I am looking for a copy of Windows XP (SP2 minimum) or Vista (Business or better - 64 preferred) to buy. I'm only interested in a legitimate license and media. Unfortunately I can't afford a retail version of Vista and no-one seems to have XP anymore :(

If anyone has bought a pc recently and wants to offload any "Microsoft tax" that came with it I would be willing to discuss it.

Please don't give me a hard time for wanting Windows. I need to rebuild my PC and there are professional and personal reasons why it's not viable for me to go Linux only.

As a general rule, OEM licenses that come with purchased PCs are subsidised by the manufacturer (Microsoft) for the sale of a new PC, and as such are not transferable.

My opinion, last time I discussed this, was that I applauded someone who wants to pay for something that they attribute value to, even if it's not "full price". However I am reminded of the good Doctor's opinion at the time which I paraphrase thusly:: "if you're going to violate the license in any form, you may as well be pirating it". (I do not currently have an opinion, but thanks for wondering.)

(It used to be quasi-legal to buy a piece of hardware, like a system board or a hard drive, and get an OEM license of Windows with.)

Craig