Agreed. The full version is exactly the same piece of software save for the
licence 'agreement' and style of packaging. Essentially you are paying one
hundred and fifty to two hundred more for a few days of telephone technical
support that doesn't amount to any more than their saying 'try again'. A
quick zip through this newsgroup could easily tell a person more about
installation than what Microsoft phone support would. Plenty of websites
will walk a person through installation with screenshots pictures e.g.:
http://www.blkviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPHome/installxphome1.htm
http://www.blkviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm
Disc
| The full retail version gives you "support" from Microsoft which is a
| joke 20 times out of 20. All Microsoft tells you is that either you
| have to reinstall the OS or that it's a hardware issue and not your
| fault. Often times they will ask for money just for talking to them.
|
| You supposedly aren't supposed to move the OEM system to a different
| machine but there are no meaningful technical limitations to doing so.
|
| Pay the lower amount.
|
|
| > I'm running OEM version and it works fine. Most of anything you need in
| > support is in the newsgroups and the knowledge base. I have also
replaced my
| > hard drive and reinstalled it with no activation problem.
| >
| >
| > | > > which should I purchase? the $125 XP Pro OEM or the $250 XP
| > > Pro? . . . .. computer newbie here . . . . . thanks, Keith
| > >
| > > I have posted several other messages here and I want to say thanks for
| > > all who have replied with info and tips. . .