XP Home Edition v XP Office Pro

scouselass

I purchased my pc and it had XP Home Edition already installed. As I am prompted from microsoft for updates it has the Service Pack 2, and there were no problems with that update (I have read this can sometimes be an issue).

My question is whether I am going to mess up what I already have by installing another version of XP? I am considering installing XP Office Pro on my machine. The main reason for this is I want compatibility between work and home based systems. Also I want access to the Access Database which is on the Office Pro copy.

What I don't want is to give myself a big headache, so any advice and guidance will be appreciated.

Also if I change to Office Pro will that overwrite the recent update from microsoft of SP2? If these are completely unrelated matters then I apologise for my ignorance in advance! Will I continue to be prompted to receive updates if I load this other copy? I do have the serial number to load, but I dont really know how this will affect the updating process?

Debt_Free_Chick

I'm not sure I understand ...

You have XP Home Edition as your Operating System (OS) at home and you've installed SP2 - well done

You use Office XP Pro at work .... but not at home. And you want to install Office XP Pro at home, for compatibility with work. Is that right?

If so, then Office XP Pro will run quite happily on your XP Home OS and will not affect SP2. Note that you will have XP Home OS and Office XP Pro.

You may be confused as there is an OS called XP Pro too - but this would be a replacement (upgrade) to XP Home. In general, home PC users don't need XP Pro as the "improvements" over XP Home mostly relate to networking. If you only have one PC at home, you won't need the networking features of XP Pro.

Office XP Pro gives you Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Publisher etc.

HTH

scouselass

Fab reply

Yes you've got it in one. I think I confused the issue by calling the software XP Office Pro.....and now realise it is Office XP Pro!

I will now go ahead and install it. Another important reason for wanting Office XP Pro was because it has Excel, and I want to use the moneysaving budget planner that has been designed on this site by Tony.

Thanks for your help.

scouselass

DFC I have now installed Office XP Pro successfully and I am delighted to have access to the full range of software.

Now I'd like to ask another question as I have searched around my computer and I can't find the answer even with the help of the Wizards!

Previously I had Outlook Express, and I now want to use Outlook (that came with the Office XP Pro). In fact when I installed Office XP Pro the system asked me if I wanted to transfer my emails from Outlook, and I said yes, thinking that would do the job. However, emails are still going to Outlook Express and not to Outlook.

I also did a test email whilst in Outlook to myself, but it went to the Outlook Express inbox, and not to the Outlook inbox. Sure you can help on this one too (says she with confidence), so its over to you.

Fran

Is it something as simple as making Outlook your default email?

scouselass

Thanks Fran, Yes I do think that's it, but it's how to do it. I typed 'default email' into the Help Wizard (in different ways) whilst in Outlook, but I didn't get anything that led me to a solution!

I'm confident someone will come back on this, as I know it will end up being something really simple.

D.A.

You *should* be able to do this by opening up IE, going to Tools/Internet Options/Programs and then choosing Microsoft Office Outlook (why on earth they call it Office Outlook now is beyond me...) as your default email client.

I have seen this not actually work, so let us know how you get on.

Chippy_Minton

Previously I had Outlook Express, and I now want to use Outlook (that came with the Office XP Pro). In fact when I installed Office XP Pro the system asked me if I wanted to transfer my emails from Outlook, and I said yes, thinking that would do the job. However, emails are still going to Outlook Express and not to Outlook.

I also did a test email whilst in Outlook to myself, but it went to the Outlook Express inbox, and not to the Outlook inbox.

Have you set up your account (email address, POP3 & SMTP servers etc.) in Outlook? If not, look at your current account details in Outlook Express (Tools - Accounts - Mail tab- Properties) and create an Outlook account with the same details.

scouselass

Phew! Just logged on.

I don't think you techie bods realise how complicated this sounds, even if its not!

I will have to read and re-read your instructions to get it clear in my head what I need to do, but I will have a go and report back.

Cheers

scouselass

Right then still not sorted here.

DA what was IE? I looked at the Tools option on Outlook and there wasn't an internet option, so could not proceed with your instructions.

Chippy. looked at the Outlook Express....Tools etc.....and it appear to match what was in Outlook.. So I'm stumped.

Sent a test email from Outlook Express, haven't recieved it yet in either inbox.......its somewhere out there in the cosmos!

Any ideas folks?

scouselass

The email has landed! It arrived in Outlook Express.............how do I get the mail to arrive in Outlook?

Suggestions/guidance/instructions (to the letter) are appreciated, but don't hint/guess/ or offer a maybe cos the former is hard enough to follow!

Joking all help enormously welcomed.