Considering upgrade from WiXP to Pro

[drybones]

Will I have to re-install all of my programs should I choose to upgrade?

Thanks,
drybones

 

[Malke]

Will I have to re-install all of my programs should I choose to
upgrade?

Thanks,
drybones

Normally the upgrade from Pro to Home goes very smoothly. However, you
should always have your data backed up and installation media for
programs/drivers on hand just in case. Because Stuff Happens.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Well thier is no upgrade from home to pro,the upgrade is for older windows
OS.To install pro from home,a clean install is a must....

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

An upgrade to Windows XP Pro is a smooth transition and will not affect your
current programs or files if you use the following procedure:

1. Purchase a conventional "Retail Upgrade Version" [boxed] of Windows XP Professional.
2. Uninstall your antivirus program.
3. Perform a backup of your important documents and files to a CD, DVD, or other backup media.
4. Disconnect all hardware peripheral devices, except the monitor, keyboard and mouse.
5. While running Windows XP Home, insert the Windows XP Pro CD in the drive and select
the default "Upgrade" setup option. [Do not select "New Installation"]
6. Visit the Windows Update site to download all the critical updates.
7. Reinstall your antivirus program, then defrag your hard drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Will I have to re-install all of my programs should I choose to upgrade?
|
| Thanks,
| drybones

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Will I have to re-install all of my programs should I choose to
upgrade?

When you say "WiXP," I ussume you mean WIndows XP *Home.*


Yes, you can upgrade XP Home to Professional. In fact it's the easiest and
most-likely successful of upgrades. You should lose nothing--neither
programs nor data--but be aware that it's always possible for something
unexpected to go wrong, so you should be sure you have a backup of anything
you can't afford to lose before beginning.e

But are you sure you want to do this? Are you aware that XP Home and
Professional are identical except that Professional includes a few features
(mostly related to security and networking) missing from Home? Most home
users don't need and would never use these extra features and will see no
benefits by upgrading.

For details go to

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp>

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Also note another point, not included in any of the above: Professional
allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only five.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Well thier is no upgrade from home to pro,the upgrade is for older
windows OS.To install pro from home,a clean install is a must....

Ignore Andrew E., one of our resident trolls, who repeats this nonsense here
at every opportunity, despite many of us pointing out to him many times that
he's completely wrong. See the Microsoft page proving him wrong,
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/matrix.mspx

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Will I have to re-install all of my programs should I choose to
upgrade?

Well thier is no upgrade from home to pro,the upgrade is for older
windows OS.To install pro from home,a clean install is a must....

Again - you have to give Andrew E. respect for being persistently incorrect
on this one.
Persistence can be a noble quality - but admitting you are wrong and
stopping the incorrect behavior (or handing out the incorrect advice) is
also noble behavior - and better for everyone involved.

If you mean to upgrade from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows XP
Professional Edition - as with anything major - you should do a final backup
of all your important data/email/contacts/etc. Better safe than sorry. It
should be as simple as doing once last periodic backup of your things -
since you should already have a periodic backup scheme in place. If you do
not - no better time to start than before you lose everything.

If you have not purchased Windows XP Professional yet - make sure you
purchase the "Upgrade" or "Retail" edition - and NOT and OEM. OEMs are
significantly cheaper - but that is the ONLY time Andrew E.'s statement
would be correct. OEM's will not upgrade anything - clean install only.

Andrew,

When you get one wrong (like this one) the first time - and it is proven to
you that it was the incorrect assumption - repeating it over and over does
not make it true.

Examples of your incorrect statement - over and over:
http://snipurl.com/s45j

The same answer I continue to give to prove to you that your assumption is
completely and totally false:

Andrew E. has been incorrect about this many times - but refuses (or perhaps
cannot comprehend) the fact that upgrading from Windows XP Home to Windows
Professional is supported and one of the easiest paths to follow.

Windows XP supported upgrade paths
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292607

That article clearly shows a path from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows XP
Professional Edition..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292607#XSLTH3140121123120121120120

Even external (non-Microsoft sponsored) confirm this:

What are the supported upgrade paths to Windows XP?
http://www.jsifaq.com/subI/tip4300/rh4349.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Will I have to re-install all of my programs should I choose to upgrade?

