can I remove Media Center from Windows XP Media Center Edition?

I have XP MCE 2005, but don't use the Media Center. It has always had
glitches and was difficult to use, and even to close down. (my cursor
disappears, and is difficult to regain) In addition, it conflicts with some
of my hardware/software. Even more, I can't get Media Center not to start up
and and interfere when I'm doing things it is capable of doing. In short, it
won't shut up, and I hate it with all my heart and soul. I understand that
MCE is XP Pro with Media Center injected- can I get rid of media center, and
retain XP Pro? Barring that, if I buy a copy of just plain XP Pro, without
the key, can I use my XP MCE key with it to install, or do I have to also get
a new key? Would using the original key create problems with updates? Or,
lastly, is there a way to reinstall my own original XP MCE without installing
media center (is it optional)? Please be gentle- I'm a nubie.
--
BFB

olfart
Mon May 05 16:56:50 PDT 2008


"BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2BC28E61-D20C-4044-8791-35EC780A15D0@microsoft.com...
>I have XP MCE 2005, but don't use the Media Center. It has always had
> glitches and was difficult to use, and even to close down. (my cursor
> disappears, and is difficult to regain) In addition, it conflicts with
> some
> of my hardware/software. Even more, I can't get Media Center not to start
> up
> and and interfere when I'm doing things it is capable of doing. In short,
> it
> won't shut up, and I hate it with all my heart and soul. I understand that
> MCE is XP Pro with Media Center injected- can I get rid of media center,
> and
> retain XP Pro? Barring that, if I buy a copy of just plain XP Pro, without
> the key, can I use my XP MCE key with it to install, or do I have to also
> get
> a new key? Would using the original key create problems with updates? Or,
> lastly, is there a way to reinstall my own original XP MCE without
> installing
> media center (is it optional)? Please be gentle- I'm a nubie.
> --
> BFB

go into Services and disable it. There are about 3 entries...all say media
center. Mine hasn't come on since I did it. Good riddance to a POS

CSM1
Mon May 05 16:58:13 PDT 2008

"BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2BC28E61-D20C-4044-8791-35EC780A15D0@microsoft.com...
>I have XP MCE 2005, but don't use the Media Center. It has always had
> glitches and was difficult to use, and even to close down. (my cursor
> disappears, and is difficult to regain) In addition, it conflicts with
> some
> of my hardware/software. Even more, I can't get Media Center not to start
> up
> and and interfere when I'm doing things it is capable of doing. In short,
> it
> won't shut up, and I hate it with all my heart and soul. I understand that
> MCE is XP Pro with Media Center injected- can I get rid of media center,
> and
> retain XP Pro? Barring that, if I buy a copy of just plain XP Pro, without
> the key, can I use my XP MCE key with it to install, or do I have to also
> get
> a new key? Would using the original key create problems with updates? Or,
> lastly, is there a way to reinstall my own original XP MCE without
> installing
> media center (is it optional)? Please be gentle- I'm a nubie.
> --
> BFB

You can set Media Center to not start up when you start Windows.

It is in the Media Center interface, Settings > General > Startup and Window
Behavior.

Uncheck Start Media Center when Windows Starts.
Uncheck Media Center window always on top

Save

Close Media Center (Click the X in upper Right corner).


As to your cursor disappearing, you go into Control Panel > Mouse. On the
Pointer Options tab, under Visibility heading, uncheck Display pointer
trails.

Probably also (under Snap to) uncheck Automatically move pointer to the
default button in a dialog box.

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

BFB
Mon May 05 18:34:00 PDT 2008

Thank you for the suggestions, but they were already set that way. MC doesn't
come on with startup, but as soon as I put in a DVD, etc, it muscles in and
takes over, and usually freezes in addition, so I have to actually turn off
the computer to make it go away. When Media Center is open, it fills the
screen, and I no longer have access to the start button or task bar or
anything else that I normally do.
--
BFB


"olfart" wrote:

>
> "BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2BC28E61-D20C-4044-8791-35EC780A15D0@microsoft.com...
> >I have XP MCE 2005, but don't use the Media Center. It has always had
> > glitches and was difficult to use, and even to close down. (my cursor
> > disappears, and is difficult to regain) In addition, it conflicts with
> > some
> > of my hardware/software. Even more, I can't get Media Center not to start
> > up
> > and and interfere when I'm doing things it is capable of doing. In short,
> > it
> > won't shut up, and I hate it with all my heart and soul. I understand that
> > MCE is XP Pro with Media Center injected- can I get rid of media center,
> > and
> > retain XP Pro? Barring that, if I buy a copy of just plain XP Pro, without
> > the key, can I use my XP MCE key with it to install, or do I have to also
> > get
> > a new key? Would using the original key create problems with updates? Or,
> > lastly, is there a way to reinstall my own original XP MCE without
> > installing
> > media center (is it optional)? Please be gentle- I'm a nubie.
> > --
> > BFB
>
> go into Services and disable it. There are about 3 entries...all say media
> center. Mine hasn't come on since I did it. Good riddance to a POS
>
>
>

