Upgrade Windows XP Home (OEM) to XP Professional

Question

Anyone,   If I purchased a PC with Windows XP Home (OEM edition - shipped already installed on the computer) what would I need to purchase to upgrade to Windows XP Professional. It seems like a silly question but I thought I read on a website somewhere that to upgrade an OEM version of the software you would actually have to purchase a Retail version of the software. Even the Microsoft website's upgrade path is specific to say 'find out if your current version of Windows can be upgraded in-place (keeping your existing settings, programs, and data) using the retail upgrade package of Windows XP Professional.'  Again what if your version is a OEM version?     Thanks in advance,   Jet

Denny Denham · Answer

Jet Martin, Your OEM version of XP Home is a complete version of the operating system. All you need to upgrade is an XP Professional Upgrade CD.

Jet Martin · Answer

Denny,   Thanks! I was hoping that this was the answer.   Jet

Jet Martin · Answer

It's interesting that the prices for the Windows XP SP2 Upgrade vary so greatly. I've seen prices well over $100 and one website offering the upgrade for as little as $59.95 (e.g., http://80discount.com/Out06/).  It makes me wonder whether there are different types of Upgrades or whether some of these low cost options are not legit?   Any thoughts let me know.   Jet

rickmktg · Answer

@Jet Martin wrote:

It's interesting that the prices for the Windows XP SP2 Upgrade vary so greatly. I've seen prices well over $100 and one website offering the upgrade for as little as $59.95 (e.g., http://80discount.com/Out06/). It makes me wonder whether there are different types of Upgrades or whether some of these low cost options are not legit?

Any thoughts let me know.

Jet

First, prior to installing Pro on your computer, MAKE THE HOME CD. Systems shipped after June 15, 2004 came with Symantec PC Restore. This utility restores the computer to an "as-shipped" condition. If you haven't reformatted, repartitioned, or otherwise modified the master boot record, it should work. Click here for instructions about Symantec PC Restore.

If the Symantec PC Restore utility won't work, but still resides on your computer, a Dell customer has figured out some ways to get it to work again. Note - If you removed this partition, it is not recoverable, cannot be downloaded from the internet, and cannot be shipped from Dell. Click here for ways to fix Symantec PC Restore. Users have also reported that the partition can be restored with Ghost 2003, and Ghost 9 using the '03 capabilities of it. If you boot to the Ghost 9 CD, select Advanced Recovery Taks, select Utilities, then Restore Legacy IMage it should work - but you want to verify the image before attempting the restore. It's in a folder called IMG.

Systems that shipped beginning in early 2005 may ship without Windows XP. There SHOULD be (but sometimes isn't) a utility on your computer to run and create the Windows XP CD. This is a RUN ONCE utility. Click here for instructions to create your Windows XP CD. Some users have reported needing to reboot a few times to get this utility to show up on the menu. You can also call Dell and request a CD and wait for it to ship.

The site you found doesn't sell RETAIL software. Also, have you checked it out via www.resellerratings.com or www.bbb.com?

Jet Martin · Answer

Rick, thanks for the pointer!! I'm assuming that you are suggesting that I follow these steps just in case something goes wrong with the upgrade, right?

Also, I've just realized that I had actually purchase Windows XP Professional Upgrade version about a year ago but never used it because my laptop died before I could use it. The box indicates that it is a "Version 2002) SP1. I'm assuming that once I upgrade to this version I can then download the Win XP Pro SP2 from Microsoft and simple upgrade to SP2, right?

Thanks again for your suggestions!!

Jet

rickmktg · Answer

@Jet Martin wrote:

Rick, thanks for the pointer!! I'm assuming that you are suggesting that I follow these steps just in case something goes wrong with the upgrade, right?

Also, I've just realized that I had actually purchase Windows XP Professional Upgrade version about a year ago but never used it because my laptop died before I could use it. The box indicates that it is a "Version 2002) SP1. I'm assuming that once I upgrade to this version I can then download the Win XP Pro SP2 from Microsoft and simple upgrade to SP2, right?

Thanks again for your suggestions!!

Jet

No, I'm telling you to follow the steps to make the XP Home CD because otherwise you can't use XP Pro Upgrade as it needs the Home CD to validate the upgrade.

I would STRONGLY recommend you obtain an SP2 CD from Microsoft or find one in a retail store and make a SLIPSTREAM CD of SP2 for your Pro install. Directions on the Service Pack forum. The upgrade from SP1 to SP2 is not simple for many people.

Jet Martin · Answer

Rick,   Thanks for the clarification. When you say get an XP Pro SP2 CD from Microsoft, I assume that you mean purchase it from Microsoft?    I'm surprised to hear that the SP1 to SP2 upgrade is difficult. I would have assumed that this would be very simple and straight forward.   Regards, Jet

Denny Denham · Answer

Jet Martin,

The SP2 CD can be ordered from Microsoft here. It is free.

If your system is free of spyware upgrading from SP1 to SP2 is totally painless. When I received the CD, I inserted in into my CD-ROM drive and 25 minutes later my system was updated.

Jet Martin · Answer

Denny, Cool. Thank you for the pointer!! Jet

Windows General

Upgrade Windows XP Home (OEM) to XP Professional

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