Upgrading XP-Home w/SP2 to XP-Pro w/SP2

[Guest]

I’m trying to get the low-down on upgrading from XP-Home w/SP2 to XP-Pro
w/SP2. I’m trying to use a development application that explicitly requires
that I be a “power user†under XP-Pro. I have Win XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM) from
Gateway. Thus, I need to upgrade to XP-Pro.

I have gone through all of the earlier posts in this regard. Having done
so, I’m more confused then when I started. I’ve seen many horror stories and
just as many claims that the process is painless.

But first, before going on, I’ve got a gripe. When respondents have
outlined a procedure they occasionally used “XP†to represent both “XP-Homeâ€
AND “XP-Proâ€! Doing so can only lead to confusion for those of us that are
trying to figure this stuff out! Additionally... it is very frustrating to
be inundated with acronyms, some of which are unknown to me – please refrain
from using them (“XP-Hâ€, “XP-P†and OEM are OK for me... maybe not so for
others). (OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer)

I have Win XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM) from Gateway. As such, I do have a “restore
disk†but I do not have what I would consider to be an XP-Home “installation
diskâ€. I’m not sure if my understanding is correct with respect to the
difference between a “restore†and “installation†disk. If for some reason I
have to reformat the hard-drive, can I use the “restore†disk to reinstall
XP-Home?

So, moving on... having gone through all of the earlier threads, I think I
have found the following...

1) Since I have XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM), I can only upgrade to XP-Pro w/SP2 via
Retail Upgrade.

2) I get the impression that if I can get my hands on a Retail version of
“Upgrade to XP-Pro w/SP2†then I’ll not need to be concerned with
“slipstreamâ€...

3) In some cases, I see procedures calling for my AntiVirus applications to
be simply disabled. In other cases however, I see procedures that call for
my AntiVirus applications to be uninstalled. This seems to be a problematic
idea since my AntiVirus applications were purchased on-line and installed
from on-line. I have other apps in the same category. I don’t have
installation disks for those applications. How am I to reinstall those after
deleting them?

4) I’ve seen procedures that call for IE7 to be uninstalled before
installing the XP-Pro upgrade, followed by re-installing IE7. Is it indeed
the case that the latest distribution of the retail version of the XP-Pro
w/SP2 upgrade comes only with IE6? This is very disturbing to me considering
all of the problems I ran into when I originally installed IE7. It took
almost two weeks to get all of the problems fixed.

5) Then I keep seeing the encouragement to “backup†all of my important
files... just in case. This bothers me. If the upgrade crashes badly
enough... what good are copies of my “important files†in terms of getting
back to square-1? If the upgrade fails badly enough then I’ll probably be
forced to do a full and formal install of XP-Pro w/SP2 (Full Retail). But
then, I’ll only be able to do that if I purchase the Full Retail version.
So... just to be clear... the Full Retail version will allow either an
upgrade or a full install... correct? In order to cover all
possibilities... I’ll have to buy the Full version... even if the upgrade is
successful... hmmm...

Can someone please address each of my concerns?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I'm trying to get the low-down on upgrading from XP-Home w/SP2 to XP-Pro
w/SP2. I'm trying to use a development application that explicitly
requires
that I be a "power user" under XP-Pro. I have Win XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM)
from
Gateway. Thus, I need to upgrade to XP-Pro.

And importantly, you can use an Upgrade version CD, which is considerably
less expensive.

I have gone through all of the earlier posts in this regard. Having done
so, I'm more confused then when I started. I've seen many horror stories
and
just as many claims that the process is painless.

It's mostly an issue of being prepared. Back up your data first, and clean
up the system.

But first, before going on, I've got a gripe. When respondents have
outlined a procedure they occasionally used "XP" to represent both
"XP-Home"
AND "XP-Pro"!
Doing so can only lead to confusion for those of us that are
trying to figure this stuff out! Additionally... it is very frustrating
to
be inundated with acronyms, some of which are unknown to me - please
refrain
from using them ("XP-H", "XP-P" and OEM are OK for me... maybe not so for
others). (OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer)

I have Win XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM) from Gateway. As such, I do have a
"restore
disk" but I do not have what I would consider to be an XP-Home
"installation
disk". I'm not sure if my understanding is correct with respect to the
difference between a "restore" and "installation" disk. If for some
reason I
have to reformat the hard-drive, can I use the "restore" disk to reinstall
XP-Home?

The short answer is yes. "Restore" disks sometimes give you options, but
normally start with wiping the drive (and removing all data) and installing
a pre-configured image of the system, with a specific partition size and
format.

This is not quite the same as an "installation", since it doesn't use the XP
Install routines.

So, moving on... having gone through all of the earlier threads, I think I
have found the following...

1) Since I have XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM), I can only upgrade to XP-Pro w/SP2
via
Retail Upgrade.

