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Helmling · Nov 25, 2006, 01:39 PM

Errr...frickin' Microsoft.

So here's what happened: I have an old XP Pro license without SP2. So I thought, "hey, no problem, I'll borrow an up-to-date XP CD and just feed it the license number for the Pro copy when it asks. No problemo.

Well, si problemo.

It wouldn't take the license code, of course, so I ended up using my brother-in-law's code to finish the XP Home install. I should've just gone to the trouble of slipstreaming the patch onto the XP Pro copy, but by the time it asked for the number I was 80% done, so I thought I'd finish it and see if there's a work around.

So here's my question:

Can I upgrade the XP Home I've installed to Pro and get it to take the correct license code?

Anyone know?

Spliffdaddy · Nov 25, 2006, 02:28 PM

Upgrading from Previous Versions of Windows to Windows XP Home Edition

according to Microsoft, yes you can 'upgrade' from Home to Pro.

There is no 'upgrade version' of XP Pro, however. On certain Dell & HP computers it *was* possible to upgrade the preinstalled XP Home within the 1st 30 days of ownership - but you had to buy XP Pro, then Microsoft would rebate $75 to you.

So, all indications are that you *can* upgrade XP Home to XP Pro without having to do a completely new installation. It should accept the new XP Pro serial key.

Helmling · Nov 25, 2006, 02:31 PM

ok...I guess I'll just try putting in the CD and hope for the best.

Thanks.

Spliffdaddy · Nov 25, 2006, 02:37 PM

good luck

Helmling · Nov 25, 2006, 02:47 PM

No luck...it won't "upgrade" to an older version. So, unless someone else has a better idea, I'm going to try slipstreaming the Pro CD.

Helmling · Nov 25, 2006, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Helmling

No luck...it won't "upgrade" to an older version. So, unless someone else has a better idea, I'm going to try slipstreaming the Pro CD.

Ok, another question:

Does it even matter? I mean, from a legal stand point I'm ok. So what exactly could happen from using the same product key as someone else?

ghporter · Nov 25, 2006, 04:00 PM

Slipstream the old Pro CD. It's easy, the disc key matches the content (slipstreaming won't change that), and when you're done you'll have a working install disc that doesn't require hundreds of megabytes of update just to be close to current. The SP2 package (quite large!) is free to download-see the link to it in the Slipstreaming thread above (the first post has it).

You CANNOT use the product key from "version A" of a Windows product when trying to install "version B." It will NOT work. The keys are not simply random numbers; they come in a variety of series, with each series working for one particular kind of Windows distribution. If you happen to have two different discs with the same kind of Windows distro on them then it MAY not make a difference if you use one disc's key with the other disc. The license is VERY specific-you have a key that is for ONE particular kind of distribution so using it for a different distribution is NOT in compliance with the license. Slipstream away!

Helmling · Nov 26, 2006, 09:20 AM

I thought I'd get away with using the Pro key with the Home edition because I used to swap Office keys all the time. I guess Microsoft got smarter about their keys since then. I don't deal with MS much. Once iWork '07 comes out I will purge the last Microsoft from my system. All this hullabaloo is for my brother-in-law's machine. It's his Pro license.

And slipstreaming does not look at all "easy." God, I hate Windows.

spice003 · Nov 26, 2006, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Helmling

No luck...it won't "upgrade" to an older version. So, unless someone else has a better idea, I'm going to try slipstreaming the Pro CD.

should of done that in the first plase.

ghporter · Nov 26, 2006, 12:55 PM

The simplest way to slipstream is to use the slipstreaming tool built into the SP2 file itself. Read here the instructions here. It really is simple, but it does take a bit of arranging.

pixelbaker · Nov 26, 2006, 04:03 PM

Slipstreaming is not a big deal at all. Maybe it just looks that way to me because I'm a veteran-windows-turned-mac user.

Here's the guide: Slipstreamed Windows XP CD Using SP2
Here's the SP2 Administrative install package: Download details: Windows XP Service Pack 2 for IT Professionals and Developers

If you need help, there's plenty to be found right here on the forums or give me a PM.

ghporter · Nov 26, 2006, 04:37 PM

Note that slipstreaming using SP2 will take some time-the utility in the package updates every single little file that got touched in an update through SP2, so there will be much drive activity. But it really IS simple to do.

Helmling · Nov 26, 2006, 09:33 PM

Weird, I read lots of directions online and they all mentioned outside utilities and had about a million steps. None of them said there was a utility built in to SP2. Well, I guess we'll do that then.

Thanks.