install of xp pro over xp home oem (sony)

I bought a laptop? Vaio GRX670. Will XP PRO install correctly over the top of XP Home installed by manufacturer?

Mobile Intel P4 2GHz-M, UXGA TFT, 40 GB, 512 MB DDR SDRAM, ATI MOBILITY RADEON 7500 w/32 MB DDR SDRAM.

I want to use this one in the field for Schedling MS Project v.2002 and shut down all the unneeded applications to extend battery life while I am at it.

 

(Note that I have no direct experience with this machine.)

In theory, upgrading from Home to Pro should be the least problematic of the possible upgrades to XP. The advantage is that any drivers that you may have installed in your Home that are not included in the standard XP installation (OEM drivers), will still be there after the upgrade.

However, as always, a clean installation is preferable. But if you are not fluent with drivers and do not know for sure if XP Pro contains all that you need, the upgrade may be safer. If you are able to install cleanly and have internet access afterward (from that computer or another), you will no doubt be able to find any drivers you need.

 

Gerald

Abraxas is correct this should be the least unproblematic. But I have upgraded maybe dozens of computer to XP from win98 2k ME and never had a problem.

Most people don't reccomed this but it is my preference and always has worked for me because of the prep I do. See my message in this post:

http://windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=67279#post67279

The above post is speaking about "Files and settings transfer wizard" but the same holds true for an upgrade install.

But the one and only time I did try to bring XP home up to XP pro I ended up doing a full install. XP Pro reported that the computer did not meet XP standards and would not upgrade.

IT REPORTED THIS EVEN THOUGH XP HOME WAS IN FACT INSTALLED!

But consider this was on a HP Pavillion. And they (HP) are experts at mucking up all their installs. Same people that don't even give their customers a XP home CD!

So you may be OK if you prep the computer before upgrading.

Mike

 

Thank you gentlemen I surely appreciate the information. You give me enough confidence to go ahead and try this process and see what happens.
Is there a link to get rid of this "spyware" that was mentioned?
And my last question is how to turn off all the un-needed applications that seem to be running in the system tray?

 

Gentlemen????

Me too?

Smile!

Do full virus scan first!

Spyware and adware removal

SpyBot http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
Run SpyBot first and twice delete all it finds leave all it leaves after 2nd run

AdAware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/downloads.html
always run after SpyBot delete all it finds.

BHO Demon http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm
Post back anything more than acrobat here so we can advise.

Registry and System cleaners

RegCleaner http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml
Look thru cols 1 and 2 to see if any thing is left from uninstalled programs tag and remove. Then go to tools-registry cleanup-do them all. Delete all it finds.

EasyClean1.7 http://gswi.com/downloads.htm
Do not run duplicate files. Do only unessessary files and registry.

RegScrubXP http://home.carolina.rr.com/lexunfreeware/RegScrubXPSetup_3.2.exe
NOTE: W2K and XP only

Select RegScrub finds and remove all it finds.

Startup control panel
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
This gives complete control of all startups. After installing look in control panel for the startup icon. Uncheck all before the upgrade and when everything is installed then check them back to run again.

Make sure there are no errors in device manager.

If everything is OK after the upgrade check windows update for any updates.

Do scandisk and defrag.

Good luck,

Let us know how it goes.

mike

 

found by BHO

I found these three objects on the list form BHO
0 AcroIEHelper.ocx {06849e9f-c8d7-4d59-b87d-784b7d6be0b3
1 NavShExt.dll
2 IELINK.DLL

 

Don't let me assume here. Do a full backup before you do this.

I am so glad i sent you BHODemon. This is a stuborn Norton file NavShExt.dll.

Norton and especially System works which is a very stuborn controlling program being active at the time of an upgrade or SP install is 90% of all the complaints about failed upgrades and Major SP installs.

To be safe click on each the details in BHODemon. Then set it not to run. Set them all not to run. Do this at the same time you use Startup control panel to disable all other startups.

Reboot to confirm they are not running.

BTW another reminder. Before you do the up grade download the full SP1 ser pack to HD. So that it can be run from HD immediately after the upgrade is booting clean. These things we disabled can also effect the SP1 installation. Get the full sp1 here.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/sp1lang.asp

If you have a dialup the above is not feasible as this file is 134 megs. If you have hi speed then do this.

Additionally once you disable all startups and BHO's then also unplug any external devices even modems printers and network/broadband. Reboot to come up without these attached.

Mike

PS Of course after you finish both upgrade and SP1 and it has booted clean don't forget to reenable all starups and BHO's. Then before you use it much do a full backup.

PS2 If the prep above don't work you never had a chance.

 

Gerald

Clarification!

"PS2 If the prep above don't work you never had a chance. "

I truly believe that if you do these things that it will be a breeze!

Mike