That's the only type of Upgrade available. OEM versions are all intended
as installs to new systems, ones that haven't had a license before. So
there is no reason for an upgrade version.

The Upgrade retail version is lower cost as an incentive to people who have
already paid for an OS license on their present system.

2) I get the impression that if I can get my hands on a Retail version of
"Upgrade to XP-Pro w/SP2" then I'll not need to be concerned with
"slipstream"...

An SP2 version will be about all you can get.

3) In some cases, I see procedures calling for my AntiVirus applications
to
be simply disabled. In other cases however, I see procedures that call
for
my AntiVirus applications to be uninstalled. This seems to be a
problematic
idea since my AntiVirus applications were purchased on-line and installed
from on-line. I have other apps in the same category. I don't have
installation disks for those applications. How am I to reinstall those
after
deleting them?

Before you install, it's a really good idea to establish how to get the
downloads again. Most online vendors are aware that people need to
reinstall occasionally, which means re-downloading them. This is why you
register with them, so you can re-download within the subscription period.

The upgrade from XP Home to Pro is the least problematic as it is the same
code base, and the A/V versions will be the same. Not so with upgrading
from win9x - XP, where the code and the A/V apps are totally different and
incompatible.

Contact the A/V vendor first for their take on this, and procedures for
re-downloading if necessary.

4) I've seen procedures that call for IE7 to be uninstalled before
installing the XP-Pro upgrade, followed by re-installing IE7. Is it
indeed
the case that the latest distribution of the retail version of the XP-Pro
w/SP2 upgrade comes only with IE6?

Yes, it is. It has SP2, nothing later. You'll probably find about 80
updates once you do the basic upgrade. I usually do the install, start
the updates,, and go for dinner. I come back periodically to press Enter
if needed or restart and get the next round.

And again, there is no non-retail upgrade version.

This is very disturbing to me considering
all of the problems I ran into when I originally installed IE7. It took
almost two weeks to get all of the problems fixed.

That's usually an indication that there were other underlying problems or
incompatibilities not addressed first.

5) Then I keep seeing the encouragement to "backup" all of my important
files... just in case. This bothers me.

It shouldn't bother you if you care about your data. This is simply good
practice, particularly before any major change.

If the upgrade crashes badly
enough... what good are copies of my "important files" in terms of getting
back to square-1?

That depends on what your important files are. If they are user data, it
means nothing to the function of the sytem. But in getting back to where
you were once you have the system running again, they do a lot of good.

This can mean something as simple as copying your documents to another drive
(NOT the same disk) and copying them back later if needed.

If you want to be very elaborate, get another hard disk, an imaging program,
make the bootable CD and image the drive before starting. If the upgrade
craters, you can boot from CD and restore the image and be back where you
were.

If the upgrade fails badly enough then I'll probably be
forced to do a full and formal install of XP-Pro w/SP2 (Full Retail).

Not really. And the Home - Pro upgrade is the least problematic, since XP
Home is basically a somewhat restricted version of XP Pro.

But
then, I'll only be able to do that if I purchase the Full Retail version.

That's not correct.

So... just to be clear... the Full Retail version will allow either an
upgrade or a full install... correct?

So does the Upgrade version.

In order to cover all
possibilities... I'll have to buy the Full version

Not necessary.

... even if the upgrade is
successful... hmmm...

Upgrade versions require one of two things. The first is an installed
qualifying version of Windows, and you are running that now, so after
backing up your data you can just run the upgrade.

The second is proof that you have such a version, and that just means that
you have an installation CD for a qualifying version. As an example, in
the case of drive failure, you install a new hard drive which obviously has
no OS. You boot from the XP Upgrade CD, and allow it to start Setup. At
some point, it will stop and ask you to insert the old Windows CD. Take
out the XP disk, put in the other one, you will be told when to put the XP
disk back in. This CD can be a version of Win98 (possibly SE needed),
ME, 2000, or XP Home or Media Center Edition.

The catch to this second thing is that your "restore" CD will probably not
work for this, so you'd have to find another qualifying install CD to borrow
for the occasion. You *do* have a license already, it's just that the way
it's packaged may not work for the upgrade process.

The point here is that with an XP Pro Upgrade CD, you can install XP Pro to
a new, clean drive without first installing a previous version of Windows.

Can someone please address each of my concerns?

From where you are now, this will be like doing a repair install. You'll
need to get all the updates again, but your apps should just work. Yes,
you should talk to the support staff for the A/V program before running the
upgrade.

And do back up your data first!

HTH
-pk

 

[Daave]

Upgrade versions require one of two things. The first is an installed
qualifying version of Windows, and you are running that now, so after
backing up your data you can just run the upgrade.

