Windows XP Home and Dual Core Processor Support

[Leonardo]

I need to purchase Windows again. Yes, ugghhh, not quite ready to go Linux yet (but that's another discussion entirely). I've never used XP Home before and have a couple questions. Some of the info I pulled of the Internet was a bit dated.

-- Does XP Home with SP2 support dual core CPUs? Will it support multi-threaded applications with an AMD X2 or Pentium D/Core Duo?

-- Will XP Home SP2 perform a repair installation over an existing...'questionable' copy of Windows XP?

I really don't want to spring for XP Pro this time when I can save over $60 (OEM vs OEM) by going XP Home.

[primesuspect]

the answer to 1) is yes. It supports dual core fully.

2) no. You need to reinstall.

[TheSmJ]

What do you mean by 'questionable'?

[madmat]

You could get MCE 2005 which is based on XP Pro for ~ $140 from the 'egg and perform an upgrade install...