Can I upgrade to XP Pro from XP Media Center Edition

G

Guest

I just purchased a laptop with XP Media Center Edition. When I placed the
order for my laptop I forgot to order it with XP Pro installed, so I
purchased the XP Pro disk afterwards from the manufacturer.

I started the XP Pro upgrade from within XP Media Center Edition on the
laptop. After the upgrade collected initial configuration information it
started the uprade, rebooted, and continued the upgrade to XP Pro from the
booted CD. The upgrade started to prompt me to insert the XP Pro CD2 for
additional files that it needed. Problem is, there is only one CD for the
installation.

Is it possible to upgrade to XP Pro from XP Media Center Edition, and if so,
what is the best way to proceed without having to do a new install resulting
in overwriting the software applications that were already installed?

Luckily I made an image of the drive before attempting the XP Pro upgrade
and copied it back on the laptop so I can try this again.
 
F

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE

michkal said:
I just purchased a laptop with XP Media Center Edition. When I
placed the order for my laptop I forgot to order it with XP Pro
installed, so I purchased the XP Pro disk afterwards from the
manufacturer.

I started the XP Pro upgrade from within XP Media Center Edition on
the laptop. After the upgrade collected initial configuration
information it started the uprade, rebooted, and continued the
upgrade to XP Pro from the booted CD. The upgrade started to prompt
me to insert the XP Pro CD2 for additional files that it needed.
Problem is, there is only one CD for the installation.

Is it possible to upgrade to XP Pro from XP Media Center Edition, and
if so, what is the best way to proceed without having to do a new
install resulting in overwriting the software applications that were
already installed?

Luckily I made an image of the drive before attempting the XP Pro
upgrade and copied it back on the laptop so I can try this again.
Click to expand...

Media Center Edition is a super-set of WinXPPro. It contains _everything_
that WinXP Pro contains. Going from WinXP Media Center Edition to WinXP Pro
is a DOWNgrade. You would have to format the partition and make a clean
install.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

One cannot upgrade from Windows Media Center Edition
to Windows XP Professional. A "clean install" of
Windows XP Professional is required and requires
a "Full Version" and not an "Upgrade Version" of
Windows XP Professional unless you have a qualifying
Microsoft Windows 98 or 2000 CD.

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I just purchased a laptop with XP Media Center Edition. When I placed the
| order for my laptop I forgot to order it with XP Pro installed, so I
| purchased the XP Pro disk afterwards from the manufacturer.
|
| I started the XP Pro upgrade from within XP Media Center Edition on the
| laptop. After the upgrade collected initial configuration information it
| started the uprade, rebooted, and continued the upgrade to XP Pro from the
| booted CD. The upgrade started to prompt me to insert the XP Pro CD2 for
| additional files that it needed. Problem is, there is only one CD for the
| installation.
|
| Is it possible to upgrade to XP Pro from XP Media Center Edition, and if so,
| what is the best way to proceed without having to do a new install resulting
| in overwriting the software applications that were already installed?
|
| Luckily I made an image of the drive before attempting the XP Pro upgrade
| and copied it back on the laptop so I can try this again.
 
M

Malke

michkal said:
I just purchased a laptop with XP Media Center Edition. When I placed
the order for my laptop I forgot to order it with XP Pro installed, so
I purchased the XP Pro disk afterwards from the manufacturer.

I started the XP Pro upgrade from within XP Media Center Edition on
the
laptop. After the upgrade collected initial configuration information
it started the uprade, rebooted, and continued the upgrade to XP Pro
from the
booted CD. The upgrade started to prompt me to insert the XP Pro CD2
for
additional files that it needed. Problem is, there is only one CD for
the installation.

Is it possible to upgrade to XP Pro from XP Media Center Edition, and
if so, what is the best way to proceed without having to do a new
install resulting in overwriting the software applications that were
already installed?

Luckily I made an image of the drive before attempting the XP Pro
upgrade and copied it back on the laptop so I can try this again.
Click to expand...

The Media Center-to-Pro is not an upgrade; it is a downgrade since Media
Center is a *super*set of XP Pro. You will need to do a clean install
and yes, this means reinstalling programs and drivers from installation
media and restoring data from backups. There is no other way.

Malke
 
G

Guest

I throught Media Center Edition is positioned between XP Home edition and XP
Pro, and that XP Pro contained addtional capabilities that Media Center
Edition or Home Edition does not support, such as easier network
connectivity, connecting to domains (for my job), advanced security... Isn't
this true?

I would love to stick with Media Center Edition, but I just want to make
sure that I have all the networking capabilities that I know XP Pro has for
my home network, and support when I connect to my employer's network. Any
further insight into this is appreciated.

Thanks again!
 