The second is proof that you have such a version, and that just
means that you have an installation CD for a qualifying version. As
an example, in the case of drive failure, you install a new hard
drive which obviously has no OS. You boot from the XP Upgrade CD,
and allow it to start Setup. At some point, it will stop and ask
you to insert the old Windows CD. Take out the XP disk, put in the
other one, you will be told when to put the XP disk back in.
This CD can be a version of Win98 (possibly SE needed), ME, 2000, or
XP Home or Media Center Edition.

The catch to this second thing is that your "restore" CD will
probably not work for this, so you'd have to find another qualifying
install CD to borrow for the occasion. You *do* have a license
already, it's just that the way it's packaged may not work for the
upgrade process.

(Excellent post, Patrick!)

Strictly speaking, *does* the OP have the license? That is, isn't his
license for a *specific* branded (Gateway) OEM version of XP Home (which
is physically unable to be used as qualifying media in a clean-install
upgrade)?

Hold up...

I just found the following at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.php :

So what do you do if your OEM CD or Restore disk does not work as
qualifying media? One neat new feature of XP allows one to get around
this problem. First, start the XP clean install from within an existing
qualified install rather then from the XP CD or from a DOS prompt. When
you see the screen that ask what type of install to do, change "Upgrade
(Recommended)" to "New install." You can then select the existing
partition, format it, and do a Clean Install, never having to insert
your qualifying product CD.

But still, I can just see Microsoft attorneys claiming that the
customer's license doesn't entitle him to perform an in-place upgrade,
but only a clean install. Is there any actual documentation to the
contrary? I'm aware the upgrade path (in this case) is OEM XP Home to
Retail XP Pro (with either a Full or Upgrade disk). I *suppose* it's
okay to assume this holds true for *all* OEM versions. Still, I find it
curious that a customer is physically unable to perform an in-place
upgrade unless they obtain yet *another* OEM disk (but one that is
generic OEM!).

Are there any instances of specific branded OEM disks able to be used as
(physical) qualifying media when it comes to an in-place upgrade? If so,
I wonder if OP's disk is one of them.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Upgrade versions require one of two things. The first is an installed
qualifying version of Windows, and you are running that now, so after
backing up your data you can just run the upgrade.

The second is proof that you have such a version, and that just
means that you have an installation CD for a qualifying version. As
an example, in the case of drive failure, you install a new hard
drive which obviously has no OS. You boot from the XP Upgrade CD,
and allow it to start Setup. At some point, it will stop and ask
you to insert the old Windows CD. Take out the XP disk, put in the
other one, you will be told when to put the XP disk back in.
This CD can be a version of Win98 (possibly SE needed), ME, 2000, or
XP Home or Media Center Edition.

The catch to this second thing is that your "restore" CD will
probably not work for this, so you'd have to find another qualifying
install CD to borrow for the occasion. You *do* have a license
already, it's just that the way it's packaged may not work for the
upgrade process.

(Excellent post, Patrick!)

Strictly speaking, *does* the OP have the license? That is, isn't his
license for a *specific* branded (Gateway) OEM version of XP Home (which
is physically unable to be used as qualifying media in a clean-install
upgrade)?

Hold up...

I just found the following at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.php :

So what do you do if your OEM CD or Restore disk does not work as
qualifying media? One neat new feature of XP allows one to get around
this problem. First, start the XP clean install from within an existing
qualified install rather then from the XP CD or from a DOS prompt. When
you see the screen that ask what type of install to do, change "Upgrade
(Recommended)" to "New install." You can then select the existing
partition, format it, and do a Clean Install, never having to insert
your qualifying product CD.

I've done this. It does work.

It means you could, in a pinch, use your "restore" CD, then immediately wipe
it with the XP Upgrade. Waste of time, though.

But still, I can just see Microsoft attorneys claiming that the
customer's license doesn't entitle him to perform an in-place upgrade,
but only a clean install. Is there any actual documentation to the
contrary? I'm aware the upgrade path (in this case) is OEM XP Home to
Retail XP Pro (with either a Full or Upgrade disk). I *suppose* it's
okay to assume this holds true for *all* OEM versions. Still, I find it
curious that a customer is physically unable to perform an in-place
upgrade unless they obtain yet *another* OEM disk (but one that is
generic OEM!).

You can do the in-place upgrade, you've paid the basic license cost with the
PC.

But you may not be able to use a "restore" CD to qualify a clean install to
a replacement hard disk using an Upgrade CD. You'd have to either restore
with the CD first or get another qualifying CD.

The upgrade install is going to have another license key anyway, and AFAIK
the qualification check does not look for a key.

Are there any instances of specific branded OEM disks able to be used as
(physical) qualifying media when it comes to an in-place upgrade? If so,
I wonder if OP's disk is one of them.

It would only be the case if it was an actual installable CD, that uses the
XP setup routine, not a "restore" CD that installs a preconfigured image.
Those use a different file packaging and what the qualifier looks for won't
be where it's expected.

