Windows MC

[Rastalovich]

I`ve only got any real experience of this via Vista, but if u purchase a copy of just Windows MC and install it, is it used the same way as in Vista - i.e. u have a usual looking XP and u`r able to run MC on selection - or is it like an XP install that runs straight into MC ?? (but u can drop into a windows based XP?) eh ?

 

[mVp24]

I`ve only got any real experience of this via Vista, but if u purchase a copy of just Windows MC and install it, is it used the same way as in Vista - i.e. u have a usual looking XP and u`r able to run MC on selection - or is it like an XP install that runs straight into MC ?? (but u can drop into a windows based XP?) eh ?

I've been running MCE 2005 for 2 years. It's basically XP Pro + Media Center = Ownage

 

[Rastalovich]

I know about the XP Pro backdrop, but when u start it up - do u go into an XP usual thing or does it launch straight into the MC frontend (and u can drop out of it) ??

 

[Toxcity]

I think it runs like an normal desktop OS. Correct me if im wrong!

Seen it on my mates laptop..

 

[Rastalovich]

U open it up like in Vista ?

 

[Toxcity]

What do you mean "like Vista"?

Just guessing here but you talking about the Media function built in?

Im Pretty sure you open them when you need them? :eh:

 

[ionicle]

imagine xp

with media center installed as a program, thats basically what it is

 

[Toxcity]

imagine xp

with media center installed as a program, thats basically what it is

Just as I suspected!

Good luck Rast!

 

[Rastalovich]

imagine xp

with media center installed as a program, thats basically what it is

Excellent, that`s how it is on the Vista on this laptop.

 

[ionicle]

yep, vista home premium is like xp MCE

its just like a program

 

[equk]

I had it installed on my HTPC, but it (MC) crashed all the time, every night it would just freeze when I was watching freeview and not come back or else it would crash and reset itself.

I ended up putting on mediaportal and had no problems. I ended up removing MCE2005 totally tho because it kept moaning about not being online to download the latest tv guide

So now I have XP Pro SP2 + MediaPortal and I haven't had any problems or crashes so far.

It's basically XP Pro + MediaCenter tho so if you use it as a desktop OS I doubt you'd notice any difference.

 

[nathan]

Prettty much confirm what everyone else has said, It's XP Home (no ability to join a domain ect) with the media centre add on, just like a program which you can set to open up at start up. Been running it for the last 3 months, everything has been fine.

 

[Rastalovich]

What would happen if u installed MC, and then used a Win XP Pro ugrade on it ?

Would MC still work and u have pro stuff ?

 

[FarFarAway]

No point - Media Centre is just XP Pro with add-ons

 

[Rastalovich]

Arraagghhh - see now Kemp`s thrown a spanner in the works. Nat just said Home.

Or does he mean Pro with stuff taken out effectively making it a home.

U guyz confuzzling me on purpose

 

[equk]

It's just xp pro without domain connectivity but with media center

you can download media portal for free as an alternative to use on xp if you want, saves buying another xp license just for media center.

 

[FarFarAway]

No it IS deffo modified XP Pro cause it needs the XP Pro add-ons for networking

 

[equk]

No it IS deffo modified XP Pro cause it needs the XP Pro add-ons for networking

IDD

Also you can use a MCE CD to re-install XP Pro and it accepts a XP Pro license key.

 

[Rastalovich]

It's just xp pro without domain connectivity but with media center

you can download media portal for free as an alternative to use on xp if you want, saves buying another xp license just for media center.

Linky me the portal thingy m8o, I`d like to install it on something to check it out. Is it kinda like Nero`s thing ? I thought that was pretty good, even if limited, it does what it does.

I`ve got the license to install the likes of media center/xp/vista/whatever.

 

[equk]

Linky me the portal thingy m8o, I`d like to install it on something to check it out. Is it kinda like Nero`s thing ? I thought that was pretty good, even if limited, it does what it does.

I`ve got the license to install the likes of media center/xp/vista/whatever.

http://www.team-mediaportal.com/

It has a few skins aswell you can make it so it looks very similar to microsoft media center and it also has loads of addons for doing stuff like watching music videos, movie trailers etc.

default skin: