Upgrading Home to Pro on a laptop

[Bobby]

My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I was wondering
if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it for Office software and
some image processing and Internet access (via a wireless router from my
PC).

Is there any real reason to upgrade? If so, is there anything I should know
before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the Pro CDs and perform an
upgrade? Should I reformat her HD first?

Cheers.

Bobby

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Bobby,

Unless she needs to connect to a domain, or has use for policy editors, or
plans on setting up an internal web server, she should be fine with WinXP
Home. If she does want to upgrade, a regular Pro upgrade CD is sufficient,
and you just insert and follow the upgrade prompts. There is no need to
format, but you should check with the laptop maker for any needed drivers,
as they may not be on the retail disk.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Bobby" > wrote in message
...
> My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I was wondering
> if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it for Office software and
> some image processing and Internet access (via a wireless router from my
> PC).
>
> Is there any real reason to upgrade? If so, is there anything I should
know
> before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the Pro CDs and perform an
> upgrade? Should I reformat her HD first?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

From your description of your wife's computer uses, I can see no
reason for her to upgrade to WinXP Pro.

The two versions are _identical_ when it comes to performance,
stability, and device driver and software application compatibility,
but are intended to meet different functionality, networking,
security, and ease-of-use needs, in different environments. The most
significant differences are that WinXP Pro allows up to 10
simultaneous inbound network connections while WinXP Home only allows
only 5, WinXP Pro is designed to join a Microsoft domain while WinXP
Home cannot, and only WinXP Pro supports file encryption and IIS.

Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Which Edition Is Right for You
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Professional Edition
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

"Which is better?" That depends entirely upon the uses to which
you put your computer, the network environment in which you'll operate
it, your specific security needs, and your level of computer
knowledge.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Bobby" > wrote in message
...
> My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I was
wondering
> if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it for Office
software and
> some image processing and Internet access (via a wireless router
from my
> PC).
>
> Is there any real reason to upgrade? If so, is there anything I
should know
> before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the Pro CDs and perform
an
> upgrade? Should I reformat her HD first?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby
>
>

[Steve C. Ray]

I agree with Rick. From what you have said, there is no need to upgrade to
Pro.

--
Steve C. Ray
Replace "mail" with "36db"
"Bobby" > wrote in message
...
> My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I was wondering
> if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it for Office software and
> some image processing and Internet access (via a wireless router from my
> PC).
>
> Is there any real reason to upgrade? If so, is there anything I should
know
> before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the Pro CDs and perform an
> upgrade? Should I reformat her HD first?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby
>
>

[Ken Blake]

In ,
Bobby > typed:

> My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I
was
> wondering if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it
for
> Office software and some image processing and Internet access
(via a
> wireless router from my PC).
>
> Is there any real reason to upgrade?


It depends on her needs, but probably not, based on what you
describe. XP Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all
respects, except that Professional has a few features (mostly
related to networking and security) missing from Home. For most
(but not all) home users, these features aren't needed, would
never be used, and buying Professional instead of Home is a waste
of money.

For details go to

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Also note that Professional allows ten concurrent network
connections, and Home only five.




> If so, is there anything I
> should know before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the
Pro CDs
> and perform an upgrade?


Yes.


> Should I reformat her HD first?


No.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Bobby]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

So there should be no problem connecting her to a wireless router to share
my broadband internet connection?

"Ken Blake" > wrote in message
...
> In ,
> Bobby > typed:
>
> > My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I
> was
> > wondering if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it
> for
> > Office software and some image processing and Internet access
> (via a
> > wireless router from my PC).
> >
> > Is there any real reason to upgrade?
>
>
> It depends on her needs, but probably not, based on what you
> describe. XP Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all
> respects, except that Professional has a few features (mostly
> related to networking and security) missing from Home. For most
> (but not all) home users, these features aren't needed, would
> never be used, and buying Professional instead of Home is a waste
> of money.
>
> For details go to
>
> http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
>
> Also note that Professional allows ten concurrent network
> connections, and Home only five.
>
>
>
>
> > If so, is there anything I
> > should know before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the
> Pro CDs
> > and perform an upgrade?
>
>
> Yes.
>
>
> > Should I reformat her HD first?
>
>
> No.
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>

[Rob Schneider]

If there is a problem, it won't be due to XP Pro or Home. You'll need a
working wireless card (hardware and software) and a broadband router
that's configured correctly.

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Bobby,

No, there shouldn't be.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Bobby" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for the feedback guys.
>
> So there should be no problem connecting her to a wireless router to share
> my broadband internet connection?
>
> "Ken Blake" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In ,
> > Bobby > typed:
> >
> > > My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I
> > was
> > > wondering if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it
> > for
> > > Office software and some image processing and Internet access
> > (via a
> > > wireless router from my PC).
> > >
> > > Is there any real reason to upgrade?
> >
> >
> > It depends on her needs, but probably not, based on what you
> > describe. XP Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all
> > respects, except that Professional has a few features (mostly
> > related to networking and security) missing from Home. For most
> > (but not all) home users, these features aren't needed, would
> > never be used, and buying Professional instead of Home is a waste
> > of money.
> >
> > For details go to
> >
> > http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
> >
> > Also note that Professional allows ten concurrent network
> > connections, and Home only five.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > If so, is there anything I
> > > should know before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the
> > Pro CDs
> > > and perform an upgrade?
> >
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> >
> > > Should I reformat her HD first?
> >
> >
> > No.
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> > Please reply to the newsgroup
> >
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

There shouldn't be any problem there.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Bobby" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for the feedback guys.
>
> So there should be no problem connecting her to a wireless router to
share
> my broadband internet connection?
>

[Ken Blake]

In ,
Bobby > typed:

> Thanks for the feedback guys.


You're welcome.


> So there should be no problem connecting her to a wireless
router to
> share my broadband internet connection?


No.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup



> "Ken Blake" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In ,
>> Bobby > typed:
>>
>> > My wife bought a laptop today which had XP Home Ed. on it. I
>> was
>> > wondering if I should upgrade to XP Pro? She wants to use it
>> for
>> > Office software and some image processing and Internet
access
>> (via a
>> > wireless router from my PC).
>> >
>> > Is there any real reason to upgrade?
>>
>>
>> It depends on her needs, but probably not, based on what you
>> describe. XP Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in
all
>> respects, except that Professional has a few features (mostly
>> related to networking and security) missing from Home. For
most
>> (but not all) home users, these features aren't needed, would
>> never be used, and buying Professional instead of Home is a
waste
>> of money.
>>
>> For details go to
>>
>> http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp
>>
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
>>
>> Also note that Professional allows ten concurrent network
>> connections, and Home only five.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > If so, is there anything I
>> > should know before doing the upgrade? Do I just stick-in the
>> Pro CDs
>> > and perform an upgrade?
>>
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>>
>> > Should I reformat her HD first?
>>
>>
>> No.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup

[Alex Nichol]

Bobby wrote:

>
>So there should be no problem connecting her to a wireless router to share
>my broadband internet connection?

None at all. I have a laptop with XP home that happily connects to
802.11g network


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows - File Systems)
Bournemouth, U.K.