"Laird" <lair***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:uwFEIZ9wGHA.4300@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> I have a current small home network using Windows NT Server 4.0, two
Windows
> 98 SE desktops and a laptop with Windows 98 ME.  I am upgrading the domain
> controller from NT 4.0 Server to Windows Small Business Server 2003.
>
> Here is my problem:
>
> I want to upgrade the operating system on each PC and laptop.  I was told
> but I am not sure, that I cannot use Windows XP Home Edition to connect to
> my small network with a Primary Domain Controller.  I also understand I
can
> upgrade directly to the XP Home Edition from Windows 98SE.
>
> If I have to use XP Professional, I understand I can only upgrade from a
> Windows NT 4 Workstation or Windows 2000 Professional workstation.  I also
> understand that XP Professional is the version that supports a domain
based
> network infrastructure.
>
> Have I learned this correctly?  Is there a way to use XP Home Edition in
my
> small network domain?
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Best,
>
>
> This leave a dilemma for me.  What to do?
------------------------------------------------
Update:

"Ian" <I**@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2B89DBD5-2128-4612-90C0-3D77CD7B5633@microsoft.com...
> A few thoughts anyway:
>
> You'd gain most from spending money on the clients, as WinMe in particular
> has dire stability problems, and XP would provide a more reliable
platform.
>
> I'd be inclined to do a fresh install of XP instead of an upgrade if at
all
> possible, even though that means reinstalling apps it would give you a
new,
> clean system.
>
> There is no actual need to replace the NT server if it still meets your
> needs. XP Pro can join an NT4 domain.
>
> HP Home cannot join a domain, but with MyLogon it can connect to the
server
> in a manner which meets most of the usual requirements. On SBS this would
not
> give you all the additional SBS client features though, only a standard
> file-sharing logon.
>
> -------------------------------
>
> An alternative approach to XP network logon -  http://mylogon.net
>
>
>

> Update:
>
>
> I checked on the Microsoft Web Site and see that I CAN upgrade to XP
> Professional from Win 98 SE.  I understand that XP will not decompress
> compressed 98 files, etc. so a user would have to do this before
> upgrade.
>
> There is either incorrect or incomplete information in the following
> text:
>
> Microsoft Windows XP, Deluxe Second Edition!, Online Training
> Solutions, Inc.
> Copyright 2005 Online Training Solutions, Inc.  Microsoft Press
>
> Page ix :  Windows XP Professional:  [...] You can upgrade to Windows
> XP Professional from Microsoft Windows NT Workstation or Microsoft
> Windows 2000 Professional.
>
> Windows XP Home Edition:  [...] Windows XP Home Edition is designed
> as the upgrade from Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows
> Millenium Edition (Windows ME).
>
> It seems the text from the book is misleading since the Microsoft web
> site says you can upgrade (as opposed to full install) to XP
> Professional from Me, 98, NT and  Win 2000 Pro.
>
> I hope I saved someone from an unnecessary reply.
>
> Regards,
>
> Phil

