Windows XP Home Edition - OEM vs Upgrade version

[Guest]

I am trying to upgrade my Windows ME OS to Windows XP Home. The retails store
carries 2 versions: OEM version and Upgrade version (which is cheaper than
OEM version). Can somebody inform what is the difference between these 2
versions? Thanks for your help

 

[R. McCarty]

OEM ( Original Equipment Manufacturer ) versions are "Fresh" or clean
installs only. There is no direct Microsoft support for OEM versions. For
your situation you'll need to purchase a Retail, Upgrade version of XP.
That is unless you want to backup your personal data and start with a
clean install of XP, then you could use the OEM version. The downside
is any OEM provided applications would be lost as they cannot be saved
or restored to a clean install of XP home.

Either path you choose you'd be advised to image your current setup or
at a minimum backup all your personal data ( Docs, mail ). Upgrades are
always susceptible to failures and you might end up with no working OS.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Maybe he can get another hard drive. Remove the hard drive with ME on it.
Install XP generic OEM version on the new hard drive. Add the older hard
drive as slave (rejumper new hard drive if needed). Use the files and
transfer wizard. Do anything it missed manually with windows explorer in
XP. Remove the older hard drive for safekeeping, or keep it onboard for
personal use.
Dave

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help and advice. Sounds like I would be better of getting the
Upgrade version and not the OEM version.

 

[Alan]

Hi tony,

Yes, 'upgrading' from ME to XP will save you from having to backup all your
personal data. (Although as someone has already mentioned, with any O/S
upgrade there is always a small chance that things will not go as planned,
so it's always a good idea to backup data anyway.)

However, there are many advantages to doing a clean install of any Operating
System.

Of course, the decision is yours alone to make.

Alan

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I am trying to upgrade my Windows ME OS to Windows XP Home. The retails store
carries 2 versions: OEM version and Upgrade version (which is cheaper than
OEM version). Can somebody inform what is the difference between these 2
versions? Thanks for your help

The WinXP Home Upgrade CD will do what you want: perform an upgrade.
The OEM CD can't perform an upgrade; you'd need to perform a clean
installation.

Before starting, however, have you verified that all of your PC's
hardware components are capable of supporting WinXP? This information
will be found at the PC's manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's
Windows Catalog: (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx)

You should also take a few minutes to ensure that there are
WinXP-specific device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many early
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm



--

Bruce Chambers

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[Rock]

I am trying to upgrade my Windows ME OS to Windows XP Home. The retails
store
carries 2 versions: OEM version and Upgrade version (which is cheaper than
OEM version). Can somebody inform what is the difference between these 2
versions? Thanks for your help

Tony, you're better off with the upgrade version. It can do either an
upgrade or a clean install (if the upgrade doesn't work). For the clean
install you'll have to show proof of ownership of the WinME by inserting the
CD when early in the installation process when prompted. OEM can only do a
clean install.

OEM's are, by the license, tied to the first computer on which it's
installed and can't be moved to a different one. If the computer dies the
license dies with it. An upgrade version is transferrable to a new
computer.

With OEM you are your own tech support. Upgrade versions have two free tech
support incidents with MS.