But if by "in-place upgrade" you mean to an existing, installed version of
XP - one that is already in place - *that* is what the upgrade checks, not
the CD.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Oh my God!

You guys are talking like Microsoft!

As in... "Just do what I say and all will be well!"

Can you not see that your assumption level is pretty high?

How about bringing it down about a half-dozen notches?

I am not computer illiterate. I was probably using them before you were
born! However, I've been lead down this primrose path to disaster so many
times in the past by Microsoft that I am more than just a little gun-shy!

I NEED to feel that warm and fuzzy feeling that I am doing the right thing!
That means, whether you like it or not, or whether you understand it or not,
I need desperately to be convinced that I have been adequately informed of
what I have to do! And you simply saying so is no better than saying... "The
check is in the mail!"

Can you appreciate where I'm coming from?

God, I hate Billy and his boys!

 

[...winston]

6 questions asked in 5 paragraphs.
1. No.
2. Yes
3. Install from file saved or available from the source.
4. Yes.
5a. Data files if damaged of lost can be restored/copied back to any machine
5b. Yes

:
: How about bringing it down about a half-dozen notches?

 

[Daave]

Upgrade versions require one of two things. The first is an
installed qualifying version of Windows, and you are running that
now, so after backing up your data you can just run the upgrade.

The second is proof that you have such a version, and that just
means that you have an installation CD for a qualifying version. As
an example, in the case of drive failure, you install a new hard
drive which obviously has no OS. You boot from the XP Upgrade CD,
and allow it to start Setup. At some point, it will stop and ask
you to insert the old Windows CD. Take out the XP disk, put in the
other one, you will be told when to put the XP disk back in.
This CD can be a version of Win98 (possibly SE needed), ME, 2000, or
XP Home or Media Center Edition.

The catch to this second thing is that your "restore" CD will
probably not work for this, so you'd have to find another qualifying
install CD to borrow for the occasion. You *do* have a license
already, it's just that the way it's packaged may not work for the
upgrade process.

(Excellent post, Patrick!)

Strictly speaking, *does* the OP have the license? That is, isn't his
license for a *specific* branded (Gateway) OEM version of XP Home
(which is physically unable to be used as qualifying media in a
clean-install upgrade)?

Hold up...

I just found the following at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.php :

So what do you do if your OEM CD or Restore disk does not work as
qualifying media? One neat new feature of XP allows one to get around
this problem. First, start the XP clean install from within an
existing qualified install rather then from the XP CD or from a DOS
prompt. When you see the screen that ask what type of install to do,
change "Upgrade (Recommended)" to "New install." You can then select
the existing partition, format it, and do a Clean Install, never
having to insert
your qualifying product CD.

I've done this. It does work.

It means you could, in a pinch, use your "restore" CD, then
immediately wipe it with the XP Upgrade. Waste of time, though.

But still, I can just see Microsoft attorneys claiming that the
customer's license doesn't entitle him to perform an in-place
upgrade, but only a clean install. Is there any actual documentation
to the contrary? I'm aware the upgrade path (in this case) is OEM XP
Home to Retail XP Pro (with either a Full or Upgrade disk). I
*suppose* it's
okay to assume this holds true for *all* OEM versions. Still, I find
it curious that a customer is physically unable to perform an
in-place upgrade unless they obtain yet *another* OEM disk (but one
that is generic OEM!).

You can do the in-place upgrade, you've paid the basic license cost
with the PC.

But you may not be able to use a "restore" CD to qualify a clean
install to a replacement hard disk using an Upgrade CD. You'd have
to either restore with the CD first or get another qualifying CD.

The upgrade install is going to have another license key anyway, and
AFAIK the qualification check does not look for a key.

Are there any instances of specific branded OEM disks able to be
used as (physical) qualifying media when it comes to an in-place
upgrade? If so, I wonder if OP's disk is one of them.

It would only be the case if it was an actual installable CD, that
uses the XP setup routine, not a "restore" CD that installs a
preconfigured image. Those use a different file packaging and what
the qualifier looks for won't be where it's expected.

But if by "in-place upgrade" you mean to an existing, installed
version of XP - one that is already in place - *that* is what the
upgrade checks, not the CD.

I guess my mind took an odd detour back there!

So, for an in-place upgrade, it just checks that a qualifying OS (in
this case, a Gateway-OEM version on XP Home) is on the hard drive.

But...

If a customer wants to perform a clean-install upgrade (for lack of a
better term) with a Retail XP Pro upgrade disk, then he/she needs to
obtain a generic OEM insallation disk. THAT'S what I had wanted to say
before!

So the customer already has an OEM license, and it matters not one whit
whether it's a generic OEM disk or a specific branded OEM disk; an OEM
license is an OEM license. Ol korrect?

