Need to upgrade Windows XP Home to Pro

[Crucial]

I need to upgrade a number of desktop and laptop computers to Windows XP Pro. They all have OEM installs of Windows XP Home from their respective manufaturers(Dell, etc.) I assume that purchasing an upgrade version of XP Pro would work but I am looking for the cheapest way to do this. I have heard of a "step up" program from MS that allows you to go from Home to Pro but I can't find any official info on this at MS's site.

My main questions are can XP Home OEM be upgraded to XP Pro using an XP Pro upgrade disk, and is this the cheapest way to do te upgrade. Thanks for any help given.

 

[Crucial]

anybody?

 

[arbytech]

Crucial

I haven't heard of any 'step up' programs but I think you should be able to run a XP Pro upgrade with no problem. You would need to shop around for prices they seem to vary as well as the legitimacy of some of the vendors. You could possibly talk to a vendor that offers licensing agreements, if you have enough PCs to upgrade it might make it cheaper (i.e. CDW).

Sorry for the rather generic response.

 

[compudog]

Check out the MS Licensing. I just bought 13 copies of XP Pro Upgrade at $129 per license plus $27 for the media kit. It depends on how many machine you have to upgrade. I think you need at least 10 to get in the Open License program. I would not recommend the Software Assurance though as it's only good for 2 years and I don't think the next version of Windows is going to be release in two years.

 

[Crucial]

Do you have any links to information on how to sign up for the Open Liscense program? I have no idea how to go about ordering this stuff in volume. I have always stuck to buying OEM 3 packs for the PC's I build.

 

[Shogun]

Yes you can use the Pro Upgrade version with WinXP Home Edition.

 

[PlatinumGold]

hmmm, i always thought you couldn't upgrade XP Home to XP Pro.

 

[bacillus]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
hmmm, i always thought you couldn't upgrade XP Home to XP Pro.

the upgrade is doable!

 

[compudog]

Originally posted by: Crucial
Do you have any links to information on how to sign up for the Open Liscense program? I have no idea how to go about ordering this stuff in volume. I have always stuck to buying OEM 3 packs for the PC's I build.

Please go HERE for all the info you need on Open License. You will need to pick a reseller, but most are very easy to deal with.

 

[corkyg]

[/quote]the upgrade is doable![/quote]

Absolutamente! I've done it several times.

 

[KoolDrew]

Whats the point of upgrading from Home to Pro anyway? Theres not much stuff new except for networking options and the groupe editor

 

[sduguid]

Perhaps he needs the ability to log into a domain, or the ability to use Remote Desktop. There's lots of reasons XP Pro could be required

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: sduguid
Perhaps he needs the ability to log into a domain, or the ability to use Remote Desktop. There's lots of reasons XP Pro could be required

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: compudog

Originally posted by: Crucial
Do you have any links to information on how to sign up for the Open Liscense program? I have no idea how to go about ordering this stuff in volume. I have always stuck to buying OEM 3 packs for the PC's I build.

Please go HERE for all the info you need on Open License. You will need to pick a reseller, but most are very easy to deal with.

The link is just http:// I eagerly await your reply.

 

[compudog]

My bad! Sorry. Here is the link to MS Open License Program Search the list or resellers for the best deal.

 

[islandtechengineers]

hey just keep in mind to save yourself in case of an audit (yes it could happen), Keep the upgrade license with the home license for that pc. since it's an upgrade, MS requires you to have the original license aloh the upgrade license to make it one product/ to make the upgrade legit.

 

[compudog]

Originally posted by: islandtechengineers
hey just keep in mind to save yourself in case of an audit (yes it could happen), Keep the upgrade license with the home license for that pc. since it's an upgrade, MS requires you to have the original license aloh the upgrade license to make it one product/ to make the upgrade legit.

What I did in my case was to leave the COA stickers from the original OS on each machine. With the Open License program, you don't get a COA sticker for each license. All you get is a link to a website where you can get your install key. The install key is used to install the product on as many machines as you have a license for. There is no activation for the Open License product.