Conversion XP/Home To XP/Pro

[Chaim Caron]

Is this the correct newsgroup to request information about converting from
XP/Home to XP/Pro? (If not, which is the correct newsgroup?)
I am in the United States.

If this is the correct Newsgroup, here is my questions:
I am running XP/Home on a Dell. I need to run XP/Pro and would like to know
if I can upgrade the OS to XP/Pro so that I don't have to reinstall software
for my wireless adaptor, reconfigure my network access, and reinstall
existing software such as Norton SystemWorks, anti-spyware s/w, etc.

If I can upgrade the machine:
1. which version of XP/Pro should I buy? I looked on the CDW website and
there are many options.
2. If I have to reinstall the OS later on (for example, due to a virus
attack, etc.), would I have to first install XP/Home and then install
XP/Pro? Or could I simply reinstall XP/Pro without first having to
reinstall XP/Home?

Thanks, Chaim (New York City)

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Is this the correct newsgroup to request information about
converting from XP/Home to XP/Pro? (If not, which is the correct
newsgroup?)

This is as good as any other for that topic...

I am in the United States.

Okay... Not really relevant, but good to know. =)

If this is the correct Newsgroup, here is my questions:
I am running XP/Home on a Dell. I need to run XP/Pro and would
like to know if I can upgrade the OS to XP/Pro so that I don't have
to reinstall software for my wireless adaptor, reconfigure my
network access, and reinstall existing software such as Norton
SystemWorks, anti-spyware s/w, etc.

Purchase a retail version of Windows XP Professional or the Windows XP
Professional Upgrade (less expensive) and sure - you *should* be able to do
what you want - however - you should continue your normal backup schedule
and make an extra backup right before doing the upgrade. Although upgrading
from Home to Professional (XP) is one of the cleanest/friendliest upgrades -
things can go wrong.

If I can upgrade the machine:
1. which version of XP/Pro should I buy? I looked on the CDW
website and there are many options.

If it says OEM - that's a *No Go*. You want Full Version Retail and/or
Upgrade.

2. If I have to reinstall the OS later on (for example, due to a
virus attack, etc.), would I have to first install XP/Home and then
install XP/Pro? Or could I simply reinstall XP/Pro without first
having to reinstall XP/Home?

You can simply install Windows XP Professional. If you get the Windows XP
Professional *upgrade* version - you will need to keep your Windows XP Home
media around to go straight to Windows XP Professional with it.

Thanks, Chaim (New York City)

You're welcome (if I helped.)

 

[Chaim Caron]

Hi Shenan,
Thanks very much for the help. You answered all my questions--thanks!
Just one thing I'm unclear on:

2. If I have to reinstall the OS later on (for example, due to a virus

attack, etc.), would I have to first install XP/Home and then install
XP/Pro? Or could I simply reinstall XP/Pro without first having to
reinstall XP/Home?

You can simply install Windows XP Professional. If you get the Windows XP

Professional *upgrade* version - you will need to keep your Windows XP Home
media around to go straight to Windows XP Professional with it.

Are you saying that if I had to reinstall, I could reinstall directly from
the XP/pro media as long as I had the XP/home media around, and that I would
not have to install the XP/home first?

I checked to see if I had my original XP/Home CD, and I do, it's an oem
version from Dell. On the outside of the package, it says "For distribution
with a new Dell pc only" and the MS Windows logo. On the CD itself, it says
"Operating System / Already installed on your computer / Reinstallation CD/
MS Windows XP Home edition including SP2 / The software is already installed
on your computer. Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a
dell computer. This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers".


Thanks, Chaim

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is this the correct newsgroup to request information about converting
from XP/Home to XP/Pro?

Technically, no. This newsgroup is supposedly for help with Windows's "Help
and Support" feature. But since hardly anybody understands that, it's mostly
treated as a newsgroup for general help and support with Windows problems,
and it's as good a place as any.

(If not, which is the correct newsgroup?)
I am in the United States.

If this is the correct Newsgroup, here is my questions:
I am running XP/Home on a Dell. I need to run XP/Pro

May I ask why? Many people who think they do are mistaken. For most home
users, and many users in small businesses, XP Home is perfectly adequate and
they would hardly notice any difference after upgrading.

and would like
to know if I can upgrade the OS to XP/Pro so that I don't have to
reinstall software for my wireless adaptor, reconfigure my network
access, and reinstall existing software such as Norton SystemWorks,
anti-spyware s/w, etc.

Yes, you can. In fact, because the two are so similar, it's the easiest and
most likely successful of all possible upgrades.

However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need to
backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting to upgrade, it's
always prudent to recognize that things like a sudden power loss can occur
in the middle of it and cause the loss of everything. For that reason you
should make sure you have backups and anything else you need to reinstall if
the worst happens.

If I can upgrade the machine:
1. which version of XP/Pro should I buy? I looked on the CDW
website and there are many options.

You can buy either an Upgrade version or a Full retail versions. Since the
Upgrade is considerable cheaper, that's why you should buy.

Do not buy an OEM version (which many people confuse with the full version),
since it can do clean installations only.

