Whats the MAIN difference Between WindowXPHome/XPPro ?

[MegalosSkylaki]

Is it just fundamentally administering a LAN ? Other major goodies ?

Also, do the other Computers administered by XP Pro have to have XP OS ? Or can it administer 98SE ?

HOMEDOOOOOGPRO

[AuraEdge]

What I know so far are the main differences are - XP Home cant utilize network domains and XP Home cannot run dual processors.
There were a few others as well, (Maybe no remote desktop?) but those are the two that stick out in my head.

[KenKun]

Hi Doog ..

Check this article What's the difference? and this one Go Home or Go Pro ..
Also see Microsoft`s comparison chart.

Regards

[NDC]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p.../choosing2.asp


http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_home_pro.asp

[MegalosSkylaki]

for one Newbie.

ThanX

What I got from it is:
A) anything Home can do, Pro can do;
B) Remote usage is a major feature for Pro; I wouldn't use PCAnywhare so I don't I would use remote management.
C) Default File System is Fat32 in Home and NTFS in Pro. [This worries me--see below]

TWO QUESTIONS POP into my Newbie mind:

I) Can I use the Fat32 File System in Pro to avoid incompatibilty across machines ? Is that indeed an issue?

II) Windows Product Activation: What happens if in a year the hard drive start dying...How do I clone it if I can't transfer the OS ?
What if I want to change machines, for whatever reason, of XP OS ? Who do I call, WPA-Busters ?

And Thank you everybody again for your time an your considerable help: I printed out the readings and all contribute something to understanding the beast.

MegalosSkylaki

[AuraEdge]

I) WinXP Pro can be set up as either Fat32 or NTFS, as well as, I think, XP home can. Its just which one it picks as default which is different, but you can change it.

II) WPA allows up to a certain amount of hardware to be changed from a machine before they require you to reactivate. I forget the exact number, but I think for desktops, it was 6 parts of hardware, or 4 if one is a NIC. Its quite alot, and shouldnt be much of a problem, but you have to call up MS and explain why the activation failed, and they'll let you reactivate. If a harddrive fails, and you replace the harddrive and reinstall, WPA should still validate the old code, because the amount of hardware changed doesnt surpass the limit. You must call if you do pass that number though. Never actually went through this process myself, so its mostly heresay on my part.

[sharder8]

I can only add to the validation --

Since I do beta testing and I'm reconfiguring my system quite often, I've called in 3 times. The first time I called in, I explained that I'm a Tech and why my validation problem happened so quick. They advised me to buy a corporate version so I wouldn't keep running into this problem. I informed them that since it's only one machine and that the cost of the corp. was not justifiable, I would switch OS's and not send them any more conflicts or problems I discover. Their response was to add a note to my file. Now when I call in, it's a breeze and only takes a couple of minutes once CS sees the little note.

Harder

[MegalosSkylaki]

CooL The power of a footnote

[mpc]

......plus activation only last 120 days.

[AuraEdge]

I haven't heard that one...
As far as I know, thats not true, unless you can back that up with a reliable source or two.

[edwelly]

I think the activation 120 days part is for a "test" cd, not a purchased app.
I am still running a beta version of XP with no problems...
---edwelly

[AuraEdge]

I have WinXP RC-1 (if thats the RC's are the beta your talking about), and thats clearly labeled on the CD as a 180-day limit on use. I never actually used this CD, so I dont know if the RC's have activation schemes, but I'd imagine it does.

[edwelly]

I am not sure what I am using since it was a beta version and was given to me. But i haven't had to acitvate it nor have I had any problems... I know people give M$ a hard way, but i like their products and they work just fine for me. Sure they mess up from time to time but then I mess up too... I guess I am just easy to please.
---edwelly

[mpc]

Originally posted by AuraEdge
I haven't heard that one...
As far as I know, thats not true, unless you can back that up with a reliable source or two.

Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean it's not true! And no it's not just on a "test" CD.

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,60523,00.asp


http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stor...811253,00.html



http://www.extremetech.com/article/0...p%253D2,00.asp


http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stor...819735,00.html


http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,a=15589,00.asp


Perhaps you guys should do your own research nextime?

[MegalosSkylaki]

Hmmm...I think San Fransisco is a nice place.....

DOOOGIVS NONIVS FLAMIVS

[Theophylact]

Hey, mpc:

You should read some of those links you posted. It's not that activation is good for only 120 days -- it's that after 120 days, you can do a clean install on another system without having to reactivate -- the opposite of what you suggest!

[http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,60523,00.asp

By the way, XPHome does allow NTFS as well. (If you want to dual-boot with Linux, you'll need third-party partitioning software.)

[mpc]

I've read the links, as well as listened to an interview of a Microsoft rep explaining the procedure and have been aware of how product activation works since XP was in beta. (the terms were actually different then)

Explain to me how that is the "opposite" of what I said. If you can reactivate on another machine after 120 days then the original activation only lasted for 120 days ! Anyone who new about the details of product activation would know what I meant by my statement.

[Ace McGirk]

The only way you will EVER have problems with activation is if your key is used A WHOLE LOT OF TIMES!!

half a dozen or two will not get them upset,but a few thousand will

[Richard Cranium]

Is this hard->>
"Microsoft has made some concessions to power users. For example, a copy of Windows XP can be reactivated every 120 days, in case you change hardware or systems often."

and

"Microsoft has also recognized that certain users may wish to change components frequently. As a result, Microsoft recently implemented time-based reactivation. Every 120 days, the current configuration of a user's PC will 'reset to zero,' so to speak. Starting from that 120th day, users may swap out hardware components as described above. After another 120 days passes, the PC 'sets to zero' again, and users once again may swap out hardware components. This time-based reactivation is designed to provide users with greater flexibility to change their systems."

and

Microsoft has modified the procedure to let users start with a clean slate every 120 days. In theory, one could install Windows XP on a second PC 120 days after the first one was activated and the duplicate alphanumeric identifier wouldn't be challenged.

mpc, none of us are infallable, this comment of yours needed to be edited by YOU, quite rude by our standards->>

quote------
" Perhaps you guys should do your own research nextime? "