Upgrade Windows XP home to pro without format?

**Ehsaan** · 23-03-2009

Hello everyone.

I have windows xp Home and now i want to install Xp pro , but without formatting, is it possible?

Thanks for any suggestions.

**shahid khan** · 23-03-2009

I think no, You have to format the drive. You can backup your files on the secondary drive then perform a clean install.

**darshit** · 23-03-2009

You can get XP PRo upgrades that will do the upgrade, keep all your settings and software. They're about $180 per upgrade in small quantities, but you say you can get them for free as a NPO. Go that woute. The actual upgrade takes about 45-60 min per workstation.

Considering that when XP was released there was no upgrade path from XP Home to XP Pro, these upgrades are very welcome.

**Neel23** · 23-03-2009

Just put your CD in, choose install and it will ask you if you want to make a fresh install or an upgrade. You can upgrade with the full retail version. There are two usual ways to do an upgrade installation. The first way is to run the install from within Windows (this is the recommended way) and the second is to use the repair installation method. To do it that way you want to go for install at the first prompt and then select repair at the second prompt.