Upgrade from home to pro with DELL OEM CD

[Check]

Can I upgrade from XP home to XP Pro using my Dell OEM cd when it prompts me in the XP install? Or do I have to fork out the extra cash and buy a full version from Newegg?

 

[engineereeyore]

if the dell cd is xp pro, you should be fine. OEM differs primarily in the fact that you don't have all the extra crap that comes with the retail version, and believe me, you're not missing anything. OEM or retail, it doesn't matter. just as long as the cd and product key say pro, you should be fine.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
OEM differs primarily in the fact that you don't have all the extra crap that comes with the retail version,

That's not what Microsoft says though!
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/YourPC_do.mspx

From that link:
Another common misconception is that you can transfer a preinstalled or OEM copy of Windows from an "old" machine to a new machine. An OEM software license may not be transferred from and old machine to a new machine?even if that machine is no longer in use. The OEM license is tied to the machine on which it was originally installed and can't be transferred to other machines.

 

[MadScientist]

As I understand it, the Dell's OEM Win XP CD that comes with a Dell computer is linked to the bios of that computer. It will install on another computer with a different bios but as soon as you boot up into Windows it will tell you that you have 30 days to activate it.