B

Bob I

If your employer requires that the PC join the domain, not just access
resources, stick with XP Pro.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

michkal said:
I throught Media Center Edition is positioned between XP Home edition
and XP Pro, and that XP Pro contained addtional capabilities that
Media Center Edition or Home Edition does not support, such as easier
network connectivity, connecting to domains (for my job), advanced
security... Isn't this true?
Click to expand...


Not exactly. Media Center has everything in XP Professional with *one*
exception. It can't join a domain.

I would love to stick with Media Center Edition, but I just want to
make sure that I have all the networking capabilities that I know XP
Pro has for my home network,
Click to expand...


Assuming that your home network is a peer-to-peer (workgroup) network, yes
it does.

and support when I connect to my
employer's network.
Click to expand...


If your employer's network is a domain (and most large companies use
domains, not workgroups), no it doesn't.
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the response. You've addressed all my questions. I believe I
will stay with Media Center!
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the response. I hate to go through the work of resinstalling all
that came with the PC to do a clean install of XP Pro. After looking through
the other reponses, it looks like XP Media Center will take care of my
initial concerns and reasons for upgrading to XP Pro.

Thanks!

Carey Frisch said:
One cannot upgrade from Windows Media Center Edition
to Windows XP Professional. A "clean install" of
Windows XP Professional is required and requires
a "Full Version" and not an "Upgrade Version" of
Windows XP Professional unless you have a qualifying
Microsoft Windows 98 or 2000 CD.

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I just purchased a laptop with XP Media Center Edition. When I placed the
| order for my laptop I forgot to order it with XP Pro installed, so I
| purchased the XP Pro disk afterwards from the manufacturer.
|
| I started the XP Pro upgrade from within XP Media Center Edition on the
| laptop. After the upgrade collected initial configuration information it
| started the uprade, rebooted, and continued the upgrade to XP Pro from the
| booted CD. The upgrade started to prompt me to insert the XP Pro CD2 for
| additional files that it needed. Problem is, there is only one CD for the
| installation.
|
| Is it possible to upgrade to XP Pro from XP Media Center Edition, and if so,
| what is the best way to proceed without having to do a new install resulting
| in overwriting the software applications that were already installed?
|
| Luckily I made an image of the drive before attempting the XP Pro upgrade
| and copied it back on the laptop so I can try this again.
Click to expand...
 
G

Guest

Thanks. I will stay with XP Media Center!

Malke said:
The Media Center-to-Pro is not an upgrade; it is a downgrade since Media
Center is a *super*set of XP Pro. You will need to do a clean install
and yes, this means reinstalling programs and drivers from installation
media and restoring data from backups. There is no other way.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Click to expand...
 
A

andre

If your employer's network is a domain (and most large companies use
domains, not workgroups), no it doesn't.
Click to expand...

Microsoft loves you!

AND the story gets better ... from Carey Frisch...
Windows XP Professional is required and requires a "Full Version" and not
an "Upgrade Version" of Windows XP Professional ...
Click to expand...

Amazing! So you can have a Media Center PC or one that signs onto a domain;
but, not both! Obviously NO ONE in their right mind would want that - right
Michkal?

Microsoft loves you!
 
G

Guest

ok, I understand the crack. Of course, I would like all the features that XP
Pro and XP Media Center have all wrapped up into onto OS. I would hope that
this will be the case in the near future, because it does make sense.

The laptop I have actually was a gift and it was only after the laptop was
ordered and delivered did the gift giver realize XP Pro was the OS that they
had wanted installed. They ended up ordering a XP Pro disk for me to upgrade
the laptop on my own. Very generous all the way around, and very much
appreciated. They had no idea, nor did I, that upgrading from Media Center
to XP Pro was not directly supported. I've tested out Media Center with the
networking options I need, and I am actually pleased so far. It would be
nice to log into my company's domain with this laptop, but it is not a high
priority, nor worth the effort for me to install XP pro and reinstall all the
drivers and software that came preinstalled on the laptop.

It is not a perfect world. There is always room for improvement. I am not
going to knock Microsoft. I think they have some great products and
appreciate that this forum exists to find answers to my questions.
 
P

Patrick Creamer

Media Center Edition is a super-set of WinXPPro. It contains _everything_
that WinXP Pro contains. Going from WinXP Media Center Edition to WinXP Pro
is a DOWNgrade. You would have to format the partition and make a clean
install.
Click to expand...

I don't know but I did it twice but I was using a full retail version
of xp pro.
 
G

Guest

You installed XP Pro over Media Center and it worked? If so, was all your
previously installed programs and data still intact after the upgrade? Any
problems? Was the Media Center content still intact or was it removed? Any
feedback would be helpful.

Thanks!
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

Windows XP media center upgrade to Win XP Pro 3
Upgrade from Media Center Edition to Xp Pro 2
Media Center Edition vs. XP Pro 7
upgrading xp media center edition to xp pro sp2 2
XP Pro To XP Media Center 2
Question on Windows XP Media Center operating system 7
XP to media center edition 3
XP Media Center Edition to XP Home 2

Top