Can I upgrade FROM XP home to PRO?

[Gregg]

I'm about to buy a new computer from Dell. I want to get
XP home edition to save some money up front. However, in
a year or so I may upgrade to "XP Pro" so I can have
remote desktop. Can I go out and buy the retail "XP Pro"
upgrade for $199 and install it on my "XP Home" system?

In other words, can I upgrade FROM "XP Home" TO "XP Pro"
with the $199 retail version (if XP Home edition came pre-
installed on my Dell system)?

Thanks for the help

 

[Yves Leclerc]

YES! However, if you would need to re-install Pro, you will need to
re-install Home (from the recovery CD/partition) and re-do the upgrade.

Y.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Yes, but it would make better sense to pay Dell the additional $70 now
and get your new Dell preinstalled with Windows XP Pro. That will save
you, let's see.... $199 - $70 = $129! A bargain!

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

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


| I'm about to buy a new computer from Dell. I want to get
| XP home edition to save some money up front. However, in
| a year or so I may upgrade to "XP Pro" so I can have
| remote desktop. Can I go out and buy the retail "XP Pro"
| upgrade for $199 and install it on my "XP Home" system?
|
| In other words, can I upgrade FROM "XP Home" TO "XP Pro"
| with the $199 retail version (if XP Home edition came pre-
| installed on my Dell system)?
|
| Thanks for the help

 

[Ron Martell]

I'm about to buy a new computer from Dell. I want to get
XP home edition to save some money up front. However, in
a year or so I may upgrade to "XP Pro" so I can have
remote desktop. Can I go out and buy the retail "XP Pro"
upgrade for $199 and install it on my "XP Home" system?

In other words, can I upgrade FROM "XP Home" TO "XP Pro"
with the $199 retail version (if XP Home edition came pre-
installed on my Dell system)?

Thanks for the help

Yes. Upgrades from Home to Pro using the Retail Upgrade (or the
Retail Full Install) version of XP Pro are supported even though this
is not specifically mentioned on the package.

Your total cost will be a bit higher doing it this way (Pro should
only an extra $100 or so if you ordered it with the new computer) but
the results will be pretty much the same.

You will also have to reinstall at least some of the Windows Updates
after doing the upgrade.

One final point. You may get some static from Dell if you do the
upgrade and subsequently have problems that require warranty work.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I'm about to buy a new computer from Dell. I want to get
XP home edition to save some money up front. However, in
a year or so I may upgrade to "XP Pro" so I can have
remote desktop. Can I go out and buy the retail "XP Pro"
upgrade for $199 and install it on my "XP Home" system?

In other words, can I upgrade FROM "XP Home" TO "XP Pro"
with the $199 retail version (if XP Home edition came pre-
installed on my Dell system)?

Yes, but that route is much more expensive than buying XP Pro in
the first place.

 

[HillBillyBuddhist]

| I'm about to buy a new computer from Dell. I want to get
| XP home edition to save some money up front. However, in
| a year or so I may upgrade to "XP Pro" so I can have
| remote desktop. Can I go out and buy the retail "XP Pro"
| upgrade for $199 and install it on my "XP Home" system?
|
| In other words, can I upgrade FROM "XP Home" TO "XP Pro"
| with the $199 retail version (if XP Home edition came pre-
| installed on my Dell system)?
|
| Thanks for the help

Yes, but it would make better sense to pay Dell the additional $70 now
and get your new Dell preinstalled with Windows XP Pro. That will save
you, let's see.... $199 - $70 = $129! A bargain!

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

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

Carey makes an excellent point to which I will add, If you get XP Pro from
Dell it will be "pre-activated" and you'll never have to deal with
activation on reinstalls etc..

On the other hand of course if you own your own copy of of XP Pro and decide
to ditch the Dell you could remove it from the Dell and use it on another
computer, something you can't do with the Dell copy.

--
D

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

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