Upgrade from XP Pro SP2 to Media Center w/o Reformat?

[Kitt2003]

Can I upgrade to Media Center if I already have XP Pro installed?

[hulksterjoe]

Nope, Media center dosent exist in a upgrade package.. it only available as a standalone install.

[Phoenix86]

Rule of thumb, new OS=format.

[J32P2006]

Reformat but Use both,
Make two partitions and Dualboot, use XP Pro as a backup.
Unless your positive that you won't need it. Just thought I'd add.

[djnes]

Reformat but Use both,
Make two partitions and Dualboot, use XP Pro as a backup.
Unless your positive that you won't need it. Just thought I'd add.
Probably not a bad suggestion normally, but I would think if someone was using Media Center 2005, they'd have a lot of content that requires as much hard drive space as possible. Besides, most features available in XP Pro, are found in MCE2005.

[J32P2006]

Probably not a bad suggestion normally, but I would think if someone was using Media Center 2005, they'd have a lot of content that requires as much hard drive space as possible. Besides, most features available in XP Pro, are found in MCE2005.

Most people would or should have a second Harddrive for content.

[djnes]

Most people would or should have a second Harddrive for content.
Ideally, yes. Hopefully this is the case.

[Carloswill]

Rule of thumb, new OS=format.

+1

You should never upgrade your OS even if it's a supported option.

[Black-Falcon]

+2

But sereously consider the dual boot option (provided that you're not on any space constrictions). But never ever upgrade, it sucks. A lot.

[Kitt2003]

damnit.

yeah i always do a new format for a new os install. in fact i just reformated and finished setting everything up a couple weeks ago after i got my new 200gb sata hd

thing is, i'm not gonna use it for my tv but rather maybe get it so i can use the tivo feature of xbox 360, which i havent gotten yet. the thing about dual booting though is that id have to boot to media center everytime id want to record a program.

any ideas?

my C: w/ win xp is the 200gb while my d: backup (which is empty as of now) is my old 80gb drive.

[J32P2006]

You will use XP Pro as just a backup OS for easy access to your media if Media center gets messed up.
And you can set your computer to boot whatever operating system you want to boot.
You can find that option for selecting which OS to boot by
right clicking my computer on the desktop and selecting the advanced tab, then down to startup and recovery,
hit settings and when you have both OS's installed it will let you change what one you want to boot to.

[Kitt2003]

hmmm, so can install media center onto my 80gb D:, boot to that everytime, but still have everything installed in the C:\Program Files folder? or would i ened to reinstall everything?

[djnes]

hmmm, so can install media center onto my 80gb D:, boot to that everytime, but still have everything installed in the C:\Program Files folder? or would i ened to reinstall everything?
If you're running a dual boot system, than your apps need to be re-installed twice. You also need to update your AV software twice, run Windows Update twice, etc. Everything you do for one install, needs to be done with the other.

My advice, unless you need features of Pro (only), like official domain support, then just install MCE2005.

[J32P2006]

Reinstall everything.

But if I was you I would use the 80 gig as Primary and the 200 gig for storage.
It just makes more sense.

I would make three partitions on the 80 gig...

1st. for Media Center
2nd. for XP Pro
3rd . for games, well that's if you play games.

And Whatever size you want for each one is up to you.

[J32P2006]

If you're running a dual boot system, than your apps need to be re-installed twice. You also need to update your AV software twice, run Windows Update twice, etc. Everything you do for one install, needs to be done with the other.

My advice, unless you need features of Pro (only), like official domain support, then just install MCE2005.



Why would he have to duplicate everything, It's a backup OS just to get into a windows environment if MCE messes up.
That's it.

And it only takes a few gigs to have some extra help if a problem should arise.

[Kitt2003]

thing about that is, i was told that i should use the 200 gigger as the main C: because of how much faster it is than the 80gb. my 200 has 16mb cache which has actually notciablly been an improvement.

im just not ready for another format though. too much hassle. maybe in a few more months when things start going wrong ill do it, but for now i guess ill have to live without the tivo feature of xbox 360

also, im kinda glad i put the 200gb drive as the C: because i only keep files id like to backup on the 80 one as well as my music, which isn't even enough to take away a sufficieint amount of space in either drive

[J32P2006]

true, if the 200 gig drive is faster then that is a keeper as Primary.

