Windows XP Home Edition: Upgrade vs Full Edition

[Guest]

I'm totally disgusted with Windows Me, and am ready to move to XP Home Edition. I do qualify for the upgrade from Windows Me.

Here's my questions: Are there any differences in functionality between installing the upgrade...or installing the full edition? Are there any other significant considerations?

Thx for your help!!

 

[Bob Harris]

The only real difference is the price, the upgrade being about $100 cheaper.

You can do a "clean install" with the upgrade CD, even on a blank hard
drive. However, the upgrade verison of XP will demand that you show proof
of a prior qualifying operating system, so be sure to have your ME CD handy.

Beware of OEM versions of XP (full version or upgrade). Those are for
companies who build PC, or very advanced users who build PCs. The question
to ask yourself is "If something goes wrong with the installation, who do I
call?". If it is a retail CD, you can call/email Microsoft and actually get
some help. If it is an OEM CD, Microsoft will tell you to call the OEM (who
would be yourself).

Further, retail versions of XP can be moved from machine to machine,
although never actvated on more than one PC at a time. They can also suvive
motherboard upgrades, and still be reactivated. OEM versions of XP can not
do either of these.

I'm totally disgusted with Windows Me, and am ready to move to XP Home

Edition. I do qualify for the upgrade from Windows Me.

Here's my questions: Are there any differences in functionality between

installing the upgrade...or installing the full edition? Are there any
other significant considerations?

 

[Guest]

Bob, you nailed it down for me perfectly...Thx

The only real difference is the price, the upgrade being about $100 cheaper.

You can do a "clean install" with the upgrade CD, even on a blank hard
drive. However, the upgrade verison of XP will demand that you show proof
of a prior qualifying operating system, so be sure to have your ME CD handy.

Beware of OEM versions of XP (full version or upgrade). Those are for
companies who build PC, or very advanced users who build PCs. The question
to ask yourself is "If something goes wrong with the installation, who do I
call?". If it is a retail CD, you can call/email Microsoft and actually get
some help. If it is an OEM CD, Microsoft will tell you to call the OEM (who
would be yourself).

Further, retail versions of XP can be moved from machine to machine,
although never actvated on more than one PC at a time. They can also suvive
motherboard upgrades, and still be reactivated. OEM versions of XP can not
do either of these.

Edition. I do qualify for the upgrade from Windows Me.
installing the upgrade...or installing the full edition? Are there any
other significant considerations?

 

[Steven K]

Bob, you nailed it down for me perfectly...Thx

more details of product activation:

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/bas...sproductactivationtechnicalmarketbulletin.doc

 

[Alex Nichol]

I'm totally disgusted with Windows Me, and am ready to move to XP Home Edition. I do qualify for the upgrade from Windows Me.

Here's my questions: Are there any differences in functionality between installing the upgrade...or installing the full edition? Are there any other significant considerations?

The end result is precisely the same. So save money. The only
difference is that Upgrade edition's setup will check for the presence
of the ME (possibly in the form of a CD if you do a clean install,
though maker's 'restore' CDs will not work).

Do an Upgrade, running from the existing ME in the first instance.
Should it give trouble (not at all likely) you can revert to the ME if
you make sure to store the 'previous system files' during setup, and can
always do a clean install instead. If you start with a clean install
you have burned your boats. Read Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading
to XP at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm