys on the bottom belong to the company (Microsoft licenses are non-transferable) and therefore I can't install using those keys.
I don't see any Windows XP there either, and the only Microsoft OS products are listed under the "Microsoft Donation Program" which indicates that
not all 501c(3) organizations are eligible, and then indicates governmental organizations or agencies are not eligible. Before people say "Techsoup sells me stuff all the time...", this isn't a Techsoup issue this is a Microsoft issue, which is the final word on licensing.
Has anyone found anything easily post-able that says CAP is eligible for this program?
What kind of machines are these? Most machines from major manufacturers would come with an OEM license which could be used with media from anywhere. If they are CAP-Issued machines they certainly did.
As an FYI, there is plenty of XP on eBay.
Quote from: Spaceman3750 on May 09, 2011, 07:57:21 PM
Quote from: EMT-83 on May 09, 2011, 07:51:50 PM
Did the notebooks have XP originally? If so, you can use the original product key to reload the OS without purchasing a new copy.
They did, but they were donated by a company who wiped the hard drive. I have XP CDs but the license keys on the bottom belong to the company (Microsoft licenses are non-transferable) and therefore I can't install using those keys.
Actually, you're correct, but they don't belong to the company, they being to the machines and are non-transferable in that capacity. OEM licenses ship with the systems and cannot be retained by the user or company when they sell or donate the machine. If they have license key stickers, you have legal licenses.
You'll find this in a hundred different places, but here's a couple quick ones:
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/thread/b644cd99-908e-4b43-98af-4d14f2cda5e8
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx
Quote from: Eclipse on May 09, 2011, 08:00:40 PM
Quote from: Spaceman3750 on May 09, 2011, 07:57:21 PM
Quote from: EMT-83 on May 09, 2011, 07:51:50 PM
Did the notebooks have XP originally? If so, you can use the original product key to reload the OS without purchasing a new copy.
They did, but they were donated by a company who wiped the hard drive. I have XP CDs but the license keys on the bottom belong to the company (Microsoft licenses are non-transferable) and therefore I can't install using those keys.
Actually, you're correct, but they don't belong to the company, they being to the machines and are non-transferable in that capacity. OEM licenses ship with the systems and cannot be retained by the user or company when they sell or donate the machine. If they have license key stickers, you have legal licenses.
You'll find this in a hundred different places, but here's a couple quick ones:
http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/genuinewindowsxp/thread/b644cd99-908e-4b43-98af-4d14f2cda5e8
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/licensing_faq.aspx
QuoteAfter an OEM software license has been installed on a PC, the license may not be installed on or transferred to another PC. However, the entire PC may be transferred to another end user along with the software license rights. When transferring the PC to the new end user, the software media, manuals (if applicable), and Certificate of Authenticity label must be included. It is also advisable to include the original purchase invoice or receipt. The original end user cannot keep any copies of the software.
Good deal, thanks. I tend to tiptoe with Microsoft EULAs for obvious reasons, but this one's pretty cut and dry. I'll pull out some XP discs and get this installed tomorrow!
Glad I could help and save you a few shekels.
we have purchased many microsoft OS's from TechSoup as CAP. no issues.
Yes you have to be logged in , and fully vetted by tech soup before you can really see what they have...
Quote from: Eclipse on May 09, 2011, 07:58:59 PM
I don't see any Windows XP there either, and the only Microsoft OS products are listed under the "Microsoft Donation Program" which indicates that not all 501c(3) organizations are eligible, and then indicates governmental organizations or agencies are not eligible. Before people say "Techsoup sells me stuff all the time...", this isn't a Techsoup issue this is a Microsoft issue, which is the final word on licensing.
We purchased Microsoft Office 2007 Professional from TechSoup for the squadron, at $16 per license.
I was able to install the Beta Windows 7 OS on an IBM Thinkpad from 2004, and it worked just fine. I would think any laptop 2006 and newer, Windows 7 should work even better, but of course the more RAM the better.
The only caveat may be dealing the 32 and 64-bit versions and what fits the equipment the best.
TechSoup is the bomb, but as mentioned, each donor to the program has their own donee requirements. For the most part, CAP shouldn't have any problems qualifying, you just have to pay attention when filling out the webforms.
Windows 7 is nothing like Vista when it comes to working on older equipment.
Cheers,
if you dont have 3gb of RAM, you shouldn't even consider 7
Quote from: EmergencyManager6 on May 09, 2011, 10:43:52 PM
if you dont have 3gb of RAM, you shouldn't even consider 7
That's funny, my wife's netbook with 1gb handles it ok.
Before I used it I would have said the same thing - clearly MS has gotten something right and fixed the "issues" of Vista. Because it runs "fine" on machines shipping with1 & 2Gb.
With that said, there is no compelling reason to upgrade, unless counterintuitive menus, pretty / useless graphic nonsense, and "change for market share's sake" are something you value.
Thank goodness the days of the desktop OS are basically over. The king is dead, long live the king!
Windows 7, I've found, tends to use RAM far more efficiently than many of its counterparts.
I upgraded my wife's laptop (Vista) to Win 7 and it runs significantly faster and more efficiently than when Vista was on it. Her laptop only has 1GB of RAM.
I also upgraded an XP desktop I have and it runs better than it did with XP on it.
In traditional MS fashion, every other generation of OS seems to be the one to get: 3.1, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista/Mojave :P, Win 7
^ I never thought of the timeline, but you're right!
How I hated Windows 95, and wanted 3.1 back.
My HP Mini 210 netbook shipped with Win7 Starter. It ran GREAT!
Then I put in 2 GB of RAM. Now I do Photoshop, Firefox, Supremacy 1914 which is currently taking up 400MB of RAM on two rounds, Winapp music, and a Word Doc as I type this. :P
Did I mention this runs faster than my 4GB Vista laptop?
Quote from: USAFaux2004 on May 11, 2011, 03:33:37 AM
Did I mention this runs faster than my 4GB Vista laptop?
My watch runs faster than Vista.
Quote from: jimmydeanno on May 10, 2011, 11:25:20 PM
In traditional MS fashion, every other generation of OS seems to be the one to get: 3.1, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista/Mojave :P, Win 7
So where does Windows 2000 fit into that?
Quote from: Spaceman3750 on May 11, 2011, 12:32:23 PM
Quote from: jimmydeanno on May 10, 2011, 11:25:20 PM
In traditional MS fashion, every other generation of OS seems to be the one to get: 3.1, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista/Mojave :P, Win 7
So where does Windows 2000 fit into that?
In and around the area NT goes. Neither was ready for prime time until 3-4 rounds of service packs, though I still have machines running 2k.
Quote from: Eclipse on May 11, 2011, 01:33:44 PM
Quote from: Spaceman3750 on May 11, 2011, 12:32:23 PM
Quote from: jimmydeanno on May 10, 2011, 11:25:20 PM
In traditional MS fashion, every other generation of OS seems to be the one to get: 3.1, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista/Mojave :P , Win 7
So where does Windows 2000 fit into that?
In and around the area NT goes. Neither was ready for prime time until 3-4 rounds of service packs, though I still have machines running 2k.
XP didn't really become awesome until SP2...
Quote from: Spaceman3750 on May 11, 2011, 12:32:23 PM
Quote from: jimmydeanno on May 10, 2011, 11:25:20 PM
In traditional MS fashion, every other generation of OS seems to be the one to get: 3.1, 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista/Mojave :P, Win 7
So where does Windows 2000 fit into that?
In reality, the progression stopped with ME. There is a second line of OSs that Starts with NT 3.1-NT 4.0-Win2k-XP-Vista-Win7
XP was much closer, architecturally, to Windows NT than it was to 95/98/ME (shudder)