To be honest, I'm not even really sure if any 100 gigs or less drives can even keep up with the newer bigger drives ?
Except the raptors. So I shoulda thought of that. But I'm gonna look into that some more.

But best of luck to you.

[djnes]

Why would he have to duplicate everything, It's a backup OS just to get into a windows environment if MCE messes up.
That's it.
If that's all it's being used for, then I wouldn't even bother install XP Pro. There are plenty of other methods for getting into or fixing the MCE install if something goes awry.

[J32P2006]

If that's all it's being used for, then I wouldn't even bother install XP Pro. There are plenty of other methods for getting into or fixing the MCE install if something goes awry.

Can you inform me ?

[djnes]

Can you inform me ?
Aside from all of the options built in to all flavors of XP and the options available when booting the MCE install media, something like BartPE is free, and adds even more functionality to repairing a current install, and/or recovering files. Norton Ghost can be used to recover files as well. You definitely don't need to install a second copy of the OS in order to do this. That's would mean buying a license for 2 OSes as well.

[J32P2006]

The options built into XP suck.
And cd's are slow as hell.
And he already want's to upgrade to MCE and already owns XP .
There is no easier way to recover files then to dualboot into a very similar OS.

BartPE, UBCD, Techies Toolkit, Hirens boot cd, miniPE,,, shit using these are very close to a faster extra backup OS. But that's just my opinion.

[djnes]

The options built into XP suck.
And cd's are slow as hell.
And he already want's to upgrade to MCE and already owns XP .
There is no easier way to recover files then to dualboot into a very similar OS.

BartPE, UBCD, Techies Toolkit, Hirens boot cd, miniPE,,, shit using these are very close to a faster extra backup OS. But that's just my opinion.

1) The built in options work very well, and 95% of the time, they do the job. Read about the recovery console and repair installs.
2) Running any of these tools from CD isn't bad at all.
3) He can use the XP Pro license on a separate computer if he wants.
4) There are plenty of easier ways. Just because you aren't aware of them, doesn't mean they don't exist.
5) BartPE et al, are very similiar to using a separate OS, except the fact they can be loaded from a CD rather than needing to be installed, and don't take up any hard drive space.

[J32P2006]

1. How do i use recovery console to repair the registry. And repair install sucks to me at least.
2. They ain't bad but are very slow.
3. He can upgrade if he wants.
4. Thanks for clearing that up.
5. Yes,, if your working on someone elses computer then the cd's are obviously better but for a conputer someone owns a seperate install is easier and faster once installed.

but I guess it's just our different preferences. Good Day

[djnes]

The differences aren't the problem. It was your way of asking questions.

People on here take one of two paths when they are presented with information they didn't know about or don't agree with. They either take it as a chance to learn something new, or cop a know-it-all attitude.

Each of the tools and methods I've suggested works very well for what they are intended to do. It's up to you to know what tool to use.

If running dual installs was really the best way to fix a computer, don't you think the gurus here would be doing it? Don't you think guides would be created suggesting it? No one who troubleshoots PCs uses a dual install, not when tools are available. Even in the corporate setting, where VLKs are used, no one uses dual installs to fix anything.

[J32P2006]

K

Good Day. :D

[Kitt2003]

1. How do i use recovery console to repair the registry. And repair install sucks to me at least.

Actuallllly my sisters computer had that problem and it would be riddled with errors and couldn't even start up. What I had to do was go to the repair console with the XP CD in and I had to copy the original registry over the corrupted stuff; from the CD drive to the C:.

Needless to say things were still fucked up after that, but at least I got to boot to Windows and back everything up before a format and reinstall.

[djnes]

Actuallllly my sisters computer had that problem and it would be riddled with errors and couldn't even start up. What I had to do was go to the repair console with the XP CD in and I had to copy the original registry over the corrupted stuff; from the CD drive to the C:.

