Customer Rating:  
Summary: Drivers missing
Comment: I've used OEM XP to successfully replace Vista on several computers, both laptop and desktop, brand names Dell, Toshiba and HP. Why? I have multiple legacy devices and software in my office: printers, scanners, hardware and software repair tools, disk burners, network attached storage and so on, none of which have Vista drivers released by their manufacturers. I also find websites such as Webex being unreliable under Vista IE7. It's cheaper for me to replace Vista with XP than it is to replace all existing hardware and software.
Using this OEM disk does provide a reliable installation of the basic XP operating system. But on those computers which come from the manufacturer with Vista installed you will be missing the XP compatible drivers for various internal subsystems such as sound card, modem, network cards, USB hub and so on. Sometimes, but not always, the computer OEM website support page will provide downloads of the drivers you need. You will have a better chance of finding the XP drivers if the manufacturer provided the computer model in question preloaded with your choice of either XP or Vista OS. If necessary, call the manufacturer to find out if they provide drivers for an XP version of your computer. I found that the initial installation of XP on a previously Vista computer left several subsystems inoperative, but going into the Control Panel>System>Device Manager to delete the non-functional subsystems, followed by reinstalling them using the Add Hardware function and allowing the system to go online to find drivers was successful. I may have been very lucky. Note, if the nonfunctional subsystem breaks your internet connection, you are out of luck!!
If the problems and solutions I've described are mysterious to you, DO NOT buy this product. And the full price version won't be any better for you.
This OEM version of XP is cheaper only because you give up the right to call Microsoft for support. Otherwise, this is exactly the same software as you find in the full price version. The full price version WILL NOT have any more XP drivers for your subsystems than does the OEM version. If you are a system builder, you will have received XP drivers with each of the subsystem devices.
You can, as I did, take a chance and install XP on computers that were originally Vista driven. I was lucky in being able to find XP drivers for each of the devices in my computers, after the conversion. When and if I do this again, I will try to secure the XP drivers BEFORE I blow away the Vista.
Make sure you have a Vista install disk for your specific computer BEFORE you remove Vista, in case you are unable to make the XP work.
Good luck!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great bargain
Comment: Having to reinstall Windows can be a bear, especially when you need to spend all day installing updates and service packs. This one, with service pack 3 shorts that job down to about an hour and a half total. The drivers are adequate and only required a few updates on specific peripherals.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Works better than Vista
Comment: I had a hard time finding a place that still sells XP. I was not impressed with Vista at all, having purchased Home Premium for one of my machines. And when time came to upgrade another machine in my home network from the old old old Win2K it was running, I decided to go XP instead. I'm very happy Amazon still carries it!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not what I'd want
Comment: Typically, I would prefer to stay with one of the more common and tested versions of the product than take my chances here.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beware: OEM Means Original Equipment Manufacturer
Comment: If you are not a builder of computers from scratch, stay away from this product. It MAY NOT work on computers like Dell, Gateway, HP and similar computers. Buy the retail Windows XP pro upgrade or the full product.
If you build computers using an assortment of parts, and you have the REQUIRED Windows XP SP3 Preinstallation Kit (NOT included in this single license product) it MAY work. If you regularly use a multi-user OEM Windows XP Pro license and just need another copy, this will work.
Just be aware that this product can ONLY legally be used by an Original Equipment Manufacturer.
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