Upgrading from XP Home to XP Professional

[Mark]

I have a Sony Vaio that originally came with Windows XP
Home. I want to upgrade to XP Professional and I purchased
a new licenced full copy of XP Pro, not the upgrade
version. Can I just install the new XP Pro over the
existing Home version without losing any of my
already-installed programs and data?

 

[John Dingley]

It should be OK, but backup your data first just in case.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Mark,

Sure, as long as it is the retail version and not an OEM full version (which
generally do not support upgrading). Check with Sony first for the
availability of any needed drivers to support the system's hardware, as some
of them may not be found in a retail version of WindowsXP.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[John Dingley]

Upgrading will change existing drivers if "better ones" cannot be found - so
this shouldn't be an issue.

 

[John Dingley]

Not change I meant to say

Upgrading will change existing drivers if "better ones" cannot be found - so
this shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Actually, I've seen it remove existing drivers in preference to a default
driver set, resulting in loss of functionality. Video drivers especially. I
would err on the side of caution here.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[purplehaz]

Just to add here: if you change your os on an oem computer you will most
likely void your warranty and support from your oem.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a Sony Vaio that originally came with Windows XP
Home. I want to upgrade to XP Professional and I purchased
a new licenced full copy of XP Pro, not the upgrade
version. Can I just install the new XP Pro over the
existing Home version without losing any of my
already-installed programs and data?

Provided it is a retail Full copy, not one of the cheaper OEM ones, it
will do an Upgrade as well as a clean install. Run the CD from the
existing system, take Install, continue with Upgrade.

The VAIO hardware is very generic and conventional - it will not have
the risks with proprietary components that some makes have