Can I upgrade my Windows XP Home Edition to Professional?

[inectarios]

Hi guys...

My VAIO laptop came with Windows XP Home ed. and I want to change it to Pro version...Is that done through an upgrade or do I have to format my pc and install a brand new version of Win XP Pro??
Does Sony provide any advice/software for that? Can I use the Windows XP Professional disc I bought for my desktop?

And finally, after installing the Pro version, will I be able to install all of my Sony software, utilities etc with no problems?

I know that Sony customizes the Windows versions it gives out with new PCs to give a better feel to it (eg in Power Options of the Control Panel, you can find VAIO Power Management as well). Will this be taken care off when I install my Sony software afte the new installation?

P.S Has anyone tried Linux on a VAIO laptop? Im thinking of trying in it out some time since Im sick of Windows in general..its crap! (full of bugs! )

[tellingd]

I would say "No", you cannot simply use the CD that came with your desktop as presumably you have only a single licence for XP Pro and this would be a breach of the EULA.

Assuming you purchase another XP Licence . . . .

Simple of course to install the new OS but Sony will NOT support it as you have made a fundamental change to the machine they supplied. Others have done this in the past and have encountered problems with installing the Sony utilities. The best answer I'm afraid is to buy a machine with XP Pro as standard.

Linux doesn't get mentioned much on here but from what I can gather there are no more problems getting it to work on a VAIO than on any lesser machine :smileygrin:

HTH

[jammold]

Sony are not exactly helping us out here with this OS + Recovery software - it is a deliberate restriction on their side - I'm sure of it - although I am not sure what this is going to achieve...:smileysad:

The upgrade route (XP Pro Upgrade) is best as it can be installed over the top of your Sony software + XP Home whilst retaining everything on the hard disk(s). Formatting will wipe everything off the hard disk(s).
The advantage to getting XP Pro Upgrade is that if you need to do a System Recovery, you can easily from the provided disk set (CD) or single disk (DVD), and then upgrade to XP Pro later - it has worked for me. Then optionally install SP2 if you fancy taking the plunge.

[kee-lo_]

*grinds teeth as he hates this question* as DT said it's not easy to do, and it can be quite buggy.... but it can be done with backing up the drivers from C:|Drivers\

[jammold]

 *grinds teeth as he hates this question*

You and me both Kee-Lo!

[kee-lo_]

We need a smilie for that CU

[TygerTyger]

I think that's the emoticon for questions like this one....

[kee-lo_]

< describes the feeling......