Is there an "XP Corporate Edition" ?

[El Greco]

Many people say they have this edition, others say it is just XP Pro with a volume license key. There are even some pictures (http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9693956~mode=flat) that allegedly show the CD itself and the installation menu, but I can't tell whether those pictures are just fabricated. There are some interesting discussions on the subject, like this one (http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9736095~mode=flat) and the Internet is full of references (and downloads) of "corporate edition".

Does anyone have positive info on whether such an edition actually exists ?

[Rat]

Yes, I can assure you that it does, and yes, it is just XP Pro with volume licensing and no need for activation.

Cheers,
Rat.

[thrombus29]

Originally posted by El Greco
Many people say they have this edition, others say it is just XP Pro with a volume license key. There are even some pictures (http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9693956~mode=flat) that allegedly show the CD itself and the installation menu, but I can't tell whether those pictures are just fabricated. There are some interesting discussions on the subject, like this one (http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,9736095~mode=flat) and the Internet is full of references (and downloads) of "corporate edition".

Does anyone have positive info on whether such an edition actually exists ?


The main attraction is that you don't have to activate it by calling into Redmond.

Some might say that there are problems with some of the older .ISO's if the letters FCKGW mean anything to you.

And some other people might say that the version that is listed on Supernova with SP1 and 2 beta already slipstreamed in saves a lot of time.

[Rat]

Not so much that there is a problem with the ISOs. Just with that serial.

Not, of course, that I'm using such a thing. No, I paid for the full corporate edition. In cash.

Cheers,
Rat.

[El Greco]

I don't use XP at all, mainly because I have 2 PCs with Me and 98 on them which I need for testing application development (when I'm not bored I'll install XP in another partition, or maybe I'll just wait until I get a new PC). I just had this discussion about corp. ed. with a friend.

Now, whether XP are legal or not, I think that when it comes to updating them nothing can beat the Autopatcher (http://www.autopatcher.com/DownloadXP.htm). So, practically there is no "bad key" issue, even if one uses the simple home/pro versions.

[michaellee]

Unknown to most is the manner in which most software producing companies market and license their programs via CD format. For instance, Microsoft's XP operating system comes in many flavors; Home Edition, Professional, Corporate, Pro Corporate, etc.. So does OfficeXP; Publisher, Frontpage, Corporate, Professional, Professional with Publisher, Professional with Frontpage, etc..

Do you think that Microsoft, when writing the code and producing the CD's, develops and uses 10 different resulting systems and puts each of the 10 systems on to CD to sell? Not quite. For instance, If I purchase WindowsXP professional, then purchase WindowsXP home edition, what are the actual differences between the two CD's? Except for labeling, packaging, CD keys and few setup file differences, not much.

My point is that most of the software produced from a company has many extras available or levels available, but the only real difference is the CD key entered when installing the program.

I personally use WindowsXP Professional, a legal copy purchased at the store, and it came with an installation CD Key. Of course, after installation, I was required to activate the product in order to use it. Out of curiousity, I re-installed it on another computer, but used a different CD key I obtained, one that, after installation, makes it so you do not have to activate the product. It worked. No need to activate. I found out similar things when installing OfficeXP, QuickBooks 2003 (you wouldn't believe it), plus a few other major company software releases.

Same goes for those "30-day trial" CD's that expire after use. Do you think Microsoft rewrote Windows Server 2003 as a trial program, put it on CD, and gave it away for free? Or did they change one small file in the system, and label the CD and send it out? The answer should be obvious.