Windows XP - Upgrade Guide

In the past any version of Windows (or even DOS) could qualify you for the cheaper upgrade price.  Those days are long gone (as they are with Office XP).

You need to check carefully before buying the upgrade to make sure you qualify.

If you want to upgrade over the top of:	You can upgrade to	But you can’t upgrade to
Windows 98 or 98 SE	XP/Home or XP/Pro
Windows ME	XP/Home or XP/Pro
Windows NT 4 Workstation	XP/Pro	XP/Home
Windows 2000 Pro (Workstation)	XP/Pro	XP/Home
Windows XP/Home	XP/Pro (a kit available, allegedly)
Windows 95	Neither	XP/Home nor XP/Pro
Windows 3.1	Neither	XP/Home nor XP/Pro
DOS or other operating systems	Neither	XP/Home nor XP/Pro

If you’re using any other operating system - Windows NT 4 Server, say, or Win95 - you can’t upgrade to Windows XP over the top of your current operating system. You have to re-format the hard drive and start over from scratch.  And you have to pay for a full version of Windows XP, not the upgrade package.

See Also:   Windows XP Versions to see the differences between Windows XP Pro and Home. Windows XP System Requirements (what hardware you need for Windows XP) Buying the 'Full Version'?  See the Windows XP Upgrade Rules to see if you qualify for the cheaper upgrade prices.