Upgrading to Microsoft Windows XP From Older Windows Versions

Supported Upgrade Paths. The following list indicates available upgrade paths for Windows XP. [source] Click here to buy now.

Microsoft Windows 3.x

  • No supported upgrade paths

Microsoft Windows 95

  • No supported upgrade paths

Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

  • Windows XP Home Edition Retail (Full) Version
  • Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade Version
  • Windows XP Professional Retail (Full) Version
  • Windows XP Professional Upgrade Version

Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 Workstation

  • No supported upgrade paths

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Workstation

  • Windows XP Professional Retail (Full) Version
  • Windows XP Professional Upgrade Version

Microsoft Windows 2000 Trial Edition

  • No supported upgrade paths

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

  • Windows XP Professional Retail (Full) Version
  • Windows XP Professional Upgrade Version

Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 Server

  • No supported upgrade paths

Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 Server with Citrix

  • No supported upgrade paths

Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server

  • No supported upgrade paths

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

  • Windows XP Professional Retail (Full) Version
  • Windows XP Professional Upgrade Version

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with SP1

  • Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 Retail (Full) Version
  • Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 Upgrade Version

Notes

  • Microsoft does not support upgrading Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 1 (SP1) to Windows XP Professional without SP1.
  • All versions of Windows NT 4.0 (Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, and Windows NT Server Terminal Server Edition) must have Service Pack 5 installed before you can upgrade to Windows XP. However, as noted earlier in this article, you cannot upgrade any of the Windows NT 3.51 Server products to Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional editions. To obtain Windows NT Service Pack 5, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition

  • Windows XP Media Center Edition

Note Windows Setup gives an error message that the Product Key is not valid (invalid) if you attempt an upgrade or repair the installation with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition or with Microsoft Windows XP Professional.

By Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson is a freelance writer in Iowa City and also the founder and Director of the ResourcesForLife.com website. He also manages IowaCityWebDesignArtist.com and many other topic specific websites. Learn more at AboutGregJohnson.com