Bitcoin Forum

I just want to know is there a free microsoft windows os?

Yes and no.

You can get a "free" copy with the purchases of some OEM systems.  But that's about it.

Only if you pirate it. Otherwise, it's always paid for, either hidden in the cost of a full system or as a standalone retail copy.

Free (as in freedom) Windows OS, though not Microsoft: http://www.reactos.org/

then what is this?? http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Windows-XP-SP2-RTM.shtml

i think this is a free windows xp

That is the Windows XP Service Pack 2, it's used to update an existing installation of Windows XP.

Windows 95/98 keys should be cheap nowadays.

gl finding drivers.

No matter how often you try, humor is so often lost on the internet. Just the concept of something free from M$ is a joke.

Not really... if it helps them take over a market, they are quite willing to give away things for free a la IE vs Netscape.

Yes they do have free products (IE, Defender, Live), but without a *paid* windows OS you can't use them, so it's not quite the same comparison.

yes ftw free server r2 https://www.dreamspark.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductId=17
and wind 7 https://www.dreamspark.com/Products/Product.aspx?ProductId=35

It's hard to tell sometimes. I've seen people make dumber statements then that and they are not joking. So I just assume they mean what they are talking about.

got some unused windows nt 4 workstation keys lying around. pm me if interested

Only for students if I'm not wrong, which brings me back to

No there is not.  But there is ReactOS, and WINE under Linux.

There is one free version of windows(sorta). Microsoft hyper v server 2008. It has no explorer and may not let you install drivers for a video card i have not tried. however you can load pleanty of vm's on top of it if you're willing to work through a command line.
http://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/default.aspx

Yeah that's the only one. There was dude hangin around that got it working for mining IIRC.

Short of that, you can download 7 Enterprise trial and use it for 90 days. Once your 90 days are up, reinstall.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495



 

I have a "new in the box, still shrinkwrapped" Windows 95 upgrade. found it in the server closet of a company i helped clear out.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fVq3PXnFUNM/TjR6BmyzWTI/AAAAAAAAANc/KmQBiy1nT8w/s144/IMG_20110730_141200.jpg

IIRC, you can't use that unless the base system already has MSDOS or Win 3.1 or something? :D

lol free codes is this even leagal?? http://rosshaynes.com/windowsos.html

Technically no. But chances are those codes don't work already.

Knowledge is everything  8)

Is Windows not free ?? :o

 ;)

Here is a link to a free version of Windows 7 Enterprise x64:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc442495

Free for up to 6 months, then you reinstall for another 6 months. All legal.



EDIT:
Looks like it can be rearmed for longer than 700+ days
http://www.oqotalk.com/index.php?topic=4767.0

Protip: ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/)! "Ubuntu is a fast, secure and easy-to-use operating system used by millions of people around the world." :D

And you could aways use LinuxCoin (A lightweight Debian based OS with everything ready to go.) --> http://bitcointalk.org/?topic=7374.0 (http://bitcointalk.org/?topic=7374.0)

Some guy is using HyperV (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd776191.aspx) from MS for mining rigs.
Or you can also use Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 free for 180 days (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/trial-software.aspx?pf=true)
If you like experiments, you can also try ReactOS (http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html). It's free, small, fast and easy, but it's in alpha state forever.

But I recomend some linux distribution (for example ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/)) with smartcoin (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=16548.0)

i wouldnt switch to ubuntu used to windows coding
is react OS buggy

I have tried ReactOS in VirtualBox year ago and it was unusable. However, situation may have changed. Stability may vary between VBox and real hardware... you have to try yourself, installation is really fast.

il do it prob l8r

Anyone know a good guide for installing this on a machine that already has Ubuntu on it? (to dual boot)

Most of the guides for dual boot, mention that windows has to go on first, and then Linux. But maybe some Linux gurus around here might be able to help.

You just have to go to the command line as administrator and do the slmgr -rearm when it says that its expired.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DualBoot/WindowsLast (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DualBoot/WindowsLast)

Thanks! Gonna try this tomorrow.

Free windows doesn't exist unless you steal it.  Try linux.  It's nice and free.

ReactOS is free and very usable. I fortunately didn't have to install windows on any machine for the last 6 years, but do follow ReactOS, in case I am forced to develop for Windows at gun point. :)

Ubuntu is a pretty friendly distro for windows users.  However, setting it up to mine may be a challenge if you are very new to linux.

It does exist, you are ignorant on the topic. And it doesn't require you to steal it.

Not saying linux isn't nice, just has a steep learning curve.

Free trial != Free

You should call Microsoft and ask them for information on their "Free Windows".  Then you can trot back here and update me on my ignorance.

Lets talk semantics....

Even if I pay Microsoft $300 for their OS, I don't own it. I'm leasing it from them. Your a Linux fan, is what I say here wrong?

So, technically speaking you are right, there is no 'free' version of Windows. And I use the word 'free' here as in 'to own outright, with no exchange of money'. Sort of like how you CAN own your Linux OS, and it was 'free' in this sense.

Now if you understand that you can't own the Microsoft OS, whether it is a free trial or you pay good money for it, then I assume we aren't discussing 'free' in that meaning.

I assumed we are talking about being able to install/use a Microsoft Windows OS without restrictions made to limit the functionality of the OS (handicapping). And in that sense, I am correct. There is a current version of Windows (Win7), that can be downloaded for free off the internet, directly from Microsoft, legally, with no limitations (other than the time limits, which can be extended past two years, legally).

cross over uses wine to run windows apps on a mac, I think its available for other boxes too.

React is one of the alternatives

I have one or 2 other alternatives sitting on my storage drive as a virtual machine image.  Tested them in virtual box one was really slow, and the other crashed all the time.  They got that part of windows copied perfect.

Also there is TinyXP and other flavors.  These are considered pirated.  I think they are pre activiated so no winblows genuwine dis-advantage.

DavinciJ15 has taken Microsoft's free HyperV and installed some mining software/drivers and has instructions on how to install it to USB.  See this thread:  http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=9679.0 (http://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=9679.0)

I'll sell you a valid xp or vista key for a btc.
These are keys for pcs that are no longer using those os.
you can torrent a copy and then use a valid code and be legal

WinPE can be modified to work as a "free windows os"...

is not illegal, but you have to generate the WinPE by yourselft using Windows AIK, and only YOU can use it, you cant distribute it, only the scritps to make them... and still you need to create the WinPE on an already working Windows 7, thats is how i created "MinerPE" system, with is based on a modified MakePE...

here is a screen of a already running WinPE created by "Make PE 3.0"
http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp161/tri_zet/My_7PE2.jpg

Be careful if these are from dells or other OEM machines they keys are useless, if these are personal copies that were purchased they will be fine however

WinPE is limited to one GPU, just FYI.

would i be able to install amd drivers to a windows 2000 and mine bitcoins??

AMD is starting to phase out support for even Windows XP.

I wouldn't bother with anything less than Windows Vista / Windows 7 these days :)

This just isnt a issue for 99.9 percent of miners out there..

I cant fathom paying for an OS, never have, never will

Just something i stumbled on tonight, If you want a cheap copy of windows 7 this would be your best bet, you'll avoid the one gpu pe limit and the difficulties of seting up hyper-v to mine(should be possible kernel is intact haven't tried it yet)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416443

for people who are interrested, i can have all this "original & certified" software. you can directly download the iso of your choice on my private ftp for 10 BTC with genuine key. or if you prefer, you can only ask me a "genuine" key for all this softwares for 2.5 BTC.
i can have all version for each software when available x86 or x64 and standart or ultimate version.

list of all software available :

