Windows XP Pro - ambiguously stated: questions

[kram 2.0]

Hey,
I searched around this forum and also went around for answers and I could not find any answers written in English (literally and in the really complicated computer talk). So I ask three questions:

1. I looked at the difference between XP pro and XP home. I see that XP Home has its disadvantages over XP Pro. What I'm confused about is I've heard that XP PRO lets your have multilanguage support - installing a support for lets say Japanese text and so therefore allowing you to view Japanese in MSIE and even write in it. Where can you get such package or support files (Microsoft, I presume - but their website is and has always been a mess) and can XP home do this?

2. Another question that I found somewhere but couldn't find it again - googled it but gave me very random answers. I've found on Newegg the OEM OS softwares - like this one. They all come in full versions, and not in upgrade (upgrade only comes retail which is much more expensive ). I have an HP desktop next to me with a Win 98SE. According to Microsoft, 98SE only needs an upgrade. Would a full version work? What demerits would that have over upgrading? Would I have to install drivers and stuff again (which, I presume you would have to even if you upgrade)? Would certain PCs be instable with XP pro after experiencing a long life with 98SE?

3. Another minor question (yes, no, or conditional yes/no): All my data would be slurped (deleted) regardless of whether I upgrade it or just put a full version in it.

I know this is a lot of questions but I do appreciate it ,

Thanks,
kram

[stylin19]

I paid 99 bucks for the HOME upgrade @ Walmart.

Mostly existing data is not touched with an upgrade.
XP will disable or turn off some stuff that it needs to ( for instance..Zone Alarm gets disabled)
Prior to the upgrade, there is an option to have XP scan your system for compatability issues with hardware & software. You can print a report of it prior to doing the actual upgrade. For instance, certain versions of WORKS have to be reinstalled.


Here is a link to MS's Global IME's
Global IME's

note there is a version for PC's running Offce XP and running without Office XP - no mention of qualifiers ( Home or Pro )

good luck

[kram 2.0]

Thanks - I looked at that and it shows that I may not even need to upgrade to XP Pro to view/write Japanese. I'll check and see if I would need to upgrade at all.

You said that the upgrade didn't touch a lot of your files when you upgraded. Yes, I would get an upgrade OS if I could. But why the upgrade is more expensive than the retail is beyond me . Even if it is the OEM..

Has anyone upgraded from 98SE or some other OS of that sort to a full version of lets say XP pro? If you have, please tell me - I need this computer to be in Japanese running condition by next week. If I may need to buy an external hard drive or a CDRW drive to backup files, I'll be sure to look for sales on those products.

And on my 100th post, I would like to thank PCMech and the people who post for taking time off to answer the questions I ask and constantly giving advice. I do know that some of the questions I ask sound dumb and repetitive but you guys always answered it. I really do appreciate it -without PCMech, I would have given up building computers by now. You guys really make a big difference.

Thanks,
kram

[DragonNOA1]

While I can't answer any of your questions, I can add that I bought my FULL version of XP-Pro from my college for only 10$. So if you goto school or know anyone who does, ask them if they might be able to pick you up a copy.

[bailey]

xp-home will do everything that xp-pro will do in your home enviroment.
if your a big busness and have domanes that you need to network with, then you do not need xp-pro.

the upgrade path will not distroy any of your data, but it is always recommended that you back it up first.

a full and clean installation is always the best way to install it.

[kram 2.0]

Thanks,
I'll see if I can find a XP Home OEM that'll be less expensive than the XP Pro OEM - it seems to not make the biggest difference as of right now and paying the extra money for PRO might not be worth it.

Thanks,
kram