I lost my XP professiional CD that came with my laptop. but i have got the Home edition too, so i installed it, and its pretty much the same really, i couldnt see any difference yet..
so is there any big differences? any problems? compaitibility etc?
More functionaity with the ability to do more processes in an admin role…
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article10-002
Mainly networking capabilities.
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/
windowsxp_home_pro.asp
You will have the same functionality and probably not even know the difference.
Windows XP Home Edition
Contains basic support for security among multiple users.
Built-in support for peer-to-peer networking, but only for up to five computers.
The backup utlity is not installed by default, but is included on the CD.
Windows XP Professional Edition
Includes extended support for security between multiple users on the same machine.
Better support for peer-to-peer networking, plus support for joining a “Windows NT domain.”
The backup utlity is installed by default.
The Professional edition includes the following components not found in the Home edition:
Administrative Tools (in the Start Menu and Control Panel)
Automated System Recovery (ASR)
Boot Configuration Manager
DriverQuery
Group Policy Refresh Utility
Multi-lingual User Interface (MUI) add-on
NTFS Encryption Utilitiy
Offline Files and Folders
OpenFiles
Performance Log Manager
Remote Desktop
Scheduled Tasks Console
Security Template Utility
Taskkill
Tasklist
Telnet Administrator
Provides support for multi-processor systems (2 or 4 CPUs), Dynamic Disks, Fax.
Administrator Options is one.
There are some other features also.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article10-002
There are some hidden difference, mostly in networking.
Home can’t be part of a domain.
With Home you can only have 6 pc’s on a network.
You can’t get into some of the security settings.
I think professional does not require activation, and has no use limits. Home edition can only be on five computers. Student edition has not limits on use and no activation, as it was developed to teach students how to install windows on a computer.
I aked a pc guy and he said to stay with the home edition hope this helps