Upgrade to Windows XP Pro

[Ray]

I recently bought a notebook computer with pre-installed Windows XP Home
Edition. I would like to upgrade it to Windows XP Pro in order to logon our
company domain from time to time. Can I just buy a retail upgrade version
and upgrade to Windows XP Pro over the existing Windows XP Home. Does this
upgrade affect the application programs installed or settings in Windows XP
Home? Any precautions I need to take? Your advice is highly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ray

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Ray,

Yes, all you need is the retail upgrade. One caveat: If you have a Service
Pack already installed in the Home system, make sure the upgrade disk is at
least at the same level. In other words, don't use a WinXP Pro w/SP1 to
upgrade WinXP Home w/SP2. Uninstall the Service Pack if necessary before
doing the upgrade. This should not affect any programs or user settings.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I recently bought a notebook computer with pre-installed Windows
XP
Home Edition. I would like to upgrade it to Windows XP Pro in
order
to logon our company domain from time to time. Can I just buy
a
retail upgrade version and upgrade to Windows XP Pro over the
existing Windows XP Home.

Yes. But if XP Home is at SP2, and the XP Professional isn't,
you'll either have to

1. uninstall XP2, install the upgrade, then reinstall SP2

or

2. create a slipstreamed XP Professional CD, incorporating SP2,
and use that for the upgrade.

Does this upgrade affect the application
programs installed or settings in Windows XP Home?

No, it shouldn't. But see below.

Any precautions I
need to take? Your advice is highly appreciated.

An operating system upgrade is a big step, and as with any big
step, entails risk. You should lose nothing doing this, but there
are no guarantees. Before beginning, it's always prudent to be
sure you have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose.

 

[Rock]

I recently bought a notebook computer with pre-installed Windows XP Home
Edition. I would like to upgrade it to Windows XP Pro in order to logon our
company domain from time to time. Can I just buy a retail upgrade version
and upgrade to Windows XP Pro over the existing Windows XP Home. Does this
upgrade affect the application programs installed or settings in Windows XP
Home? Any precautions I need to take? Your advice is highly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ray

Always make sure you have a full backup. The upgrade should go fine but
things do happen.

 

[CS]

I recently bought a notebook computer with pre-installed Windows XP Home
Edition. I would like to upgrade it to Windows XP Pro in order to logon our
company domain from time to time. Can I just buy a retail upgrade version
and upgrade to Windows XP Pro over the existing Windows XP Home. Does this
upgrade affect the application programs installed or settings in Windows XP
Home? Any precautions I need to take? Your advice is highly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ray

To add to the good advice from Mr. Rogers and Mr. Blake.....

Since your machine is a notebook computer, it might be best to check
with the maker of the computer to see if there are any adverse issues
with installing a retail copy of Pro. Notebook machines are usually
proprietary in that they may require special drivers for hardware -
video, sound, etc. Be sure that you can obtain those drivers from the
maker of your notebook. It may even be that you can purchase a
discounted copy of Pro from the maker of your notebook. Won't hurt to
ask. Merry Xmas and good luck.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I recently bought a notebook computer with pre-installed Windows XP Home
Edition. I would like to upgrade it to Windows XP Pro in order to logon our
company domain from time to time. Can I just buy a retail upgrade version
and upgrade to Windows XP Pro over the existing Windows XP Home.

Provided the laptop does not have any proprietary hardware - and you
should check with the maker - a retail Pro Upgrade CD run from the
existing Home system will do the job. You will hardly notice any
difference other that the extra facilities appearing, but as always when
doing a major upgrade, back up essential data just in case