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Ok everyone I need to know for sure, Can you take a machine (in my case a laptop a VP purchased urgggg) and upgrade it with XP Pro without reloading the entire thing. I Have the full version of pro purchased, just would rather not have to reload from scratch (rather the VP would rather not) TIA
Though it's not the recommended route, I don't see why not. That's not to say it will install and run without a hitch (after all, it is microsoft we are talking about) but the worst that happens is it gets screwed up trying to upgrade, and you have to reload from scratch.
So back up the important data first . . . . just in case.
I would ghost, try it and then if it goes well then you are fine if not then you always have the ghost image
If it is still under warrantee, contact the manufacturer, and see if they will give you a new preload HD, offer to pay the OS cost difference, then pop in the new drive, and send them the old one. Also, the laptop may have an Image CD, one with XP pro. Maybe the manufacturer will send you that. It is worth the 10-minute hold time to find out...
I found what I was looking for here
<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q292607" target="_blank">Microsoft Upgrade Info</a>
Thanks for all your help, and i will definetly back everything up before trying the upgrade, also I tried to talk them into contacting there respective manufacturers and asking for the upgrade but to no luck. The XP Pro is already purchased so that is the route they are going to have to take now.
Yes it can be done. I just did it about 2 weeks ago. Everything went smooth as silk. In fact somehow I even ended up with more disk space on C then I had before. And it went oh so clean too. Better than I expected. You should have absolutely no problem. And for more info on the differences between the 2, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp" target="_blank">check this out.</a>