# Upgrading from XP Home to XP Pro

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-from-xp-home-to-xp-pro/318748
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 26, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-from-xp-home-to-xp-pro/318748 "2005-08-26T16:56:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-from-xp-home-to-xp-pro/318748/1 "2005-08-26T16:56:13Z")

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I need to be able to run various pieces of software that require XP Pro on my home computer. I currently run XP Home.

I visited a whole pile of computer related forums trying to find answers on this one, but I haven’t found anything that I really trust, so I’m gonna ask the smartest people on the Internet - the dopers.

Has anyone ever done this before? What version do I need (ie, the “Upgrade” version or the full one?) What are the chances that I’m going to blow up my computer and require a reinstall of _all_ the software - is it smart enough to maintain whatever’s currently installed?

If the answer to these questions is “you pretty much have to wipe everything and install XP Pro and all your software from scratch” I’m going to seriously contemplate buying a new computer rather than going through all this trouble to upgrade my 3-year-old PC.

On the other hand, if it’s easy, I’d just as soon save the cash.