Media Center to Vista compatibility - I really need clarity!

[Guest]

Please read this carefully because the question is a bit tricky (sorry):

A few months ago I upgraded from Windows XP Media Center to Vista Home
Premium. Many products I want to purchase are not compatible with Windows XP
Media Center.

Now that I have upgraded, will products compatible with Vista Home Premium
work even though they were not compatible with Windows XP Media Center?

In other words, does the upgrade completely replace Windows XP Media Center?
Is my version of Vista Home Premium exactly the same as every version of
Vista Home Premium – even though it was upgraded from Windows XP Media
Center?

 

[Tiberius]

you now have vista and it is recognised as such from all the programs you
will install....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Please read this carefully because the question is a bit tricky (sorry):

I don't see anything tricky about it at all.

A few months ago I upgraded from Windows XP Media Center to Vista Home
Premium. Many products I want to purchase are not compatible with Windows XP
Media Center.

Like what, for example? There are few, if any, products that will run
on some version of XP, but not media center.

Now that I have upgraded, will products compatible with Vista Home Premium
work even though they were not compatible with Windows XP Media Center?

In other words, does the upgrade completely replace Windows XP Media Center?

Yes.


Is my version of Vista Home Premium exactly the same as every version of
Vista Home Premium – even though it was upgraded from Windows XP Media
Center?

Yes, it's exactly the same. What you upgraded from doesn't matter. If
it runs on Vista Home Premium, it will run on your machine. If it
doesn't, you have a problem independent of your having done an
upgrade.

 

[Guest]

Ken,

Thanks for your response - very helpful! I have asked this question here
before and received no relevant responses so I assumed it must be a bit
"tricky."

You asked what products were not compatible with XP media Center. Most are
related to home-recording gear. The products are mainly hardware items such
an M-Audio's Axiom Midi Controller Keyboard (and other midi gear) as well as
Seagate external/backup hard drives. So to answer your question simply - a
lot of products within a narrow interest range.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Tiberus!

you now have vista and it is recognised as such from all the programs you
will install....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken,

Thanks for your response - very helpful! I have asked this question here
before and received no relevant responses so I assumed it must be a bit
"tricky."

You're welcome. Glad to help.

You asked what products were not compatible with XP media Center. Most are
related to home-recording gear. The products are mainly hardware items such
an M-Audio's Axiom Midi Controller Keyboard (and other midi gear) as well as
Seagate external/backup hard drives. So to answer your question simply - a
lot of products within a narrow interest range.

Sorry to be insistent, but how do you know these won't work on Media
Center? Have you actually tried them? Essentially Media Center is just
XP Professional with a few extra media-related features (and minus one
feature--the ability to join a domain). The addition of those extra
shouldn't prevent any products from working.

 

[Guest]

Hi Ken,

I am not sure why support and compatibility for Media Center is an issue for
some companies.

With the Seagate hard drive I have first-hand experience. Immediately after
purchasing one, I called the company when I won't work properly. Their
technicians informed me it wasn’t compatible with Media Center.

Here is M-audio’s response: At this time, no M-Audio device drivers are
supported under Windows XP Media Center Edition (WMCE). This means that any
M-Audio device designed to interface with your computer via USB, FireWire, or
PCI/PCI-X is not supported for use with WMCE. Additionally, M-Audio USB
devices designed to function without installing a driver (aka “class
compliant devicesâ€) are also not currently supported under WMCE.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken,

I am not sure why support and compatibility for Media Center is an issue for
some companies.

With the Seagate hard drive I have first-hand experience. Immediately after
purchasing one, I called the company when I won't work properly. Their
technicians informed me it wasn’t compatible with Media Center.

Here is M-audio’s response: At this time, no M-Audio device drivers are
supported under Windows XP Media Center Edition (WMCE). This means that any
M-Audio device designed to interface with your computer via USB, FireWire, or
PCI/PCI-X is not supported for use with WMCE. Additionally, M-Audio USB
devices designed to function without installing a driver (aka “class
compliant devices”) are also not currently supported under WMCE.

OK, I can't argue with your first-hand experience. I sure would like
to know, though, what the compatibility issue really is.