Got Windows XP Home need to install XP Pro??

squeaky

Jay_Wiseman wrote:

dont know how to access the newsgroup suggested, is it on ms site some where? And havent a clue how to delete all hard drive partitions or format a new one, thats kinda why Im here.

Oh wow. That depends entirely on what software you're using. If it's outlook then you should be able to find help here and so find a link that'll get you onto a support group such as the one I mentioned.

If you have different software then I can only suggest you see what the helpfiles say about accessing newsgroups because every program is different.

Don't forget to bookmark pages you find useful straught away.

DVB_3

Hard drive is repartitioned from inside the installer itself. Have a good look here , you should find answers you're after.

Jay_Wiseman

thanks for your help guys.

HLK

Thought it best just to add this at the end of this thread, to keep all info re updating / installing XP pro in the one place.
My question(s) -
1. If installing on top of XP Home is it better to get an upgrade version or a clean install ?
2. Can any of you guys suggest a good place to source this .. ebay is full of sellers but I'm a bit wary. Some websites sell OEM versions (e.g. aria) which also means buying something else. What do you suggest basically ? Trying to build a machine to load VB .NET.

3. Will the install mess with my wireless network setup ?

Any help would be appreciated.

squeaky

If you have access to newsgroups:- microsoft.public.windowsxp.support have lots of good help and there are microsoft employees who volunteer to help in there.

-TangleFoot-

I've often found sites such as these to be immensely useful:

• How to partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup program
• Clean Install Windows XP
• Getting Service Pack 2 (If it's not already integrated with the install disc)

As for whether an in-place upgrade is any riskier than a clean install, well, I usually go for the tidier option; the clean install. I haven't had to purchase a new operating system for several years now, but I've always been of the opinion that OEM is the way to go; here might be a good place to start looking.

drlight_2

You have lots of "if anything goes wrong" advice here
Anyway Installing Windows XP pro is simple and clean install is the best way to a hitch free installation.

First of all be aware theat you will lose everthing you have on your computer, except what you copied to CD, dvd ect.. So copy documents pictures ect.
(if you copy "c:\Documents and settings" folder you will have all your documents, pics, adress book, other users docs ect available on disk.

(You can use "import adress book" from menu in outlook expess and search for ".wab" file to bring your adress book back into outlook express after installing XP pro.

Windows XP pro CD is a bootable disk, so in other words all you have to do is put the disk in and switch on the computer and it will install windows XP Pro on your computer (and all drivers) and it will be up and running.

As Pc's boot from Hard drive by default you will have to chabge a bIOS setting to get your laptop to boot from CD instead of HD or nothing will happen when you switch on you PC with disk in drive.

I can go into this if you need advice on setting Boot device 1 to CDROM in BIOS.

Oh yes, don't forget to change this back again after youv'e finished or otherwise XP PRO will begin to install all over again.

TIP do you have access to the internet other than from you laptop? if anything goes wrong you could lose your source of help if you have a blank laptop with no internet connection.

Al

drlight_2

Windows XP OEM (Original equipment Manufacturer)
XP OEM disk are the origonal XP disks customisid by a manufacturer (Dell, PCWorld ect.)

So what do you get?
That is at the discretion of the manufacturer.
Could be a logo at bootup, install pre chosen drivers (if company is selling computers with the the same hardware and setup it is easier for them to use a OEM or customised installation of windows )
Often set to silent install (no user intervention during setup)
Could include extra software, and be setup automatically.
Or it could just run a setup with default instaltion options (not customisable).

You could just get a regular winXP with no addons ect

OEM disks are not made to hinder the user but to compliment a computer.

Tip . On the OEM XP disk there will be a autrun file wich runs a setup file (with embedded added instructions ect) look for the origonal setup file among the XP files in a subdirectory and run that for a non OEM installation. (setup.exe). May or may not be on disk.

HLK

Thank you all for the help. As I haven't actually bought the software yet I'm just getting all the necessary info upfront.. Hopefully there will be no hitches but forwarned etc.....
Anyway like I said BIG THANKS.

ps with a bit of luck I won't need to post when the time comes - I will do a progress report here for the benefit of others in my position.