What all would I need to do to convert my XP Pro SP3 machine to a Media
Center PC?

XP by itself does not seem to be that great for playing DVDs or recording
shows that we'd like to watch later. Does Media Center bring that?

I don't know much about Media Center, so please forgive my ignorance.

Re: XP to Media Center? by Jaime

Jaime
Thu Jul 03 07:26:05 PDT 2008

Media Center is considered a separate OS, it is based on XP Pro, but you
can't just add it or convert it, you would have to purchase and do a clean
install (no upgrade option). It is either available as an XP version Media
Center Edition 2005 or the features are included in Vista Home Premium or
Vista Ultimate.

The requirements are more or less the same as the equivalent version of
Windows for the basic system, if you want to do TV, you would need a
compatible tuner card and would need to make sure the video card is
sufficiently powered and has the proper connections if outputting to
something other than a PC monitor (like a TV with s-video).

As far as features, it would be much easier for you to go to the Microsoft
site, type "Media Center" in the search box and do some reading rather than
people here rehash everything to you.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida

"jp2msft" <jp2msft@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1571BD78-AFBC-4DCA-8437-764FD25693B5@microsoft.com...
> What all would I need to do to convert my XP Pro SP3 machine to a Media
> Center PC?
>
> XP by itself does not seem to be that great for playing DVDs or recording
> shows that we'd like to watch later. Does Media Center bring that?
>
> I don't know much about Media Center, so please forgive my ignorance.


Re: XP to Media Center? by Gary

Gary
Thu Jul 03 08:10:26 PDT 2008

An alternative would be to go to either the Home Premium or Ultimate SKUs of
Windows Vista, if your computer has sufficient hardware to run Windows
Vista.

--
Gary Tsang
http://www.gtsang.com

Microsoft MVP - Windows Media Center
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp


"Jaime" <jaimelobo@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:u7jp7iR3IHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Media Center is considered a separate OS, it is based on XP Pro, but you
> can't just add it or convert it, you would have to purchase and do a clean
> install (no upgrade option). It is either available as an XP version Media
> Center Edition 2005 or the features are included in Vista Home Premium or
> Vista Ultimate.
>
> The requirements are more or less the same as the equivalent version of
> Windows for the basic system, if you want to do TV, you would need a
> compatible tuner card and would need to make sure the video card is
> sufficiently powered and has the proper connections if outputting to
> something other than a PC monitor (like a TV with s-video).
>
> As far as features, it would be much easier for you to go to the Microsoft
> site, type "Media Center" in the search box and do some reading rather
> than people here rehash everything to you.
> --
> James
> Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida
>
> "jp2msft" <jp2msft@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1571BD78-AFBC-4DCA-8437-764FD25693B5@microsoft.com...
>> What all would I need to do to convert my XP Pro SP3 machine to a Media
>> Center PC?
>>
>> XP by itself does not seem to be that great for playing DVDs or recording
>> shows that we'd like to watch later. Does Media Center bring that?
>>
>> I don't know much about Media Center, so please forgive my ignorance.
>



Re: XP to Media Center? by CSM1

CSM1
Thu Jul 03 13:14:09 PDT 2008

"jp2msft" <jp2msft@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1571BD78-AFBC-4DCA-8437-764FD25693B5@microsoft.com...
> What all would I need to do to convert my XP Pro SP3 machine to a Media
> Center PC?
>
> XP by itself does not seem to be that great for playing DVDs or recording
> shows that we'd like to watch later. Does Media Center bring that?
>
> I don't know much about Media Center, so please forgive my ignorance.

If your object is to play DVDs, you probably just need to install real DVD
player software.
One I know of for sure is CyberLink PowerDVD.
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_1_ENU.html

You might check out the reviews for DVD player Software.
http://dvd-player-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

For recording shows there is PVR software the works in Windows XP and does
not require Windows Media Center.

Check Beyond TV. You need a tuner installed.
http://www.snapstream.com/

and WinTV.
http://www.hauppauge.com/index.htm

--
CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com
--



RE: XP to Media Center? by BillDavis

BillDavis
Fri Jul 04 10:48:01 PDT 2008

jp2msft

If you are happy with the XP that you already have and on't want to take the
time to configure/Install an OS from scratch, why dont' you check out Beyond
TV, it has most of the the same features as Media Center but you can use it
with XP Home/Pro and Vista.

It is also cheaper than buying a new OS. I have Beyond TV on one XP PC and
Vista Ultimate on another PC, and I thing you you probably be happy with
either.

B.D.

"jp2msft" wrote:

> What all would I need to do to convert my XP Pro SP3 machine to a Media
> Center PC?
>
> XP by itself does not seem to be that great for playing DVDs or recording
> shows that we'd like to watch later. Does Media Center bring that?
>
> I don't know much about Media Center, so please forgive my ignorance.