Needless to say things were still fucked up after that, but at least I got to boot to Windows and back everything up before a format and reinstall.
Very good point. As I was trying to say to J32P2006 was that these are very powerful tools worth learning how and when to use, instead of just dismissing them as crap.

[J32P2006]

Very good point. As I was trying to say to J32P2006 was that these are very powerful tools worth learning how and when to use, instead of just dismissing them as crap.

I'm not saying that those tools are totally useless,it's just that dualbooting is easier on your own computer.
It seems to me like your trying to put words in my mouth or get some users on your side to start a bashing of my dumbass way of thinking.


Needless to say things were still fucked up after that, but at least I got to boot to Windows and back everything up before a format and reinstall.


You See,
Instead of reinstalling just to have a f__ked up OS still, you could just boot into your backup OS recover files, then reinstall or fix you main OS.
Obviously when your working on other peoples computer you will have to use recovery console and support cd's.

And who dismisses them as crap, especially recovery console,
dude I use them on peoples computers all the time when I fix them or replace the explorer shell with my own.

And I'm trying to move away from this thread as I want to learn more then argue with people so can we just drop this. I'm dumb, sorry, I'll try harder to make better sense.

[djnes]

I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth. This forum is about helping people. When you help other people, whether it be here or as an IT professional, you have to give advice that's best for the person in question, not what is your own personal preference. Thereofre, it's quite easy to shoot holes in the theory of a dual boot.

Aside from having to own two licenses, a person can benefit from learning how to use the provided and available tools to fix a problem. Fixing a problem is a great way to learn more about your own computer. Many 3rd party tools are available, such as BartPE that will do the exact same thing as a dual boot, but are free, and don't use up any additional hard drive space.

You say you want to try to learn more, but yet you insist on sticking to your guns with advice that's not the best for the OP. A dual boot is simply uneccessary for troubleshooting. If you are truly interested in learning, then learn the tools to fix the problem. You act as if you want to take the high road, but your not opening your mind to better solutions.

[J32P2006]

I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth. This forum is about helping people. When you help other people, whether it be here or as an IT professional, you have to give advice that's best for the person in question, not what is your own personal preference. Thereofre, it's quite easy to shoot holes in the theory of a dual boot.

Aside from having to own two licenses, a person can benefit from learning how to use the provided and available tools to fix a problem. Fixing a problem is a great way to learn more about your own computer. Many 3rd party tools are available, such as BartPE that will do the exact same thing as a dual boot, but are free, and don't use up any additional hard drive space.

You say you want to try to learn more, but yet you insist on sticking to your guns with advice that's not the best for the OP. A dual boot is simply uneccessary for troubleshooting. If you are truly interested in learning, then learn the tools to fix the problem. You act as if you want to take the high road, but your not opening your mind to better solutions.


Then why does it seem like your always arguing with people.Every post I seen you in.
So do you need two licenses to dual boot two XP Pro's ?
What tools fix a corrupted registry ? A clean install ? I think i got that tool down.
It's hard to take your advice, you seem like a know it all type.

[djnes]

[/COLOR]


Then why does it seem like your always arguing with people.Every post I seen you in.
So do you need two licenses to dual boot two XP Pro's ?
What tools fix a corrupted registry ? A clean install ? I think i got that tool down.
It's hard to take your advice, you seem like a know it all type.
It's not much of an argument when you're not even taking the time to look into the things I say. Instead you just want to debate me. You need two licenses to dual boot because that's what the EULA says so. Read the sticky on licensing if you have questions about it. I don't set that rule, Microsoft does. I've fixed registries with repair installs, and also with tools on ERD COmmander discs I use. I don't care if you take my advice or not, since I'm not in charge of fixing your computer. My advice is pretty simple to follow, if your willing to read about it and learn something on your own. If you take nothing from this thread but one thing, atleast read about the EULA and why your solution would require buying two licenses. As soon as you put down the combatative mindset, you'll be surprised how much you learn.