 

[Daave]

Oh my God!

You guys are talking like Microsoft!

As in... "Just do what I say and all will be well!"

Can you not see that your assumption level is pretty high?

How about bringing it down about a half-dozen notches?

I am not computer illiterate. I was probably using them before you
were born! However, I've been lead down this primrose path to
disaster so many times in the past by Microsoft that I am more than
just a little gun-shy!

I NEED to feel that warm and fuzzy feeling that I am doing the right
thing! That means, whether you like it or not, or whether you
understand it or not, I need desperately to be convinced that I have
been adequately informed of what I have to do! And you simply saying
so is no better than saying... "The check is in the mail!"

Can you appreciate where I'm coming from?

God, I hate Billy and his boys!

Do you want to be helped or not?

Patrick answered all of your questions completely (I personally thought
he did an excellent job). What more do you want -- for him to personally
offer you a money-back guarantee?

And Gary Woodruff's contribution at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.php is about as thorough as it
gets. Isn't that enough?

Bottom line: All you need to do is purchase a Retail XP Pro upgrade
disk. This has been documented ad nauseum. You have been adequately
informed. If you disagree, feel free to do further research.

Oh, and you'll only run into problems if you get an *old* version (i.e.,
pre-SP2) of XP Pro. And the problems would arise from performing an
in-place (i.e., not clean install) upgrade over what is currently on
your hard drive. In instances like that, slipstreaming is indicated. But
that isn't your situation; all you need to do is make sure you purchase
a recent (i.e., SP2) disk from a reputable dealer. Feel free to purchase
a full (rather than upgrade) version, but you're arguably just throwing
money away.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Patrick Keenan wrote:
Upgrade versions require one of two things. The first is an
installed qualifying version of Windows, and you are running that
now, so after backing up your data you can just run the upgrade.

The second is proof that you have such a version, and that just
means that you have an installation CD for a qualifying version. As
an example, in the case of drive failure, you install a new hard
drive which obviously has no OS. You boot from the XP Upgrade CD,
and allow it to start Setup. At some point, it will stop and ask
you to insert the old Windows CD. Take out the XP disk, put in the
other one, you will be told when to put the XP disk back in.
This CD can be a version of Win98 (possibly SE needed), ME, 2000, or
XP Home or Media Center Edition.

The catch to this second thing is that your "restore" CD will
probably not work for this, so you'd have to find another qualifying
install CD to borrow for the occasion. You *do* have a license
already, it's just that the way it's packaged may not work for the
upgrade process.

(Excellent post, Patrick!)

Strictly speaking, *does* the OP have the license? That is, isn't his
license for a *specific* branded (Gateway) OEM version of XP Home
(which is physically unable to be used as qualifying media in a
clean-install upgrade)?

Hold up...

I just found the following at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.php :

So what do you do if your OEM CD or Restore disk does not work as
qualifying media? One neat new feature of XP allows one to get around
this problem. First, start the XP clean install from within an
existing qualified install rather then from the XP CD or from a DOS
prompt. When you see the screen that ask what type of install to do,
change "Upgrade (Recommended)" to "New install." You can then select
the existing partition, format it, and do a Clean Install, never
having to insert
your qualifying product CD.

I've done this. It does work.

It means you could, in a pinch, use your "restore" CD, then
immediately wipe it with the XP Upgrade. Waste of time, though.

But still, I can just see Microsoft attorneys claiming that the
customer's license doesn't entitle him to perform an in-place
upgrade, but only a clean install. Is there any actual documentation
to the contrary? I'm aware the upgrade path (in this case) is OEM XP
Home to Retail XP Pro (with either a Full or Upgrade disk). I
*suppose* it's
okay to assume this holds true for *all* OEM versions. Still, I find
it curious that a customer is physically unable to perform an
in-place upgrade unless they obtain yet *another* OEM disk (but one
that is generic OEM!).

You can do the in-place upgrade, you've paid the basic license cost
with the PC.

But you may not be able to use a "restore" CD to qualify a clean
install to a replacement hard disk using an Upgrade CD. You'd have
to either restore with the CD first or get another qualifying CD.

The upgrade install is going to have another license key anyway, and
AFAIK the qualification check does not look for a key.

Are there any instances of specific branded OEM disks able to be
used as (physical) qualifying media when it comes to an in-place
upgrade? If so, I wonder if OP's disk is one of them.

It would only be the case if it was an actual installable CD, that
uses the XP setup routine, not a "restore" CD that installs a
preconfigured image. Those use a different file packaging and what
the qualifier looks for won't be where it's expected.

But if by "in-place upgrade" you mean to an existing, installed
version of XP - one that is already in place - *that* is what the
upgrade checks, not the CD.

I guess my mind took an odd detour back there!

