Seeking: Windows XP Pro

[Tecora]

Yes I know I haven't posted before, but I have been reading these forums daily for 2-3 years (yes I know this means nothing to you).

Looking to build a new computer soon, for gaming. I'd prefer to use Windows XP Home/Pro over Vista for obvious reasons. I'm getting a legit, physical copy of Vista "free" basically (not worth explaining). I know many users of these forums know how to get anything for free, especially Microsoft products

Was wondering if anyone could link/PM me a torrent or site where I can acquire XP for free that can still recieve Windows updates, or to show me how a cracked version (easy to find) can get Windows updates.

And one last thing I'd like to discuss is which OS is preferable for gaming at the moment (not concerned with DirectX 10 atm..), XP Home, Pro, or Pro x64.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

[Koga]

If you get a copy of Windows XP Professional; you can Reg-Edit the WPA Directories to bypass any registration that would normally be required.

[Cephius]

Even if you bypass the WPA it's still hit or miss with getting windows updates. There are utilities that say it will make your copy of Windows "legit", but give it time and your PC will fail validations and you won't get any updates. It's a pretty big security risk to not have an updated PC, I'd strongly recommend against downloading any XP torrent or tool because 99% of the time they're spyware anyway. Best bet is from a invite torrent site, ask a friend to hook you up.

Honestly getting a pirated copy of XP to work as well as a legit copy is very difficult unless you're an advanced user and know what you're downloading and have a good legit source to download from. You could save yourself a headache by shelling out the money for the OS, but its up to you.

Also, get Pro for gaming. Home sucks and many applications don't work on x64 (or you need to download a 64-bit compatible version)

[Killgannon]

i have an edu version, i have an ftp, you dont have an account :'(

pm me if you want access to it or something

[Grandcross]

...Why is Win XP Pro better for gaming?

[Vertabreaker]

There is a website that allows you download all windows updates via firefox. Not sure if it's still around(I havn't used in a while since I bought a legit copy), but i have it bookmarked at home. I can post it when I'm done with work if anyone wants and it's still online.

[Kimitsu]

lanning I suppose. otherwise nothing else is better unless someone wants the "windows pro" OS loading screen lol.

[Cephius]

...Why is Win XP Pro better for gaming?

It's not that it's "better", its that everything else is worse.

[viperlasson]

Download this torrent:

http://www.mininova.org/tor/868952

It's Windows XP Pro Corporate Edition only meaning you can use a volume license to install, no activation ever needed. Send me a PM requesting a VLK, I'll give you one that has been working for me for the past 3 years. Microsoft has banned most VLK's, so I don't really want to publicly give it out.

[Sonomaa]

windizupdate.com
firefox onry

[Vyvian]

You can buy an XP home oem legit online for $70-90, and then you don't have to worry about the legality of it.

[Tecora]

Thanks a lot for all the information guys, never should expect less.

What I'll likely do is try some suggestions from this post, and if it works out I'll keep XP. However, if it doesn't work out so well I'll either buy XP or use my freebie copy of Vista... or hell maybe I'll try to return it to Walmart or something :D

[Killgannon]

i promise you my edu version wont get banned or anything like that, its legit 4 life lol you just have to know how to use an ftp client is all

[Ghostsix.Midgard]

Search here
https://secure.giganews.com/signup/ << 3 days free account

[Saphirea]

So this is odd, I haven't ever updated my windows on one of my PC's because I was never sure about the whole activation process (Meaning I wasn't sure if it was a legit copy). I used the firefox site that was given on this thread and now it's saying let's activate windows after downloading and installing 155 updates + sp2.

I tried doing the activate online thing, and it's saying I have an invalid product key. Is there anyway to make it stop asking this or something along those lines?

[Vertabreaker]

windizupdate.com
firefox onry

Yup. That's the one I had bookmarked. Worked well for me back in the day...still up and running I'm assuming?

[GSDragoon]

So this is odd, I haven't ever updated my windows on one of my PC's because I was never sure about the whole activation process (Meaning I wasn't sure if it was a legit copy). I used the firefox site that was given on this thread and now it's saying let's activate windows after downloading and installing 155 updates + sp2.

I tried doing the activate online thing, and it's saying I have an invalid product key. Is there anyway to make it stop asking this or something along those lines?

Did you blindly install every update and forget to uncheck windows genuine advantage?

[Vyvian]

Sounds like you got hit by the Genuine Advatange Validation update, which integrates annoying "buy a legitimate copy of windows" messages into your OS when you're installed with one of their blacklisted keys.

Do you see an icon that looks kind of like the star in this pic?
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...n/wga_icon.jpg

There is a tool that will disable this if you installed it on accident, but it was given to me by my boss, so I don't know where the link to it would be.

[Koga]

I am assuming like the above said you are getting something like this?
http://www.mydigitallife.info/wp-con...ification3.jpg
If so there are a few ways to get rid of it (all of this info is thanks to http://www.mydigitallife.info)

First Method

Lauch Windows Task Manager.
End wgatray.exe process in Task Manager.
Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode.
Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32.
Delete WgaTray.exe from c:\Windows\System32\dllcache.
Lauch RegEdit.
Browse to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify
Delete the folder ‘WgaLogon’ and all its contents
Reboot Windows XP.
Note: With this method, you may be prompted to install WGA Notifications again which can still be unselected.

Second Method

Another alternative suggested by dman is by using System Restore to restore the PC to a previous restore point that WGA Notifications hasn’t kicked in, and then carefully stop KB905474 from been applied to the system. To use System Restore, go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.

Note: Again, you may be prompted again to install WGA Notification, so it must be bypassed.

Third Method updated

This method involves using a cracked version of LegitCheckControl.dll to replace the original copy of LegitCheckControl.dll, and thus bypass the WGA validation and make Microsoft believes that your copy of Windows is genuine. To get rid of WGA Notifications warning messages, the patched version of WgaLogon.dll and WgaTray.exe to replace the existing files.

To apply the patch by replacing the files manually, try to end the respective processes in the Task Manager before deleting the existing files. Most likely is you will have to restart your PC in Safe Mode in order to replacing the original copy of LegitCheckControl.dll and related files. However, there has been automatic updater and even cracked WGA installer that automatically apply the patched version of WGA files.

Latest Update for WGA version 1.5.708.0 latest

Download cracked and patched version of LegitCheckControl.dllwith thanks to Danny.

[Shuemue]

i promise you my edu version wont get banned or anything like that, its legit 4 life lol you just have to know how to use an ftp client is all

As usual, Killgannon has the correct answer.