Upgrading XP home to XP pro

[Guest]

I have a copy of XP Pro on a machine which is about to be retired. I
recently purchased a new laptop with XP home, thinking I could save some
money by upgrading with my old XP pro CD (An upgrade version)

When I tried to do this I got a message saying that I could not upgrade
because I was trying to use a version that was older than the one being
replaced. I thought that if I installed it the automatic updates would leave
me with the most current technology. Does anybody know if I am required to
purchase a new copy of XP Pro? It would seem really unfair to have to pay a
second time.

 

[Tom Porterfield]

I have a copy of XP Pro on a machine which is about to be retired. I
recently purchased a new laptop with XP home, thinking I could save some
money by upgrading with my old XP pro CD (An upgrade version)

When I tried to do this I got a message saying that I could not upgrade
because I was trying to use a version that was older than the one being
replaced. I thought that if I installed it the automatic updates would leave
me with the most current technology. Does anybody know if I am required to
purchase a new copy of XP Pro? It would seem really unfair to have to pay a
second time.

You need to create a slipstreamed CD with XP Pro and SP2. You can use
your existing XP Pro upgrade CD plus the full SP2 install. Articles on
how to do this:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

http://www.nliteos.com/guide/
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a copy of XP Pro on a machine which is about to be retired. I
recently purchased a new laptop with XP home, thinking I could save
some money by upgrading with my old XP pro CD (An upgrade version)

When I tried to do this I got a message saying that I could not
upgrade because I was trying to use a version that was older than the
one being replaced. I thought that if I installed it the automatic
updates would leave me with the most current technology. Does
anybody know if I am required to purchase a new copy of XP Pro? It
would seem really unfair to have to pay a second time.

No, you don't need to buy anything.

You have SP2 installed, and your XP Professional Upgrade is without it, so
it is an older version than what's installed.

You have two choices:

1. Uninstall SP2, do the upgrade, then reinstall SP2.

2. Create a slipstreamed version of XP Professional, including SP2, and use
it. See http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7262

The second choice is preferred, since you may need that slipstreamed version
again in the future.