XP Home > Pro confusion 4

[nelljack]

I have checked with several different computer techies on upgrading Home > Pro and I get several diff answers to what has to be done and used.

Some say I have to get XP PRO OEM(?), whatever that is. Then I have to go thru MS to get an OK to upgrade, get a new number/registration code(?), or something like that, before the upgrade can be put on the computer.

Others say buy the full version of Pro and reformat/install. This too requires going thru MS to get an OK to upgrade, get a new number/registration code(?), or something like that.

Would someone out there give me a straight answer? I do not want to muck with MS on the phone as I've been ripped of by them before (no lie, credit card bill shows it).

 

[gargouille]

May as well get the real deal from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/insider/rebates/detail.asp?productrebateid=269

As for the credit card charges...you had no recourse thru the bank that issued the card to contest the charge?
(Ignore if too personal a question)

 

[nelljack]

Thanks for your reply. I'll check out the link.

The bank took care of it. AFTER a month or so! MS did the
same to many others too from what I hear. The company made mucho bucks just off the interest. Even crediting back what they over/double charged did not hurt MS in the long run. Sorry to bend your ear but you asked.

No further replies needed. I might just buy another hdd and start over. Maybe even put 98SE on instead.

 

[nelljack]

gargouille, just fyi, the link above is only for those who have purchased a new machine and have purchased XP Pro upgrade within 30 days.

There is nothing related to the question I asked. But thanks for trying anyway.

Maybe I'll try one more time.
1. To upgrade Home to Pro what package do I need, and if Service paks are needed, how many am I behind on?

2. Does one really have to go thru MS to get some kind of number/secret code/registration#/? or what? It does not make since to do all of this on the same machine installed and registered with XP Home.

3. What is this OEM the techies are talking about? Isn't it just the upgrade, or is it another MS rip-off-the-user bit to pay some more money?

4. If MS "has" to be called on the phone (which takes forever to get thru then costs an arm/leg in long distance charges), is there a 800 number for this?

Any help I can get will be appreciated.

 

[Scotsdude]

Its called activation, and you can do it over the net. Basically, when you install XP Home or Pro yourself (ie - not already preinstalled by the manufacturer) you get 30 days to activate or XP stops working. Supposed to stop piracy, apparently.

You're only behind by one on the service pack side.

I'd have to say get the full version of Xp Pro and reformat/reinstall, cos in the long run, upgrades tend to leave a lot of problems in their wake....

hope this helps.... Scotsdude
Help us help you - let us know when our insane scribblings help!!

 

[cdogg]

First, are you sure you need WinXP Pro? Go here to help decide:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing.asp

Here is a general overview of the "activation" process:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...sxp/home/using/productdoc/en/WPA_overview.asp

It doesn't say what the number is, but it does mention that it will be a "toll free" number displayed on the screen. So, you have the option of activating it over the phone or over the internet, but you must activate it within 30 days.

OEM is the "bulk license" version. It's typically what you find on pre-built pc's from vendors like Dell and Gateway. OEM is cheaper because it lacks technical support from Microsoft. ~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[linney]

If you have a CD of a qualifying product ( Windows 98, ME or even XP Home) a purchased Upgrade version of XP Pro will be able to perform any clean install of XP Pro (not just an upgrade install). It will ask for a qualifying product during Setup to check that you qualify for an upgrade, having checked your old CD, it will continue on its merry way and install XP Pro onto a clean formatted hard drive.

You might as well save some money and not purchase a full version of XP Pro if you have a qualifying product CD. This is the only difference between an upgrade and full version (besides the price).

After installation (or within 30 days) the operating system will use any internet access you have to activate XP. There is no need to ring Microsoft.

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and are machines like HP or Dell where the operating system is pre-installed. and if your lucky you are supllied a Recovery CD (which by the way is not acceptable as a qualifying product for upgrading from Microsoft CD's). Sometimes all OEM's supply is a recovery partition on the hard drive.

 

[NucomMat]

I feel that I need to clarify what an OEM Version of a MS OS is. What Dell, HP, Compaq and larger venders sell is not truely an OEM license. They produce their own recovery media or disk image that is shipped with the new computer. A standard OEM copy of an OS is simply a Microsoft ETE cd, and comes with a COA sticker-just like the ones that come on the major brands, but you will notice on the major brands the company name appears on the COA, but on an OEM sticker it states "OEM-MICROSOFT". OEM desktop operating systems must be sold with a qualifying non-perpherial hardware device, but do not have to be sold with an entire new PC, but if it is, then it must be preinstalled and the end user must accept the EULA. If you do not have a license like Dell,ect..then you must provide both the COA and the ETE cd as recovery media, as you are not permitted to image the disk for recovery. As the provider of a OEM license, you must provide all technical support for the operating system to the end user, not Microsoft, and those terms of support are up to the vendor, as since the OS can be sold with just hardware, and the vendor may have not installed the OS, they are not required by MS to support any technical issues that the end user may encounter, nor will MS offer any support, except on a pay-per-incident basis.

If you purchase the upgrade of XP from Home to Pro, you will need to accept a new EULA, and this is done during the install by typing in the code that comes with the new OS, once the PC is up and running you will use the internet to "Activate" the OS, if this is the first time this code is used, there will be no problem with it activating, and you will not have to talk to Microsoft. If you reinstall your OS, and make a major hardware change, then you will have to call Microsoft, and it is painless and is a toll free number, and total time should be less than 10 minutes, you will follow the promts from their phone support, get transfered to a live operator, who will ask why you are calling, then ask for the numbers that appear on the screen in front of, they will give you a code to type in and you are done. It's a very simple process and nothing to worry about if you have a legal COA.

-Mat

 

[nelljack]

Kudos to everyone. Thanks for your input.

Linney, in regards to your reply about "clean installs" above
are you saying I should reformat, reinstall Home then the Pro upgrade?

If so, I need to make a list of all my apps I want to put back
on and get the CDs out.

Thanks again all. By the way, I might be gone a few days.

 

[Scotsdude]

Nah, you don't need to install XP Home again, what Linney means is that you reformat your hard drive, shove the upgrade copy of XP Pro into the machine and letit do its stuff. At some point it will ask for a "qualifying product". Simply bang in the CD for XP Home (you may have to point setup in the direction if the CD drive) and thats you, cos setup will check the CD, verify it, and then ask for the the XP pro CD to be reinserted to continue with the installation. Scotsdude
Help us help you - let us know when our insane scribblings help!!

 

[nelljack]

Thanks all. I have made up my mind in what to do.