Differences between XP Home and XP Pro?

Ok, this may seem like a simple question, but wtf is the technical
differences between XP Home and XP Pro?? I have searched the MS XP website
but for the life of me I cant seem to find a side by side comparison between
the two. Its almost like Microsoft doesnt want people to know the
differences, probably because the products are very similar. Anyway, if
anyone can point me in the right direction, maybe a URL of a document
explaining the differences, I would be extemely grateful.

XP Pro has more comprehensive networking facilities, and also has the
"remote assistance," facility. Though, the other day while rummaging
around the innards of my XP Home ed. it seemed to me that the "remote
assistance" feature seems to be in my system !
Perhaps I misunderstood something somewhere.

regards, Richard


"KunK" wrote in message
...
Ok, this may seem like a simple question, but wtf is the technical
differences between XP Home and XP Pro?? I have searched the MS XP website
but for the life of me I cant seem to find a side by side comparison
between
the two. Its almost like Microsoft doesnt want people to know the
differences, probably because the products are very similar. Anyway, if
anyone can point me in the right direction, maybe a URL of a document
explaining the differences, I would be extemely grateful.

RJK wrote:
XP Pro has more comprehensive networking facilities, and also has the
"remote assistance," facility. Though, the other day while rummaging
around the innards of my XP Home ed. it seemed to me that the "remote
assistance" feature seems to be in my system !
Perhaps I misunderstood something somewhere.

regards, Richard


It's remote desktop that is exclusive to Pro.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP

http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outloo...snewreader.htm



"KunK" wrote in message
...
Ok, this may seem like a simple question, but wtf is the technical
differences between XP Home and XP Pro?? I have searched the MS XP
website but for the life of me I cant seem to find a side by side
comparison between
the two. Its almost like Microsoft doesnt want people to know the
differences, probably because the products are very similar. Anyway,
if anyone can point me in the right direction, maybe a URL of a
document explaining the differences, I would be extemely grateful.

"KunK" wrote in message
...
Ok, this may seem like a simple question, but wtf is the technical
differences between XP Home and XP Pro?? I have searched the MS XP website
but for the life of me I cant seem to find a side by side comparison
between
the two. Its almost like Microsoft doesnt want people to know the
differences, probably because the products are very similar. Anyway, if
anyone can point me in the right direction, maybe a URL of a document
explaining the differences, I would be extemely grateful.

What I understand is that they are essentially the same except that XP Home
cannot join a domain, and I don't think you can upgrade to any server
product from XP Home, it has to be a clean install. Anyway here's a site
you can look at. You could have saved yourself some time by just using
Google. http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_home_pro.asp

Joe

In ,
KunK typed:

Ok, this may seem like a simple question, but wtf is the
technical
differences between XP Home and XP Pro??


Answered in another newsgroup. Please do not send the same
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If you must send the same message to more than one newsgroup,
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--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Side by side is here took me about 30 seconds using xp home vs. pro for a
search phrase