So, for an in-place upgrade, it just checks that a qualifying OS (in
this case, a Gateway-OEM version on XP Home) is on the hard drive.

Or in the CD drive, if the hard drive is bare.

The bottom line seems to be that it wants to see that you are in possession
of a qualifying Windows install or Windows install media.

But...

If a customer wants to perform a clean-install upgrade (for lack of a
better term) with a Retail XP Pro upgrade disk, then he/she needs to
obtain a generic OEM insallation disk. THAT'S what I had wanted to say
before!

If the drive is bare, and if the restore CD won't work.

So the customer already has an OEM license, and it matters not one whit
whether it's a generic OEM disk or a specific branded OEM disk; an OEM
license is an OEM license. Ol korrect?

That's been my experience. At most, OEM CDs lack only a few extras, most
famously ntbackup. As long as they run XP Setup to install (if it's an XP
disk; otherwise any ME or most W98 disks), it seems to work.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Oh my God!

You guys are talking like Microsoft!

Considering that we've just told you some ways to save a fair amount of
money that you would have given to MS, I'll have to disagree on that.

As in... "Just do what I say and all will be well!"

Where exactly did anyone say that?

Can you not see that your assumption level is pretty high?

Actually, no.

How about bringing it down about a half-dozen notches?

How about expanding on what it is that you don't understand?

Please keep in mind that my time in these groups is very limited, and if I
reply to you, there is information in the reply.

I am not computer illiterate. I was probably using them before you were
born!

That may be a rather significant assumption on your part.

However, I've been lead down this primrose path to disaster so many
times in the past by Microsoft that I am more than just a little gun-shy!

So back up your data first. If you need help, ask for it clearly.

If you have a backup of all your data, in the worst case you are no more
than a few hours work (much of which is waiting) from getting back to work
on a brand-new machine.

I NEED to feel that warm and fuzzy feeling that I am doing the right
thing!

There are only two circumstances in which that "warm and fuzzy" feeling is
available.

The first is if you are prepared for the worst and understand your
situation. The second is when you are deluded.

My recommendation is the first. Back up your data and understand why you
are doing what you are doing, before you start.

That means, whether you like it or not, or whether you understand it or
not,
I need desperately to be convinced that I have been adequately informed of
what I have to do!

You have been informed. But no-one else can make you understand that; you
have to do some of the work.

All the information you need is there, and it's pretty clear. If you need
help, explain what it is you need help with.

Perhaps you are not aware that I, personally, am not related in any way with
MS, and am not in any way paid for my time here.

If you need to be convinced that you've been adequately informed, a good
portion of the responsibility for getting to that state rests with you.

And you simply saying so is no better than saying... "The
check is in the mail!"
Can you appreciate where I'm coming from?

No, I can't, unless you can appreciate that you've just had all your
questions answered, in detail, with options, in the format that you
requested.

And I wonder if you can appreciate that nobody's being paid to do this.

If there is something in the reply that you do not understand, it would help
to know what it is.

If you have questions, please ask them clearly. As it is, I have no idea
what it is that you don't understand.

God, I hate Billy and his boys!

Hope this helps.
-pk

 

[Rock]

I’m trying to get the low-down on upgrading from XP-Home w/SP2 to XP-Pro
w/SP2. I’m trying to use a development application that explicitly
requires
that I be a “power user†under XP-Pro. I have Win XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM)
from
Gateway. Thus, I need to upgrade to XP-Pro.

I have Win XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM) from Gateway. As such, I do have a
“restore
disk†but I do not have what I would consider to be an XP-Home
“installation
diskâ€. I’m not sure if my understanding is correct with respect to the
difference between a “restore†and “installation†disk. If for some
reason I
have to reformat the hard-drive, can I use the “restore†disk to reinstall
XP-Home?

Yes, that's what a restore CD is for, though that will also normally install
whatever 3rd party apps the OEM, in this case Gateway, puts in their
installations. Also this is usually a "destructive" restore where any data
and programs on the drive prior to the restore will be lost. To find our
for sure what the recovery CD does and how to restore using it, check the
computer documentation or talk to Gateway tech support.

So, moving on... having gone through all of the earlier threads, I think I
have found the following...

1) Since I have XP-Home w/SP2 (OEM), I can only upgrade to XP-Pro w/SP2
via
Retail Upgrade.

Firstly, all XP Upgrade CDs are retail. There is no OEM upgrade CD.

Secondly, an upgrade CD can do either an in place upgrade, preserving data,
programs and settings, or a clean install, either on a drive where no copy
of windows is installed or on a drive where there is a copy installed. The
in place upgrade is started by running the upgrade CD from the desktop of
the installed, qualifying OS.

One can also do a clean install by running the upgrade CD from the desktop
of the qualifying OS and choosing to do a clean install.

