Upgrading Xp Home Edition to XP Pro 5

[mashadow]

Problem:
I just bought a referbished laptop and at a great price. But it comes with XP home edition. I need this for work and the one major application I need to run daily says the recommended op software is XP Pro or NT.

Question:
Can I go buy the XP Prof UPGRADE! and upgrade this Laptop without problems or should I get the complete XP Prof and do a full install? or should I get the Windows NT and install that instead?

I don't want this Laptop to have many problems...

 

[mattjurado]

Just as a general rule, if you are going to use an NT based os, go with 2000 Pro or XP Pro. I'd go with XP Pro. By the full installation, and do a nice clean install. This way you'll get the cleanest functionality out of the hardware you just bought.

Matt J.

 

[linney]

Was Home pre-installed or do you have a Home CD, or even a 98 or ME one?

If you have any qualifying CD's (98, Me or Home etc), you can save some cash and use an Upgrade version of XP Pro and just insert the qualifying CD (when requested) during your clean install of Pro. The only difference between the Upgrade and Full version is the need for a qualifying product.

XP Home to Pro Upgrade
thread779-624396

 

[bcastner]

I am less than enthusiastic about clean installing XP on notebooks. There are literally horror stories about drivers that are customized by the OEM manufacturer of the laptop, and are difficult to find.

At the very list do a retrievable catalogue of your existing device drivers. This freeware tool does a remarkable job:

http://www.jermar.com/wdrvbck.htm

 

[bcastner]

I should note my preference in the case of laptops with Home preinstalled is to do the straight upgrade rather than the clean install.

 

[linney]

http://groups.google.com/groups?sou...UTF-8&q="upgrade+home+to+pro"+problem+windows

"a computer preinstalled with an OEM version of XP Home might not upgrade using a retail version of XP Pro upgrade. This is especially true of laptop computers that have a customized OEM version of XP Home installed. In that case, only a clean install will work. Laptop computers require specialized hardware drivers not found in the conventional "retail, upgrade" version of Windows XP."

Upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro
thread779-551955


How bad is upgrade from XP home to XP pro?
thread779-472923

 

[bcastner]

Quote: "a computer preinstalled with an OEM version of XP Home might not upgrade using a retail version of XP Pro upgrade. This is especially true of laptop computers that have a customized OEM version of XP Home installed. In that case, only a clean install will work. Laptop computers require specialized hardware drivers not found in the conventional "retail, upgrade" version of Windows XP."

And the specialized hardware drivers would be found in a conventional retail Full version of Windows XP?

This does not make any sense. It is precisely because of the customized OEM version of XP Home that a clean install upgrade is less preferred to an upgrade. If the device drivers are digitally signed an newer than the versions found on the XP retail disk they are kept in preference to the upgrade disk drivers.

 

[SYAR2003]

There should not be a problem using retail version of xp
if there is a sticker on the laptop saying it's designed for 2000 or 2000/xp .That means hw compatible ,so both manufacturers OEM or retail will do in that case .

 

[jferrante]

You don't mention the brand of laptop. I bought a refurb HP with XP Home edition. The the first "restore" CD had drivers for all components, and a txt file with directions as to how to do clean install of XP Pro and use the drivers on the CD.

 

[FatesWebb]

just so you know i upgraded my laptop from home to pro no problems at all, easy put disk in click go....

compaq 2100

FatesWebb

if you do what I suggested it is not my fault...

 

[linney]

Quote: "a computer preinstalled with an OEM version of XP Home might not upgrade using a retail version of XP Pro upgrade. This is especially true of laptop computers that have a customized OEM version of XP Home installed. In that case, only a clean install will work. Laptop computers require specialized hardware drivers not found in the conventional "retail, upgrade" version of Windows XP."

Probably refers to OEM versions of Home that have extras put in by the OEM. Installing clean after a format would be just like a new clean install on any machine.

The pre check program for System Compatibility should uncover any likely problems.