Upgrade options from XP Home to XP Pro or either to Media Center Ed.

[Herb]

What options are available in order to perform each of the three
following upgrades:

XP Home to XP Pro
XP Home to XP Pro Media Center Edition
XP Pro to XP Pro Media Center Edition

For which of these are upgrade versions available?
Can a full version be used to upgrade? (One of my users purchased some
full versions for systems that never got installed)

Thank you.

- Herb

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You can use a "retail upgrade version" of Windows XP Pro
to upgrade over Windows XP Home Edition. One cannot
upgrade to Windows XP Media Center Edition because
that version is only available to major OEM computer
manufacturers who design their computers with the proper
hardware supporting the Windows Media Center O/S.

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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| What options are available in order to perform each of the three
| following upgrades:
|
| XP Home to XP Pro
| XP Home to XP Pro Media Center Edition
| XP Pro to XP Pro Media Center Edition
|
| For which of these are upgrade versions available?
| Can a full version be used to upgrade? (One of my users purchased some
| full versions for systems that never got installed)
|
| Thank you.
|
| - Herb

 

[Yves Leclerc]

XP Media edition can not be purchased separately without buying a PC with it
already installed.

XP Home can be upgraded by the standard XP Upgrade kits.

XP Full retail kits (Home and Pro) can also do upgrades

OEM versions of XP can not do upgrades.

Y.

 

[Herb]

You can use a "retail upgrade version" of Windows XP Pro
to upgrade over Windows XP Home Edition. One cannot
upgrade to Windows XP Media Center Edition because
that version is only available to major OEM computer
manufacturers who design their computers with the proper
hardware supporting the Windows Media Center O/S.

Thanks - that answers a couple of the questions.
How about using a full XP Pro version (not OEM) to upgrade from Home to
Pro?
For the systems involved, this would be less expensive because they've
already purchased additional Pro versions.

- Herb

 

[Herb]

XP Media edition can not be purchased separately without buying a PC with it
already installed.

XP Home can be upgraded by the standard XP Upgrade kits.

XP Full retail kits (Home and Pro) can also do upgrades

OEM versions of XP can not do upgrades.

That about covers it!
Thank you very much.
- Herb

 

[Alex Nichol]

What options are available in order to perform each of the three
following upgrades:

XP Home to XP Pro

The XP Pro Upgrade CD, as for Win98/ME/NT/2000 (though it does not
mention Home)

XP Home to XP Pro Media Center Edition
XP Pro to XP Pro Media Center Edition

None. Media Center editions are not sold independently but only as part
of a complete 'Media Center' machine by selected makers

 

[Furry Cat Herder]

You can use a "retail upgrade version" of Windows XP Pro
to upgrade over Windows XP Home Edition. One cannot
upgrade to Windows XP Media Center Edition because
that version is only available to major OEM computer
manufacturers who design their computers with the proper
hardware supporting the Windows Media Center O/S.

Is there any way for hobbyists, such as myself, who build
our own computers to get a copy of Media Center? I've
not bought a factory-built PC in 8 years. I'd prefer not to
end that winning streak ;-)

-- Julie.