Product Description

The latest version with Service Pack 3 of Windows XP Professional

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89 in Software
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: E85-05683
• Released on: 2008-08-01
• Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows XP
• Format: CD-ROM
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 2.36" h x 6.69" w x 8.66" l, .35 pounds

Features

• Windows XP Professional operating system is the best choice for businesses of all sizes
• Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system
• Requires the use of Windows XP Pro SP3 Preinstallation Kit (not included)

Customer Reviews

Perfect low cost Windows license for Mac installation
This pack works great for installing Windows on a Mac. Although the product description says you need it, the Windows Preinstallation Kit (which is not included) is NOT actually required to install the product. It installs fine without it.

Drivers missing
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!

Works as stated.
Using it on my MacBook Pro (2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo), running Mac OS X, 10.5.6. Works with both Parallels and VMWare. It is only meant to install on one computer, and not to be ever transferred onto another computer.