Upgrade from Home to Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe Ferguson
  • Start date Start date
1. Purchase a conventional "Retail Version" of Windows XP Professional.
2. Uninstall your antivirus program.
3. Perform a backup of your important documents and files to a CD.
4. Disconnect all hardware peripheral devices, except the monitor, keyboard and mouse.
5. While running Windows XP Home, insert the Windows XP Pro CD in the drive and select
the default "Upgrade" setup option. [Do not select "New Installation"]
6. Visit the Windows Update site to download all the critical updates.

Note if you already installed SP2:

Unless SP2 is integrated into XP Pro, then one cannot
upgrade an existing XP Home w/SP2 installation using
a non-SP2 version of XP Pro. What you need to do is
create a SP2 "slipstreamed" version of XP Pro, then use
the new CD to upgrade over XP Home w/SP2.

You have two options:

1. Uninstall SP2 from XP Home, then upgrade to XP Pro.

or

2. Create a SP2 slipstreamed version of XP Pro (preferred)
and use the new XP Pro w/SP2 to upgrade.

Either one of the following utilities makes slipstreaming
(integrating) SP2 into Windows XP a breeze:

Windows Slipstreaming and Bootable CD Guide
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

Information on AutoStreamer 1.0
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry245

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - Direct Download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

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

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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

:

| Is it possible to upgrade, or does it HAVE to be a
| reinstall?
 
Joe Ferguson said:
Is it possible to upgrade, or does it HAVE to be a
reinstall?
Click to expand...

Either the upgrade version or the full retail version of WinXP
Professional will upgrade a WinXP Home system. The OEM version of XP
Profession won't upgrade anything, it will only install on an empty
disk.
 
Joe said:
Is it possible to upgrade, or does it HAVE to be a
reinstall?
Click to expand...

Certainly you can upgrade - first be sure you *need* one of the Pro-only
facilities. You use the Pro Upgrade CD, run it from the Home, take
Install and continue with Upgrade
 
Exactly how much of my present software installations / hardware settings
(incl. networing etc)
is preserved after a XP Home SP2 to XP Pro SP2 upgrade?
How about special security software (bank access etc etc) ?
Is it safer to create a "new installation" and reinstall all software ?

/Christer K

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" skrev:
 
Christer said:
Exactly how much of my present software installations / hardware
settings (incl. networing etc)
is preserved after a XP Home SP2 to XP Pro SP2 upgrade?
How about special security software (bank access etc etc) ?
Is it safer to create a "new installation" and reinstall all software
Click to expand...

Is it safer? Microsoft might not say it but a 'clean' install is preferred
for people who are a bit adept with computers. Some people, less confident,
are better served by upgrading, but a clean installation is, well, cleaner.
Excessive registry crud and the like aren't carried over to the new
installation etc. etc. So if you are not afraid of such a thing then do the
clean installation. If Start > Run means nothing to you then just do the
upgrade installation which should preserve the software, network, adware,
virus and spyware settings.

'Natch there are no guarantees and a backup of important docs and data is
always in order. Record the network settings of the current installation in
case you need them, gather all software product key numbers etc. etc. in
case you need them.

* You probably already have the WinXP with SP2 install disc but here goes:

If the installation disk is not up to Windows XP SP2 level, then obtain SP2
before installing [the full network version of SP can be downloaded from
microsoft.com and burned to CD-R .. you can also order at no cost [save
shipping] SP2 on disc]. Install Windows, then apply SP2 BEFORE ever
connecting to the Internet. SP2 has technologies that block a lot of the
exploits out there that WILL compromise a connected system left sitting. A
WinXP SP1 install can be compromised within minutes of being connected to
the Internet. Install SP2 BEFORE connecting to preclude all that.

One thing some people, who do not have a current WinXP disc with SP2 already
included, is to create a "slipstreamed" disc. This is a process where you
use WinXP or WinXP with SP1 disc and the full network SP2 downloaded file
to "slipstream" the SP2 update into the installation files and burn them to
a CD-R. With the created disc you can install Windows and SP2 will already
be installed.

Here's some links:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

Also there's utility [AutoStreamer] that's supposed to make the process
easier:

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337
 
Thanks !
Hate to spend a week reinstalling all programs ... but it might be the
"best" way to do it all things considered.
The problem is that I need the increased file security and an onboard IIS
for development purposes which XP Pro offers (right?).
/Christer K.

"Saucy Lemon" skrev:
Christer said:
Exactly how much of my present software installations / hardware
settings (incl. networing etc)
is preserved after a XP Home SP2 to XP Pro SP2 upgrade?
How about special security software (bank access etc etc) ?
Is it safer to create a "new installation" and reinstall all software
Click to expand...

Is it safer? Microsoft might not say it but a 'clean' install is preferred
for people who are a bit adept with computers. Some people, less confident,
are better served by upgrading, but a clean installation is, well, cleaner.
Excessive registry crud and the like aren't carried over to the new
installation etc. etc. So if you are not afraid of such a thing then do the
clean installation. If Start > Run means nothing to you then just do the
upgrade installation which should preserve the software, network, adware,
virus and spyware settings.

'Natch there are no guarantees and a backup of important docs and data is
always in order. Record the network settings of the current installation in
case you need them, gather all software product key numbers etc. etc. in
case you need them.

* You probably already have the WinXP with SP2 install disc but here goes:

If the installation disk is not up to Windows XP SP2 level, then obtain SP2
before installing [the full network version of SP can be downloaded from
microsoft.com and burned to CD-R .. you can also order at no cost [save
shipping] SP2 on disc]. Install Windows, then apply SP2 BEFORE ever
connecting to the Internet. SP2 has technologies that block a lot of the
exploits out there that WILL compromise a connected system left sitting. A
WinXP SP1 install can be compromised within minutes of being connected to
the Internet. Install SP2 BEFORE connecting to preclude all that.

