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Can XP Pro oem version be upgraded to Server 2003 or Longhorn in the future?

S

Socio

Golden Member
I am about to buy Windows XP Pro for another machine and the cheapest route is a OEM version. On the site that I want to purchase it from it said " OEM version can not be used for upgrades" so I am looking for some clarification. Does "not usable for upgrades mean upgrading windows 98 to XP or does it mean you can not upgrade it to Server 2003 or Longhorn when it is released?
 
OEM versions are fine for upgrades. The only differences between OEM software and retail is:

1. You don't receive documentation with OEM software.
2. You don't receive support for OEM software.
3. You must by OEM software with a suitable piece of hardware.

XP Pro -> Server 2003 is not a valid upgrade path, regardless of whether you buy retail or OEM. 2003 is a server operating system, whereas XP is a workstation operating system.
 
Ok Thanks!

I found Full version of XP Pro with SP1a OEM for only $119.00 my only worry now is if it is real and not some pitated crap, I will go ahead order it and see when it gets here.

Thanks agaain.
 
AFAIK Longhorn will require a clean isntall. meaning oyu cant upgrade previous OSes to Longhorn. Thats what I've read about it
 
2003 Server is a server OS; the only versions of Windows that it will do an upgrade install on are NT 4 Server and 2000 Server. XP is a desktop OS so there is no upgrade path from it to 2003 Server.

As for Longhorn: Right now the pre-alpha builds of Longhorn require a clean install, but this is absolutly to be expected this early in the development process. Just like NT 4 Workstation/NT 4 Server, 2000 Professional/2000 Server and XP Professional/2003 Server Microsoft plans on both client and server releases of the next version of Windows that evolves off the Longhorn codebase (right now the Longhorn codebase hasnt even developed far enough along that they are able to split the 2 apart). When Longhorn is RTM (which wont happen for at least a couple of years) it wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft sets up the install routines so that the desktop version of Longhorn will do an upgrade install of XP and the server version of Longhorn will do an upgrade install of 2003 Server (but now I'm just speculating).

The question you need to be asking yourself is what role will this new machine be playing? If it will be a desktop machine than purchase XP; if it will be a server than purchase 2003 Server.

-Erik
 
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