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Microsoft Windows XP Professional UPGRADE with SP2 | 
 enlarge | From: Microsoft Software
Category: Software
List Price: $199.99
Buy New: $150.00
You Save: $49.99 (25%)
New (33) Used (5) from $109.99
Rating:  30 reviews
Sales Rank: 190
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows Nt 4, Windows Me, Windows Xp Home Edition, Windows 98
Color: 1-user
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Upgrade with SP2
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 12 x 3 x 10
nv:Software Type: Operating Systems
MPN: e85-02666
Model: E85-02666
UPC: 805529831285
EAN: 0805529831285
ASIN: B00022PTT8
Release Date: September 28, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Automatically keep your PC up-to-date with the latest security enhancements including the Windows Security Center, Windows Firewall | | • | Windows XP Professional provides rich, wireless network support, helping you simply and easily connect to wireless networks whether in your home, office, or out on the road | | • | Quickly set up and connect all the computers, printers, devices, and an Internet connection in your home with the all new Network Setup Wizard | | • | Encrypting File System provides an additional level of file protection from hackers and data theft by transparently encrypting files with a randomly generated key | | • | Clean, simple design of Windows XP Professional puts the features you use most often at your fingertips, helping you find them quickly |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon Product Description
With Windows XP Professional Edition with Service Pack 2, you get safer browsing and communication, powerful security tools, and improved experiences. Windows XP is the operating system release that unifies the Microsoft range, with all the desktop versions now built on the NT/2000 code base rather than the shakier foundation of Windows 95, 98, and Me. That makes XP a great upgrade for users of the now-obsolete 9x and Me line, but for those already on Windows 2000 Professional it is a closer call. Despite the similar name, there is no special synergy between Windows XP and Office XP, which works fine on Windows 2000. | 
The Security Center lets you check the status of your essential security settings. | XP certainly looks different, with rounded window corners, larger and more detailed icons, and a clean-look desktop that on first installation shows only the taskbar and Recycle Bin. XP is also more customizable than earlier versions of Windows, and includes visual themes that let you change the whole appearance of Windows in an instant. That is the window-dressing, but underneath are some significant improvements. One of the most interesting is Remote Desktop. A standard XP feature, this uses technology from Microsoft Terminal Server to enable users to access their computer over any connection; for example, by dialing into the office from home. This is not just file access--this technology lets you run applications remotely as if you were sitting at your desk at work. This is mature technology, stable and carefully thought out. So, for example, you can print from a remote word processor to a local printer. A variation on the theme is Remote Assistance, where the user can allow a remote helper to view their desktop, or optionally gain control of the keyboard and mouse, in order to troubleshoot a problem. The feature can also be disabled to ease security concerns. |
| Laptop users benefit from enhanced power management, with options to extend battery life by reducing CPU speed and display brightness. IrDA support has been fixed so that, unlike Windows 2000, Windows XP can easily use modems in mobile telephones via infrared. A new screen font, ClearType, improves legibility for laptop or other flat screens, and there is built-in support for wireless networking using the popular 802.11 standard. A great feature of XP, also found in Windows 2000, is the ability to synchronize network files with offline copies. Previously, these files could not be stored securely, but now they can be encrypted. | 
The Information Bar in Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2 notifies you when it blocks ActiveX control or active content and then lets you decide what to do.
| For Web browsing, XP comes with Internet Explorer 6.0. The enhancements in IE 6.0 are mainly of interest to Web developers, and in any case Microsoft makes IE freely available to all Windows users. Although Java is not installed by default, it is not difficult to download a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Windows Messenger, originally a chat client, has evolved into a collaboration tool that allows for video conferencing and application sharing. 
