Getting a new laptop w/ Win XP Pro

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
I know we hve several guys here that deal w/ new PC purchases, OS issues etc, so lets hear your solution(s).

Both my mom and I need new laptops, she will just get a $700 basic deal (prob ThinkPad), I'll go more high end but not super-spendy ($12-1500?).
Problem is, we both need Windows XP Pro for the OS. She teaches at Halifax Comm Coll, last she was told, no Vista machines on the network/supported by their IT. I know many institutions re still ike this (WFU was as of a month ago), as they haven't tested/approved all the security protocols for Vista yet etc.

Yet, MS has really squezed the OEMs on thsi and no longer allows them to install it - or so they say... you can't select it as an option online. I talked to a Dell salesman on the phone, he said they only offer a "downgrade" option on 1 laptop, a high-end $2k gaming model. Have not spoken directly to Lenovo yet, they were closed (sun of holiday weekend...).

Is there some way around this? back-door programs to still get XP as a pre-loaded option? I know I could just buy a version and install myself... but then I'm on my own for drivers, support.... right?
(Latest reports I've found say M$ is allowing XP sales/licenses until Jan 30 '09)
Any recent (like after June 30) purchases that came w/ XP Pro? I'm not stuck on a particular MFR, but want something reliable.
 
Well, I just came across this little back-door program that Dell is doing, called "Vista Bouns"...
http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208801911

Not really advertised anywhereo n their site, but via google you can find a link in.
Basically, they are offering systems that are sold as "Vista Business", but as an "upgrade when you choose to" option - they ship it w/ XP Pro, but unclude the Vista CD for the edn user to upgrade themselves (yeah, right...)
 
oh and yeah, we weren't planning to go through a 3rd party (Newegg, TigerDirect) but to the OEMs through eduactor/gov't discount programs (typically cheaper, and better config options)
 
I got a Dell with XP about 6 months ago but went through their business side. You have to insist but it worked.
 
I don't use windows ... but since I work in I.T., I am very unfortunately, forced to know some things about windows.

One thing I would caution about, is the fact that if you buy some fancy, high-end, new-fangled computer, and it comes with Vista pre-installed. You can certainly wipe it out, and install XP yourself, if you have a retail XP install disk, however, you may find that you have a hard time locating all of the correct XP drivers for all of the devices in your laptop, if it were never available or sold with XP as an option. I'm sure you'll eventually find that all the drivers exist, but you may not be able to find them quickly and easily from the manufacturer. Just something to be aware of.

Vista isn't really as bad as some people seem to make it out to be, so, my advice would be, if you want to use windows, and you aren't forbidden from using vista, just leave it alone.

Otherwise, use linux. :)
 
there are also several in the dell outlet with XP.....and many "scratch and dent" are brand new never sold units that are just *gasp* 30 days old and outdated
 
I bought an older model rerurbished laptop on ebay w/ XP pro. but as said might look for a new unused older laptop w/ XP on ebay or the like.

I really like XP Pro and once you use it and trying switching to just XP or Vista its like holy heck what happened to my pro. Why Microsoft did not just improve on the basic XP pro design is beyond me. But i guess there is a fine line btwn genius and moron.
 
RatLabGuy said:
(Latest reports I've found say M$ is allowing XP sales/licenses until Jan 30 '09)
Any recent (like after June 30) purchases that came w/ XP Pro?
Click to expand...

hhmm, have not heard of that. I have an xp disc from like 03 I use on the familys old computer when they delete something very important (it happends more then you think) or something like that. If this is true after jan 09 I will not be able to update their computer with my purchased xp disc.... not cool

If anyone has info on this let me know, in the mean time I will try and find out
 
Buy the circuit city special of the week and take it to a local computer store and have them put XP pro on it for you. If you want to do it yourself then get one with Vista business edition and downgrade to XP pro.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Basically, they are offering systems that are sold as "Vista Business", but as an "upgrade when you choose to" option - they ship it w/ XP Pro, but unclude the Vista CD for the edn user to upgrade themselves (yeah, right...)
Click to expand...