To clean install with an upgrade version on a drive with no OS installed,
boot the upgrade CD, then insert the installation CD for the qualifying OS
in the drive when prompted. In your case you don't have an installation CD,
just a recovery CD, and those are generally not recognized as proof of
ownership for this "shiny media" check, even though the OEM version of XP
you have is a qualifying OS for the use of an upgrade XP Pro CD.

In that case you can either borrow an XP installation CD from someone, and
insert it when asked to show proof of ownership (you do own a qualifying OS
so you are not going around the license by doing this), or with XP Home
installed from your recovery CD, run the upgrade CD from the XP Home desktop
and choose a clean install as I indicated previously.

Thirdly, you can use a full retail XP CD to do either an in place upgrade or
a clean install. The only difference between using a full retail and an
upgrade CD is that for the clean install the full retail doesn't do a "shiny
media check"; since it's a full version you don't have to show proof of
ownership of a qualifying OS.

Lastly, OEM versions cannot do an upgrade, only a clean install.

2) I get the impression that if I can get my hands on a Retail version of
“Upgrade to XP-Pro w/SP2†then I’ll not need to be concerned with
“slipstreamâ€...
Correct.

3) In some cases, I see procedures calling for my AntiVirus applications
to
be simply disabled. In other cases however, I see procedures that call
for
my AntiVirus applications to be uninstalled. This seems to be a
problematic
idea since my AntiVirus applications were purchased on-line and installed
from on-line. I have other apps in the same category. I don’t have
installation disks for those applications. How am I to reinstall those
after
deleting them?

You should always have some means to reinstall any application. What if
your system crashes tonight? What will you do? Usually most on line
purchases involve downloading an installation file that can be saved, with
an option to redownload for a certain period of time, and some offer an
option to get the CD for an additional cost. Didn't you save the
installation file? In any event, aside from this upgrade issue you need to
figure out how you will reinstall all these apps. If could be needed at any
time. Maybe contact the vendors you got them from and find out?

As to whether you should diasble or uninstall the AV, you haven't said what
AV it is, which will have an impact on how easy it is to uninstall it. I
can't give you definitive advice here. Further down I tell you how I would
do it. As an aside I would not use an AV from Norton or McAfee. They are
problematic and resource hogs, and hard to uninstall, but that's a
digression.

4) I’ve seen procedures that call for IE7 to be uninstalled before
installing the XP-Pro upgrade, followed by re-installing IE7. Is it
indeed
the case that the latest distribution of the retail version of the XP-Pro
w/SP2 upgrade comes only with IE6?

Yes, the installation CD has IE6, not IE7. Uninstall IE7 before doing the
upgrade. The reinstall it.

This is very disturbing to me considering
all of the problems I ran into when I originally installed IE7. It took
almost two weeks to get all of the problems fixed.

You'll likely have more problems if you don't remove it first.

5) Then I keep seeing the encouragement to “backup†all of my important
files... just in case. This bothers me.

This comment I don't understand. Why? One should always have a full and
complete backup of important data at all times. Data loss is an issue of
when, not if.

If the upgrade crashes badly
enough... what good are copies of my “important files†in terms of getting
back to square-1?

Isn't the answer obvious here? At least your data files are preserved.

If the upgrade fails badly enough then I’ll probably be
forced to do a full and formal install of XP-Pro w/SP2 (Full Retail).

Or restore XP Home. In either case you'd have to reisntall all apps from
original media and restore data from the backup. Of course if you didn't
make a backup before doing the upgrade then you would loose the data.

But then, I’ll only be able to do that if I purchase the Full Retail
version.

No, as stated above you can do a clean install with an upgrade version.

So... just to be clear... the Full Retail version will allow either an
upgrade or a full install... correct?

Correct, and so will an upgrade version.

In order to cover all possibilities... I’ll have to buy the Full
version... even if the upgrade is
successful... hmmm...

No, an upgrade version will work for you to cover all possibliities.

Can someone please address each of my concerns?

Here's what I would do. Get a drive imaging program and and external hard
drive. I recommend Acronis True Image Home, version 10. Use ATI to image
the current XP Home installation to the external hard drive. This covers
you from a backup standpoint, and allows you to restore this image if
something goes seriously wrong with the upgrade so you can be back running
in about an hour, give or take. The added bonus is ATI can be used for
regular backup after the upgrade.

Also backup important data files by some other means to something other than
the external hard drive, such as copying to CD or using some other backup
program. It's important to have redundancy in backup type and media.

Uninstall the AV program and any 3rd party firewall if you're using one
instead of XP's firewall. Note: I would be using an AV program that
uninstalls cleanly such as Avast which also happens to be free. For 3rd
party firewall there is Sunbelt Software's Kerio Personal Firewall (free and
paid) or Comodo Personal Firewall (free). Some like Zone Alarm (free and
paid). I think the latest versions are too bloated.

