How do i get a copy of windows xp

I would guess that most people looking to download Windows are looking to re-install legitimate copies. Compaq and Hewlitt Packard do not send the install disks to their own product, This is a cost saving strategy that works untill you want to upgrade your hard drive. I had a puny 40GB hard drive, so I wanted to get a bigger hard drive to set my old computer up as music server. The problem is, my old computer is out dated, but as a music server, it will do just fine with 2 gigs of memery, and a GB harddrive these are maxxed out Now noone said anything about links to get a copy.

Seriously, the right thing to do, the legal thing to do, and the most problem-free thing to do is not to use Windows. What if someone was dumb and partitioned their hard drive, thus destroying the restore partition? I had a legitimate version of Windows XP and I have the activation key pasted on the side of the computer.

Where can I download the software to activate with my legitimate license? I can burn my own. I have two working computers and one dead one. Have you any experience with this or know of anyone who has succesfully used this program? OEM licenses allow installation only on the computer they were purchased for — and you can tell you have an OEM license by the sticker. If you have a license sticker? Those are legal to move from one machine to another, but also cost more than twice as much.

Second: there is nothing illegal about distributing the windows disk itself. But yeah. JC WATTS google wga activator and download and patch yur OS i did and my copy of XP pro is genuine now lol i have like 7 types of pro 4 vistas and windows 7 beta cracked all downloaded, i guess im good for a while.

Hi Leo, I did read the above and I may be foolish for thinking my situation is different somehow.. The mac computer came with both Windows XP and well, Apple. It is a MacBook laptop. He gave me the download link and I downloaded it.

It is very inconvient without sound because I was working on a project on Sony Vegas and I am unable to continue due to this problem. I checked to see if the Apple version of my computer had sound, and it did. Which means the problem is Vista, not my audio jack.

I want to switch back to Windows XP, but, like you said, it is illegal… Advice, please? Hi Leo! I just wanted to say thank you. So I thought it might be easy to just go download it. But then I asked myself something. Yeah, Im 11, lol. I have windows 98 on my computer. Can XP be installed and replace 98? I cannot afford a new computer right now. If so, how much would the software cost? I am also having trouble with my CD drive. It will open software for my digital camera.

I had problems installing, anyway this went for some time. Come to fine out my disks are bad. I try contact the dealer, no longer there,I contact Micrsoft,they make me give them all these little bitty numbers all over the disks,Then said YES there real but your screw. You have to go to your dealer and get them.

I explain this is your dealer and he is out of business. Please help Carl. This thread reaises a number of questions. Microsoft is hardly an ethical company, it is, in fact, a convicted monopolist, with a history of trying to destroy any competition. And at this point they could charge for a service pack 3 or 4… and many would buy it.

Download Azureus this would be the way to find a copy. I am a firm believer in buying what is valuable to you! It is a small price to pay for such a useful product. Hi Leo, I bought windows XP and lost power at home when power came up and rebooted windows XP was not on my desktop and my product key number is not takeing.

Microsoft will not issue a new product key since ii was a 3rd party softwear, is there anyway to correct the issue! Only to come here and find you telling them to go buy it.

Legally, yes, good answer. Realistically, no. Cheers, Leo. I have a Thinkpad notebook. Many people such as myself already bought xp when it first came out and if you think 50 dollars is bad now it was then.

Cds do not last forever and it is NOT illegal to download if you already bought it and have your own key. Go out and buying it is a stupid answer for many people such as myself. Thank god for torrents and smart people. Go out and waste your money if you want but I refuse. My father purchased XP professional quite some time ago, my problem is — he purchased an upgrade. He no longer has the earlier OS discs that this xp disc needs to install. My computer has suffered a serious setback from an infinite reboot loop bad SPTD.

No stores sell XP anymore, windows 7 is coming out in a few days, and I refuse to touch vista with even a 10 foot pole. Either way, I am going to fall behind in my classes because of this issue. In downloading the software you are doing nothing illegal, if however you are using another key i.

Though this is quite tricky, unless you wish not to ever use the internet on it, from my understanding. This however could change as hackers beat Microsoft. The above comment is very true. Saved me wasted effort and needless hassles. Here is my issue. After a year or so, my motherboard went out, and a friend of mine rebuilt the machine. However, its not a Dell anymore, just a regular no-name computer. Well, I have to keep reinstalling it every 30 days. I moved, and the computer was in storage for a few weeks.

I have called Microsoft, but I always end up getting pissed off at them, because their tech people are so clueless and pathetic. Unfortunately, they're Archive files and not executable files, meaning they're currently Read-only. Select Extract from the toolbar, then press the ellipsis icon next to the address bar. Browse to where you'd like to extract the files—your C: drive is fine—and select Make New Folder.

I've called my folder "Windows XP Mode," but the choice is yours. When you're ready, press OK , then OK again to start the extraction process. This can take a minute or two. Head to the folder you created when the extraction process completes.

You'll see the same list of files. The difference is that you can now edit these files as you see fit. Press F2 to rename. The file should immediately change into a virtual hard disk and the icon to boot. VirtualBox is a free app that allows you to run operating systems in a window. On the VirtualBox toolbar, press Settings. Head to System. Look at the Boot Order. Uncheck Floppy, and move it down the list. Promote Hard Disk to the top of the pile.

Just like your host PC, the virtual machine has a specific boot order. You need the virtual hard disk at the top of the list, so it boots first:.

Next, check the Windows XP virtual machine network settings. Older versions of VirtualBox required a more manual approach to network configuration.

The software is smarter these days read: automated and usually picks up your network settings without prompt. However, if it doesn't work and you'll realize the good or bad news in a moment when you fire up the virtual machine , you can try an alternative configuration.

In the left-hand column, select Change adapter settings. Then, right-click and select Bridge Connection. You extracted the virtual hard disk.

You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread. I have the same question Report abuse. Details required :. Cancel Submit. Bill Smithers Volunteer Moderator. In reply to greenmachine's post on May 17, And I just got some dual core laptops that have windows xp on them, but the guy didn't tell me that it would be locked down with passwords for the once company owned pc's p3 processors thought I would give them to my elderly grandparents for a gift.

But there is a legit copy of windows on the laptop. Any suggestions? They charge a small cost for that. Also ask the Manufacturer if there is a Recovery Partiiton to do that reinstallation.