Can XP Pro be activated with an early XP Home Key Code?

[LesD]

Here's hoping! 

I have and early but genuine and legal XP Home CD with its Key Code.
Using this to install XP you then have to add SP2, SP3 etc. I have these Service Packs on CD's but I also have a genuine legal XP Pro CD with SP2 "slip-streamed" into the installation process. This version has already been activated on the PC I am using now.

The question for the forum experts at large is this, would it be possible to install from my XP Pro +SP2 installation CD and activate the installation with the genuine XP Home key code?

I ask because one is Pro and the other is Home?

I have used the XP Pro +SP2 install CD with a genuine XP Pro +SP1 key code successfully but this latest desire just might be a bridge too far! 


What does the forum think.   

[Steve]

The simple answer is no I believe the key code is specific to the OS version whether it be XP Home XP pro OEM etc

[Sebby]

No, it won't work, Les.

[net91]

I tried to do something very similar in a virtual machine once. It didn't work. 

[LesD]

Thanks for the replies. In my heart I knew as much and took the long way. In the event once Home was installed adding SP2 was a relatively quick process. I will put SP3 in probably later on today.

[Steve]

I always assumed that SP3 contained all the updates so you could have managed without SP2 unless obviously you are downloading SP3 and wish to keep the download to a minimum.

[LesD]

I have SP3 on CD and I pondered the same thing but as the Home version didn't have SP1 I was not sure about going straight to SP3 so I decided to put SP2 on first.

So far so good, with nothing downloaded so far. Mind you I rarely use a fifth of my monthly bandwidth so I doubt that I should worry on that score!

[Rik]

Except that you've only got two and a bit days to use this month's, Les.

[Inactive]

Except that you've only got two and a bit days to use this month's, Les.

Good point Rik, I am up against the buffers this month on my allowance, looks like I may for the very first time get charged extra, which is a bit sick really, 'cos many months I hardly use my connection at all.

I vote that we have a 12 monthly allowance.. 

[Rik]

It would be an interesting marketing move, In. If people paid annually, they could be given a block allowance for the period. OTOH, technically, that makes it hard to predict network usage...

[Inactive]

I am just avoiding any downloads until the month is out .. 

[Sebby]

Service packs are cumulative, Les, so they include all previous updates. It's the same with firmware; just can just load the newest.

[drummer]

Microsoft tend to contradict themselves on occasion:

To install SP3, your computer must meet the hardware and operating system requirements listed below. In addition, your computer must at least be running Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed.

We recommended that you have Service Pack 2 installed before installing SP3

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/cc164204.aspx

But the download pages make no such stipulation.  Go figure.

[Rik]

It's Microsoft, Drummer. Right and left hand.

[Sebby]

We recommended that you have Service Pack 2 installed before installing SP3[/i]

I wonder if they mean when installing the service pack on Windows? Perhaps SP2 has some files that the SP3 setup needs or something like that. Certainly when you slipstream, you'd only need to do SP3.

[Rik]

Depending on how aerodynamic you are.

[Sebby]

I'm very aerodynamic.

[Rik]

I'm just plain slippery.

[Sebby]

What you get up to in the comfort of your own home is your business.

[Rik]

Probably just as well.

[Sebby]

[LesD]

To install SP3, your computer must meet the hardware and operating system requirements listed below. In addition, your computer must at least be running Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed.

Thanks Drummer as the grey matter ages I begin to doubt my recollection ability but the one you quote is what I had read a month or three ago when I put SP3 on this machine! 

This vague recollection tempered what I did last evening with a bit of caution! I'm glad it did now.

[JB]

I vote that we have a 12 monthly allowance.. 

Would suit me too In. 

[Inactive]

  Thought it might JB..  8)

[Rik]

Let the ex-pats loose and see what happens.

[Inactive]

Of course in an ideal world, if this single European thing worked properly, we would be able use our connection anywhere within the EU.....

[Rik]

Now that would be nice. Another lifetime, maybe? 

[Inactive]

Another planet I think Rik.. 

[Rik]

Maybe even galaxy - there, got us onto food now.   

[Odos]

I have used the XP Pro +SP2 install CD with a genuine XP Pro +SP1 key code successfully but this latest desire just might be a bridge too far! 

I know the original question has been answered but just a further little titbit with regards to XP.  From a lot of web investigating it appears that it doesn't really matter what SP is installed it depends upon the production version of the XP CD.

I found this out a while ago. I was trying to re-install XP home for someone, they had their original disk and key but their kids had been playing like Freddy Kruger with the CD, it was trashed. No problem I thought, I'll use my CD and their key. No chance.

After investigating I found out that there are different "versions" of each flavour of XP, depending upon the time of their production. A key for one "version" will not work for another even though they may both be XP home with no SP's slipstreamed.

[Simon]

That's interesting, and worth bearing in mind, Odos.