XP Home to XP pro

[DavidF]

I scanned the group for this, but could not find an answer. I have XP home
installed, but need to upgrade to XP pro. I do have a legal, full copy of XP
Pro...not OEM.

Can I do an upgrade installation or do I need to do a reformat and start
from scratch? Any advice or words of caution would be appreciated. Also
links to proper procedure, etc. Also if there is a better group to post this
question...

Thanks.

DavidF

 

[David B.]

The retail full version will perform an upgrade. Have a recent backup just
in case things go south.

 

[Andrew E.]

Strange you could'nt find that topic,its as old as XP itself....No one can
not
upgrade from xp home to xp pro,microsoft has always said "a clean pro insta-
llation" from home is required.Simply install xp pro cd,boot to xp cd,select
install xp,new copy,delete the partition (xp home),create one,then let xp
format & install auto.

 

[DavidF]

Thanks David B. Since posting I did a Google groups search on the topic, and
your advice seems in line with what I have read thus far.

DavidF

 

[DavidF]

Thanks for your reply. I admit that I only looked at the last 500 posts for
the subject before I posted my question. I then did a Google groups search
and did find some posts about the subject. Most were almost as old as XP and
so I am still interested if any new issue has come up since those posts.

Contrary to your opinion, all the old posts said that you could upgrade and
that a total reinstall was not necessary, as long as you were using the full
retail version of XP pro. Perhaps you have some documentation that says
otherwise? I do know that upgrading from 98se to XP was not recommended, and
I do usually do a full reinstall. However, I am time pressured right now,
and am hoping that I can do the upgrade.

Here is an example:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...&q=Upgrade+XP+Home+to+XP+Pro#e4933466b46a6948

Anyone else have an opinion?

Thanks.

DavidF

 

[John John (MVP)]

Strange that you have never ever been able to provide even one link to
any Microsoft articles or other technical papers on this old as XP
itself topic.

John

 

[John John (MVP)]

Thanks for your reply. I admit that I only looked at the last 500 posts for
the subject before I posted my question. I then did a Google groups search
and did find some posts about the subject. Most were almost as old as XP and
so I am still interested if any new issue has come up since those posts.

Contrary to your opinion, all the old posts said that you could upgrade and
that a total reinstall was not necessary, as long as you were using the full
retail version of XP pro. Perhaps you have some documentation that says
otherwise? I do know that upgrading from 98se to XP was not recommended, and
I do usually do a full reinstall. However, I am time pressured right now,
and am hoping that I can do the upgrade.

Here is an example:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...&q=Upgrade+XP+Home+to+XP+Pro#e4933466b46a6948

Anyone else have an opinion?

If your Windows XP Home installation is in a good clean working order it
is a very good candidate for an upgrade to Windows XP Professional.
Before you begin the upgrade disable all third party software and
services. You don't want those applications set to start at boot time,
this is especially true for applications that use file system filter
drivers, like Anti-Virus software. Along with that empty your temp
folders and do a bit of house cleaning and basic maintenance and your
upgrade should be successful. Of course, upgrading an operating system
is a big system change and sometimes things go sour, be prepared for the
trip down south that DavidB. mentioned.

John

 

[DavidF]

Thanks for the extra suggestions John. I keep my data files on a separate
partition and will make an image of the C drive before trying the update.
Then again, I may invest the time to do a fresh install...that is my
preference.

As I read more posts from the Google search, I did notice Andrew E offering
the same advice, and others trying to correct him. Thanks for taking the
time to do so again.

DavidF

 

[John John (MVP)]

You're welcome.

John

Thanks for the extra suggestions John. I keep my data files on a separate
partition and will make an image of the C drive before trying the update.
Then again, I may invest the time to do a fresh install...that is my
preference.

As I read more posts from the Google search, I did notice Andrew E offering
the same advice, and others trying to correct him. Thanks for taking the
time to do so again.

DavidF

 

[David B.]

Andrew, when are you going to figure out that you have no idea what your
talking about? Do us all a favor and keep your yap shut.

 

[David B.]

Ignore anything andrew tells you, he is a clueless moron, constantly dishes
out incorrect information.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I scanned the group for this, but could not find an answer. I
have XP home installed, but need to upgrade to XP pro. I do have
a legal, full copy of XP Pro...not OEM.

Can I do an upgrade installation or do I need to do a reformat
and start from scratch? Any advice or words of caution would be
appreciated. Also links to proper procedure, etc. Also if there
is a better group to post this question...

Strange you could'nt find that topic,its as old as XP
itself....No one can not
upgrade from xp home to xp pro,microsoft has always said "a clean
pro insta- llation" from home is required.Simply install xp pro
cd,boot to xp cd,select install xp,new copy,delete the partition
(xp home),create one,then let xp format & install auto.

Strange that you have never ever been able to provide even one link
to any Microsoft articles or other technical papers on this old as
XP itself topic.

I actually (originally) chose not to respond to Andrew this time on this
topic. Strangely - perhaps through a typo/brain malfunction - Andrew E.
actually got this one right - sort of. At least more correct than his usual
drivel concerning an inability to upgrade from Windows XP Home Edition to
Windows XP Professional Edition.

His sentence, this time around, actually states, "No one can not upgrade
from xp home to xp pro" I realized that in his broken-english manner, he
had actually gotten this one right (up to that point.) Double-negative
rules means his sentence equates to, "One can upgrade from XP Home to XP
Pro". If he had only stopped there.

The next part, as usual for this topic where Andrew is concerned, became
non-sensical and untrue.

"microsoft has always said "a clean pro insta- llation" from home is
required."

That sentence (again, in Andrew E. Broken english) is actually
misrepresentation. First - Andrew E. is unlikely authorized to make
statements for Microsoft. Second - Microsoft has (to my knowledge) never
said anything resembling that. In fact - they have a knowledge base article
that pretty much says the exact opposite.

I do this not to attack Andrew E., but point out an incorrect answer so that
others might come across the correction in the future and *not* follow the
advice given by Andrew E. - as it is incorrect.

For the OP - if you purchase/utilize a retail (Full or Upgrade) version of
Windows XP Professional (x86) edition, you can upgrade your Windows XP Home
Edition installation. It would be wise (as it is all the time) to backup
your system before you begin. After that - reboot once, log in as a user
with Administrative Priviledges, put in the WIndows XP Professional CD, if
it autoruns choose Upgrade, if it does not - open it so it does run and
choose upgrade. The rest should just 'happen' - as the move doesn't add all
that much in terms of visible features for most users.

If I might ask - what is your need for XP Professional over XP Home? Do you
need EFS? The ability to join a domain? Better user control? Better
file/folder sharing ability? Something else?