Where is the cheapest place to buy XP/Vista?

IceDigger

IceDigger

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So I'm looking to build a couple computers a month and sell them at my shop. Where is the cheapest place to buy windows xp and vista from?

I'm looking to build maybe 2 to 5 systems per month.
 
If you are a business you could always become a reseller/system builder with Microsoft and get volume discounts, I suppose.

If you wish to remain individual and just do it yourself forever, then Newegg or Fry's typically sell Vista Home Premium OEM System Builder copies for about $109 a pop. Getting cheaper than that is gonna be near impossible unless you're getting stuff from a guy named Vino that gets it "off the back of a truck." :p

If you get those copies and use them, however, you must inform the customers that they have to contact you for service and support - Microsoft will not provide any technical support for OEM/System Builder versions. You sell it, you're responsible for it.
 
Heres the cheapest place I could find xp pro sp2. 60 dollars no shipping or tax. Woot!

[url removed]

EDIT: Adobe does not sell most of its software OEM. (I can only think of stuff like Photoshop Elements bundled with a Wacom tablet.) This site is a fraud. - Lethal
 
ZodaEX said:
Heres the cheapest place I could find xp pro sp2. 60 dollars no shipping or tax. Woot!

[quoted url removed]
Click to expand...

looks like a scam to me...no reviews I could find and $60 is WAY under MSRP or OEM cost of what Microsoft would even charge them to sell it...

Not to mention the place is registered to a guy in russia and looks like all the other scam places selling ripped off software...
 
Does anyone have any better deals for XP? Might be building a cheapo computer for a friend, and the OS could be the pivotal factor.
 
IceDigger said:
So I'm looking to build a couple computers a month and sell them at my shop. Where is the cheapest place to buy windows xp and vista from?

I'm looking to build maybe 2 to 5 systems per month.
Click to expand...

If you are selling them you want to make damn sure they are legit. Just buy from newegg, ewiz, cdw, etc.
 
I've bought supposedly legit copies of OEM XP Home and Pro from pricegrabber in the past for $60-80. I think these people selling via storefronts did have legit licenses that they unfortunately abused and oversold. With the latest Windows Genuine Advantage round a month or two ago I had 2 clients get nicked. MS has a policy of giving a free full legit version of Windows if you turn in the reseller so that's what these two people I built systems for did. It was a big hassle and I don't care to repeat it, I was stuck in the middle and had to blow several hours to get it all resolved and make the clients happy.

Moral of story, just buy an OEM from a reputable place like Newegg or Fry's - it will give you peace of mind and save hassles in the long term.
 
See if somebody in the For Sale / Trade section is selling LEGIT copies. If not, post your own WTB thread, again making sure you request legitimate copies.
This is how I got my latest copy of WinXP Pro
 
CHEAPEST LEGIT
Any University that is assiciated with MS.

I am going to University Of Houston They sell a Legit student edition. Nothing Compromised on it real CD and Real Unique CD key No Box for $25

I am pretty sure other Unis or Colleges do this too
 
My school has Office for $30, but they have yet to get Vista :(

They were going to get Vista Enterprise, but that fell through for some reason.
 
iPearl said:
CHEAPEST LEGIT
Any University that is assiciated with MS.

I am going to University Of Houston They sell a Legit student edition. Nothing Compromised on it real CD and Real Unique CD key No Box for $25

I am pretty sure other Unis or Colleges do this too
Click to expand...
It would not be "legit" for him to re-sell academic software to those not qualified to buy it on their own.
 
My school (the University of Illinois) has a webstore for software. Since I am a CS major, I actually get a ton of microsoft software for free under the MSDN license (and i recently found out that i am entitled to 2 keys)! This includes xp pro, vista business, visual studio, etc.

I was asking about this for my friend, who is not a CS major and thus has to pay the discounted price. They have a Vista Business upgrade edition for $65, and a Vista Ultimate for $80. I wasnt quite sure what the terms of the upgrade were, so i was inquiring about them in this thread. The webstore doesnt seem to be distributing XP to non-technical majors who are entitled to it for free.

At any rate, thanks for all the responses.
 
my immediate thought was "PirateBay is the cheapest place to get Xp or Vista" But aside from that, The last time i checked Newegg has really good prices on XP and prolly vista
 
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