XP Pro To XP Media Center

[Cooketh]

Ok So I've used XP Media Center for years.
Formatted my computer after my last hard drive died, and installed windows
XP Pro because I couldn't find the Media Center CD and key.

Of course, I just found the thing and it's 2 months later.

Is there a way I can just upgrade from Pro to Media center without a format
or partition?

I tried doing Windows Repair with the Media Center CD, and even activated
the Media Center CD KEY, but nothing has changed.

I just want the Media Center application on my PC so I can watch cable T.V.
on my pc.

Any help would be great. A format would just be a pain right now, I just
moved into my college dorm and most of my backed up files and music are back
home, so formatting just isn't an option.

 

[Big_Al]

Cooketh said this on 1/11/2009 1:31 PM:

Ok So I've used XP Media Center for years.
Formatted my computer after my last hard drive died, and installed windows
XP Pro because I couldn't find the Media Center CD and key.

Of course, I just found the thing and it's 2 months later.

Is there a way I can just upgrade from Pro to Media center without a format
or partition?

I tried doing Windows Repair with the Media Center CD, and even activated
the Media Center CD KEY, but nothing has changed.

I just want the Media Center application on my PC so I can watch cable T.V.
on my pc.

Any help would be great. A format would just be a pain right now, I just
moved into my college dorm and most of my backed up files and music are back
home, so formatting just isn't an option.

A bit off topic, but I have MCE and how do you watch TV off of cable
with it. I play DVD's, play movies, play all sorts of things, but I
have no place to screw a cable into the PC nor do I have a channel
changer as part of my PC, so how does this work.

I bought MCE on this PC thinking it would give me some great tools, but
other than 1 day of exploring I have never used it, and find nothing it
has that a person can't do without it. But I'm open to ideas....

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Ok So I've used XP Media Center for years.
Formatted my computer after my last hard drive died, and installed windows
XP Pro because I couldn't find the Media Center CD and key.

Of course, I just found the thing and it's 2 months later.

Is there a way I can just upgrade from Pro to Media center without a
format
or partition?

No, and you've proven this with the repair install.

I tried doing Windows Repair with the Media Center CD, and even activated
the Media Center CD KEY, but nothing has changed.

I just want the Media Center application on my PC so I can watch cable
T.V.
on my pc.

Any help would be great. A format would just be a pain right now, I just
moved into my college dorm and most of my backed up files and music are
back
home, so formatting just isn't an option.

Then you are where you are.

HTH
-pk