- 1). Boot your computer. Uninstall your anti-virus, spam and spyware programs and Microsoft Small Business Server if you are using it.
- 2). Backup all your important files and documents on DVD or CD, or on a backup hard drive or backup service in case something bad happens. It's unlikely, but you can't be too careful when messing with the operating system.
- 3). Run whatever disk defragmenter you prefer on your primary boot drive (Drive C:) to make the files as compact as you can make them. The Windows XP Pro software will install more cleanly if you everything compacted and it will greatly speed up the installation process.
- 4). Power down the computer and disconnect all hardware peripherals except the mouse, the keyboard and monitor. Reboot the computer.
- 5). With Windows XP home running, insert the XP Pro upgrade CD into the CD drive. When the XP Pro installation window pops up, select "Upgrade" in the setup options dialogue box.
- 6). Input your product key during installation when the dialogue box appears asking you to input the key. Input the product key printed in the XP upgrade package. Follow the prompts to finish installing the upgrades. When finished shut down your computer.
- 7). Reconnect all your peripherals and do a clean reboot.
- 8). Go to the Microsoft Windows XP Update website and download all critical updates and any optional ones you want. Once downloaded, select install on each update. Be careful, some updates should be installed in order--SP2 should be installed before SP3, for instance. Don't go anywhere but the Microsoft site; remember, you're anti-virus software isn't installed right now.
- 9). Reboot and reinstall your anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-spyware software and Microsoft SBS if you are using it. Reboot when finished and your system should be ready to go with all your files securely in place.