news:udIfGNHxGHA.4972@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> In news:uoqA2y9wGHA.1224@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl,
> Laird <lair***@yahoo.com> typed:
>
>
> <snip>
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> > Update:
> >
> >
> > I checked on the Microsoft Web Site and see that I CAN upgrade to XP
> > Professional from Win 98 SE.  I understand that XP will not decompress
> > compressed 98 files, etc. so a user would have to do this before
> > upgrade.
> >
> > There is either incorrect or incomplete information in the following
> > text:
> >
> > Microsoft Windows XP, Deluxe Second Edition!, Online Training
> > Solutions, Inc.
> > Copyright 2005 Online Training Solutions, Inc.  Microsoft Press
> >
> > Page ix :  Windows XP Professional:  [...] You can upgrade to Windows
> > XP Professional from Microsoft Windows NT Workstation or Microsoft
> > Windows 2000 Professional.
> >
> > Windows XP Home Edition:  [...] Windows XP Home Edition is designed
> > as the upgrade from Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows
> > Millenium Edition (Windows ME).
> >
> > It seems the text from the book is misleading since the Microsoft web
> > site says you can upgrade (as opposed to full install) to XP
> > Professional from Me, 98, NT and  Win 2000 Pro.
> >
> > I hope I saved someone from an unnecessary reply.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Phil
>
> Yes, that is a bit misleading - but it just means, the upgrade path for a
> home OS such as 9x is XP Home (it's designed to replace it) - whereas a
> corporate OS such as NT/2k will be a logical fit for an XP Pro upgrade.
And
> you do want XP Pro when you use a domain, rather than Home.
>
> So, depending on the age of your 9x PCs (how long have they been up and
> running, etc) you might be better off choosing the 'clean install' option
> when you put the XP Pro CD in. Upgrades in place to XP are not as
> nerve-wracking as for prior versions of Windows, but I still prefer a
clean
> install when I have the option.
>
> I'd run a Belarc report on each PC *first* to make sure you know what
> drivers you may need - www.belarc.com
>
> Re the SBS upgrade/migration - I'd do that first and make sure all the
> workstation data was copied over to the server before beginning.
>
> When you join the XP Pro computers to the domain make sure you use the
> wizards (http://servername/connectcomputer). Do not try to do anything in
> SBS without consulting the wizards/to-do list, or you will likely be very
> sorry.

>
> Sincerely,
>
> Phil
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
> <lanwe***@heybuddy.donotsendme.unsolicitedmail.atyahoo.com> wrote in
> message news:udIfGNHxGHA.4972@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> In news:uoqA2y9wGHA.1224@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl,
>> Laird <lair***@yahoo.com> typed:
>>
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------
>>> Update:
>>>
>>>
>>> I checked on the Microsoft Web Site and see that I CAN upgrade to XP
>>> Professional from Win 98 SE.  I understand that XP will not
>>> decompress compressed 98 files, etc. so a user would have to do
>>> this before upgrade.
>>>
>>> There is either incorrect or incomplete information in the following
>>> text:
>>>
>>> Microsoft Windows XP, Deluxe Second Edition!, Online Training
>>> Solutions, Inc.
>>> Copyright 2005 Online Training Solutions, Inc.  Microsoft Press
>>>
>>> Page ix :  Windows XP Professional:  [...] You can upgrade to
>>> Windows XP Professional from Microsoft Windows NT Workstation or
>>> Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional.
>>>
>>> Windows XP Home Edition:  [...] Windows XP Home Edition is designed
>>> as the upgrade from Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows
>>> Millenium Edition (Windows ME).
>>>
>>> It seems the text from the book is misleading since the Microsoft
>>> web site says you can upgrade (as opposed to full install) to XP
>>> Professional from Me, 98, NT and  Win 2000 Pro.
>>>
>>> I hope I saved someone from an unnecessary reply.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Phil
>>
>> Yes, that is a bit misleading - but it just means, the upgrade path
>> for a home OS such as 9x is XP Home (it's designed to replace it) -
>> whereas a corporate OS such as NT/2k will be a logical fit for an XP
>> Pro upgrade. And you do want XP Pro when you use a domain, rather
>> than Home.
>>
>> So, depending on the age of your 9x PCs (how long have they been up
>> and running, etc) you might be better off choosing the 'clean
>> install' option when you put the XP Pro CD in. Upgrades in place to
>> XP are not as nerve-wracking as for prior versions of Windows, but I
>> still prefer a clean install when I have the option.
>>
>> I'd run a Belarc report on each PC *first* to make sure you know what
>> drivers you may need - www.belarc.com
>>
>> Re the SBS upgrade/migration - I'd do that first and make sure all
>> the workstation data was copied over to the server before beginning.
>>
>> When you join the XP Pro computers to the domain make sure you use
>> the wizards (http://servername/connectcomputer). Do not try to do
>> anything in SBS without consulting the wizards/to-do list, or you
>> will likely be very sorry.