Thanks,
drybones

No, that shouldn't be necessary. WinXP is designed to install and
upgrade the existing operating system while simultaneously preserving
your applications and data, and translating as many personalized
settings as possible. The process is designed to be, and normally is,
quite painless. That said, things can go wrong, in a small number of
cases. If your data is at all important to you, back it up before
proceeding.

The upgrade from WinXP Home to WinXP Pro, in particular, almost
always goes smoothly, as both operating systems use the same kernel.

However, do you really need to upgrade? The WinXP Home and WinXP
Pro versions are _identical_ when it comes to performance, stability,
and device driver and software application compatibility, but are
intended to meet different functionality, networking, security, and
ease-of-use needs, in different environments. The most significant
differences are that WinXP Pro allows up to 10 simultaneous inbound
network connections while WinXP Home only allows only 5, WinXP Pro is
designed to join a Microsoft domain while WinXP Home cannot, and only
WinXP Pro supports file encryption and IIS. (Oh, and WinXP Pro usually
costs roughly $100 USD more than WinXP Home.)

Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Which Edition Is Right for You
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Professional Edition
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Well thier is no upgrade from home to pro,the upgrade is for older windows
OS.To install pro from home,a clean install is a must....

Liar.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Rick Rogers]

From Pro to Home????

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[drybones]

When you say "WiXP," I ussume you mean WIndows XP *Home.*


Yes, you can upgrade XP Home to Professional. In fact it's the easiest and
most-likely successful of upgrades. You should lose nothing--neither
programs nor data--but be aware that it's always possible for something
unexpected to go wrong, so you should be sure you have a backup of
anything you can't afford to lose before beginning.e

But are you sure you want to do this? Are you aware that XP Home and
Professional are identical except that Professional includes a few
features (mostly related to security and networking) missing from Home?
Most home users don't need and would never use these extra features and
will see no benefits by upgrading.

For details go to

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp>

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Also note another point, not included in any of the above: Professional
allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only five.

Thank you all, for your kind responses.
Yes I do have WinXP Media Home Version (from Dell), <grin>.

New Dell XPS 600 has the Intel Dual Core Processor. Have 2 GB Ram & Dual
Video processors.

Was info'ed that WinXP Pro would be the better program for the above
machine.
drybones.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Thank you all, for your kind responses.

You're welcome.

Yes I do have WinXP Media Home Version (from Dell), <grin>.

Er...., there's no such thing. There are five versions of Windows XP:

WinXP Home
WinXP Pro
WinXP Pro x64
WinXP Media Center Edition (which is a superset of WinXP Pro)
WinXP TabletPC Edition (which is a superset of WinXP Pro)

New Dell XPS 600 has the Intel Dual Core Processor. Have 2 GB Ram & Dual
Video processors.

Was info'ed that WinXP Pro would be the better program for the above
machine.
drybones.

Sounds like someone is trying to sell you something you don't need, and
may already have (if You have WinXP MCE).


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you all, for your kind responses.
Yes I do have WinXP Media Home Version (from Dell), <grin>.

Please clarify that. There's no such thing. XP Media Center Edition is a
superset of XP *Professional*, not Home. It has everything in Professional
except the ability to join a domain.

New Dell XPS 600 has the Intel Dual Core Processor. Have 2 GB Ram &
Dual Video processors.

Was info'ed that WinXP Pro would be the better program for the above
machine.

Who "info'ed" you that? Why? It certainly sounds wrong to me.

 

[drybones]

You're welcome.




Er...., there's no such thing. There are five versions of Windows XP:

WinXP Home
WinXP Pro
WinXP Pro x64
WinXP Media Center Edition (which is a superset of WinXP Pro)
WinXP TabletPC Edition (which is a superset of WinXP Pro)



Sounds like someone is trying to sell you something you don't need, and
may already have (if You have WinXP MCE).


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Bruce,
I stand corrected once again. <grin>. Happens at 77 years of age.
I do have, WinXP Media Center Edition.

"Sounds like someone is trying to sell you something you don't need, and
may already have (if You have WinXP MCE)."

Then I should just forget the WinXP Pro?
This machine takes up to 90 seconds to start up with all but:

4 MS files in the Startup folder. My older Dell XPS took 58 seconds.

Thanks for your continued responses,
drybones

 

[drybones]

Please clarify that. There's no such thing. XP Media Center Edition is a
superset of XP *Professional*, not Home. It has everything in Professional
except the ability to join a domain.