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...choosing2.mspx

The following features are not present in Windows XP Home Edition.
Power user
a.. Remote Desktop - All versions of Windows XP--including Home
Edition--support Remote Assistance, which is an assisted support technology
that allows a help desk or system administrator to remotely connect to a
client desktop for troubleshooting purposes. But Only Pro supports the new
Remote Desktop feature, which is a single-session version of Terminal
Services with two obvious uses: Mobile professionals who need to remotely
access their corporate desktop, and remote administration of clients on a
network. You can access a Windows XP Remote Desktop from any OS that
supports a Terminal Services client (such as Windows 98 and, interestingly
XP Home). XP Home can act as the client in a Remote Desktop session; only
Pro can be the server.
b.. Multi-processor support - Windows XP Pro supports up to two
microprocessors, while Home Edition supports only one.
c.. Automated System Recovery (ASR) - In a somewhat controversial move,
Microsoft has removed the Backup utility from the default Windows XP Home
Edition, though it is available as an optional installation if you can find
it on the CD-ROM (hint: it's in the /valueadd folder). The reason for this
the integration of Microsoft's new Automated System Recovery (ASR) tool into
Backup. In Pro, ASR will help recover a system from a catastrophic error,
such as one that renders the system unbootable. ASR-enabled backups are
triggerable from XP Setup, allowing you to return your system to its
previous state, even if the hard drive dies and has to be replaced. Unlike
consumer-oriented features such as System Restore, ASR is not automatic: It
must manually be enabled from within the Backup utility in Windows XP Pro.
In any event, while there is a Backup utility available for Home Edition,
you cannot use ASR, even though mentions of this feature still exist in the
UI. Confusing? Yes. But it's better than no Backup at all, which was the
original plan.
d.. Dynamic Disk Support - Windows XP Professional (like its Windows 2000
equivalent) supports dynamic disks, but Home Edition does not (instead, HE
supports only the standard Simple Disk type). Dynamic disks are not usable
with any OS other than Windows 2000 or Windows XP Pro, and they cannot be
used on portable computers. Likewise, Home Edition does not include the
Logical Disk Manager.
e.. Fax - Home Edition has no integrated fax functionality out of the box,
though it is an option you can install from the XP Home CD.
f.. Internet Information Services/Personal Web Server - Home Edition does
not include the IIS Web server 5.1 software found in Pro.
Security
a.. Encrypting File System - Windows XP Professional supports the
Encrypting File System (EFS), which allows you encrypt individual files or
folders for local security (EFS is not enabled over a network).
EFS-protected files and folders allows users to protect sensitive documents
from other users.
b.. File-level access control - Any user with Administrator privileges can
limit access to certain network resources, such as servers, directories, and
files, using access control lists. Only Windows XP Professional supports
file-level access control, mostly because this feature is typically
implemented through Group Policy Objects, which are also not available in
Home Edition.
c.. "C2" certification - Microsoft will attempt to have Windows XP
Professional certified with the "C2" security designation, a largely
irrelevant status, but one which will not be afforded to Home Edition.
Management
a.. Domain membership - Home Edition cannot be used to logon to an Active
Directory domain. For obvious reasons, the Domain Wizard is also missing in
Home Edition.
b.. Group Policy - Since Home Edition cannot be used to logon to an Active
Directory domain, Group Policy--whereby applications, network resources, and
operating systems are administered for domain users--is not supported
either.
c.. IntelliMirror - Microsoft lumps a wide range of semi-related change
and configuration management technologies under the IntelliMirror umbrella,
and none of these features are supported in the consumer oriented Home
Edition. IntelliMirror capabilities include user data management;
centrally-managed software installation, repair, updating, and removal; user
settings management; and Remote Installation Services (RIS), which allows
administrators to remotely install the OS on client systems.
d.. Roaming profiles - This feature allows users to logon to any computer
in an Active Directory network and automatically receive their customized
settings. It is not available in Home Edition, which cannot logon to an
Active Directory domain.
Corporate deployment
a.. Multi-language support - Only Windows XP Professional will ship in a
Multi-Language version or support multiple languages in a single install.
b.. Sysprep support - Windows XP Pro will support the System Preparation
(Sysprep) utility, while Home Edition will not.
c.. RIS support - See the IntelliMirror heading in the previous section;
Home Edition does not support RIS deployments.
64-bit Edition
a.. Microsoft is shipping a 64-bit version of Windows XP for Intel Itanium
systems that mirrors the Professional Edition feature-set.
Networking features
The following networking features are not included in Home Edition:
a.. The user interface for IPSecurity (IPSec)
b.. SNMP
c.. Simple TCP/IP services
d.. SAP Agent
e.. Client Service for NetWare
f.. Network Monitor
g.. Multiple Roaming feature
User interface features
Windows XP Home Edition has some different default settings that affect
the user interface. For example, Guest logon is on by default in Home, but
off in Pro. The Address bar in Explorer windows is on in Pro by default, but
off in Home. During the beta period, Microsoft had intended to use a
business-oriented shell theme ("Professional") by default in Pro and the
"Luna" consumer theme in Home Edition. But feedback from corporate users
suggested that everyone liked the consumer-oriented Luna theme better, and
development of the Professional theme was cancelled. Other user interface
features that are present in Pro but not Home include:
a.. Client-side caching
b.. Administrative Tools option on the Start menu (a subset of the Admin
tools are still present in Home, however).
It's also worth mentioning that Home Edition will support upgrades from
Windows 98, 98 SE, and Millennium Edition (Me), but not from Windows 95, NT
4.0 Workstation, or Windows 2000 Professional. You can upgrade from Windows
98, 98 SE, Millennium Edition (Me), Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, or Windows
2000 Professional to Windows XP Professional



"KunK" wrote in message
...
Ok, this may seem like a simple question, but wtf is the technical
differences between XP Home and XP Pro?? I have searched the MS XP website
but for the life of me I cant seem to find a side by side comparison
between
the two. Its almost like Microsoft doesnt want people to know the
differences, probably because the products are very similar. Anyway, if
anyone can point me in the right direction, maybe a URL of a document
explaining the differences, I would be extemely grateful.

