Upgrading XP Home to Pro w/o losing settings

[TSA]

Currently have 2 XP Home boxes in an office that I want to
upgrade to XP Pro for domain reasons.

Have XP Pro OEM cd that I need to purchase more licenses to.
That isn't the issue though.

How do I install Pro over the top of home without losing existing
program settings?

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You cannot use an OEM version of Windows XP Pro to
upgrade over Windows XP Home Edition. You need to
purchase a "Retail Version". OEM versions must be installed
"clean"on a reformatted drive or partition.

You'll need to purchase a copy of Windows XP Pro "retail" for each
computer you wish to upgrade.

1. Purchase a conventional "Retail Upgrade Version" of Windows XP Professional w/SP2.
2. Uninstall your antivirus program.
3. Perform a backup of your important documents and files to a CD.
4. Disconnect all hardware peripheral devices, except the monitor, keyboard and mouse.
5. While running Windows XP Home, insert the Windows XP Pro CD in the drive and select
the default "Upgrade" setup option. [Do not select "New Installation"]
6. Visit the Windows Update site to download all the critical updates.
7. Reinstall your antivirus program and then defrag your hard drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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"TSA" wrote:

| Currently have 2 XP Home boxes in an office that I want to
| upgrade to XP Pro for domain reasons.
|
| Have XP Pro OEM cd that I need to purchase more licenses to.
| That isn't the issue though.
|
| How do I install Pro over the top of home without losing existing
| program settings?

[Bruce Chambers]

TSA wrote:
> Currently have 2 XP Home boxes in an office that I want to
> upgrade to XP Pro for domain reasons.
>
> Have XP Pro OEM cd that I need to purchase more licenses to.
> That isn't the issue though.
>

It's not possible to purchase additional OEM license through any
legitimate channels that I'm aware of.


> How do I install Pro over the top of home without losing existing
> program settings?
>
>


You can't, as things currently stand. An OEM CD *cannot* be used to
perform an upgrade of an earlier OS, as it was designed to be installed
_only_ upon an empty hard drive.

You'll need to purchase 2 retail WinXP Pro Upgrade licenses, one of
which must have include the installation CD.



--

Bruce Chambers

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[Alex Nichol]

"TSA" > wrote:

>
>Have XP Pro OEM cd that I need to purchase more licenses to.
>That isn't the issue though.
>
>How do I install Pro over the top of home without losing existing
>program settings?

An OEM CD will only install 'clean'. Sorry - you would need the retail
Upgrade version to do an upgrade from and over the installed Home


--
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K. (remove the D8 bit)