Upgrading Vista Home To Vista Business

My son just got recently, an E 1505 5200 1.67 120 GIG HARDDRIVE, came with Vista home, the school does not support home because of security issues etc..They said to install Vista business. I purchased an upgrade copy from the school for $99.00, is it easy to install????? Ohter then just installing the disc, will i need to make any changes or is it just click etc??? also, will he lose anyhting already on the computer?? Thanks in advance??

 

Nope, the upgrade from home to business should be easy and fast.

 

i was informed by a friend, that the security measures for wireless and ethernet are just about the same in home and business, but my son will lose many good features by going from home to business....How would the school know, and why would they want him on business instead of home, by the way, they do not supprt the vista software as a whole, but said there would be no prblems with business...very confused, and do not want my son to lose some features that he may use..Any advice??? Thanks in advance

 

Check out this link here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pr.../choose.mspx?wt_svl=10033WHa1&mg_id=10033WHb1

It shows you what the different versions have. If you son has Home Basic, he won't be losing anything at all actually, just gaining lots of features. If he has Home Premium, the biggest loss would probably be Media Center. Personally I don't care for Media Center and don't really see it as a loss.

I am running Vista Business now and I like it a lot and don't really feel like I am missing out on anything from the other versions.

 

Vista home editions cannot connect to a Windows domain server/network, which is a big disadvantage for large corporations. A Windows domain controller has a centralized security system with a centralized user base. Whereas casual workgroups (the only available networking method for Vista home) are ad hock unsecured small groups of computers connected to a hub/switch or a router. They are very restricted and difficult to monitor or maintain. Most large corporations use domain controllers for their LANs. Thet is the only reason I can think of why your son's school is asking for Vista business.

By upgrading to Business you are only going to loose few media functions, that are not very important. Here is a good comparison of the features between various flavors of Vista editions.

 

so if i leave Vista Home premium installed, is it possible the school will not even know about it???? I do not want to take away any features he may use, i understand that with the media works it has something to do when watching mivies on computer..Just very confused, and don't want to go to business edition unless he absolutely will need it for the school wireless and ethernet features..Thanks!!

STEVE

 

If his school uses a windows domain, then he will not be able to log in to their network with Vista Home, it may restrict him from accessing some of their servers or shared resources. They can easily spot all the computers that are connected to the network but not joined to the domain, but I don’t think that is the problem here. Ask your son to check that out first. As I said before, the media features you will loose are not that important.

1. You will lose the Windows Media Center application. It is just a spiced up media player with TV tuner support. If you don’t have a TV tuner, then there is absolutely no reason to use Windows Media Center because Windows Media Player (which will still be available in Vista business) and plenty of other 3rd party players can do all the things + more (except TV playback). You will not loose the ability to watch movies or listen to music !

2.You’ll also lose XBOX extender, which will let you hook up an XBOX and transfer multimedia content between the two. Again, if you don’t have an XBOX absolutely no use.

3. Finally, Windows movie maker and DVD maker; there are plenty of better alternative movie and DVD authoring software out there. IMO another useless feature.

Those are the only things you loose, but you will gain several rather important (non multimedia related) features instead; like the ability to connect to windows domains, advanced drive encryption and remote desktop services, that are more important to a college student than those multimedia stuff.
All in all, your son is better off with Vista business.

 

I don't really see how the school could know about it. As far as media goes, I am pretty sure there are others ways to play movies on the computer (like VLC media player - it is free).

As far as the networking goes though, there may be issues. I don't know a lot about it so I can't help you there. From what PhoenixFx said though, it seems that is could be an issue.

What I would do is stick with Home Premium for now. Try it out at the school and see if it works. If it doesn't, just upgrade to the Business version if you have to.

 

Yes, let him use Vista Home for now and upgrade if needed.

 

thanks!!! I will wait and see, he starts the 25th of June.

 

Awesome. It won't be a big deal if you need to upgrade. I believe there is a Vista anytime upgrade that should make this simple.

 

could you please explain the anytime upgrade. I see if you go from home premium to ultimate it is only $170.00, where to buy the upgrade software is $259.00, is it easy to upgrade or are there many obstacles?? Thanks again in advance.

 

Unfortunately I don't have the answer to this question. However, this link may have useful information. You may want to have a look.

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows...yorupgrade/windowsanytimeupgrade/default.mspx

 

That website pretty much covers it. One explanation -- if the Vista OS you're upgrading is OEM (i.e. it came preinstalled in your NB) then you may have to order a Windows Anytime Upgrade disc before starting the process (unless the recovery discs that your NB have include Windows Anytime Upgrade on them, I'm not sure if this is the case with all manufacturers). Otherwise if you have the Retail version that would serve as your Windows Anytime Upgrade disc.

The FAQ also covers the process step by step.

Overall, provided you have a Windows Anytime Upgrade disc, is very straightforward and painless, although time-consuming. Other than the wait, you just follow the directions, very simple.

 

Good point. You shouldn't have any issues.

____

On another note, I noticed you were from New Brunswick DrewN. I used to live in North Brunswick, NJ back in the day. Seems like a small world sometimes.

 

^^cool ... did you move out of NJ due to the high property taxes as well? It's become very expensive living here, I may be crossing the borders into PA pretty soon.

 

I actually moved out because I was young and my dad's job was moving him around. I've got a lot of relative in MD as well, living back east is pricey! That is one advantage to living out in Utah.