As I'm sure many of you know I am running a pre-release version of windows xp pro. I am hanging in the balance as to whether I sould go for home editon or pro. I also do not want to go throught the hernia of reinstalling me and xp with maxtors overlay bios because my motherboard doesn't recocnise my 80 gb hdd!

my question is:

can I install a retail copy of xp pro or xp home over the pre-release?

I had a mecer computer that came with xp home and I still have the xp home cd, but it says MECER PC'S ONLY, If I ignore that will it still work on mine, which is not a mecer, or does it have some way of telling if it a mecer or not?

Thanks Again for all your help! :tup:

Rikkelz :hdspin:

each has thier own opinion on upgrading or clean install. i would go for a clean install mainly cos you get a clean registry, just make sure you have all the xp drivers before you start. xp home against xp pro ?..can't help on that as i haven't used home edition but xp pro (corperate edtion) has given me no problems (so far). :tup:

Thanks Mate! I'll just wait 4 some advice on Home vs. Pro. and if I can install over xp pro build 2505.

Thanks Again,

Rikkelz :tup:

First off, the pre-released XP contains many bugs that may integrate into your newly installed XP. That's what you don't want to happen and that's why MS always advises its customers to do a clean install.

Now it seems that you have both Home and Pro versions. In everyday uses, you won't notice the differences b/w the 2, except the logon screen when you boot up and perhaps the XP screen saver if you ever use it at all. But XP Pro gives you more security and networking features so if you can go with the better one, why settle with the lesser?

Your mobo doesn't support more than 80GB, which means it is a bit old (at least the BIOS is). Have you checked the mobo website to see if there is a BIOS update? Can you give more info on your system so that others can give you more accurate inputs?

Bios type: Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG

Bios Date: 08/23/99

Bios Id: 08/23/1999-SiS-620-2A6INPNAC-00

OEM sign on: BS61B-A BIOS Ver:1.2

Super IO: ITE 8661/SiS 6801 rev 6 found at port 279h

Chipset: SiS 620 rev 2.

Thanks! I have home but I will have to buy pro. I only have a pre-release of pro. It is a bit old but I've upgraded stuff inside like the cpu but the motherboard is the same.

What's your mobo make/model? What is your CPU speed? How much RAM does it have?

If you're not doing any networking stuff then Home will be OK. But for this old system, I would say Home will be OK.

Some XP OEM CDs are customized for the models they go with and you may have problems installing on other systems.

Ok thanks I will give the home edition setup a try!

Thanks Rikkelz

:tup: