Just search Windows XP Retail....
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trk … reatil&_sacat=0

Or... Windows XP OEM.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=windows+ … xp+oem&_sacat=0

(I have not sorted the results by price)

or do like so many others, and look for an old case with a XP key on it.

Another way to do it, is to find someone that has an original disc and then make a copy of that.
I know this is on the gray scale, yet, if you own an original serial key sticker it is practically legal.
MS will not find out, nor will others. As long as you have that original sticker, I would say it's ok.
This is the way that I used to do it in 2001 to the day I changed to Win7.

EDIT: candle_86 was faster.... 🤣

brostenen wrote:

Another way to do it, is to find someone that has an original disc and then make a copy of that. I know this is on the gray scal […]
Show full quote

Another way to do it, is to find someone that has an original disc and then make a copy of that.
I know this is on the gray scale, yet, if you own an original serial key sticker it is practically legal.
MS will not find out, nor will others. As long as you have that original sticker, I would say it's ok.
This is the way that I used to do it in 2001 to the day I changed to Win7.

EDIT: candle_86 was faster.... 🤣

I doubt Microsoft cares anymore what anyone does with XP.

candle_86 wrote:

I doubt Microsoft cares anymore what anyone does with XP.

True..... 😀

I just sail the high seas whenever I need a copy of XP, if you catch my drift. 😉

Unfortunately, people like me are the reason why M$ has gone towards a spyware/adware model for Windows 10. Oops. 😵

it shouldnt be hard to find Windows XP with service pack 3, eye eye captain

JaKSLaP wrote:

it shouldnt be hard to find Windows XP with service pack 3, eye eye captain

^This 😎

if you cannot afford purchasing one on eBay i guess that you should look it on another Bay, if you catch my drift.

.legaCy wrote:

if you cannot afford purchasing one on eBay i guess that you should look it on another Bay, if you catch my drift.

🤣 This guys got a good point.
Yeah other bays are kickass, you should visit one someday.

What you do on you'r own, is perfectly up to you and you'r conscience. Raising the ship's anchor and get the paddles wet, are up to you.
Looking for serial keys in dumpsters around the city is a well tried alternative. 😉 If you can get it legally, then go for that.
If no possible way, other than salty water, is you'r only alternative, then it does not take much brain to figure out what to do.
Just exaust all you'r options before sorting to that last one.

How about writing a letter to Microsoft? As a saying goes: You can't get a "no" before you have asked....

I'd avoid using anything but a legit key, XP is already insecure I wouldn't trust one with special software to break protections further

Thanks for the replies. This XP rig will be for off line use only, so viruses don't worry me.

When I benchmark I use use the 30 day trial period 😀

Well, if we're ok with sailing the high seas and are comfortable with some simple BIOS editing, there's always the possibility to patch in a SLIC table in a BIOS image for your mobo, flash the image, and do a SLP install of XP from a CD with OEM licence files corresponding to the SLIC table. Making such a CD is piece of cake with nLite, and while you're at it, you can customize the CD for your specific computer by slipstreaming service packs, hotfixes, drivers, etc.

Also, if you're in a bit of luck, someone's already hacked the BIOS image for your specific mobo. There are sites more or less dedicated to this around. A good search argument for Google would be something like "<your mobo model> SLIC BIOS". As you just want to install XP, you don't have to worry about the SLIC version number.

The computer will look like any licenced OEM machine in all relevant aspects to Windows, and no online activation will be needed, the installation will be activated right out of the box so to speak.

kaputnik wrote:

Well, if we're ok with sailing the high seas and are comfortable with some simple BIOS editing, there's always the possibility to patch in a SLIC table in a BIOS image for your mobo, flash the image, and do a SLP install of XP from a CD with OEM licence files corresponding to the SLIC table. Making such a CD is piece of cake with nLite, and while you're at it, you can customize the CD for your specific computer by slipstreaming service packs, hotfixes, drivers, etc.

Also, if you're in a bit of luck, someone's already hacked the BIOS image for your specific mobo. There are sites more or less dedicated to this around. A good search argument for Google would be something like "<your mobo model> SLIC BIOS". As you just want to install XP, you don't have to worry about the SLIC version number.

The computer will look like any licenced OEM machine in all relevant aspects to Windows, and no online activation will be needed, the installation will be activated right out of the box so to speak.

Wow 4 new terminologies i have never heard before;

SLIP, SLIC Table, Slipstreaming, SLIC BIOS

I highly double the OP is going to try what you suggested if he is having trouble locating an XP Disc.

I thought SLIC editing was more for Windows 7.

I too was under the impression that the SLIC method is relevant for Vista and higher. But then again, many pre-built systems were shipping with pre-activated OEM XP installations, so this may be related.

For cheating the XP activation, one can use volume license keys (those that have not been blacklisted yet). 😁