Upgrading

[B Farkas]

I currently have a laptop with Windows XP Home SP3 installed. I need to
install a software package that does not support Windows XP Home or Vista. I
need to upgrade to Windows XP Pro but not sure what to buy. I tried a copy of
XP Pro version 2002 but got an error message that stated the version on the
computer was newer than on the CD and that I should restart the computer and
install as a new installation. I would prefer not to format the hard drive as
I have a large number of software packages (programming type & AutoCad) and
files on the system that I cannot afford to lose.
In my computer under the Help Tab/About Windows, I have version 5.1 (Build
2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236 : Service Pack 3)

 

[Bob I]

You would need to roll back the Home SP3 installation so as to be at
SP2, provided of course the XP Pro CD is SP2.

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 10/28/2008 9:57 AM, and on a whim, B Farkas
pounded out on the keyboard:

I currently have a laptop with Windows XP Home SP3 installed. I need to
install a software package that does not support Windows XP Home or Vista. I
need to upgrade to Windows XP Pro but not sure what to buy. I tried a copy of
XP Pro version 2002 but got an error message that stated the version on the
computer was newer than on the CD and that I should restart the computer and
install as a new installation. I would prefer not to format the hard drive as
I have a large number of software packages (programming type & AutoCad) and
files on the system that I cannot afford to lose.
In my computer under the Help Tab/About Windows, I have version 5.1 (Build
2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236 : Service Pack 3)

Hi B,

Use a partition manager to resize your existing partition down, then XP
Pro should offer to install itself in the unused portion of the drive.
After installing XP Pro, you should be offered a menu to select the OS.

There are free trial programs (like BootItNG) to handle the resizing for
you if you don't already own one.

These actions are relatively safe, but if your existing data is
worthwhile, make a backup before doing it.

--
Terry R.

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[Lem]

I currently have a laptop with Windows XP Home SP3 installed. I need to
install a software package that does not support Windows XP Home or Vista. I
need to upgrade to Windows XP Pro but not sure what to buy. I tried a copy of
XP Pro version 2002 but got an error message that stated the version on the
computer was newer than on the CD and that I should restart the computer and
install as a new installation. I would prefer not to format the hard drive as
I have a large number of software packages (programming type & AutoCad) and
files on the system that I cannot afford to lose.
In my computer under the Help Tab/About Windows, I have version 5.1 (Build
2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236 : Service Pack 3)

Before changing your OS, either by configuring a dual-boot system or
slipstreaming sp3 using the current XP Pro CD you apparently already
have, be really certain that this package really doesn't work with XP
Home. Unless the package requires connecting to a domain or using remote
desktop, the chances are very good that it will work just fine with XP
Home, even if the publisher of the package hasn't actually tested it
with XP Home.

For a comparison of Home and Pro:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040630...oft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

Here are some helpful links regarding slipstreaming sp3

http://www.nliteos.com/ - nLite
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
http://theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd.htm

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Daave]

You can buy WinXP Pro SP3 OEM CD at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/LATEST-Micros..._1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1225226343&sr=1-1

BUT make sure you use it for personal use only.

Why does OP need to make sure this is used for "personal use only"?
Suppose this is for a business of some sort?