Need to buy Windows XP Professional

[NRGeti]

I have been looking for a vendor to buy a copy of Windows XP Professional. Many web sites are advertising ridiculously low prices; are they legitimate?

Some sites are saying OEM versions. Are they legal?

Amazon is offering low prices and a complete XP (not an upgrade) but I found that the front page on the box they are selling says for PCs with 95 or earlier or PCs without any. I don't understand the significance of this notation. It sounds like an upgrade rather than the complete package.

 

[linney]

Amazon is probably referring to a Full XP version and not the Upgrade version which requires a Qualifying Product to use the XP Upgrade version.

You can use a qualifying product to install the XP Upgrade as a clean install (as per Full version but cheaper). A qualifying product is a Windows 98, 98se, 2000 or ME CD (retail, not OEM or recovery type CD's), which will be checked during the install of XP.

Should you purchase an OEM license version of XP?
faq779-4004

Software Piracy Protection.

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx

Anything really cheap my not be legal so be cautious.

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_faq.mspx