XP & Media Center

gerryh · #1 (**permalink**) 13-05-2007, 11:51 AM

Hi
I recently bought a PC with Windows Vista Home preinstalled. Although it is a fine OS, lots of my applications and games didnt like it so I bought a full retail version of XP Home. My problem is that I want to keep Media Center as its good for watching TV. As I havent installed XP yet, would it be possable to download Media Center on its own for XP? I've already downloaded all the XP drivers I need for my TV card, video ect and also I've tried the microsoft site but keep going around in circles! Hope someone can advise.

Gerryh

spud · #2 (**permalink**) 13-05-2007, 06:02 PM

hi there media cente is available as a xp download at the moment the lastest version is media player 10 unless you mean the media centre operating system which is slightly different to xp for that you will have buy a fully ciopy of xp media centre

hope this helps

gerryh · #3 (**permalink**) 15-05-2007, 08:00 PM

Hi Thanks for the relpy!
Yea thats what I thought, guess I will have to buy a dedecated TV display program, something like Media Center 10 as I cant get hold of a retail version of XP Media Center Edition. Could anyone out there recommend one?
And thanks for such a great site!

Gerry

spud · #4 (**permalink**) 15-05-2007, 09:16 PM

if you install xp you will get the latest version of windows media but it should already be there because its bundled with vista just install xp then windows updtae and it will install the latest version for you and it is very good

hope this helps

jephree · #5 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 12:36 AM

Just to add: The XP Media Center operating system is only available as a pre-installation on specific computers. There is no retail version of this software.

The Media Center program in Vista is unique to Vista.

Windows Media Player 11 is available for both XP and Vista.

You could add XP as a dual boot option along side Vista. This also is not as easy as it appears as XP will over write the boot sector. There is a brief guide here: http://apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp

If you plan to remove Vista and replace with XP you will need to format the hard drive outside of Windows as Windows will not allow itself to be downgraded.

You probably also will void all the warranties on your computer.

...

gerryh · #6 (**permalink**) 21-05-2007, 08:43 PM

Hi All
Hey thanks guys for all that usefull info. So you are all saying that I will still be able to watch TV with Xp. Thats just fine. Now dont get me wrong about Vista, I did like it but the drivers situation is dire right now. Perhaps I will go back to it after the OS "matures" a bit. As for the warrenty on the PC its already void cos I opened it up and fitted a sound card. Dual boot? Mmmmmmmm thought about that, and if Vista was any use to me I might consider it, right now though, its got to go.

Finally though, thanks for the advice, you are all super guys on a super site!

Kind regards

Gerry