Upgrade from Media Center Edition to Pro

[Thomas Goodson]

Is there a SUPPORTED upgrade path from Media Center to Pro? One of my
customers purchased a new PC with Media Center on it, but the machine needs
to be part of a domain. (and that functionality is disabled in MC)

** Tom **

 

[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 also 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/

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

:

| Is there a SUPPORTED upgrade path from Media Center to Pro? One of my
| customers purchased a new PC with Media Center on it, but the machine needs
| to be part of a domain. (and that functionality is disabled in MC)
|
| ** Tom **

 

[Thomas Goodson]

So, in short the answer is no, right? What I'm wondering is why Microsoft
is taking this tract. I mean, MC is closer to Pro than Home and you can
upgrade Home to Pro, but not MC to Pro. Seems a bit silly to me.
** Tom **

 

[Jason Tsang]

Likely because things need to be removed when you go from Windows XP MCE to
Windows XP Pro.
It's the same for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Just do a clean install. In the end, it'll save you time.

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

 

[gs]

another point, if you are certain you xp media is free of virus, worms, etc,
download from Microsoft the sp2, burn that to CD. this way you can update
your new XP pro quicker


when MS offered me free SP2 CD sometime ago, I gladly ordered it, just in
case I have to reinstall XP or help others install. I think you can still
order that for at most the price of a couple cups of coffee. Handy if you
think you will have to deal with re-install in the future although may be a
bit late this time.

One cannot upgrade from Windows Media Center Edition
to Windows XP Professional. A "clean install" of
Windows XP Professional is required and also 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/

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

:

| Is there a SUPPORTED upgrade path from Media Center to Pro? One of my
| customers purchased a new PC with Media Center on it, but the machine
needs
| to be part of a domain. (and that functionality is disabled in MC)
|
| ** Tom **

 

[Thomas Goodson]

I did wind up doing the clean install. As for the Tablet PC Edition, you
can join one these to the domain (I've seen it done).

This is a real problem from my point of view. Just try to purchase a PC
from the local Best Buy that has XP Pro, you can't do it. So, you have to
descard the installed os and spend $279 out of pocket for net extra cost of
about $200 per machine just to get 2 or 3 small features. I think that
Microsoft needs to take a look at this.
** Tom **