Upgrading XP Home to XP Pro on laptop?

[Bobby]

I have a new laptop that comes with XP Home. I would like to upgrade it to
XP Pro (SP2)?

How do I do this?

Is it simply a case of buying an upgrade and installing it over XP Home? If
I do this, will I loose some important device drivers that I need?

I suppose a clean install is out of the question?

Or maybe I should just leave it with XP Home? Will I lose anything if I
don't upgrade?

Bobby

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If you have no need to join a network domain or encrypt files,
stay with Windows XP Home. Both XP Home and XP Pro
are essentially the same and you'll not see one bit of performance
benefit by upgrading to XP Pro.

Windows XP Home Edition Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

An upgrade to Windows XP Pro will not affect your current programs or files
if you use the following procedure:

1. Purchase a conventional "Retail Upgrade Version" of Windows XP Professional.
2. Uninstall your antivirus program.
3. Perform a backup of your important documents and files to a CD.
4. Disconnect all hardware peripheral devices, except the monitor, keyboard and mouse.
5. While running Windows XP Home, insert the Windows XP Pro CD in the drive and select
the default "Upgrade" setup option. [Do not select "New Installation"]
6. Visit the Windows Update site to download all the critical updates.

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

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

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

:

| I have a new laptop that comes with XP Home. I would like to upgrade it to
| XP Pro (SP2)?
|
| How do I do this?
|
| Is it simply a case of buying an upgrade and installing it over XP Home? If
| I do this, will I loose some important device drivers that I need?
|
| I suppose a clean install is out of the question?
|
| Or maybe I should just leave it with XP Home? Will I lose anything if I
| don't upgrade?
|
| Bobby

 

[CS]

I have a new laptop that comes with XP Home. I would like to upgrade it to
XP Pro (SP2)?

How do I do this?

Is it simply a case of buying an upgrade and installing it over XP Home? If
I do this, will I loose some important device drivers that I need?

I suppose a clean install is out of the question?

Or maybe I should just leave it with XP Home? Will I lose anything if I
don't upgrade?

Bobby

I think the first consideration you should make is if you really need
to upgrade to Pro. What do you intend to use the laptop for? Are you
planning to join a domain from home, school, work? Do you need the
added security, etc?

Do you like giving MS more money to add to their already swolen bank
account? However, if you decide to upgrade anyway, it's easy to do.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

If you have no need to join a network domain or encrypt files,

.....or use anything other than simple file sharing, or use Remote Desktop
(as a host), or allow more than 5 network connections to your computer, etc
etc etc.

stay with Windows XP Home. Both XP Home and XP Pro
are essentially the same and you'll not see one bit of performance
benefit by upgrading to XP Pro.

Windows XP Home Edition Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

An upgrade to Windows XP Pro will not affect your current programs or
files
if you use the following procedure:

1. Purchase a conventional "Retail Upgrade Version" of Windows XP
Professional.
2. Uninstall your antivirus program.
3. Perform a backup of your important documents and files to a CD.
4. Disconnect all hardware peripheral devices, except the monitor,
keyboard and mouse.
5. While running Windows XP Home, insert the Windows XP Pro CD in the
drive and select the default "Upgrade" setup option. [Do not
select "New Installation"]
6. Visit the Windows Update site to download all the critical updates.

I have a new laptop that comes with XP Home. I would like to upgrade
it to XP Pro (SP2)?

How do I do this?

Is it simply a case of buying an upgrade and installing it over XP
Home? If I do this, will I loose some important device drivers that
I need?

I suppose a clean install is out of the question?

Or maybe I should just leave it with XP Home? Will I lose anything
if I don't upgrade?

Bobby

 

[frodo]

prime reason for wanting pro: offline file sync, so laptop can always have
copies of desktop's working files, and vice-versa. esential for traveling
consultant type. much more convienient than briefcase or thumb drive.

 

[Jim Macklin]

Just be sure you have the correct drivers for laptop
specific hardware, which is often proprietary. If the mfg'r
installed XP Home, XP Pro will run just fine. If you do an
upgrade you should still retain the drivers. But make sure
you can download them beforehand. Save them in a folder, or
better yet, on a partition.


| prime reason for wanting pro: offline file sync, so laptop
can always have
| copies of desktop's working files, and vice-versa.
esential for traveling
| consultant type. much more convienient than briefcase or
thumb drive.
|

 

[Bobby]

prime reason for wanting pro: offline file sync, so laptop can always have

copies of desktop's working files, and vice-versa. esential for traveling
consultant type. much more convienient than briefcase or thumb drive.

That sounds like a good reason for me to upgrade to XP Pro.

How do I keep my desktop and laptop PCs in synch using XP Pro?

Cheers.

Bobby

 

[frodo]

That sounds like a good reason for me to upgrade to XP Pro.
How do I keep my desktop and laptop PCs in synch using XP Pro?

Well, if you have PRO, look up "Offline Files" in Help & Support; you
won't find it in Home's H&S tho. In that case I'd google for it, or check
a good XP book, like "XP Inside Out". Note for it to work the PCs need
to be part of the same network (a workgroup is fine, a domain is not
required).

Basically, the other PC's shared folder(s) show up in Network
Neighborhood, even when not connected.

 

[frodo]

google is your friend:


http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/learnmore/offlinefiles.mspx

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

prime reason for wanting pro: offline file sync, so laptop can always
have copies of desktop's working files, and vice-versa. esential for
traveling consultant type. much more convienient than briefcase or
thumb drive.

Yes, Offline Files is an XP Pro feature only. However, I don't like it
anyway. I use SecondCopy 2000 (www.centered.com) on all my clients' laptops
and it works like a champ...much more reliable/easier to troubleshoot.