<p>I just got a new pc and I need some Windows help. I just got a Dell 700m, love the computer, but I don't need Windows XP Home I need Pro for networking at my school. My dad happens to have bought XP pro but never installed it (we moved, he changed jobs) and we all sort of forgot about it. But when I was buying my Dell I was like, "hey, I don't need to give $200 to dell for XP Pro with no disc!" So I've been bugging my Dad to install it and finally we went at it. My beautiful laptop says that the XP Pro is now an older version than the XP Home on my PC. Which is fine, I said, I'll just delete the old version. But! Unlike my parent's desktop there is no Windows listed under add/remove programs in the Control Panel. I'm freaking out. I have paid for Windows XP Pro, and I need it - I'm leaving for school in a week or two and I don't have the money to go and buy a newer XP Pro or whatever the PC wants. Does Dell have some ridiculous clause where you can never delete an operating system off their stupid computers? Help. Big thanks to anyone with advice.</p>
<p>You can't remove Windows by using Add/Remove Programs. What you need to do is insert the disc for XP pro, then restart your computer. When the computer restarts, press enter when you see something like "Press ENTER to boot off the Windows CD" or something like that; when you do, it should start off the disc. You can then choose whether to upgrade to Pro (which I recommend) or to wipe out the entire hard drive and start fresh with Pro (but that means EVERYTHING is wiped out; files, programs, you name it). Whichever way you choose, you will then have XP pro and no more home.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>EDIT: As for the XP pro being an older version, you should be able to ignore that if you use the method I described above to install and not running the CD from Windows itself. The older version just means that you have service packs already installed on the pc while the cd doesn't have it. But you can always install the service packs after installing pro.</p>
<p>Thanks a million redski. It seems to be working fine. Although it won't seem to acknowledge that my laptop comes with speakers (it claims that I don't have an audio output device). Is that normal when you install a new operating system?</p>
<p>good info thanks</p>
<p>You might want to look for information about your motherboard and/or sound card online (that depends on whether you have a separate sound card or one that's built into your motherboard; for a small notebook like the 700m, it will probably be built in.) It's possible that you need to update your drivers or download some solution. It's definately not normal for an operating system to not recognize speakers or any other built-in devices.</p>
<p>Glad that it almost worked, Shadowlands. As for the speakers, I'd agree with nomir_dva that this is not normal. I'd try one of two things: Go to <a href="http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com%5B/url%5D">http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com</a> and follow the instructions there. That will also help download and install any updated drivers and software patches for your entire laptop. If you can't get the audio drivers there, then go to Dell's support website and see if you can download and install them.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Thanks, very much to you all, now I'm going to try all this things.</p>
<p>Back again, you all must be sick of the sight of me. I installed Windows XP Pro over my Windows XP home a few days ago. My Windows
XP Pro seemed to be working fine except it didn't feel or acknowledge my
built in speakers and various other hardware. My dad said this might stem
from the fact that the Windows I have (being from 2001) is older than my
laptop. He suggested I DL the service pack onto on desktop computer, put it
on a disk and open it on my laptop and install. I did that, and everything
seemed to go fine until I restarted my PC as I usually do when I install new
software. My laptop told there had a been a error that Windows was failing to
boot properly due to some failed installation of software or failed hardware
installation. It had a few options like "start with the last known
configuration of windows that worked on your computer" so I did that. And I
tried the other options too. But after a few screens of the usual booting up
stuff my laptop just goes to a black screen and I can't get away from it.
Windows Support won't help me so I'm asking you guys. Any ideas? Sorry for
being a computer pain.</p>