Upgrading from XP Home to XP Pro - what is the cost?

[MrEgo]

I know this question belongs in the Operating Systems forum, but I don't have access to that forum.

I'm just wondering if there is a cheaper way to upgrading XP Home to XP Pro than buying the $200 retail copy? It doesn't make much sense to me that you can buy a full OEM version for $140.

Would the OEM full version support an upgrade?

I also heard something about a step upgrade from Microsoft, but I'm not finding any information about that, either 🙁

Thanks in advance!

 

[mechBgon]

OEM doesn't support upgrading. You'd need to back up your stuff, reinstall, and then reinstall your programs and import your files & settings. If you want to buy an OEM WinXP license, don't wait too much longer...

You shouldn't be having trouble accessing the Operating Systems forum, so if that problem persists, you might want to post in Technical Forum Issues to bring it up.

 

[MrEgo]

Thanks for the suggestions, Mech.

Also, is there such a thing as the XP Step Upgrade? It seems kind of silly to pay $200 to upgrade from Windows XP Home to Pro, and I would think there would be a cheaper way to go about doing it.

If it were me, I'd much prefer to just wipe the system clean and reinstall using an OEM copy, but my customer doesn't want to go that route. He's determined to just get upgraded from Home to Pro.

 

[mechBgon]

As far as I know of, the only ways to upgrade from XP Home to XP Pro are (1) using a full-meal-deal retail WinXP Pro license, or (2) using a WinXP Pro Upgrade retail license, and as you saw, both of those are more expensive than an OEM XP Pro license is.

 

[Newbian]

You will probably be better waiting for Windows 7 instead of bothering with XP at this time frame.