Upgrade from windows XP Home to windows XP Professional

[One step at a time]

Hi All

I have a computer with Windows XP Home installed on it (OEM). Purchased a
copy windows XP Professional to load on the windows XP home verison. But the
software will not allow me to install it. I can't seem to get a straight
answer on what to do next.

 

[Jerry]

What is the exact error message you are getting when attempting to install
Pro?

 

[John John - MVP]

Boot the computer with the CD and select to upgrade the operating
system. Please note that anything can go wrong when you install or
upgrade an operating system, if you value your personal files you will
have a known working backup before you attempt to upgrade the operating
system!

John

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a computer with Windows XP Home installed on it (OEM).
Purchased a copy windows XP Professional to load on the windows XP
home verison. But the software will not allow me to install it. I
can't seem to get a straight answer on what to do next.

When you asked others and did not get a straight answer - were they waiting
for more information as well? *grin*

Great - you have Windows XP Home Edition (OEM) installed on a computer and
you have decided that you *need* Windows XP Professional (joining a domain,
want to use EFS, better user management, IIS?) and supposedly located a
Retail (Full or Upgrade) copy of Windows XP Professional (OEM's cannot be
used to do an in-place upgrade) and purchased it so you could upgrade your
Windows XP Home to Windows XP Professional.

So - here's what should be asked:

1) Is it a retail copy/license? Or is it OEM?
2) Does it have the same service pack integrated into it that your current
install is at (SP1, SP1a, SP2 or SP3?)
3) When you say, "the software will not allow me to install it", can you be
more precise with your description? Does it crow like a rooster? Flash up
a dirty picture? Or is there some wordy message it gives you explaining why
it won't do what it is you are trying to do?

Some asides...

- Why are you upgrading from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows XP
Professional Edition? What is it you believe you will gain/what is it you
need?
- Are your backups (your files and folders, emails, favorites, etc - at the
least) up to date?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

If you purchased a legit, full-retail (or OEM Retail) version of WinXP Pro
(not an Upgrade version), you should be able to do a "clean install" of
WinXP Pro.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:26:01 -0700, One step at a time <One step at a

Hi All

I have a computer with Windows XP Home installed on it (OEM). Purchased a
copy windows XP Professional to load on the windows XP home verison. But the
software will not allow me to install it. I can't seem to get a straight
answer on what to do next.

Exactly what does "will not allow me to install it" mean?
Specifically, how are you trying to install it? What happens when you
try? If you get an error message, please quote it verbatim.

You haven't provided anywhere enough information to be sure I'm right,
but I'll take a guess that you bought an OEM copy of XP Professional,
not a retail one, and you're trying to do an upgrade with it. If
that's so, be aware that OEM copies won't do upgrades; you need a
retail version.

And one last point: why do you want XP Professional instead of Home?XP
Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all respects, except
that Professional has a few features (mostly related to networking and
security) missing from Home. For most (but not all) home users, even
those with a home network, these features aren't needed, would never
be used, and buying Professional instead of Home is a waste of money.
In general, unless you need to join a domain, you probably don't need
Professional.

 

[db]

unfortunately, you may
be confused about what
an upgrade is.

true, the xp pro is a
higher version than
your home version.

however, if your xp pro
is an upgrade,

you will need to provide
proof of having a full retail
version of windows to
upgrade from.

your oem won't suffice.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Bruce Chambers]

you will need to provide
proof of having a full retail
version of windows to
upgrade from.

your oem won't suffice.

That is complete and utter nonsense.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[db]

well, the proof
is in the pudding.


--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Bill in Co.]

Keep working on that "nirvana". You still have a ways to go.

 

[Doum]

unfortunately, you may
be confused about what
an upgrade is.

true, the xp pro is a
higher version than
your home version.

however, if your xp pro
is an upgrade,

you will need to provide
proof of having a full retail
version of windows to
upgrade from.

your oem won't suffice.

last week, I did a clean install of XPpro on a brand new core2quad PC with
a retail upgrade XPpro sp2 CD. I provided a Windows 98se OEM cd as proof of
ownership and it worked. I am sure my XP Home sp2 OEM cd would have had
worked as well but I won't reinstall to check.

