Transfer Configs From OEM WinXPH to OEM WinXPP

[Knack]

Have a HP laptop which came loaded with WinXP Home. I've obtained an OEM
WinXP Pro CD and I'd like to upgrade to WinXP Pro. Is it possible to do this
without a retail CD of Pro?

Can the ERUNT utility be employed to help accomplish this by backing up the
WinXPH registry to a floppy? And is there a utility to find and save all the
active driver files?

 

[David Leon]

This page from Microsoft should answer the bigger part of your question:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/matrix.asp

The OEM version is intended as a new installation so you'll have to transfer
your files and settings over.

I own an old HP Pavilion system and the recovery disc came with installable
drivers besides the recovery software so if you have a recovery disc, check
to see if there are any drivers you can use. Otherwise, you can try to find
the manufacturer's web sites to get the latest drivers.

You don't need special software to backup the registry. Just open regedit,
goto File>Export and make sure All is selected at the bottom. Then
File>Import when you move the file to the new system.

I'd recommend installing all your programs again or backing up
program-specific registry keys so you don't experience any instability.

I hope that advice helps.