On Sun, 10 Oct 2004 21:13:16 -0400, "Joe" wrote:


"KunK" wrote in message
...
Ok, this may seem like a simple question, but wtf is the technical
differences between XP Home and XP Pro?? I have searched the MS XP website
but for the life of me I cant seem to find a side by side comparison
between
the two. Its almost like Microsoft doesnt want people to know the
differences, probably because the products are very similar. Anyway, if
anyone can point me in the right direction, maybe a URL of a document
explaining the differences, I would be extemely grateful.

What I understand is that they are essentially the same except that XP Home
cannot join a domain, and I don't think you can upgrade to any server
product from XP Home, it has to be a clean install. Anyway here's a site
you can look at. You could have saved yourself some time by just using
Google. http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_home_pro.asp

Joe


There are many more little differences than alluded to here. Most
important differences that Pro has:

1. Ability to join a Windows Domain.
2. Enhanced networking components
3. More versatile and easily controlled permissions.
4. Internet Information Services (IIS) available.

No XP product, be it Home or Pro, qualifies as an upgrade product for
the Microsoft Family of Server Operating Systems.

NobodyMan wrote:

No XP product, be it Home or Pro, qualifies as an upgrade product
for
the Microsoft Family of Server Operating Systems.


I'm curious. Why add this little snippet? No Microsoft
workstation/client operating system has ever qualified for an upgrade
to any server operating; so why do you think it necessary to point out
this long-standing fact in this discussion?

--

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

I think it had to do with my post where I mentioned that I thought XP Pro
might qualify where XP Home might not.

Joe


"Bruce Chambers" wrote in message
...
NobodyMan wrote:

No XP product, be it Home or Pro, qualifies as an upgrade product
for
the Microsoft Family of Server Operating Systems.


I'm curious. Why add this little snippet? No Microsoft
workstation/client operating system has ever qualified for an upgrade
to any server operating; so why do you think it necessary to point out
this long-standing fact in this discussion?

--

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

Joe wrote:
I think it had to do with my post where I mentioned that I thought
XP
Pro might qualify where XP Home might not.

Joe




Ah... I'd missed that. Thanks for clearing it up.

--

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

Exactly. Thanks.
\
On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 10:16:51 -0400, "Joe" wrote:

I think it had to do with my post where I mentioned that I thought XP Pro
might qualify where XP Home might not.

Joe


"Bruce Chambers" wrote in message
...
NobodyMan wrote:

No XP product, be it Home or Pro, qualifies as an upgrade product
for
the Microsoft Family of Server Operating Systems.


I'm curious. Why add this little snippet? No Microsoft
workstation/client operating system has ever qualified for an upgrade
to any server operating; so why do you think it necessary to point out
this long-standing fact in this discussion?

--

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

That's a nice list, however, the most compelling difference may be that XP
Professional allows you to upgrade your old OS and keep all your installed
programs intact. Reinstalling everything is quite a pain.

Mergatroid wrote:

That's a nice list, however, the most compelling difference may be
that XP Professional allows you to upgrade your old OS and keep all
your installed programs intact. Reinstalling everything is quite a
pain.

This is not accurate. You can use either Home or Pro to upgrade an older
operating system. Here is a link to information about that:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/h...ng/matrix.mspx

And some information about installing XP (Home or Pro, it doesn't
matter):

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm - Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

Mergatroid wrote:

That's a nice list, however, the most compelling difference may be that XP
Professional allows you to upgrade your old OS and keep all your installed
programs intact.

And so does Home, in a retail version. I think you must only have seen
Home in some makers OEM restore CD that puts the machine back to
ex-factory state.


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