XP operating system

The biggest difference is in networking. XP Home cannot join a domain and will only support 5 connections in a workgroup. It also doesn't support EFS (file encryption) The good news is that it can be easily upgraded to XP Pro.

Here is a link to a Microsoft page to help you determine which version you need.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

I have Pro installed on a machine that I plan to use a my home network server, and have a copy of the Home version ready for the "family" machine.

If you think you might want Pro, go for it at the start. That way you don't end up with a copy of home that will trigger alerts when you go to activate it on another system.

For most versions, once you activate it on-line, the on-line guide will not activate that copy a second time. After the on-line guide rejects you, you need to call in for activation.

Ask yourself these five questions to find out which one is right for you:

Do you want to remotely access your computer so you can work with all your data and applications while away from your desk?
Remote Desktop, a feature found only in Windows XP Professional, lets you set up your computer for connection from any other Windows-based computer. Leave a file at home? Don't want to lug a laptop around? Remote Desktop gives you access to your computer from virtually anywhere. More about Remote Desktop.

Do you connect to a large network?
Windows XP Professional is best for people who connect to large networks, such as a school or office network, since it allows you to join and be managed by a Windows domain. More about joining networks.

Do you need to protect sensitive data in files and folders that are stored on your computer?
The Encrypting File System (EFS), found only in Windows XP Professional, allows you to encrypt your files and folders for added security ofsensitive data against theft or hackers. Restricted File Access, also found only in Professional, allows you to restrict access to selected files, applications, and other resources. More about EFS.

Do you need the ability to completely restore your system in the event of a catastrophic failure?
Windows XP Professional provides more robust options for backing up and restoring data than Home Edition. More about System Restore and other restore options.

Would you consider yourselfa "power user"?
Windows XP Professional contains a number of incremental features too numerous to list here. Suffice it to say, users who demand the most from their computers will want to "go Pro." Some additional features found only in Windows XP Professional are:

Support for multiple-processor systems
Support for multiple languages
Advanced networking for multiple PC environments

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