Pro vs Home

[Meghan]

Ok - here's the parts:

I have an Old computer with XP Pro installed.
I have a New computer with XP Home installed.
I have a d-link wireless router sitting here waiting to be set up.

I plan to use the New Computer to set up the router.
I plan to wipe the Old computer and install one of XP's on on it.

Now.

1. Should I put the same OS on both machines (home on both or pro on both?)

2. If they can get along alright with one on each, would I be ok reinstalling Pro on the Old computer and using Home on the new computer (that would be the set up computer for the router)

3. Should I wipe both machines and put Pro on the New and Home on the Old?

4. Do you have to wipe the Home machine or can Pro just be installed over it, upgrading it?

Thanks for your opinions!

[ChrisGwinn]

What do you mean by "get along alright"?

The major differences between home and pro is that you aren't going to be able to join a domain with home.

[Meghan]

sorry, I was thinking of how they would work networked to each other. Will Pro complain if Home doesn't have all of its features? Will it matter if Home is on the machine that sets up the router?

I'm a very n00bish newbie in the networking department so I'm not sure if I'm asking the right questions.

When you say join a domain, do you mean ... well maybe I better just ask you what you mean.

[Smoove_B]

I'm not a networking guru, but I was able to get WinXP Professional to see a Win95 computer and share files....so I'm guessing everything will be ok no matter what you do.

Though I'm also sure someone with more technical know-how will come in here and give you the gory details.

[Rip]

You can use Pro to update Home, but with just basic file sharing there is not a need to. The only substantial diff between home and pri is home cannot join a domain and is limited to just a few network connections.

[Zekester]

I was able to get WinXP Professional to see a Win95 computer and share files.

Shit, I wish I could just get XP to share with a 2000 machine

I'm a n00b to networking too, but I would suggest not disabling any services in either machine.

I think that's where I went wrong.

[Meghan]

my usual technique is just to plug everything in and start pushing buttons. It all works itself out eventually.

ok - so home can't join a domain. What is "domain" in this context (wireless home networking?) If I use a computer with XP home to set up a wireless router - have I established a domain?

[Poleaxe]

my usual technique is just to plug everything in and start pushing buttons. It all works itself out eventually.

ok - so home can't join a domain. What is "domain" in this context (wireless home networking?) If I use a computer with XP home to set up a wireless router - have I established a domain?

No, you will have set up a workgroup. The meaning of domain in this context is that authentication for logon is handled by a remote device (server). Your two computers joined by wireless router will form a peer-to-peer network, or workgroup. You don't really need to do anything other than make sure that they have the same workgroup name. I believe they do by default but the path to check is:

start/r-click my computer/properties/network ID tab

To share internet, you don't really need to be in the same workgroup. File sharing or lan gaming will require it.

[Rip]

my usual technique is just to plug everything in and start pushing buttons. It all works itself out eventually.

ok - so home can't join a domain. What is "domain" in this context (wireless home networking?) If I use a computer with XP home to set up a wireless router - have I established a domain?

In this context a domain is a common security and management entity using active directory. It requires a Windows Server, so seldom needed in a home networking enviroment. Except mone of course

What you have set up with the router is essentially an internal subnet. If you intend to share folder between the machines then you also have a peer to peer workgroup. One thing to be sure of is when you right click on My Computer and go to properties, make sure the computer names are different and easy. Both machines should have the same word in the Workgroup Box. Again keep it simple.

[Zaxxon]

To share internet, you don't really need to be in the same workgroup. File sharing or lan gaming will require it.

Actually, even file sharing doesn't require it. It just makes it easier by putting both machines in My Network Places, rather than having to scoot on up to Entire network.

A Windows domain is one of the entities that makes up an enterprise deployment of Windows. You won't be running a domain at home (unless you're a geek like me), so you don't need to worry about it.

Pro has other advantages over Home that haven't been listed here, like the ability to encrypt files natively with EFS, for example, but if you don't know what you're missing, it's unlikely that you'll miss any of it in the future. Anyway, if the two machines were purchased with their current OSes on them, know that while you won't get caught, it is illegal for you to swap them or upgrade the home machine to Pro.

You shouldn't have any trouble getting them networked. XP has a networking wizard which should be able to walk you through the process of sharing folders on each machine for access from the other. If you do, just post on back.

[Edit - Damn you Rip, you beat me to the punch. ]

[Rip]

I was able to get WinXP Professional to see a Win95 computer and share files.

Shit, I wish I could just get XP to share with a 2000 machine

I'm a n00b to networking too, but I would suggest not disabling any services in either machine.

I think that's where I went wrong.

Yes some services are required, and they cannot be blocked by a firewall on the machines. You can have a firewall on the machines but some key ports need to be allowed between the local network machines.

Here is a good troubleshooting link for XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... shoot.mspx

and here is an excellent one on Win 2k services and what they are for.
http://www.blackviper.com/WIN2K/servicecfg.htm

[Rip]

To share internet, you don't really need to be in the same workgroup. File sharing or lan gaming will require it.

Actually, even file sharing doesn't require it. It just makes it easier by putting both machines in My Network Places, rather than having to scoot on up to Entire network.

A Windows domain is one of the entities that makes up an enterprise deployment of Windows. You won't be running a domain at home (unless you're a geek like me), so you don't need to worry about it.

Pro has other advantages over Home that haven't been listed here, like the ability to encrypt files natively with EFS, for example, but if you don't know what you're missing, it's unlikely that you'll miss any of it in the future. Anyway, if the two machines were purchased with their current OSes on them, know that while you won't get caught, it is illegal for you to swap them or upgrade the home machine to Pro.

You shouldn't have any trouble getting them networked. XP has a networking wizard which should be able to walk you through the process of sharing folders on each machine for access from the other. If you do, just post on back.

[Edit - Damn you Rip, you beat me to the punch. ]

By over 3 minutes. No wonder your users are always complaining I just hope we always have the same answer. I'm not used to there being anyone around to catch me if(when) I'm wrong.

[Meghan]

thanks guys. This helped. It sounds like Rips right and I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be. I'll make a note to work on being more simple-minded.

[Zekester]

Thanks for the links, Rip.

I'll check those out and give it another go