URGENT: Windows Media Centre - Help!!!

Andy B

Andy B

Andy B

Associate
Joined
10 Jan 2007
Posts
16
Guys, I really need help!

OK here's my situation:

Basically i have my main PC, which has a licence for Windows XP Media Centre, but no CD as it was pre-installed by the company I bought it from a few years ago.

I also have this laptop, which has Windows XP Pro and I do have the CD for this one.

I'm selling my old PC, so decided tonight to format the whole hard drive and re-install things, i used my Windows XP disc not realising that I couldn't use my Windows XP Media Centre licence key with it. So yeah, i have a buggered main PC which I need to sell very soon and I'm really not sure what to do. All the Media Cantre CD's I seem to be able to purchase are really expensive as I'm paying for a new licence key too.

So my question to you is, is there anywhere I can download Microsoft XP Media Centre from? or purchase *just* the software, not the licence key too? as I don't want to fork out next to £100, especially when I had a perfect running version yesterday :(

Thanks for any advice you guys give, I need it so bad and don't know where else to turn
 
Dont know if I understand correctly (kinda tired)
But if you want media centre, because you use it for HTPC purposes, can I suggest you try looking into alternative front end HTPC software?

Personal favourite would be Mediaportal.
Other I tried and liked was TVedia, Xbox Media centre (for PC), Myth TV (Linux based).

If you are just after a good, cheaper OS, then sorry, ignore my post :)
 
I think you have misunderstood but not to worry :)

Basically I have a product key for a completely legal version of the proper Microsoft XP Media Centre, been using it for years now. But I've gone and formatted the hard drive to do a fresh install, and didn't realise I don't have a media centre disk to install media centre again.

So I tried to install xp thinking "I'll just try using the media centre product key" but to no avail, as it just says my version of windows isn't genuine, so I basically need just the software, no product key with it, of Microsoft Windows XP Mdia Centre...does that make any sense? :\ it's more to het the OS working, I'm not as bothered about getting the media centre part back
 
Since it was preinstalled on your PC it would be an OEM copy. Microsoft offer no support for preinstalled copies of Windows but if you ask the manufacturer then they may be able to send you the CD

The legality of downloading a copy is debatable. you already paid for the software and hae a licence to own it however it is still considered warez at the end of the day as far as I know so I wouldn't try it
 
AndyB,

You should have been supplied with the CD when you purchased it, are you certain it isn't with the 'bits' that came with it? It may not look like a Microsoft CD, it could just look like a driver disk or similar.

Can you go back to the original suppliers of the PC?

Otherwise, I think you will have to try and borrow a genuine copy.

Good luck,

Michael
 
michael baxter said:
You should have been supplied with the CD when you purchased it, are you certain it isn't with the 'bits' that came with it? It may not look like a Microsoft CD, it could just look like a driver disk or similar.
Click to expand...

Many retailers dont supply the Installation CDs but rather a System Restore cd which effectively reinstalls windows but using data on a hidden partition which could have been deleted if he reformatted.
Worth a try though if you have it
 
No, I'm absolutely positive I didn't get the CD, it was pre-installed as the previous poster said :(

So that's my only option, borrow a genuine copy from someone or chase them for the recovery CD? I can buy a recovery CD for £50, it's just annoying that if I had known my genuine product key wouldnt work on Windows XP but only on Media Centre edition, I wouldn't have re-formatted.

I would love to download a copy from somewhere, but would want it to be genuine and like you say, it's debateable as I have the licence...

This is going to be £50 out of my pocket because of a stupid mistake isn't it...? doh!
 
Damn, so what you're saying Eire is that even if I did buy the recovery CD, chances are it wouldn't work as I've already deleted my partition? Damn, I know I've done that too as I totally wiped the thing clean for a fresh install...
 
Andy B said:
Damn, so what you're saying Eire is that even if I did buy the recovery CD, chances are it wouldn't work as I've already deleted my partition? Damn, I know I've done that too as I totally wiped the thing clean for a fresh install...
Click to expand...


If you get a recovery CD you can install the OS fine :)

You always wipe the partition to install the new OS anyway :)

On my old PC they installed my recovery drive on a different partition, naffed up and deleted it by mistake.

Rang the manufucturer and they sent me it out. if its still under warranty they should send a recovery disk or something out, well atleast they did in my case :confused:
 
Last edited:
As far as i know, you pay microsoft for the license you use to run the software, not the physical CD.

Therefore you should just be able to acquire an ISO version from "A Source" on the internet and install with your genuine key.

If you're not meant to download then what the heck is MSDN AA about? lol

Martin
 
That's interesting Lucifers...that's what I was thinking because I have bought the rights to the software...? hmmmmm, maybe it's something I should look into or if anyone knows?

Other than that, I didn't know that about the recovery CD, I just hate how expensive this is - so annoying! I definatley don't get one free :( I know I can't link to any other suppliers here - am I allowed to link to my PC spec? I can't see any way on the website to purchase the computer, just the specification and software downloads for my version of the PC
 
A "downloaded" version wouldn't necessarily work with the key you've got. Are you sure you formatted the *entire* disk? There may be a hidden partition for recovery that you press F12 or something on boot to get to it :)
 
Yeah, I'm sure I formatted the whole thing :( damn

Ah well, thanks for all your posts guys, I think the best thing to do is buy a Windows XP Home edition from Overclockers, it's easier and much faster as I need to get this PC sold now.

Plus, that might be another selling point as there's a free upgrade to Vista! could be a good thing :)

Thanks everyone for your input, you've been a great help!
 
phone whoever you got the machine from and ask for a plain mce disk, they'll probably charge a tenner or something, dell allow you to buy discs for £5 i think (when ordering thier pc's)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom