I just bought a refurbished Dell laptop to use for work, and it's loaded with Windows XP Home. The software I need to run on it requires XP Pro, so it's time for the obligatory stupid question:

Upgrading to Pro is just a matter of buying the software and loading it up, right? No uninstalling/installing or anything like that? I looked on EBay and saw there was a "complete" edition of Pro, and then some kinda upgrade kit that's usually about $10-20 cheaper. What's the difference?

 

The upgrade wont work unless it already has windows on it. So later if that hard drive crashes, then you have to go through 2 steps again. Load the first veriosn again, (hopefully you have it on disk) then load the upgrade.

It's worth the extra for the full version. IMO
it can also be used for an upgrade.

There is really two ways to do it.....

1st buy the disk

Then you can either put it in and run it to upgrade. about 30 mins

or

faster and easier
Go to Magical Jellybean
Get the Key finder
(it also allows you to change the windows key,)
Type in the key that came with the new XP pro disk
Close and restart.

100% legal




Doesn't that make you mad? It's all already on your computer they just don't let you have it with out a Pro version key.

 

So, where can I get a pro version key for free???

 

Upgrading from Windoze would mean going to this:




Yeah. O.K. I know. I'll leave.

 

Newsgroups.

 

Actually the upgrade will work without windows installed you just have to prove you own a copy of a windows by putting in the CD from the previous version.

I generally prefer full copies as well but if you have the XP home cd, I'd say just get the upgrade version and be done with it.

They are very close in design so the upgrade should go easy.

 

My $0.02...

NEVER 'upgrade' an O/S. IE, installing the new one over the old. Backup your stuff, blow it a away and perform a fresh install. And yes, you can even do this with an 'upgrade' CD assuming you have the previous verions of the O/S on a CD. O/S overlays are horrid.

 

I agree with that advice but a newly installed copy of XP Home can go to XP Pro with very few issues.

In fact it is the one and only scenario where I would do the upgrade for personal users.

 

Sounds like the full version may be the way to go then. This laptop will be exclusively for work, so dead pan reliabilty and no software issues or anything like that is paramount; if for whatever reason this thing doesn't work, I don't make money, so it's gotta be 100%, or as close to it as I can get. I want to do whatever will guarantee the lowest chance of running into problems.

 

well just remember you can buy the upgrade version and do a clean install as long as you have the previous version on a CD to prove ownership.

Regardless of your version to do a clean install you need to wipe the drive.

If you stick the full version CD in while running XP Home it will attempt an upgrade regardless. A full format is required for the clean install that is recommended.

 

Well, I guess I can rest easy. My first order fell through, so I reordered and found a machine for about the same price with Pro already loaded on it.

Thanks anyways y'all.