?? about installing XP Media Center

[rage4order]

I just got Windows Media Center and want to install it on my laptop. I have XP Pro on it currently and want to know if I install MC, will it just "upgrade" to MC and leave all my files and settings the way they are? You know, like when going from Win Me to XP, or XP to Vista, etc. I don't want to do a clean install, just upgrade to MC.

[TechieSooner]

I just got Windows Media Center and want to install it on my laptop. I have XP Pro on it currently and want to know if I install MC, will it just "upgrade" to MC and leave all my files and settings the way they are? You know, like when going from Win Me to XP, or XP to Vista, etc. I don't want to do a clean install, just upgrade to MC.

It should work, although after a quick look I couldn't find any clear upgrade paths from XP Pro to XP MC.
I'd also bet the keys are different, just FYI.

And as always you need to back your current system up before trying something like this.

[rage4order]

It should work, although after a quick look I couldn't find any clear upgrade paths from XP Pro to XP MC.
I'd also bet the keys are different, just FYI.

And as always you need to back your current system up before trying something like this.
What's the best way to do this?

[Demon10000]

My guess is that you wouldn't be able to do an upgrade. XP Pro is technicaly a "higher" version of XP than Media Center is. From what I understand (and the few machines I've had to support with it), Media Center is XP Home with some more fluf on it. Since you already have a "better" version of XP, I'm not sure if it will let you do an upgrade.

It would be similar to upgrading from Vista Ultimate to Vista Home, and I don't think you can do that. Best way to figure it out would be to pop in the CD and see if it gives you the option of upgrading.

Regardless, you should back up your system if you're doing a clean install or upgrading... just to make sure!

[DeaconFrost]

What's the best way to do this?
Whatever way works best for you. You can image the entire drive, you can copy off your important data to another computer or an external drive. No one can tell you what is the best way, besides you.

As for the OSes, You would only consider a fresh install.

[rage4order]

Whatever way works best for you. You can image the entire drive, you can copy off your important data to another computer or an external drive. No one can tell you what is the best way, besides you.

As for the OSes, You would only consider a fresh install.
Ok. I do have ghosting software, but I'm not 100% sure how to use it. Would software like Power ISO work, or is it preferrable to use a ghosting software? I do have both.

[DeaconFrost]

You could use Ghost with BartPE to send an image to an external drive. You could also just copy your files to an external drive or another computer. PowerISO isn't a backup utility, so that isn't going to help. The main question you should ask yourself is where or how are you going to store your backed up data...and this will likely tell you what software to use.

[OldPueblo]

I know this probably won't help much but XP MCE is actually XP Pro that's been modified. If you poke around it's entirely possible you could find someone that's pulled out just the MCE application and can port it around. The legality of this is probably in question, but not so much if you own both copies.

[magoo]

XP MCE is XP Pro with the media center software on the second disc.

I'd first back up the data. Just use the back-up utility that comes with XP Pro and send it to an external disc.

I've never done this...........but, you might try just placing in the second disc and see what happens............worst case scenerio.........you get FUBAR'd and have to do a clean install of MCE.