Tom said:
Through the multi-license agreement between Microsoft and the
school district I work for, I want to load a copy of XP Pro to my
Compaq computer. I have a new (9/05) eMachine, Intel Celeron
330(?) that came with XP Home. About 3 months ago, I loaded XP Pro
on it and it upgraded slick as a whistle. About a month later,
1-16-06, I purchased Compaq Presario with an AMD Sempras 3400.
When I try loading XP Pro on it, it gets to the end of the
prepairing and copying files stage of the upgrade and just before
it begins the actual instalation step, it goes into a continueing
reboot cycle. It just reboots and reboots. The only way I can stop
it is press the f10 at the proper time to go into the system
recovery. Another thing that is odd. I have an older version of
scanning software. It loads and works perfect on the eMachine but
on the Compaq, it's funky. It includes PAGIS, for operating the
scanner and on the eMachine, the stored doc's apear as small
thumbprints that you can see are pictures or prine, etc. But on
the Compaq, the thumbprints all have a blacked out center as well
as the 'copy' icon (scan to be printed without saving) won't work.
When I called Compaq tech support about why XP OPro wouldn't
upgrade, I was told I would have to buy a copy of XP Pro from them
before they would help. Anyone else run into this problem or know
what's going on and why this Compaq won't upgrade?
As Microsoft states, "There's no upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro"....
The upgrade refers to older Windows OS, to upgrade to Pro from Home
,one must perform a clean installation.
Install XP Pro CD, boot to XP cd, at boot info screen select install XP,
new copy, delete the partition (XP Home), create one, then XP formats
and installs auto..
It is possible to "upgrade to pro",most turn out with problems.....
Tom,
Feel free to ignore most of what Andrew just stated. It is incorrect for
the most part.
Andrew's installation, albeit badly formatted and phrased, may work.
Andrew's last statement almost contradicts Andrew's first statement, skating
by because Andrew said "Microsoft states.." - even though they do not and
even list the upgrade path here:
Windows XP supported upgrade paths
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292607
That article clearly shows a path from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows XP
Professional Edition..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292607#XSLTH3140121123120121120120
Even external (non-Microsoft sponsored) confirm this:
What are the supported upgrade paths to Windows XP?
http://www.jsifaq.com/subI/tip4300/rh4349.htm
Microsoft never stated what Andrew stated. They state quite the opposite
(in many ways.)
1) It is possible (and the least risky/smoothest) to upgrade Windows XP Home
Edition to Windows XP Professional.
2) It is *not* possible to upgrade Windows XP Professional to Windows XP
Home Edition - as that is actually a downgrade.
Something else that should be noted - in order to properly update, the copy
of the Windows XP Professional media cannot be OEM. OEM copies cannot
upgrade anything - only perform clean installations. In your situation
(what seems to be a volume license agreement) - this should not apply - your
media should be able to upgrade with no problem.
You may have reached a point where a clean install from the XP Professional
media is an option - but I would not go that route just yet. If you can get
(boot) into the machine in a useable state - you should get your data
(emails, contacts, bookmarks, documents, spreadsheets, databases, pictures,
etc..) off it now. If you cannot - it might not be a bad idea to use some
imaging software (Symantec Ghost, Acronis True Image, BootIT NG, XXCLONE) to
make an image of the drive so you don't lose anything further (to external
media like an USB hard disk drive or a network share.)
Then you will need the media that came with the laptop.. *if* it came with a
true Windows XP Home Edition installation CD - perform a repair
installation.
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341
If it did not - but came with a "restoration method" of some sort - restore
the laptop to its pristine state - those instructions should come with the
laptop or Compaq can help you.
(Possibly:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/famiDocument?lc=en&cc=us&product=212728&dlc=en&docname=c00034787 )
Once either of those things have been done - visit the manufacturer's web
page (Compaq) and download the latest drivers for each piece of hardware.
(Perhaps:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/famiDocument?lc=en&cc=us&product=212728&dlc=en&docname=c00042629
Using Method #2 IMO..)
Also visit
http://windows update.microsoft.com/ and get all
critical/non-critical updates for Windows XP - do *not* get driver updates
from here.
Go through and uninstall unnecessary/unused applications from Control
Panel --> Add and Remove Programs. There are likely some Compaq "junk"
installed you do not need and may cause you issues in the upgrade.
Once you have done all that.. run a CHKDSK on the drive and then defragment.
If you made an image of the machine earlier (and thus have the software and
means to do so) - make another (different name) now. You will have a nicely
working machine - better safe than sorry.
Now - while in Windows XP Home Edition (logged in) - insert the Windows XP
Professional CD. Upgrade your Windows XP install with it. Just step
through the screens/instructions.
If you have trouble - come back here and report (in this thread) in detail
what you saw/did. There may be an error message or a blue screen or
something you can relay here if there is a problem.
