Upgrading from XP Home to XP Professional

I recently bought a Compaq Presario 5320 US for the office. It came with XP Home Edition loaded. When I tried to use it on our LAN, which runs NT 4.0, I was able to reach the DSL line for internet access. However, I cannot get a shareable connection to the LAN.

I entered a unique IP address for the client and all of the other static addresses that my other client machines have running under WIN98, 2000, and ME operating systems. However, after signing on, I cannot see the shareable drives on the server nor the shareable printers.

I recently heard that Home Edition does not support this type of LAN connection, but Professional does. But, the box for the Professional upgrade does not indicate that it is for an upgrade from the Home Edition.

Does anyone know if it will work for what I want to do? I would appreciate some answers before I buy the upgrade. Thanks.

 

Contact MS, they have a OEM upgrade program for those that get XP Home with a new computer and needs the PRO version. I was told about this by a MS person at one of our KEGS (compuyer club)meeting.
Give it a try.

 

I don't see why XP home wouldn't work in a work group enviroment. XP Home only has a problem with a domain enviroment.
Are you sure you have the workgroup spelled correctly? All upper case?

 

DaveA & ssmith10pn,

Thanks for your information. I just spent the better part of a day between Microsoft and Compaq support. Yes, there is an upgrade. The one that you can purchase for about $200. Both vendors said that they could not provide an OEM upgrade at no charge. But they both confirmed that the only way to use the Presario on a domain LAN is to purchase and install the upgrade. I guess I am ready to go that route. Funny thing though, I recently bought a Dell laptop with XP Home Edition and they gave me a coupon for a free upgrade to the Professional Edition.

Thanks again.