Doum

 

[db]

true.

you had a full retail
oem to provide for
upgrading.

perhaps, the o.p's
installed oem is an
"upgrade",

since manufacturers
are licensed to mass
produce oem's, some
of which may not be
full retail oem's.

the last time I had
an oem, it was an
upgrade oem.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Doum]

true.

you had a full retail
oem to provide for
upgrading.

perhaps, the o.p's
installed oem is an
"upgrade",

since manufacturers
are licensed to mass
produce oem's, some
of which may not be
full retail oem's.

the last time I had
an oem, it was an
upgrade oem.

The way I understand this (english is not my native laguage), a "Retail"
version comes in a box and can be bought at Staples, Office depot, Best
Buy or small computer store. They can be "Full" (no proof of ownership
required) or "Upgrade" (proof of previous version ownership required),
they are transferable.

OEMs come with a new computer. They can be generic (can do a clean
install on any computer) they come in a cardboard envelope and are
generally installed by the guy who built the machine with various parts.

Or OEMs come preinstalled by company like Dell, Acer, Hp, those are
usually BIOS locked and they work only on one type of machine, those
kinds might not have CD, only a restoration partition.

Any kind of OEMs are not transferrable by the EULA.

So in my mind an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is not Retail and
an "upgrade OEM" doesn't make sense.

Am I wrong?

I work for Bridgestone Corporation and we make "OEM" tires for GM,
Toyota, Honda and those tires are not available at my neighborhood tire
store.

I guess we talk about the same thing with different words.

Have a good day,
Doum

 

[db]

yes, oems are as good
as full retail versions w/o
all the extras.

I think its simply a matter
of semantics when describing
full retail poem's.

-----------

a long time ago,

the oem I was provided
was actually an upgrade
because my system indicated
I had an older version of
windows installed but I could
never find it.

it was a new computer and
concluded that the oem I
had was an upgrade and
a qualifying product was
also included in the installation.

perhaps, the above is no longer
true today,

but who knows because the
manufacturers create their
own oems, keeping in mind
that microsoft provides no
support and doesn't get involved
with window poem's unless they
are being counterfeited.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Bruce Chambers]

true.

you had a full retail
oem ....

There's no such thing. Boy, are you on a roll.





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The way I understand this (english is not my native laguage),

Your English looks great to me; no need to apologize for it.

a "Retail"
version comes in a box and can be bought at Staples, Office depot, Best
Buy or small computer store. They can be "Full" (no proof of ownership
required) or "Upgrade" (proof of previous version ownership required),
they are transferable.

All correct.

OEMs come with a new computer.

OEM versions can come with a new computer, but generic OEM versions
can also readily be bought separately.

They can be generic (can do a clean
install on any computer)

Those OEM versions that come with a name-brand computer are usually
BIOS-locked to the particular brand and model computer, and therefore
can *not* be installed on any other computer.

they come in a cardboard envelope and are
generally installed by the guy who built the machine with various parts.

Or OEMs come preinstalled by company like Dell, Acer, Hp, those are
usually BIOS locked and they work only on one type of machine, those
kinds might not have CD, only a restoration partition.

Yes, as I said above.

Any kind of OEMs are not transferrable by the EULA.

Correct.



So in my mind an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is not Retail and

The terms "retail" and "OEM" are used to differentiate the two types.
Nevertheless, it's important to realize that, although OEM versions
are not called "retail," they are often sold retail.

an "upgrade OEM" doesn't make sense.

Right. An upgrade OEM version does not exist.

Am I wrong?

You are almost completely right. I simply clarified a point or two.

I work for Bridgestone Corporation and we make "OEM" tires for GM,
Toyota, Honda and those tires are not available at my neighborhood tire
store.

But it's not quite the same with Windows. OEM versions of Windows
*are* available at your local store.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

So in my mind an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is not Retail and
an "upgrade OEM" doesn't make sense.

Am I wrong?

No, you're quite correct.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[db]

just because you never
heard of a full retail oem,

doesn't mean it doesn't
exist.

perhaps, you should
google for it.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen