# Building a computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055 "2009-06-08T00:24:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/1 "2009-06-08T00:24:52Z")
If I were to completely lose my mind and decide to try to put a together a computer, how/from whom/where would I/could I get the basic operating system? Like, Windows XP for instance? I know this is probably an idiotic question but I don’t know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/2 "2009-06-08T01:00:49Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > If I were to completely lose my mind and decide to try to put a together a computer, how/from whom/where would I/could I get the basic operating system? Like, Windows XP for instance? I know this is probably an idiotic question but I don’t know the answer. If you were to completely lose your mind first, then there’s no telling where you might try to get the basic operating system for a computer you built. But, in your right mind, you would probably want to start at a software retailer, a private party selling their copy (e.g. on ebay or amazon, etc.) or directly from Microsoft’s online store. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/3 "2009-06-08T01:33:08Z")
If my university didn’t have an MSDN Academic Alliance subscription, thus giving me free access to various Microsoft software including Windows (granted, with a restricted license), I’d buy an OEM copy from a place like Newegg. They tend to run in the $100 range for your standard Vista Home Premium. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/4 "2009-06-08T01:41:28Z")
Like others said, you just buy a packaged box like you do with any software. They sell it at Target, Walmart, office supply chains and many others. The only other factor is just price OEM/versus the full retail install. Ebay is always an option as well. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/5 "2009-06-08T02:48:44Z")
You would buy the retail or OEM version of vista or XP. [Here’s one at Newegg.](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116515) [Vista here btw.](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116485) Cheaper too. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/6 "2009-06-08T06:08:00Z")
If you were to build your own computer the likely source for the operating system would be the same place you bought the hardware. Or direct from the [distributor](http://www.ubuntu.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/7 "2009-06-08T09:26:42Z")
Or, of course, if you’re interested in trying out something other than Windows, you could always download Linux; say [Ubuntu](http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download). Merely a suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/8 "2009-06-08T10:53:51Z")
Okay, thanks for the replies. I somehow had the idea that the software for the operating system would be enormously expensive and I didn’t know where to look for the pricing. I also have the idea, I don’t know why, that the initial installation of the operating system software would be very complex. In other words, if I insert a CD containing Windows XP into the appropriate slot, what magic pre-exists in the just assembled computer that reads and installs Windows XP? I know these questions are probably simple minded to those who already know the answers, but please bear in mind that my computer expertise is limited to operating the “on-off” switch. Again, thanks for the replies. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/9 "2009-06-08T10:57:58Z")
It’s as simple and putting the DVD in the drive and booting up your computer. The Os will install itself. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/10 "2009-06-08T11:00:06Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > In other words, if I insert a CD containing Windows XP into the appropriate slot, what magic pre-exists in the just assembled computer that reads and installs Windows XP? The computer has something called the BIOS which takes care of that. You tell the BIOS to boot from the CD / DVD (many will do it automatically) and away you go. ---
**Author:** ![Mogle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mogle/32/12021_2.png) [@Mogle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogle)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/11 "2009-06-08T11:27:16Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > Okay, thanks for the replies. I somehow had the idea that the software for the operating system would be enormously expensive and I didn’t know where to look for the pricing. Well, it is expensive. But you pay for it when you buy a computer where it is pre-installed for you too, you just don’t get to see the price tag. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/12 "2009-06-08T14:35:41Z")
Youre going to have to learn how to get the drivers for the computer parts you are using. Most likely XP wont have any but Vista, because its newer, will have some, if not all. I also suggest googling or binging up some “how to build a computer” and “how to install windows” guides before you start. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/13 "2009-06-08T14:52:31Z")
> [@Mogle](#): > > Well, it is expensive. But you pay for it when you buy a computer where it is pre-installed for you too, you just don’t get to see the price tag. For windows, at least, you generally don’t pay as much for the OS if you buy a pre-installed system, since the manufacturers generally get large discounts from Microsoft. On the other hand, you probably won’t get any discount if you buy a pre-built system without the OS (if you can even find one). ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-computer/499055/14 "2009-06-08T21:52:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, it is expensive. But you pay for it when you buy a computer where it is pre-installed for you too, you just don’t get to see the price tag. You can buy the OEM system builder licenses cheap. Like 99 dollars per (see my first post in this thread). Sure, thats a little more than what a big OEM like Dell charges you, but you dont get all their crapware either.