OS - - - Win XP Home SP2

[caveman16]

Hey Guys and Ladies,     Good morning to you all.

      I've just been looking for my operating system [OS] for my new PC.    Oh Boy - - -   What a mess  ;D     Being somewhat  "square"  I'm trying to get a real  [OEM ] Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition  w/ SP2.   I want the restore disk and any other disks and info that would come with it.

     In my search, - - - even to Microsoft, - - - I get this BIG assortment of  "STUFF" and at any price from $ 80.00 to more than $200.00         WHY  

     Don't Microsoft want to sell it's own product  ???   I don't think microsoft should say anything if others steal their product.  THEY make it soooo hard to just get a straight answer from them .      If this is what this world has come to   -- - -  I'll stay with being a caveman.  ;D


      Perhaps some of you guys can help untangle this mess so I can understand it.  [  I just want to get the  "OS " for my new PC  ]  

     Always good to have friends to turn to for help,     caveman

[beaky]

I dunno about all that, but I will recommend you go with the Pro version instead of the home version. I am using XP Home and it works well enough with FS9, but many people I know have chided me for not using Pro.
Not sure why, exactly... but for my next rig, I'm going with Pro.

[JBaymore]

caveman,

Let's see if this helps.......

When most people buy a computer, (pre-built, for the most part) the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) sets up the hardware and then installs the basic stuff.... like the initial operating system.

[Brett_Henderson]

We've talked about this O/S stuff enough.. and rather than add my points and counterpoints (again and again) to ANOTHER thread... I'll say again.. that the best thing to do is just go ahead and by an OEM copy of XP (home or pro, your choice).

Vista is just around the corner.. so save your full retail (upgrade or normal (they're the SAME thing)) dollars for then.

If you DO have a stand-alone (not bundled) 98 disk.. you CAN go the upgrade route. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FIRST INSTALL 98.. and then upgrade on top of it. That would be a silly waste of FAT32 formatting. Just start with an EMPTY HDD and use the upgrade CD.. It will pause and ask for the 98 CD and then spit it right back out and continue with a normal, full XP install.

Now.. if you take my advice and get the OEM XP.. you can use that disk on this computer only.. But that's of little concern as you can only install the full retail on one computer anyway. Vista will be out soon..


Conclusion:

[caveman16]

Hey Rottydaddy,  have already considered that but my present " Home Edition " does it pretty well.

Hi John, That's very interesting and helpful  info you've given me.  Your 3rd option was a thought,  but decided to keep my piece of junk just for going on line and keeping the new one for the Flight Sim.  Also - - - just in case it is needed for on line until repairs  are made to the old one.

Brett,    That's what I've decided to do,  buy the [ OEM ]  and be done with it.

     Hey Guys , I sure do appreciate your help.  Overall - - - this was a very interesting topic and I hope helpful to others also.

   Thanks so much,    caveman

[congo]

There are ways and means to control windows XP.

I now build my own personal installation disks configuring Windows XP the way I want it.

Regardless of the install version or method or price tag, there is nothing quite like using nlite to prepare your own personalised Windows XP install disk. Simply brilliant.

[caveman16]

    Hey Congo,    As you know  - - -this is all new to me.   I'm always willing to learn  something new if you'd share the thought.  

   Have a nice day - - -  caveman

[congo]

I copy my windows disc to a folder called XP_original and then I download all the current critical security updates for WinXP.

I have the complete "SP2 network install for IT professionals" in the Nlite working folder I create and add the XP_original folder and all the security updates and drivers into that working folder as well.

Nlite will combine all of the above into a homogenous "Slipstreamed" WinXP folder and allow you to fully customise the OS. It then will convert the modified XP into an iso file ready to be burnt to disk as a standalone WinXP installation disk. It's a little daunting at first, but everything is explained and every item has help, so after 1 or 2 runs through it, you are ready to create your masterpiece.

[congo]

I dunno about all that, but I will recommend you go with the Pro version instead of the home version. I am using XP Home and it works well enough with FS9, but many people I know have chided me for not using Pro.
Not sure why, exactly... but for my next rig, I'm going with Pro.

I've actually read somewhere that Home can actually provide better performance because it isn't as bloated and complex as the pro version, not so sure about that though, I haven't used XP Home.

The networking options in XPpro are more complex for large network installations.

[kipman725]

You want to buy an OEM version of windows.  You can get this from any store you purchased a compoent from as thats the only prerecusit of the oem licence.  Be aware that the OEM version must remain on one computer (hence the case sticker) and you cannot upgrade your motherboard without buying a new version of windows.  (check the EULA it's all there).

the retail version costs more and comes in a box.  The licence is less restrictive though.  You can transfer it to another computer and sell it unlike the OEM version.

Pro has additional networking components (you can belong to a domain) and many more services such as an ftp server service.  I'm unable to verify this but many of my freinds claim that the networking component of home is broken in sp2 and the os will eventualy fail if it's attached to a large network.  

my personal recomendation is an OEM copy of Pro as ms still lets you use phone based product activation even if you put it on a diffferent pc.  ONe thing you must never do is purcahse a pro licence and procede to download a hacked version of xp with no product activation and all the annoying things disabled by default and loads of usefull tools... oh no that would be so bad