Installing Pro over Home

I was wondering how I can install Windows XP Pro, that was on my old computer that gave up the ghost, onto my new computer that has Windows XP Home with Media Center? I have already installed all my programs and was wondering if Pro could be installed over Home without having to reinstall everything recognized now by Home? If so, could someone give me the one, two, three, etc. things to do? One other question. If Pro may be installed over Home without losing recognition to all of my programs, will Pro also recognize and keep Media Center?
Ray

 

Hello Ray,

To install, when the Pro CD is inserted, choose upgrade. But, there is a complication here. That Pro was at one time installed on another system. Not sure what will happen when it comes time for activating it - you may have to deal with MS over the phone. http://aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.php

Otherwise, if you have a system w/o major problems, all your apps/files should be ok.

Regards - Charles

 

Pro over Home

Thanks. When I have the time, I'll try it. I don't mind dealing with Microsoft. One other question, My new computer is a Gateway. Rather than give me a Home disk, they have it stored on a small section of the hard drive called "D. "
Will this cause a problem once I have upgraded to Pro?

Ray

 

D sounds like a "recovery" partition. No I don't think it will cause a problem. Later, once you determine that the new Pro is working, you might want to det rid of it.

To find out what whether it really is a partition, thru the control panel > Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Storage > (local). That'll show how the drive is allocated.

Regards - Charles

 

RR36,

If your OS is Windows Media Center (which is built on XP)... they don't offer it on CD it is only offered as OEM on a new computer. If your CD of WindowsXP pro is 'older' (pre SP2) you may get an error message that states you 'have a newer version' of Windows already installed. I'm not sure if upgrading WMC to WinXP pro will mess up your media center capabilities, sounds like a good question for M$ if you call them to ask about transferring the license.

B