HiI purchased a new PC and I'm hesitating about the OS I should install on this system.Does the Professional version of Win XP performs better (performance wise) when compared to the "Home" edition ?The price difference is significant but is it worthwile to invest in the Professional version ? Thanks for your input ! :-)Twister

Hi Twister!..The only major difference between Pro & Home that comes into my mind is that Pro is oriented for use in corporate networks, say being member stations of domains, controlling local shared resources. The same time Home version cannot join domains and offers only simplified controls for local shared resources...Soo, if to speak in MSFS context You shouldn't notice major performance hit in either versions.BTW, don't forget to patch your OS at windowsupdate.microsoft.com...Have A Nice Life!..Max.

Thanks for your advice !:-)

You certainly need XP but the home Edition should suit the needs of FS9 - I do have the Pro but can't see the value of additional outlay for the flight simulator.Dave

Thanks Dave !I will buy the "Home Edition" then...

Yes - get XP home - look for an OEM version if you can- it will be about 20% cheaper.All it lacks is a fancy box otherwise just the same.Supposed to be sold for upgrade or assembling a new PC so some places may insist it's purchased with some hardware ( EG an IDE cable).Others may refuse to sell unless you're buying something more substantial such as a motherboard,and some will just sell you it on it's own.Dave

I was under the impression the manuals are more substantial in the boxed version. Am I wrong?Tony

Manuals? My wife bought a boxed version of XP Home... all it had was the standard little booklet of a few pages that basically explains how to install (place the CD in the CD-Rom drive, if the install doesn't start immediately, yada, yada, yada).The boxed version is suppose to offer product support, but even that was a joke for her. After installing she had some problems (minor) so she called the MS toll free line and was told that unless she was suffering a product failure she had to call on the toll number. She did, but after waiting on hold for 45 minutes she angrily disconnected. And MS wonders why folks don't embrace them.I bought an OEM version of XP Home at newegg. $92.00, no support (or manuals... don't miss either). Installed fine, registered without a hitch... works a peach!

Here in the UK the price difference is quite a lot...WinXP Home Retail is listed at around

Just remember that an OEM license dies with the machine, so if you upgrade to a new box then you cannot transfer the license. You also cannot upgrade it to the next version of the OS.--qnh

"Just remember that an OEM license dies with the machine, so if you upgrade to a new box then you cannot transfer the license."Huh?? I have a license with my OEM disc, and I upgrade my hardware constantly. I've done half a dozen XP installs during the past three weeks (chasing the CTD gremiln on a newly installed hard drive), and each time I simply input my 25 digit product key code and continue the install. I've registered the install with MS (via the Net) all six times in those three weeks. No problems at all.With regard to future OS upgrades... I don't know about that. I would never buy an upgrade OS disc. I much prefer to format the drive and start anew with a full install of an OS.Regards,

Wrong! The upgrades work with the OEM versions of windows, but since the "upgrade" versions cost more than the OEM, I alwasy buy the OEM.I don't know if it's true or not, but I've been told the MS database clears your hardware profile after 6 months. So if you haven't activated the OS in 6 months and you get a new box, it won't make you call MS to explain.