Facing problems while trying to upgrade from XP home to Professional

[dhan0022]

We have Windows XP home edition already installed in the system when
we bought the computer.

I am trying to upgrade to Professional edition.

After inserting the Windows XP professional CD,
I tried to check as below:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
->Check system compatibility
-> Check my System automatically

I have got this message:

Windows Setup

Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows
on your computer is newer than the version on the CD.

Warning: If you decide to delete the newer version of
Windows that is currently installed on your computer,
the files and settings cannot be recovered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I have in my computer is:
Windows XP Home edition version 2002 Service Pack 2.

Please anyone suggests which version of Professional edition
I should use to upgrade my system. Also, please advise me the process
how to upgrade.

Thanks

[daemonOS]

Not saying that you have a illegal copy of XP Pro but do you have a Corp copy of XP or retail. Either way call microsoft if its a valid copy. If its the corp copy you might try to slipstream XP w/SP2. The Corp copy does not come w/any service packs installed. You may also wont to try uninstalling SP2 that you currently have installed and then try the upgrade. Now it will not completly remove all of it but may be it will work. I now MDAC 2.81 comes embedded into the OS after SP2 install. And .NET also does but I really don't think those will give you any problems. Well good luck and if I can help any more I will try.

[dhan0022]

Thanks a lot daemonsOS.
I have chosen the option of slipstreaming XP with SP2 and then upgrade. I didn't know how to slipstream and from another forum "TechRepublic" I have got this link below, which guides for Slipstream:
http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsX...p2-bootcd.html

I have upgraded it successfully. I need some information from you. Actually, a friend gave me this CD (windows XP professional). It is a legal copy. After upgrading I have come to know that it exceeds the maximum number of users. So, within 30 days I have to activate it. Is it possible to buy product key to activate it? or If I buy a fresh copy can I overwrite the one in my computer? I would be very grateful if you (or somebody) give me some guidance.

Thanks

[fredthebread]

Hi! I have the xp professional upgrade cd. I have the same problem in that my home edition is newer but the upgrade version does not slipstream because the upgrade cd does not have an i386 folder. Can any give me another solution?
thanks
fred

[daemonOS]

Roll back SP2 and then try. If that does not work back all data up and do a clean install. If you have a upgrade disk do not try that. Only do a clean install w/a full oem disk. I hate upgrade disk.. never, never work right. If they do then its not functioning like it should. I know its like $100 more to do a OEM but hey.. your call.