Activate Home Edition with MCE product key

[JanJ]

Hi,

I have a computer that came with OEM Windows Media Center Edition. Now I
need to reinstall the OS, but I don't want all the Media Center clutter to
occupy disk space, so I've been thinking of installing from a Home Edition
DVD.

The question is: will I be able to activate with the original product key,
the one that came with MCE? I understand MCE is basically Home with Media
Center on top of it.

My Home Edition product key is already in use on another machine, so that's
not an option.

JJ

 

[Malke]

Hi,

I have a computer that came with OEM Windows Media Center Edition. Now I
need to reinstall the OS, but I don't want all the Media Center clutter to
occupy disk space, so I've been thinking of installing from a Home Edition
DVD.

No. The Product Key used must match the version of the operating system
installed.

The question is: will I be able to activate with the original product key,
the one that came with MCE? I understand MCE is basically Home with Media
Center on top of it.

No. And your understanding is incorrect; MCE is a superset of XP Pro, not
Home.

My Home Edition product key is already in use on another machine, so
that's not an option.

You will need to do a clean install with your XP MCE media and remove the
media center stuff (or stop it from running) afterwards or you will need to
purchase a retail copy of whatever version of XP you want and use that
Product Key.

Malke

 

[JanJ]

You will need to do a clean install with your XP MCE media and remove the
media center stuff (or stop it from running) afterwards

Bad news, but thanx for helping Malke. Does this mean I can stop the MC
services, remove MC files and folders from %Programs% and start-up
entries/registry keys without affecting the stability of the OS?

JJ

 

[Malke]

Bad news, but thanx for helping Malke. Does this mean I can stop the MC
services, remove MC files and folders from %Programs% and start-up
entries/registry keys without affecting the stability of the OS?

Ask your questions about MCE services in the MCE newsgroup. I personally
wouldn't remove the files. If your hard drive is so small you're thinking
about removing system files, get a bigger hard drive.

microsoft.public.windowsxp.mediacenter

Malke

 

[JanJ]

microsoft.public.windowsxp.mediacenter

Thanks for the tips.

JJ

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I have a computer that came with OEM Windows Media Center Edition. Now I
need to reinstall the OS, but I don't want all the Media Center clutter to
occupy disk space, so I've been thinking of installing from a Home Edition
DVD.

I assume you meant "Home Edition *CD*."

The question is: will I be able to activate with the original product key,
the one that came with MCE?

No, you won't. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and
language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they
are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for
any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and
vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail
product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD.
Bottom line: Product Keys and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been
reported that the Product Key for a full license will work with an
Upgrade CD) be mixed & matched.

I understand MCE is basically Home with Media
Center on top of it.

That's incorrect. WinXP Media Center Edition is a _superset_ (iow, it
does _everything_ WinXP Pro can do (except join a domain), plus contains
additional multi-media features) of WinXP *Pro*.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ehome/default.asp

My Home Edition product key is already in use on another machine, so that's
not an option.

So you'll either have to install MCE using your current Product Key and
then individually uninstall or disable the media features you paid extra
for but now don't want, or buy a new WinXP Home license.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Big Al]

Bad news, but thanx for helping Malke. Does this mean I can stop the MC
services, remove MC files and folders from %Programs% and start-up
entries/registry keys without affecting the stability of the OS?

JJ

I tried using nlite to build a new CD without the MCE products. It
don't work. Its too integrated into windows.
If you don't know, nlite is a program that allows you to (in short)
remake your original Install CD and add and remove certain parts of the
cd at will. Like add OEM drivers, remove support for keyboards you'll
never see. etc.
When I removed media center and then tried loading it, 4 items failed to
install due to a missing dll. Now I accept the fact that the author
of the program may have removed too much maybe when I checked the box
'don't load mce', but still, its a valid comment that at least with
nlite it don't work.

But as Malke said, you can at least remove the icons and maybe stop a
few processes so it don't get in your way. I simply removed the
shortcuts and icon in the trays etc. Did not remove any software....
just in case I find a need 6 months down the line.

 

[j-pr]

I assume you meant "Home Edition *CD*."



No, you won't. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and
language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they
are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for
any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and
vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail
product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD.
Bottom line: Product Keys and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been
reported that the Product Key for a full license will work with an
Upgrade CD) be mixed & matched.




That's incorrect. WinXP Media Center Edition is a _superset_ (iow,
it does _everything_ WinXP Pro can do (except join a domain), plus
contains additional multi-media features) of WinXP *Pro*.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ehome/default.asp



So you'll either have to install MCE using your current Product Key
and then individually uninstall or disable the media features you paid
extra for but now don't want, or buy a new WinXP Home license.

Use a WinXP Professional disk. Put your MCE key on it. I dunno if it
will work for you but it worked for me some time ago.

 

[JanJ]

Use a WinXP Professional disk. Put your MCE key on it. I dunno if it
will work for you but it worked for me some time ago.

Thanx, j-pr. I'll see if I can borrow one from someone. If it has worked once
before, it's certainly worth a try.

JJ