If you image before hand, in lieu of uninstalling the AV, you could just
disable it. Having the image which can be quickly restored allows you the
flexibility to try various routes to your end goal. If things don't go well
restore the image and take another approach. I think drive imaging is
indispensible.

Uninstall IE7 from add/remove programs.

Disconnect all non essential peripherals except keyboard, mouse, CD drive,
and monitor. The current XP Home has to be running well with no operational
problems and no malware. Run chkdsk and defrag.

Do the upgrade. Reconnect hardware one item at a time. Reinstall any
drivers. Reinstall AV and firewall. Go to windows update site and install
whatever post SP2 updates it indicates. Do them in batches, no more than
3-5 at a time, testing in between.

Install IE7. See this link for info on installation tips.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks/archive/2006/10/18/182724.aspx

Have fun.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Patrick Keenan wrote:
Upgrade versions require one of two things. The first is an
installed qualifying version of Windows, and you are running that
now, so after backing up your data you can just run the upgrade.

The second is proof that you have such a version, and that just
means that you have an installation CD for a qualifying version. As
an example, in the case of drive failure, you install a new hard
drive which obviously has no OS. You boot from the XP Upgrade CD,
and allow it to start Setup. At some point, it will stop and ask
you to insert the old Windows CD. Take out the XP disk, put in the
other one, you will be told when to put the XP disk back in.
This CD can be a version of Win98 (possibly SE needed), ME, 2000, or
XP Home or Media Center Edition.

The catch to this second thing is that your "restore" CD will
probably not work for this, so you'd have to find another qualifying
install CD to borrow for the occasion. You *do* have a license
already, it's just that the way it's packaged may not work for the
upgrade process.

(Excellent post, Patrick!)

Strictly speaking, *does* the OP have the license? That is, isn't his
license for a *specific* branded (Gateway) OEM version of XP Home
(which is physically unable to be used as qualifying media in a
clean-install upgrade)?

Hold up...

I just found the following at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.php :

So what do you do if your OEM CD or Restore disk does not work as
qualifying media? One neat new feature of XP allows one to get around
this problem. First, start the XP clean install from within an
existing qualified install rather then from the XP CD or from a DOS
prompt. When you see the screen that ask what type of install to do,
change "Upgrade (Recommended)" to "New install." You can then select
the existing partition, format it, and do a Clean Install, never
having to insert
your qualifying product CD.

I've done this. It does work.

It means you could, in a pinch, use your "restore" CD, then
immediately wipe it with the XP Upgrade. Waste of time, though.

But still, I can just see Microsoft attorneys claiming that the
customer's license doesn't entitle him to perform an in-place
upgrade, but only a clean install. Is there any actual documentation
to the contrary? I'm aware the upgrade path (in this case) is OEM XP
Home to Retail XP Pro (with either a Full or Upgrade disk). I
*suppose* it's
okay to assume this holds true for *all* OEM versions. Still, I find
it curious that a customer is physically unable to perform an
in-place upgrade unless they obtain yet *another* OEM disk (but one
that is generic OEM!).

You can do the in-place upgrade, you've paid the basic license cost
with the PC.

But you may not be able to use a "restore" CD to qualify a clean
install to a replacement hard disk using an Upgrade CD. You'd have
to either restore with the CD first or get another qualifying CD.

The upgrade install is going to have another license key anyway, and
AFAIK the qualification check does not look for a key.

Are there any instances of specific branded OEM disks able to be
used as (physical) qualifying media when it comes to an in-place
upgrade? If so, I wonder if OP's disk is one of them.

It would only be the case if it was an actual installable CD, that
uses the XP setup routine, not a "restore" CD that installs a
preconfigured image. Those use a different file packaging and what
the qualifier looks for won't be where it's expected.

But if by "in-place upgrade" you mean to an existing, installed
version of XP - one that is already in place - *that* is what the
upgrade checks, not the CD.

I guess my mind took an odd detour back there!

So, for an in-place upgrade, it just checks that a qualifying OS (in
this case, a Gateway-OEM version on XP Home) is on the hard drive.

But...

If a customer wants to perform a clean-install upgrade (for lack of a
better term) with a Retail XP Pro upgrade disk, then he/she needs to
obtain a generic OEM insallation disk. THAT'S what I had wanted to say
before!

Or can you *borrow* a full XP-Home, Windows 2000 or Windowsw NT disk from
somewhere (either in full or upgrade versions). You can then do a clean
install. You don't need to install the dorrowed OS, just show XP-Pro the
disk when it asks for it.

 

[Daave]

At most, OEM CDs lack only a few extras, most famously
ntbackup.

FWIW, my OEM (Dell CD) does have ntbackup. I wasn't aware that other OEM
CDs lack it.