Is Windows XP Home same as Pro?

[Starrx05]

I'm ordering a Dell laptop and wondering if XP Home is really the same as Pro. Someone told me it has same features but MS disabled in its installation files and if you know you can enable it back, re-burn the CD and get XP Pro. Also, is XP Media Center like Home or Pro in term of built-in features except having those extra multimedia apps that you may not need? I never used XP Home or MC so I don't really know how fast or stable it is compared to Pro or if it lacks any features. Upgrade cost from Home to MC is about $25, and to Pro is about $75. Thanks for all advices, insights.

 

[DaiShan]

XP home cannot join a domain, so if you plan on using this at work, opt for the pro, if it is purely a home computer and will never have the need to join a domain, go with the home version and save some dough.

 

[BW86]

Search before you ask
and this is like 1 out of 100000000000000

 

[Aluvus]

No, there is no way to activate the features that are not part of Home. "Someone" is probably thinking of reactivating the ability to join domains in Media Center, which is the primary feature it lacks that Pro has. And even that takes some doing, and has its drawbacks.

Home/Media Center/Pro are all equally stable and etc., they simply have different feature sets.

 

[keeleysam]

While it is possible to enable some of the Pro features in Home, it breaks the EULA, and is illegal.

And it's a huge pain to do.

If you want Pro, get Pro.