Can we upgrade to XP Pro from MCE?

[WildViper]

These are two questions sort of.

I am about to buy a laptop that comes with MCE. My company softwares require XP Pro to be installed. So I was thinking of installing over the MCE.

First off, is that do-able? Is it recommended?

Secondly, I would rather delete all the MCE and clean install, but not sure if I need any of the drivers that the Toshiba laptop comes with...trackpad special features and so on. Anyone know if Toshiba's come with disk to replace its software without OS?

Thanx

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

Personally, I would leave MCE on there. It's just Windows XP Pro with some enhanced applications and drivers. turn off the Multimedia stuff and don't start up the MCE menu and you have a fine XP Pro system.

 

[keeleysam]

Try installing the company software on MCE. 99% chance it'll work.

 

[mechBgon]

To answer the title question: nope, MCE doesn't qualify as a baseline for upgrading to XP Pro. And if your company has a domain and this laptop is supposed to be a domain member, then I'd get the laptop with XP Pro to start with, and be done with it.

 

[RebateMonger]

Don't buy a laptop with MCE installed if your office requires XP Professional. You'll have to install XP Professional from scratch. It'll take HOURS of work to install XP Professional and to locate and install all the drivers you need.

MCE isn't upgradeable to XP Professionall, either legally nor practically. There's a patch for joining MCE to a Domain, but's difficult to perform and it's not clear whether it still works nor whether it will be reliable over the long term.

 

[networkman]

The answer to your question straight from Microsoft.

 

[Raduque]

Text

 

[networkman]

Being able to join a domain is one small piece. Typically most domains also have various permissions and GPOs in place to control joined machines; given that Microsoft did not intend for MCE to be joining a domain in the first place, I have to wonder what the effects are going to be for a so joined MCE-based station?