Not necessarily "back door"... we've been doing that since the advent of Vista. OTOH, we'll likely skip right past Vista and set our sights on the next release ('09/'10). FWIW, I've been running Vista for several months and like it.


purpleTJchick said:
If this is true after jan 09 I will not be able to update their computer with my purchased xp disc.... not cool
If anyone has info on this let me know, in the mean time I will try and find out
Click to expand...

No, it just means that MS will allow the sale of XP licensing until '09.

IIRC, "support" (regular updates) stop 2 years after EOL (end of life = after 2 newer releases). EX; W98 updates stopped in 2005... when it was EOL'd in '02/'03. W2kPro was 2-3 y/o and XP had been released.

You've got a long while until they EOL XP + a couple years...
 
My concern is not really w/ not being able to get it installed, I can installmyself if need be (I've loaded tons of OSs on tons of PCs), but rather with driver support. Sales guy at Dell (who has already been proven to not know what he was talking about, FWTW) was saying that the potential problem really is in gettin gdrivers for new hardware; he said M$ was not allowing them the "license" to post XP-based drivers for the new equipment. E.g., a laptop with hardware developed after 6/30/08 may not have XP drivers easily available for it.
That said, I figure anything available right now was probbaly developed many months ago and is likely safe... but clock is ticking...

Caver Dave said:
Not necessarily "back door"... we've been doing that since the advent of Vista. OTOH, we'll likely skip right past Vista and set our sights on the next release ('09/'10).
Click to expand...

Dave, how are you planning to do ths in the meanwhile? E.g., if you need a new PC next Feb, how will you get the OS if the OEMs stop offering this option? While M$ might be offering support for awhile, they sure seem to have things wrapped up tight enough to make it difficult not transition.
 
Ummmm, Linux?? :)

I use and support XP/Vista, etc at work....on my laptop, it's Ubuntu 99% of the time. (That 1% is when I have to use it for work, and my VPN client has to run on Windows.
 
i keep seeing 2014 as end of support (from ms), but as vista continues to tank it may get pushed out more.. Corporate world moves at a whole different pace than the consumer world.
 
You can still order NEW Dell computers downgraded to XP, I bought 2 in the last month or so. If you are having trouble, holler, I am a Dell Registered "Partner" fwiw.

The unit I have been buying (biz lines only) is the Vostro 1000, I think the barebones unit came in at the $700ish you mentioned.

Zap me a message if you need help or want me to order them thru the biz.

Sam
 
RatLabGuy said:
Dave, how are you planning to do ths in the meanwhile? E.g., if you need a new PC next Feb, how will you get the OS if the OEMs stop offering this option? While M$ might be offering support for awhile, they sure seem to have things wrapped up tight enough to make it difficult not transition.
Click to expand...

Simple! Of the 125+ Dell laptops we have, they're ALL either Latitude 420/Precision M20 (smaller, lighter, less H.P.) *OR* Precision M65/M4300 (mega H.P. = designed to do CAD work). Since ALL of the above were offered with XP, there will be no issues downgrading to XP. Dell says the new lineup, while the Model# has changed, uses the same guts as the former (includes XP driver support)...

So, it will NOT be a rehash of "my junk came with WinME, and there's no possibility of upgrading the OS".

If your looking at Lenovo's, search their site for "driver matrix". It'll show ALL the drivers for a specific chunk of hardware and OS compatibility...
 
RatLabGuy said:
Well, I just came across this little back-door program that Dell is doing, called "Vista Bouns"...
http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208801911
Not really advertised anywhereo n their site, but via google you can find a link in.
Basically, they are offering systems that are sold as "Vista Business", but as an "upgrade when you choose to" option - they ship it w/ XP Pro, but unclude the Vista CD for the edn user to upgrade themselves (yeah, right...)
Click to expand...

That is what I was going to mention to you....
 
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