To Windows xp or not to Windows xp

[kcfansallee]

For a home computer should someone stick with the Home version? I had been told by a computer builder that he thought XP Pro had less bugs in it than Home version. Any thoughts?

Also which ever I decide to go with, what are thoughts on the Upgrade vs Full version. I will be going from 98 to the wonderful world of XP. Thanks for any advice.

[confus-ed]

XP home & professional are pretty much what they say .. home has limited networking capabailities essentially being a 'trimmed' version of Pro which is really more suited to business environments which are most probably networked.

No more or less bugs in either, but I suppose technically since home has less stuff, it therefore must have less bugs !

If money's not a problem always full, upgrade gives the same but potentially more snafus with any installing or re-installing.

Now the killer, why do you want to upgrade? - because in all honesty I've still to see someone demonstate any 'significant' advantage of XP for Home use over a fully patched up & working version of 98 (especially se). No doubt many other memebers will have their own thoughts on this ....

[craigmodius]

I think Pro is the way to go just because it has the options that aren't available in home. And when you find you need one of those things you might kick yourself for not spending the extra $$$.

Microsoft has these questions to ask to decide which version.

the full version vs. update I'm going to leave to someone else to answer because I mainly deal with preinstalled systems in a corporate environment and a field tech, or PC shop tech can give you a better perspective on the ins and outs of the install process.

but my vote is for full for the reasons confus-ed points out. and the money issue falls back to the reason of when you hit that 'snafu' then once again you might kick yourself for not spending the extra $$$

[Ya_know]

Well, what are your intentions with this OS, and what are the system specs of the PC?

If you never, ever intend to log into a domain, XP home upgrade can be had for less than $90, where an OEM version of XP Pro will cost you $140. For that $50 difference you can get a nice CDRW, and some disks, so I say go with home.

However, if you want a little more versatility, go with the Pro. Security is a little easier to work with for network sharing in a peer to peer, plus you can always add the PC to a domain later should your needs change.

[TripleRLtd]

First off, kcfan's tech said Pro had less bugs.
Which, of course is ridiculous.
Secondly, I need to ask how much experience do you kc have with computers and operating systems?
This applies since an upgrade will take a couple of hours of work before you even start the upgrade process, being as how you need to strip 98 down before upgrading.
That is the way to go if you are a techy.
Full install will wipe your pc of 98 and give you a squeeky clean install, but know that you will have to reinstall all your programs, and be careful to save all your docs or other critical data b4 you do so in either scenario!!
Either way you go, use the upgrade advisor to prepare you b4 you do anything!!
Also, XP is the best OS MS has come out with to date!!!
Without question!!!
A fully patched 98se does NOT compare.
Good luck.

[Ya_know]

Also, XP is the best OS MS has come out with to date!!!
Without question!!!
A fully patched 98se does NOT compare.
Good luck.

Good God! this can't be!!! We agree on something!

Oh damn, the end of the world is near!

[TripleRLtd]

Good God! this can't be!!! We agree on something!

Oh damn, the end of the world is near!

But no Ya_Know.
The end is at hand when you, I, confus-ed and Cleetus all agree on something!!!

[Ya_know]

But no Ya_Know.
The end is at hand when you, I, confus-ed and Cleetus all agree on something!!!

Don't forget the Doc. Naa, we have a better chance aligning the planets...

[geoscomp]

Upgrades of existing problems always end up with problems..but as far as which one to purchase, upgrade or full..you can do a clean install with an upgrade version the same as you can with a full version..It will just look at your current install before giving you the opportunity to format the partition and install. Save yourself the 100 or so bucks and buy the upgrade.

[DocPC]

Don't forget the Doc. Naa, we have a better chance aligning the planets...

I will agree to disagree...

That is all.

[kato2274]

Upgrades of existing problems always end up with problems..but as far as which one to purchase, upgrade or full..you can do a clean install with an upgrade version the same as you can with a full version..It will just look at your current install before giving you the opportunity to format the partition and install. Save yourself the 100 or so bucks and buy the upgrade.

yep you only need to have a qualifying product . . . . . a windows 98 cd will do just fine. . . . . . just pop it in the drive when it tells you it can't find a qualifying product, and you can then install XP fresh. for one extra step in the install process it's worth the money saved. . . . . and if you're smart you'll image your drive with either ghost, drive image or something similar after you've got your install updated with windows updates, service packs and got all your base applications / games installed. . . . . . you won't have to run setup again. . . . just make sure you keep your data (my documents, mp3s *cough*porn*cough*) on another partition

[TripleRLtd]

Upgrades of existing problems always end up with problems.

True enough, but he never made mention of "existing problem".
When I upgrade an os of course any and all problems or potential problems are gone, and then the upgrade comes.
Which is why I asked him how much xp he had with computers.

This applies since an upgrade will take a couple of hours of work before you even start the upgrade process, being as how you need to strip 98 down before upgrading.
That is the way to go if you are a techy.

[kcfansallee]

confus-ed : No reason really to switch other that, looks like everything is slowly getting forced to XP, all my relative puters are XP. Thought it would make it easyer to help them if I knew where to look on that crazy OS.


Ya_know : The OS is for my first build. Don't know anything about Domains, so don't believe I will be on one. And if most think Home is just as good, but with out the bells and security stuff. Than Home fits more into my Budget. System will be Soyo Dragon+ mobo, AMD 2100 CPU, 256 mb ram , CDr drive, the Harddrive and OS are my last things to wrap it up. I do have 98 disk that I have on my current computer.

TripleRLtd : My experience with computers , well not as much as I wished I had. This is my first build so I kinda need things to go as smooth as possible. Now you say a couple hrs. work before you can upgrade, does this still apply if it is on a new Harddrive?

kato2274 : Now you make the upgrade process sound not so bad. I have been looking at other posts on this Norton Ghost, sounds like a good program. Is it hard to figure out. But we really don't need to get in to Ghost here, I plan on asking more on it in another thread.

Thanks for all the advice on this, keep them coming if you have any more.

DS

[Duke of Rezin]

I would only do the upgrade if you have the original os original installation cd. If your hard drive dies, you will left with a useless upgrade cd.

[TripleRLtd]

.
TripleRLtd : My experience with computers , well not as much as I wished I had. This is my first build so I kinda need things to go as smooth as possible. Now you say a couple hrs. work before you can upgrade, does this still apply if it is on a new Harddrive?
DS

No,not at all.
When you said upgrade, it sounded as if you were going to upgrade your current PC.
With a new build and a "fresh" install of XP, you get the best of all worlds:
>No lingering problems
>Responsive system.
>No issues.
Now you can just use Home edition upgrade and boot from it.
It will ask for a previous version of windows so have the cd handy.
Before you get on the internet, whatever way you plan on doing it, have your firewall working.
Beware MSBlast.
It will get a non updated system within minutes.
Then, do all the critical updates.
In fact, download for later install b4 you even get on the internet.
And, GOOD LUCK.
Your first PC, huh?
Future tech in the house!!!