How should I install WinXP RC2 on my system?

[Oyeve]

Ok, I just got my Windows XP RC2 Home edition and Pro versions. I want to install it on my laptop that has Windows ME and Windows 2000 Pro already on it. When I attempt to install the Home Edition it says it cannot upgrade. When I attempt to install the Pro version it says I can upgrade my current version of windows (I attempted both times within Win2k). I thought the Home edition of XP was like Win2k pro and the XP pro was like Win2k server. How should I install windows XP (whichever version) on a WinMe/Win2k system WITHOUT losing any data? Thanks.

 

[Noriaki]

WinXP Pro is very Similar to Win2k Pro.

WinXP Home is a stripped down version of Pro that will replace WinME as the main consumer OS.

There will be Win2002 Server, A.Server, D.C.Server to replace the appropriate versions of Win2000 Servers.

WinXP Home can upgrade from Win98 or ME, not 2000.
I would not recommend an upgrade install from WinME to WinXP....totally different kernel...totally different everything actually.

WinXP Pro can upgrade from WinNT4 or 2000.
2000 to XP isn't a huge jump, and upgrade would probably be safe, though I wouldn't do it personally...

But Win2000 Pro to WinXP Pro is the only upgrade I would even attempt.


Win2000 Pro to XP Home won't work, and WinME to XP Home isn't a good idea. That's like an ugprade from Win3.11 to WinME....it will make a huge mess of everything, incompatible drivers, different config file formats, different directory names....just don't do it.

 

[Oyeve]

Thanks Noriaki. I was swaying toward the WinXP Pro upgrade from 2000. I need to test a bunch of HW and apps for my job but the cheap bastards wont give me another laptop! Thanks again.