Win XP professional and drivers (laptop)

[paulac]

I’m a postgraduate student (science, not IT so please forgive my ignorance!) and I recently purchased a second-hand Toshiba lap-top.

When I took it to the university IT department I was told they didn’t support Windows XP Home Edition and wouldn’t let me connect to the uni network until Professional was installed. However, because I hadn’t purchased a Dell lap-top via their department they would not help me install the Windows XP professional or the appropriate drivers, despite it being “problematic and time consuming on laptops”. Oh so very helpful.

I’ve now been given discs for Win XP professional and drivers from a colleague who DID purchase their laptop via the IT department and Dell. My silly question is therefore this; can I use these to upgrade my Toshiba lap-top?

And if not, where do I begin on this “problematic and time-consuming” task, bearing in mind my complete ignorance of such matters?

[honvetops]

Hi paulac and welcome to computerhope.com

you were given disks <   

read the below link first (compliments from  member- soybean)

http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/YourPC_do.mspx

[paulac]

Thank you for the quick response.

As I expected, using the Windows disc is a big no-no 

Could I purchase Professional as an upgrade? Or is it completely different to HE? If so how much is it likely to cost? And then finally, if I were successful with XP Professional could I then use Dell drivers, which are currently on disc? (I'm not entirely sure what drivers are, I therefore wouldn't have a clue how to find and install them on my machine and using the discs would really help)

[honvetops]

Thank you for the quick response.

As I expected, using the Windows disc is a big no-no 

Could I purchase Professional as an upgrade? Or is it completely different to HE? If so how much is it likely to cost? And then finally, if I were successful with XP Professional could I then use Dell drivers, which are currently on disc? (I'm not entirely sure what drivers are, I therefore wouldn't have a clue how to find and install them on my machine and using the discs would really help)

If your Toshiba laptop came with the full Windows Home Edition * CD ( you have possesion of) ,   yes-
you can just buy the Windows Professional "upgrade" version and you will be ok.....with a new installation..   PRICE* 

try  www.newegg.com   or   http://www.salescircular.com/

Drivers <    read this link and this will explain what "drivers" are for.....

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/compdrivers.mspx

I am a little confused on the dell drivers  comment, ?? from your post I read-
don't worry about any dell drivers  .....