2. If I have to reinstall the OS later on (for example, due to a
virus attack, etc.), would I have to first install XP/Home and then
install XP/Pro? Or could I simply reinstall XP/Pro without first
having to reinstall XP/Home?

The latter. But if you use an Upgrade version, you will need to insert your
XP Home CD when prompted, as proof of ownership.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Thanks very much for the help. You answered all my
questions--thanks! Just one thing I'm unclear on:


Are you saying that if I had to reinstall, I could reinstall
directly from the XP/pro media as long as I had the XP/home media
around, and that I would not have to install the XP/home first?

I checked to see if I had my original XP/Home CD, and I do, it's
an oem version from Dell. On the outside of the package, it says
"For distribution with a new Dell pc only" and the MS Windows logo.
On the CD itself, it says "Operating System / Already installed on
your computer / Reinstallation CD/ MS Windows XP Home edition
including SP2 / The software is already installed on your computer.
Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a dell
computer. This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or
drivers".

First - it sounds like you got the actually Windows XP Home installation CD
from Dell. That's good.

What I was attempting to get across was that if you went the less expensive
route (getting the Windows XP Professional Upgrade version instead of the
Full Retail version...) - you would need your Windows XP Home CD in order to
have what is called "qualifying media" to insert during a "clean install" of
Windows XP Professional. A "clean install" means you install Windows XP
Professional directly - without installing another OS first and upgrading
it. This is possible because you can boot from the Upgrade version of
Windows XP Professional and start the install - and at a certain point it
will ask you to insert the "qualifying media" - and you would simply break
out your Windows XP Home Dell CD and put it in - it would do its checks and
your installation qould continue without actually having to do anything else
witht he Windows XP Home media.

None of that is necessary if you get the full Retail version of Windows XP
Professional. It will upgrade or do a clean install without any questions
other than Product Key and later - activation.

 

[Chaim Caron]

Hi Shenan,

First - it sounds like you got the actually Windows XP Home installation CD

from Dell. That's good.
Yes, it is the CD that came with the machine from Dell.

What I was attempting to get across was that if you went the less expensive

route (getting the Windows XP Professional Upgrade version instead of the
Full Retail version...) - you would need your Windows XP Home CD in order
to...
Ok, good, I understood what you wrote, I have the info I need--thanks very
much!

Best regards, Chaim

 

[Chaim Caron]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for your response.

I am running XP/Home on a Dell. I need to run XP/Pro

Sure. I am a software developer. I will be supporting one of my clients
remotely by VPN. They say that I need XP/Pro for VPN, but I'm not sure if
this is a VPN requirement or a Cisco requirement.

Yes, you can. In fact, because the two are so similar, it's the easiest and

most likely successful of all possible upgrades.

However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need to

backup your data, etc. before beginning.
Ok, good, I understand what you've written.

I think that for me, the pros and cons are:
full retail version: more work during the initial upgrade because I'll
have to reinstall all my software, network configurations, etc.
upgrade version: less work initially but it would be slightly more work if
I had to reinstall the entire OS.

So I think I'll go the upgrade version in order to save some time during
the initial upgrade. Does this make sense to you?

Thanks, Chaim

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for your response.

You're welcome. Glad to help.

Sure. I am a software developer. I will be supporting one of my
clients remotely by VPN. They say that I need XP/Pro for VPN, but
I'm not sure if this is a VPN requirement or a Cisco requirement.

Sorry, I know very little about VPN and can't comment. Perhaps someone else
here can advise you about that.

most likely successful of all possible upgrades.
backup your data, etc. before beginning.
Ok, good, I understand what you've written.

I think that for me, the pros and cons are:
full retail version: more work during the initial upgrade because
I'll have to reinstall all my software, network configurations, etc.
upgrade version: less work initially but it would be slightly more
work if I had to reinstall the entire OS.

No, contrary to what many people think, a Full version can also do an
Upgrade (only the OEM version can not). Both the Full version and the
Upgrade version can do either a clean nstallation or an upgrade. The *only*
difference between the two is that to do a clean installation with the
Upgrade version, you need the CD of the previous qualifying version as proof
of ownership.

So I think I'll go the upgrade version in order to save some time
during the initial upgrade. Does this make sense to you?

No, I think you should get the Upgrade version because it's cheaper. The
question of whether to do a clean installation or an upgrade is a completely
separate question.

Regarding what kind of installation to do, I definitely recommend the
upgrade, because, as you say, it's much easier, and because this particular
upgrade--from Home to Professional is almost always successful (most
upgrades are successful, but this is the easiest of all).

 

[Chaim Caron]

Hi Ken,

So I think I'll go the upgrade route in order to save some time during the

initial upgrade. Does this make sense to you?
Ok, thanks for the advice, which I will take. It appears that if I have
to reinstall, it is no extra effort using the upgrade version, as long as I
have the original CD on hand.

Thanks very much!

Best regards, Chaim

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken,

initial upgrade. Does this make sense to you?

Ok, thanks for the advice, which I will take. It appears that if I
have to reinstall, it is no extra effort using the upgrade version,
as long as I have the original CD on hand.

Well, do you have to insert the original CD, if you consider that extra
effort. ;-)

I wouldn't pay anything extra to avoid so little an effort.

Thanks very much!

You're welcome. Glad to help.