    Office 2010
    Hyper-V Server 2008
    Hyper-V Server 2008 R2
    Office 2003
    Office 2007
    Office 2010
    Office for Mac 2011
    Office Servers 2007
    Office XP
    OneNote 2003
    OneNote 2007
    OneNote 2010
    Outlook 2003
    Outlook 2007
    Outlook 2010
    Project 2002
    Project 2003
    Project 2003 Server
    Project 2007
    Project 2010
    Publisher 2002
    Publisher 2003
    Publisher 2007
    Publisher 2010
    Streets and Trips 2009
    Streets and Trips and AutoRoute 2010
    Streets and Trips and AutoRoute 2011
    Virtual PC 2004
    Virtual PC 2007
    Virtual PC for Mac 6.1
    Virtual PC for Mac 7.0
    Virtual Server 2005
    Virtual Server 2005 R2
    Visio 2002
    Visio 2003
    Visio 2007
    Visio 2010
    Windows Virtual PC
    Visual Basic .NET 2003
    Visual Basic 2.0
    Visual Basic 3.0
    Visual Basic 4.0
    Visual Basic 6.0
    Visual Basic 6.0 Code Advisor
    Visual Basic Applications (VBA)
    Visual C++ 1.52
    Visual C++ 2.0
    Visual C++ 4.2
    Visual C++ Browser Toolkit
    Visual C++ Tools
    Visual FoxPro "Sedna"
    Visual FoxPro 7.0
    Visual FoxPro 8.0
    Visual FoxPro 9.0
    Visual J#.NET
    Visual Modeler
    Visual SourceSafe 2005
    Visual SourceSafe 6.0d
    Visual Studio 2005
    Visual Studio 2008
    Visual Studio 2010
    Visual Studio.NET
    Visual Studio.NET 2003
    Windows Embedded
    Windows XP Embedded
    BizTalk Server 2002
    BizTalk Server 2004
    BizTalk Server 2006
    BizTalk Server 2006 R2
    BizTalk Server 2009
    BizTalk Server 2010
    BizTalk Server Accelerators and Adapters
    Commerce Server 2002
    Commerce Server 2007
    Commerce Server 2009
    Exchange Server 2003
    Exchange Server 2007
    Exchange Server 2010
    FAST Search Server 2010
    Groove Server 2007
    Groove Server 2010
    ISA Server 2004
    ISA Server 2006
    Operations Manager 2000
    Operations Manager 2005
    Project Server
    Project Server 2010
    Search Server 2008
    Search Server 2010
    SharePoint Server 2001
    SharePoint Server 2003
    SharePoint Server 2007
    SharePoint Server 2010
    Speech Server 2004
    SQL Server 2000
    SQL Server 2005
    SQL Server 2008
    SQL Server 2008 R2
    SQL Server 6.5
    System Center Capacity Planner
    System Center Configuration Manager
    System Center Data Protection Manager
    System Center Essentials 2007
    System Center Essentials 2010
    System Center Mobile Device Manager
    System Center Operations Manager
    System Center Reporting Manager 2006
    System Center Service Manager
    System Center Virtual Machine Manager
    Systems Management Server 2003
    Systems Management Server 2003 R2
    Windows Embedded Device Manager
    Windows MultiPoint Server 2011
    Compute Cluster Pack
    Small Business Server 2003 R2
    Windows 7
    Windows Advanced Server
    Windows Essential Business Server 2008
    Windows Home Server
    Windows Home Server 2011
    Windows Server 2003
    Windows Server 2003 R2
    Windows Server 2008
    Windows Server 2008 R2
    Windows Small Business Server 2008
    Windows Small Business Server 2011
    Windows Storage Server 2008
    Windows Storage Server 2008 R2
    Windows Thin PC
    Windows Vista
    Windows XP

for contact and how to : frouhaud@gmail.com

Hmmmm, the list looks eerily similar to my MSDNAA subscription  ::)

He passed over some legacy stuff but that list IS a msdnaa subscription, that or tech net

well there is that leaked windows 8 out there
hmm i might just put out flyer about recycling old computers and hopefully get an xp licence or a vista

Windows 8 Dev WOOT!! Free windows OS till next year:)

you're such a asshole for bumping this thread

Leaked? Lolwut.


It's a dev preview and freely availible for download.


Oh and AMD has drivers availible and it works fairly well with a single 5870.