Service Pack 2 allows users to instruct Internet Explorer how to handle downloads from a specific publisher | The most significant new feature for Internet users is the built-in firewall. A firewall protects against one of the most disturbing security risks, in which other users unknown to you might connect to your computer while it is online, reading private files or causing other damage. XP's built-in firewall is a simple affair, but it does prevent most types of unauthorized connection. Windows XP has strong multimedia features. The new Media Player lets you copy music from CD to hard disk, create your own playlist, and write your own music CDs if you have a CD writer. Although there is loss of quality as a result of compression, the process is easy and convenient. Media Player 8.0 can play back DVD video, but only if a hardware or software DVD decoder is already installed. You can also play MP3 audio files and MPEG videos, but sadly, not the popular RealMedia formats. In the end, Media Player does nothing that you cannot also do with free alternatives, but it is slick and nicely integrated. | The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier versions of Windows, but there are a number of small changes that together add up to a significant improvement. The Start menu now automatically features the most frequently used programs at the top of the list, and you can add and remove shortcuts by right-clicking the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the pop-up menu. Windows online help is integrated into a Help and Support Center that works like an internal Web site, with searchable help, tutorials, and walk-throughs. Windows XP Professional includes all the features of Windows XP Home, and adds support for dual processors, encryptable file systems, offline folders, the Remote Desktop as described above, and extra administration features that come into play when connected to a Windows server domain. XP is demanding on hardware, and it would be a mistake to install it on less than Microsoft's recommended minimum requirements. There is also activation to consider, a mildly annoying anti-piracy measure that requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full installation, and in the future if you reinstall or make major system changes. Windows XP Service Pack 2 Features | Internet Explorer Pop-up Blocker | Makes browsing the Internet more enjoyable by enabling you to reduce unwanted ads and content. | | Internet Explorer download monitoring | Warns you about potentially harmful downloads and gives you the option to block files that could be malicious. | | Internet Explorer Information Bar | Provides better information about events that are happening as you browse the Web, so it’s easier to know what’s going on and address potential security issues. | | Windows Security Center | Allows you to easily view your security status and manage key security settings in one convenient place. | | Windows Firewall update | Automatically turned on by default, this improved firewall helps protect Windows XP from viruses, worms, and other security threats that can spread over the Internet. | | Improved wireless support | Dramatically improves and simplifies the process of discovering and connecting to wireless networks. | | Bluetooth technologies | Enables you to easily connect to the latest Bluetooth-enabled hardware devices such as keyboards, cell phones, and PDAs. | | Windows Media Player 9 Series | Makes it easy to enjoy music, video, and broadband content with enhanced security. |
Product Description
Upgrade only; previous version of XP required Get the most out of your operating system, and avoid the bugs that can slow down your computer's performance. This upgrade combined with the newest Service pack delivers the enhancements you need for a faster, more capable PC. Security Center offers a central control system for your Windows XP security -- work with the firewalls, auto updates and antivirus tools Great news for people sick of pop-up ads - The built-in pop-up blocker controls them, with a new submenu and status bar icons The new Add-Ons manager gives you instant access to all the Browser Helper Objects and extensions, enabling and disabling them easily The firewall now has its own control panel, for customizing firewall setting to suit any connection Enhancements to the Windows Update service make installing new updates easy -- you can even choose which ones to install, if any Wireless Networking - Multiple wireless connections to choose from
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| Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 Xp Pro is a big improvement over win2000 October 21, 2006
I agree, Windows could improve thier products but I'm not going to jump on the Linux bandwagon just yet. You can get this product Academic for 84.00 on the web. I own several copies for my home computers. If you network and use wireless this is the program to use. I use both Unix and Windows at work and the Unix is far more stable. Compatibility issues are what kills Unix/Linux for now and Linux is not user friendly. In the future Apple and Linux will have some of the same issues as Windows to deal with as they become more popular. Windows dominates for a reason. Also, when you upgrade select full install and not the upgrade. You will need a full version copy of Windows 98, Windows Me, or Windows 2000 to accomplish this. Registering your software with Microsoft is virtually painless, even if you need a new key. You can load Windows five times before your key expires. At that point you can call them for a new one.
I'd buy this product again and Amazon is a great company to deal with- FIVE STARS to them!!!
Ya know, I'm a little disappointed with Windows XP... March 20, 2006
8 out of 41 found this review helpful
... and it ain't because of the obvious reasons, like "bugs", patches, constant updates, or whatever-else-have-you that have been part and parcel of every Windows operating system since Bill Gates made his first billion.
