XO home edition versions?

[Guest]

I want to upgrade from Windows 98 first edition to XP Home Edition.
However, I am a little confused over XP Home Edition versions. There is one
for sale that is described as "Microsoft OEM Windows XP Home Edition inc.
SP2b 1Pk (release 2)." I'm not sure if this is an UPGRADE of an existing XP
Home Edition, or the "basic package." The product description notes it's an
"upgrade" that "improves" the Windows XP operating system. Can I use this to
replace my current 98 first edition?

 

[Andrew Murray]

The improvments you mention, I think you're talking about the Service
Packs - which are merely routine updates to the system to fix problems,
security issues and add functionality....

Windows XP in its early release didn't ship with Service Pack 2, but later
re-releases did. Service pack 2 included a few major enhancements like the
Security Centre and Firewall.

 

[Malke]

I want to upgrade from Windows 98 first edition to XP Home Edition.
However, I am a little confused over XP Home Edition versions. There
is one for sale that is described as "Microsoft OEM Windows XP Home
Edition inc.
SP2b 1Pk (release 2)." I'm not sure if this is an UPGRADE of an
existing XP
Home Edition, or the "basic package." The product description notes
it's an
"upgrade" that "improves" the Windows XP operating system. Can I use
this to replace my current 98 first edition?

OEM copies of XP can only be installed clean; they cannot be used to
upgrade an existing system. Purchase a retail upgrade copy of XP, but
not before you've determined that your older system's hardware will
support XP. You can use the Upgrade Advisor for this:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp

The retail copy of XP that you purchase will include Service Pack 2.

Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I want to upgrade from Windows 98 first edition to XP Home Edition.
However, I am a little confused over XP Home Edition versions. There
is one for sale that is described as "Microsoft OEM Windows XP Home
Edition inc. SP2b 1Pk (release 2)." I'm not sure if this is an
UPGRADE of an existing XP Home Edition, or the "basic package." The
product description notes it's an "upgrade" that "improves" the
Windows XP operating system. Can I use this to replace my current 98
first edition?

You can use it to replace your current operating system (a clean
installation of XP Home), but not to upgrade over the top of it. OEM
versions can do clean installations only.

I recommend that you buy an Upgrade version instead. An Upgrade version can
do either an upgrade or a clean installation (you will need to show it your
Windows 98 CD to do a clean installation) and is approximately the same
price as, or only a little more than, an OEM version. Moreover, the Upgrade
version does not come with the big restriction of the OEM version: an OEM
version is permanently tied to the first computer it's installed on and it
can never be legally moved to another computer. If the original computer
dies, the OEM license dies with it.

 

[Alias~-]

If the original computer dies, the OEM license dies with it.

Usually, only a component "dies" and that component can be replaced or
upgraded if you're running an OEM version of XP.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Usually, only a component "dies" and that component can be replaced or
upgraded if you're running an OEM version of XP.

That's true. However, depending on what that component is, the average
person may not be able to replace it himself (or even determine what
component it is), and if he has to pay someone to dd the work for him, he
may well be better off buying a new computer for $300. Of course, if the
computer is a top-of-the-line model with state-of-the-art components, the
economics changes, and replacing components can make sense.

But it hardly matters. An OEM version and a retail Upgrade version cost very
close to the same amount. The Retail Upgrade is a much better choice, in my
view, since it doesn't come with restrictions.

 

[Rock]

I want to upgrade from Windows 98 first edition to XP Home Edition.
However, I am a little confused over XP Home Edition versions. There is
one
for sale that is described as "Microsoft OEM Windows XP Home Edition inc.
SP2b 1Pk (release 2)." I'm not sure if this is an UPGRADE of an existing
XP
Home Edition, or the "basic package." The product description notes it's
an
"upgrade" that "improves" the Windows XP operating system. Can I use this
to
replace my current 98 first edition?

OEM versions cannot do an upgrade. They can only do a clean install. There
are other limitations as well. An OEM copy is tied to the first computer on
which it's installed, and can't be moved to a new/different computer or
sold/transferred unless the computer on which it's installed is sold with
it.

Your best bet is to get a retail upgrade copy of XP Home. This is
transferrable and can do an upgrade. Make sure you run the upgrade advisor,
have all XP compatible drivers on CD for all the devices, and read these
links for how to prep the system for the upgrade. Make sure you have a full
and complete backup of important data in case something goes wrong. Make
sure the backup is compatible with XP if you plan to use it to restore data
in XP. The backup program in Win98 is not compatible with XP.

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_9xupgrade.asp

 

[Alias~-]

That's true. However, depending on what that component is, the average
person may not be able to replace it himself (or even determine what
component it is), and if he has to pay someone to dd the work for him, he
may well be better off buying a new computer for $300. Of course, if the
computer is a top-of-the-line model with state-of-the-art components, the
economics changes, and replacing components can make sense.

But it hardly matters. An OEM version and a retail Upgrade version cost very
close to the same amount. The Retail Upgrade is a much better choice, in my
view, since it doesn't come with restrictions.

I can get two OEM Pros for the same as one upgrade so, with that, I can
have two computers with legal XP on them for the same price as an
upgrade that can only exist on one computer at a time. Your price
differentials must be different than here.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I can get two OEM Pros for the same as one upgrade so, with that, I
can have two computers with legal XP on them for the same price as an
upgrade that can only exist on one computer at a time. Your price
differentials must be different than here.

You're in Spain, if I remember correctly. Yes, I was talking about US
prices. I know nothing about Spanish pricing, which sounds very different
from what it is here.