Upgrading Windows XP Home to Windows XP Pro

Many home PC users have Windows XP Home edition installed on their PC instead of the more robust Windows XP Professional.  For most home PC users, this is not an issue.  However, you may run into some programs that will not install on Windows XP Home edition, or find that when you try to do some home networking, that Windows XP Home just doesn't allow you to do what you need to do.  Do not despair, you don't have to go buy a new computer.  There are options.

You may chose to upgrade Windows XP Home to Windows XP Pro.  To do this, simply buy Windows XP Pro Upgrade. You probably will not be able to find this in retail stores anymore as of the date this article is published, so you will probably have to go to Ebay to find it. If you own a fairly new computer however, I'd recommend simply going straight to Windows 7.


If you have installed any service packs, you MUST uninstall them first and reboot before installing the upgrade. 

Instructions:

Things You'll Need:


Windows XP Professional CD
Product key

Step 1 - Insert the Windows XP Professional disc into the CD/DVD-ROM drive on your computer. Restart your computer.

Step 2 - Press any key to start Windows XP from the installation CD when you see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message.

Step 3 - Press "Enter" on the Welcome Screen to begin the Windows XP setup. Read the Microsoft Software License Terms, and press "F8" to confirm. Follow the guided prompts and select the partition (drive) to install the operating system to. Windows formats the partition. Click "Next."

Step 4 - Type your name and your organization name if your system is a work computer. Click "Next." Enter the 25-digit Windows XP Professional product key that came with your disc and click "Next."

Step 5 - Type the computer name and an administrator password. Type the password again to confirm and click "Next." Select the date and time zone on the "Date and Time Settings" window and click "Next."

Step 6 - Click "Next" again on the "Network Settings" window and click "Next" again on the "Workgroup or Computer Domain" window. Windows XP spends about 20 to 30 minutes configuring and setting up your computer will automatically restart when finished. Click "OK" when you see the "Display Settings" dialog box.

Step 7 - Click "OK" again when you see the "Monitor Settings" dialog box. Follow the final guided prompts to activate your Windows XP system.



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There is also a supposed hack, which I have not tried and would not recommend unless you are willing to take the risk.  This hack is for advanced users or very adventurous ones! The details are here in this link:

http://gizmodo.com/105486/howto-change-windows-xp-home-to-windows-xp-pro