BFB
Mon May 05 18:36:00 PDT 2008

oops, I think I I replied to the wrong post....? Sorry. To this one, I ask
how do I "go into services"? I'll try this, if you can tell me how.
--
BFB


"olfart" wrote:

>
> "BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2BC28E61-D20C-4044-8791-35EC780A15D0@microsoft.com...
> >I have XP MCE 2005, but don't use the Media Center. It has always had
> > glitches and was difficult to use, and even to close down. (my cursor
> > disappears, and is difficult to regain) In addition, it conflicts with
> > some
> > of my hardware/software. Even more, I can't get Media Center not to start
> > up
> > and and interfere when I'm doing things it is capable of doing. In short,
> > it
> > won't shut up, and I hate it with all my heart and soul. I understand that
> > MCE is XP Pro with Media Center injected- can I get rid of media center,
> > and
> > retain XP Pro? Barring that, if I buy a copy of just plain XP Pro, without
> > the key, can I use my XP MCE key with it to install, or do I have to also
> > get
> > a new key? Would using the original key create problems with updates? Or,
> > lastly, is there a way to reinstall my own original XP MCE without
> > installing
> > media center (is it optional)? Please be gentle- I'm a nubie.
> > --
> > BFB
>
> go into Services and disable it. There are about 3 entries...all say media
> center. Mine hasn't come on since I did it. Good riddance to a POS
>
>
>

BFB
Mon May 05 18:39:00 PDT 2008

Hi, and thank you. I accidentally clicked the wrong response to answer this,
so please see my first answer to the response above, regarding the settings
issue.
--
BFB


"CSM1" wrote:

> "BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2BC28E61-D20C-4044-8791-35EC780A15D0@microsoft.com...
> >I have XP MCE 2005, but don't use the Media Center. It has always had
> > glitches and was difficult to use, and even to close down. (my cursor
> > disappears, and is difficult to regain) In addition, it conflicts with
> > some
> > of my hardware/software. Even more, I can't get Media Center not to start
> > up
> > and and interfere when I'm doing things it is capable of doing. In short,
> > it
> > won't shut up, and I hate it with all my heart and soul. I understand that
> > MCE is XP Pro with Media Center injected- can I get rid of media center,
> > and
> > retain XP Pro? Barring that, if I buy a copy of just plain XP Pro, without
> > the key, can I use my XP MCE key with it to install, or do I have to also
> > get
> > a new key? Would using the original key create problems with updates? Or,
> > lastly, is there a way to reinstall my own original XP MCE without
> > installing
> > media center (is it optional)? Please be gentle- I'm a nubie.
> > --
> > BFB
>
> You can set Media Center to not start up when you start Windows.
>
> It is in the Media Center interface, Settings > General > Startup and Window
> Behavior.
>
> Uncheck Start Media Center when Windows Starts.
> Uncheck Media Center window always on top
>
> Save
>
> Close Media Center (Click the X in upper Right corner).
>
>
> As to your cursor disappearing, you go into Control Panel > Mouse. On the
> Pointer Options tab, under Visibility heading, uncheck Display pointer
> trails.
>
> Probably also (under Snap to) uncheck Automatically move pointer to the
> default button in a dialog box.
>
> --
> CSM1
> http://www.carlmcmillan.com
> --
>
>
>

BFB
Mon May 05 18:51:00 PDT 2008

ooh, I may have found it. Control panel>admin tools> services? Is that where
you meant?
--
BFB

olfart
Mon May 05 22:57:11 PDT 2008


"BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4B444F2C-C399-4CC4-844F-A97A3C22F5C2@microsoft.com...
> ooh, I may have found it. Control panel>admin tools> services? Is that
> where
> you meant?
> --
> BFB
>
>

yup...that's it

BFB
Tue May 06 09:05:00 PDT 2008

BFB RE turning off MC in services:
I was hoping this would be the answer.....
Unfortunately, it didn't work. I put in a DVD to test it, and whamo, there's
that stupid media center again.....
If there are solutions that don't involve having to redo my whole computer,
I'd be so anxious to hear them. But if not, does anyone have answers to my
other questions, about installations and keys?

BFB
Tue May 06 09:16:02 PDT 2008

I did look into this part of your idea, and although snap to was not checked
to start with, trails was. I unchecked it as you suggested, and I won't know
for sure until I experiment some more, but I think it might have made a
difference. Thank you for that.
--
BFB


"CSM1" wrote:


> As to your cursor disappearing, you go into Control Panel > Mouse. On the
> Pointer Options tab, under Visibility heading, uncheck Display pointer
> trails.
>
> Probably also (under Snap to) uncheck Automatically move pointer to the
> default button in a dialog box.
>
> --
> CSM1
> http://www.carlmcmillan.com
> --
>
>
>

Doug
Tue May 06 09:51:57 PDT 2008


"BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61625705-CE19-43EC-A268-5F2CDA74107F@microsoft.com...
| BFB RE turning off MC in services:
| I was hoping this would be the answer.....
| Unfortunately, it didn't work. I put in a DVD to test it, and whamo,
there's
| that stupid media center again.....
| If there are solutions that don't involve having to redo my whole
computer,
| I'd be so anxious to hear them. But if not, does anyone have answers to my
| other questions, about installations and keys?

