Potential XP user questions ( VERY basic)

  • Thread starter Thread starter deaconblues
  • Start date Start date
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deaconblues

I hope that this is the correct newsgroup for these
questions; if not, please redirect me.

I'm presently running Windows Me and want to upgrade to
XP. I bought XP Professional Upgrade due to a soon to
expire $50 rebate and am now wondering if I should have
just bought XP Home instead (I still can return my XP
Pro). Of primary importance to me is the Spousal
Acceptance Factor (SAF) and ease of use for my kids.
I've already read about the additional features of XP Pro
(file encrpytion, etc.) but really will have no need for
them. I'm going to be using my computer exclusively as a
home computer.

1. Is the "log on" interface/procedure different between
Home and Pro? I've never used NT or 2000 so I'm not
familiar with Administrator issues.

2. Any other interface differences?

3. Due to SAF, I plan to do just an upgrade presently but
will probably do a Clean Install in the future. Will it
be difficult to "go back" and do a Clean Install?.

4. Does XP Pro have a substantially higher overhead than
XP Home in terms of RAM/system resources and size?

5. Any other insights on Home vs. Pro?

Thanks!
 
Hi,
1. Is the "log on" interface/procedure different between
Home and Pro? I've never used NT or 2000 so I'm not
familiar with Administrator issues.
Click to expand...

Normally, a home user will use the "welcome" screen logon, which is the same
in both systems. You, and your family, will appreciate the ability to simply
click on your user and logon (and enter a password if one is set).
2. Any other interface differences?
Click to expand...

It's still Windows, there are just some major internal differences. Most
notable to you will be the "true" user profiles which allow for more
individual customization. More on this below.
3. Due to SAF, I plan to do just an upgrade presently but
will probably do a Clean Install in the future. Will it
be difficult to "go back" and do a Clean Install?.
Click to expand...

I advocate upgrades - clean installs are entirely unnecessary with the rare
exception of a totally corrupt OS and file system. An upgrade preserves the
majority of your old system, why waste time redoing that? You can always go
back and do a clean install if it doesn't work, but you can't do that the
other way around. You should read this link:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
4. Does XP Pro have a substantially higher overhead than
XP Home in terms of RAM/system resources and size?
Click to expand...

Nope, same system requirement.
5. Any other insights on Home vs. Pro?
Click to expand...

Keep Pro, you may find need for some of the more advanced security settings
down the line. If you turn it in for XP Home and later decide that you do
indeed need the Pro version, it will cost you an additional $200US to
upgrade.

One other thing on the true user profiles: Installing new software is a bit
different from the Win9x world. Sometimes it will install for all users,
sometimes it needs to be installed under each user. It all depends on how
the software installer was written, many older programs were not created for
this type of environment. You will also note that certain user types have
limited access to installing and running programs (due to what are called
"permissions"), this article can help you get around this (applies to both
Home and Pro versions):

Some Programs Do Not Work If You Log On from Limited Account [Q307091]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307091

Hope this helps,

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
 
Thank you very much for the informative reply. I'll stick
with the XP Pro.
-----Original Message-----
Hi,
1. Is the "log on" interface/procedure different between
Home and Pro? I've never used NT or 2000 so I'm not
familiar with Administrator issues.
Click to expand...

Normally, a home user will use the "welcome" screen logon, which is the same
in both systems. You, and your family, will appreciate the ability to simply
click on your user and logon (and enter a password if one is set).
2. Any other interface differences?
Click to expand...

It's still Windows, there are just some major internal differences. Most
notable to you will be the "true" user profiles which allow for more
individual customization. More on this below.
3. Due to SAF, I plan to do just an upgrade presently but
will probably do a Clean Install in the future. Will it
be difficult to "go back" and do a Clean Install?.
Click to expand...

I advocate upgrades - clean installs are entirely unnecessary with the rare
exception of a totally corrupt OS and file system. An upgrade preserves the
majority of your old system, why waste time redoing that? You can always go
back and do a clean install if it doesn't work, but you can't do that the
other way around. You should read this link:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
4. Does XP Pro have a substantially higher overhead than
XP Home in terms of RAM/system resources and size?
Click to expand...

Nope, same system requirement.
5. Any other insights on Home vs. Pro?
Click to expand...

Keep Pro, you may find need for some of the more advanced security settings
down the line. If you turn it in for XP Home and later decide that you do
indeed need the Pro version, it will cost you an additional $200US to
upgrade.

One other thing on the true user profiles: Installing new software is a bit
different from the Win9x world. Sometimes it will install for all users,
sometimes it needs to be installed under each user. It all depends on how
the software installer was written, many older programs were not created for
this type of environment. You will also note that certain user types have
limited access to installing and running programs (due to what are called
"permissions"), this article can help you get around this (applies to both
Home and Pro versions):

Some Programs Do Not Work If You Log On from Limited Account [Q307091]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307091

Hope this helps,

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone



I hope that this is the correct newsgroup for these
questions; if not, please redirect me.

I'm presently running Windows Me and want to upgrade to
XP. I bought XP Professional Upgrade due to a soon to
expire $50 rebate and am now wondering if I should have
just bought XP Home instead (I still can return my XP
Pro). Of primary importance to me is the Spousal
Acceptance Factor (SAF) and ease of use for my kids.
I've already read about the additional features of XP Pro
(file encrpytion, etc.) but really will have no need for
them. I'm going to be using my computer exclusively as a
home computer.

1. Is the "log on" interface/procedure different between
Home and Pro? I've never used NT or 2000 so I'm not
familiar with Administrator issues.

2. Any other interface differences?

3. Due to SAF, I plan to do just an upgrade presently but
will probably do a Clean Install in the future. Will it
be difficult to "go back" and do a Clean Install?.

4. Does XP Pro have a substantially higher overhead than
XP Home in terms of RAM/system resources and size?

5. Any other insights on Home vs. Pro?

Thanks!
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
 
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