Windows XP Home vs Pro
Convert Windows XP Home to HomePro Light
- Boot with a Vista installation DVD or BartPE CD, then run regedit from this environment
- Load hive c:\windows\system32\config\system (from harddisk, file system without extension) into HKLM\HomePro
- Delete content of key HKLM\HomePro\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\ProductOptions\ProductSuite (do not delete key)
- NOTE: If you need to update the service pack, the ProductSuite needs to be set back to “Personal” for the update
- Unload hive and reboot into your new HomePro system
- Run regedit from your new HomePro system
- Edit key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\forceguest from “1” to “0”. It is not necessary (and not possible) to disable option simple file sharing in folder view.
- The new functionality for your new HomePro system is now activated
Feature comparison
| Features | Home | HomePro | Profes- |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edition | Light | sional | |
| GUI for access control of folders and files | - | yes | yes |
| Account and group management in computer management | - | yes | yes |
| Extended file sharing options | - | yes | yes |
| Runas-option / safecred | - | yes | yes |
| Domain integration | - | yes | yes |
| File encryption | - | yes | yes |
| User Administrator can login into running system | - | yes | yes |
| Offline files | - | yes | yes |
| Dynamic filesystem | - | - | yes |
| Group Main users | - | - | yes |
| Remote Desktop Server | - | - | yes |
| Netware Client | - | - | yes |
| Webserver IIS | - | - | yes |
| Group policy editor gpedit.msc | - | - | yes |
| Security settings in Control Panel | - | - | yes |
| Commandline tools tasklist and taskkill | - | - | yes |
References
c't no.15/2005 - page 50, c't special Windows no.4/2008 - page 112