Have you tried bringing up the Properties for your optical drive (right
click in Explorer, choose properties) and adjusting the Autoplay options to
do what you want to happen when you insert a DVD movie?

BFB
Tue May 06 10:20:11 PDT 2008

No, I haven't, and I can probably do that, but here's the problem- I can go
in and disable things one by one forever, and I'll probably never get every
single process to be inactive. See, it's not simply the nuisance of it
opening when I don't want it to that is causing trouble, although I would
like that to stop. The point is that in addition to that, I have other
software/hardware that MC conflicts with, and as long as MC is sitting there
perched monitoring, the other software and hardware will simply not function
properly, period. I need MC to absolutely go away. I will try your
suggestion, though, since every little bit helps...... But ultimately, what I
really want is to find out how to remove it, with calamity.
--
BFB


"Doug" wrote:


> Have you tried bringing up the Properties for your optical drive (right
> click in Explorer, choose properties) and adjusting the Autoplay options to
> do what you want to happen when you insert a DVD movie?
>
>
>

Jaime
Tue May 06 12:43:46 PDT 2008

Then the only answer is buying and installing a copy of XP Pro or Home.
Even if you totally remove the MCE bits, Windows will still describe itself
as XP MCE 2005 and if any software is not certified for MCE, it probably
won't install since it will see that version of Windows.

I suppose you could try to reinstall MCE and not do the step that asks for
disc 2 (the MCE bits) and see if you get a functional copy of Pro, but no
guarantee that would work.

BTW, you should also disable all services that begin with "eh", those are
the Media Center services.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida



"BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4C0AF023-83DC-4E0B-91F6-25C14B573B2D@microsoft.com...
> No, I haven't, and I can probably do that, but here's the problem- I can
> go
> in and disable things one by one forever, and I'll probably never get
> every
> single process to be inactive. See, it's not simply the nuisance of it
> opening when I don't want it to that is causing trouble, although I would
> like that to stop. The point is that in addition to that, I have other
> software/hardware that MC conflicts with, and as long as MC is sitting
> there
> perched monitoring, the other software and hardware will simply not
> function
> properly, period. I need MC to absolutely go away. I will try your
> suggestion, though, since every little bit helps...... But ultimately,
> what I
> really want is to find out how to remove it, with calamity.
> --
> BFB
>
>
> "Doug" wrote:
>
>
>> Have you tried bringing up the Properties for your optical drive (right
>> click in Explorer, choose properties) and adjusting the Autoplay options
>> to
>> do what you want to happen when you insert a DVD movie?
>>
>>
>>

BFB
Tue May 06 14:13:02 PDT 2008

Actually, they do install. They just don't work right, and I suspect it's
because MCE is in there "working", even though it may not be open. Are you
pretty certian about "eh" being what to look for? I don't show a single one
under services, or wasn't that where you meant?
--
BFB


"Jaime" wrote:

> Even if you totally remove the MCE bits, Windows will still describe itself
> as XP MCE 2005 and if any software is not certified for MCE, it probably
> won't install since it will see that version of Windows.

Jaime
Wed May 07 06:09:52 PDT 2008

Yes, all of the MCE-specific services begin with "eh", there should be
several of them (for background recording, etc.), but that is the actual
file name - for example the MC Receiver service is actually "ehRecvr". Look
further down the services list and see if they are listed as "Windows Media
Center ..."; you should see a Receiver service, Scheduler service, etc.

What specific SW/HW are you having trouble with? The only ones that seem to
get discussed are some digital music/recording stuff and usually people
report that it won't even install, because the setup program sees that the
system is Media Center.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida

"BFB" <BFB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0256B948-C117-4B5B-BC87-8DE94D6B572B@microsoft.com...
> Actually, they do install. They just don't work right, and I suspect it's
> because MCE is in there "working", even though it may not be open. Are you
> pretty certian about "eh" being what to look for? I don't show a single
> one
> under services, or wasn't that where you meant?
> --
> BFB
>
>
> "Jaime" wrote:
>
>> Even if you totally remove the MCE bits, Windows will still describe
>> itself
>> as XP MCE 2005 and if any software is not certified for MCE, it probably
>> won't install since it will see that version of Windows.

BFB
Wed May 07 09:58:14 PDT 2008

well, lemme think....I have a Plextor Convertx capture card. And I have
Intervideo WinDVR. Both installed okay, as far as I know. The card pretty
much works, and WinDVR mostly works, but some features just don't fly right.

As to shutting down services, at the suggestion of an earlier post, I turned
off 3 services named media center, but it still comes on. I find nothing else
listed.

--
BFB