Who "info'ed" you that? Why? It certainly sounds wrong to me.

Thanks Ken for your reply,
A 'local computer store' name withheld. <grin> I do Have if You have WinXP
MCE.

<sigh> being 77 years old I seem to be regressing instead of keeping up with
everything computer wise. Hence I read these MS support groups.

Thank you for your continuing support,
drybones

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks Ken for your reply,
A 'local computer store' name withheld. <grin> I do Have if You have
WinXP MCE.

<sigh> being 77 years old I seem to be regressing instead of keeping
up with everything computer wise. Hence I read these MS support
groups.
Thank you for your continuing support,

You're welcome. Glad to help. And you're only a few years older than I am.
I'm 68.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Bruce,
I stand corrected once again. <grin>. Happens at 77 years of age.
I do have, WinXP Media Center Edition.

"Sounds like someone is trying to sell you something you don't need, and
may already have (if You have WinXP MCE)."

Then I should just forget the WinXP Pro?

I certainly would. Unless you have a need to connect your computer to
a corporate domain, you already have everything WinXP Pro has.

This machine takes up to 90 seconds to start up with all but:

4 MS files in the Startup folder. My older Dell XPS took 58 seconds.

It still sounds like there are probably too many background
applications starting with Windows; this is a common problem with
factory-installed operating systems. And, wouldn't you know it? Many
of those "self-loading" processes won't show up in the Startup folders.

You can use the Task Manager (Right-click the TaskBar > Task Manager)
to see everything that's running, and MSconfig (Start > Run > MSconfig)
to see where they're being started.

In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as
simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to
"display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts."

Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the
system registry, primarily in the
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys.

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[drybones]

I certainly would. Unless you have a need to connect your computer to a
corporate domain, you already have everything WinXP Pro has.



It still sounds like there are probably too many background applications
starting with Windows; this is a common problem with factory-installed
operating systems. And, wouldn't you know it? Many of those
"self-loading" processes won't show up in the Startup folders.

You can use the Task Manager (Right-click the TaskBar > Task Manager) to
see everything that's running, and MSconfig (Start > Run > MSconfig) to
see where they're being started.

In most cases, with "well-mannered" applications, it's usually as
simple as opening the undesired program and deselecting the option to
"display icon in the system tray" or to "start when Windows starts."

Additionally, Look in the C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up and C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Start Up folders, and in the
system registry, primarily in the
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys.

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310560



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many Thanks Bruce,
I shall give all your information a go in the morning.
will save this post for reference.

drybones

 

[Guest]

No, that shouldn't be necessary. WinXP is designed to install and
upgrade the existing operating system while simultaneously preserving
your applications and data, and translating as many personalized
settings as possible. The process is designed to be, and normally is,
quite painless. That said, things can go wrong, in a small number of
cases. If your data is at all important to you, back it up before
proceeding.

The upgrade from WinXP Home to WinXP Pro, in particular, almost
always goes smoothly, as both operating systems use the same kernel.

However, do you really need to upgrade? The WinXP Home and WinXP
Pro versions are _identical_ when it comes to performance, stability,
and device driver and software application compatibility, but are
intended to meet different functionality, networking, security, and
ease-of-use needs, in different environments. The most significant
differences are that WinXP Pro allows up to 10 simultaneous inbound
network connections while WinXP Home only allows only 5, WinXP Pro is
designed to join a Microsoft domain while WinXP Home cannot, and only
WinXP Pro supports file encryption and IIS. (Oh, and WinXP Pro usually
costs roughly $100 USD more than WinXP Home.)

Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Which Edition Is Right for You
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Professional Edition
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

More to cover my probable ignorance than anything else didn't drybones
eventually mention he had Media Edition on a Dell? In that case isn't all
the advice about upgrading usinf retail versions incorrect (and actually not
possible) since Dell would be OEM versions of the OS (unless drybones has
already wired the Dell and started from scratch with retail)?

If it is true that you have a (say) Dell version of an MS OS is it possible
to buy an OEM upgrade version to prevent the need to clean install and
therefore prevent data loss?

 

[Guest]

top post to edit only - I meant to say "wiped the Dell" referring to
formatting and installing clean.