One thing some people, who do not have a current WinXP disc with SP2 already
included, is to create a "slipstreamed" disc. This is a process where you
use WinXP or WinXP with SP1 disc and the full network SP2 downloaded file
to "slipstream" the SP2 update into the installation files and burn them to
a CD-R. With the created disc you can install Windows and SP2 will already
be installed.

Here's some links:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

Also there's utility [AutoStreamer] that's supposed to make the process
easier:

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337
Click to expand...
 
Christer said:
Exactly how much of my present software installations / hardware
settings (incl. networing etc)
is preserved after a XP Home SP2 to XP Pro SP2 upgrade?
How about special security software (bank access etc etc) ?
Is it safer to create a "new installation" and reinstall all software
Click to expand...

Everything should be preserved. Usually upgrades go smoothly. But the
operative word is "usually". Always have your data backed up off the
hard drive and make notes of any important settings. Always have
reinstallation media for programs you use.

Malke
 
Christer said:
Thanks !
Hate to spend a week reinstalling all programs ... but it might be the
"best" way to do it all things considered.
The problem is that I need the increased file security and an onboard
IIS for development purposes which XP Pro offers (right?).
/Christer K.
Click to expand...

Yes, Windows XP Professional has IIS5. You have to manually add the IIS5
components through Add/Remove Programs. The installation does not install
IIS5 by default, but it is included on the CD-ROM for manual installation
later.

Using Services you can turn off the IIS and the website when you are not
using them. This reduces the attack vector against your PC. When you need
them, just renable and start them.

When running IIS, be sure to keep your computer's patching up-to-date.

Yes, if the harddrive partition(s) are formatted using the NTFS file system,
you can more granually control file and folder permissions.
 
Saucy said:
Is it safer? Microsoft might not say it but a 'clean' install is preferred
for people who are a bit adept with computers. Some people, less confident,
are better served by upgrading, but a clean installation is, well, cleaner.
Click to expand...


Actually, just the opposite is true. Those of us who support computers
professionally know that, as long as the original, underlying OS has
been well-maintained and is problem free, an upgrade is a perfectly fine
procedure. It's those who know only a little that always adamantly
stating that a clean installation is always better. Granted, many
uninformed people do recommend that one always perform a clean
installation, rather than upgrade over an earlier OS. For the most part,
I feel that these people, while usually well-intended, are living in the
past, and are basing their recommendations on their experiences with
older, obsolete operating systems or hearsay. One would save a lot of
time by upgrading a PC to WinXP, rather than performing a clean
installation, if there're no hardware or software incompatibilities.
Microsoft has greatly improved (over earlier versions of Windows)
WinXP's ability to smoothly upgrade an earlier OS.


Excessive registry crud and the like aren't carried over to the new
installation etc. etc.
Click to expand...

... proving my point. What, pray tell, is this alleged "registry crud"
that gets carried over?





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Christer K said:
Thanks !
Hate to spend a week reinstalling all programs ... but it might be the
"best" way to do it all things considered.
The problem is that I need the increased file security and an onboard IIS
for development purposes which XP Pro offers (right?).
/Christer K.
Click to expand...

No need to, the upgrade to pro is a very smooth process with your
applications and setting intact. XP Home and Pro are almost the same, so it
is unnecessary to clean install unless you are having problems with the
current Home installation. The XP upgrade in general is much different than
previous Windows as it backs up necessary files then deletes the Windows
folder and replaces it with a clean Windows folder before restoring the
backed up files.
But make sure you have current in case anything goes wrong.
Make sure you get the retail version, OEM versions will only do clean
installs.

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

"Saucy Lemon" skrev:
Christer said:
Exactly how much of my present software installations / hardware
settings (incl. networing etc)
is preserved after a XP Home SP2 to XP Pro SP2 upgrade?
How about special security software (bank access etc etc) ?
Is it safer to create a "new installation" and reinstall all software
Click to expand...

Is it safer? Microsoft might not say it but a 'clean' install is
preferred
for people who are a bit adept with computers. Some people, less
confident,
are better served by upgrading, but a clean installation is, well,
cleaner.
Excessive registry crud and the like aren't carried over to the new
installation etc. etc. So if you are not afraid of such a thing then do
the
clean installation. If Start > Run means nothing to you then just do the
upgrade installation which should preserve the software, network, adware,
virus and spyware settings.

'Natch there are no guarantees and a backup of important docs and data is
always in order. Record the network settings of the current installation
in
case you need them, gather all software product key numbers etc. etc. in
case you need them.

* You probably already have the WinXP with SP2 install disc but here
goes:

If the installation disk is not up to Windows XP SP2 level, then obtain
SP2
before installing [the full network version of SP can be downloaded from
microsoft.com and burned to CD-R .. you can also order at no cost [save
shipping] SP2 on disc]. Install Windows, then apply SP2 BEFORE ever
connecting to the Internet. SP2 has technologies that block a lot of the
exploits out there that WILL compromise a connected system left sitting.
A
WinXP SP1 install can be compromised within minutes of being connected to
the Internet. Install SP2 BEFORE connecting to preclude all that.

One thing some people, who do not have a current WinXP disc with SP2
already
included, is to create a "slipstreamed" disc. This is a process where you
use WinXP or WinXP with SP1 disc and the full network SP2 downloaded
file
to "slipstream" the SP2 update into the installation files and burn them
to
a CD-R. With the created disc you can install Windows and SP2 will
already
be installed.

Here's some links:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

Also there's utility [AutoStreamer] that's supposed to make the process
easier:

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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