Nope, my main gripe is with The WinXP defragmentation program. Ya see, when my PC ran on Win98, every couple months I'd activate the defrag, and watch the screenful of little light blue squares movin' around and becomin' darker blue squares, as my PC... well, squared everything away I guess, heh. It also scrolled down as each new set of squares got properly aligned, all the way from start to finish. I swear, I could watch those little boogers synchronizin' for hours on end... and I usually did. Especially when I went several months between defrags. Some times I'd keep a decent supply of sodas and snacks handy, as if I were watchin' the Super Bowl! And people say I live an empty, socially-bereft existence...
Sadly, the WinXP defrag program ain't nearly as entertaining to witness as its Win98 forebear. Now it's made up of a pair of wide screens, representing "before" and "after". And instead of aligning & color-changin' squares, it's just a collection of vertical lines moving from place to place on the "after" screen. Sheesh, how boring can ya get? It's like starin' at a test pattern for two hours straight right after watchin' the most exciting Super Bowl ever. Or at least a rousing round of Olympic curling...
Ya know, I've half a mind to write Mr. Gates about this sad development, just to see if I can persuade him to change the defrag program format back to Win98 style on the next OS his company will be puttin' out any minute now. Deep down inside, however, I don't really expect him to have a change of heart over such a silly thing. But, dammit, I gotta try!
`Late
 Don't Upgrade from W2K to XP February 25, 2006
It is now almost a month since I bought the upgrade to XP Prof. for my destop computer running W2K Prof. I have had nothing but trouble. My notebook computer, connected by a wireless next for almost 18 months, suddenly could not connect to the desktop. All network setup and trouble-shooting help did nothing. I called MS and things got worse. Now I have an dditional problem (no sound on my desktop) and the first problem remains unsolved. I have been through three layers of MS technicians, only the last of which spoke English with an accent close enough to mine to be understood. Nonce could fix the problems and they are now "researching" the problem and supposed to call me this morning. During one of the calls, the tech. tried to blame it on my notebook. If any of you are old enough to remember when there was only one telephone company, you'll ercognize the situation. Right now, I would prefer getting a refund and returning to W2K.
 Improvement over older versions, but... December 10, 2005
First of all, Microsoft needs to come down on their prices (Not that this will ever happen). I build computers for a living, and I'd say that 9 times out of 10 Windows is the single most expensive piece of any PC I build. That being said, XP has come a long way. Service pack 2 has done wonders for security. I also found it is the most stable version of Windows I've used to date. That's not to say it doesn't have it's flaws. It still lets in it's share of "germs", stops responding from time to time (hangs), and it's very slow to shut down. The built-in CD writing software is TERRIBLE and Remote Desktop is not always a pleasure to use either. However, the biggest problem I've had so far is with product activation. As a PC technician, I'm always testing new parts. The most annoying problem I've had is that after you make a certain number of hardware changes (let's say you replace a video card, a hard drive and add some memory) all within a certain period of time (180 days maybe?) Windows makes you reactivate. This becomes a problem when you have to reactivate twice within this period of time. It makes you call Microsoft, where you have to convince the representitive that you're not trying to steal from them. Then you have to read them a long number (I think 41 digits) and then they'll read another long number back to you that you need to type in. It's driven me to the point of using Windows 2000 again to test my parts, even though this isn't always practical for testing XP compatibility.
Overall, I feel that I paid too much for this operating system.
Hardware incompatibility issues w/ Toshiba Satellite M45 November 24, 2005
There are issues regarding hardware incompatibility w/ specific components of the Toshiba Satellite M45-S355. The hardware incompatibility issues w/ the DVD-RAM drive, the GL910 chipset, and the SoundMax integrated audio drivers are known to both Microsoft Technical Service personnel and their counterparts at Toshiba. I spent an hour of fruitless time on a conference call with technicians from both companies (both of whom spoke what could loosely be descibed as "English"). The Amazon representative with whom I spoke was in New Delhi. I ultimately figured out (on my own) which Toshiba drivers needed to be downloaded (again consuming hours of download time with a 56K modem), and I used an Iomega CD-Rom USB external drive to load the software after about six extremely aggravating hours. I was able to avoid similar pitfalls when attempting to install Small Business Accounting 2006. Don't buy these products unless you absolutely MUST. Microsoft's "technical service" is a euphemism more aptly meaning "technically useless". There is nothing technically professional about the additional capabilities of Microsoft XP Professional. I should also mention that both the Toshiba laptop and the software were purchased from Amazon.
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