Re: Activate Home Edition with MCE product key

Bruce Chambers wrote:
JanJ wrote:
Hi,

I have a computer that came with OEM Windows Media Center Edition. Now I need to reinstall the OS, but I don't want all the Media Center clutter to occupy disk space, so I've been thinking of installing from a Home Edition DVD.


I assume you meant "Home Edition *CD*."


The question is: will I be able to activate with the original product key, the one that came with MCE?


No, you won't. Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they are purchased. For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. An OEM Product Key will not work to install a retail product. An Italian Product Key will not work with an English CD. Bottom line: Product Keys and CD/license types cannot usually (it's been reported that the Product Key for a full license will work with an Upgrade CD) be mixed & matched.


I understand MCE is basically Home with Media Center on top of it.



That's incorrect. WinXP Media Center Edition is a _superset_ (iow, it does _everything_ WinXP Pro can do (except join a domain), plus contains additional multi-media features) of WinXP *Pro*.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ehome/default.asp


My Home Edition product key is already in use on another machine, so that's not an option.


So you'll either have to install MCE using your current Product Key and then individually uninstall or disable the media features you paid extra for but now don't want, or buy a new WinXP Home license.


Use a WinXP Professional disk. Put your MCE key on it. I dunno if it will work for you but it worked for me some time ago.
.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: Activate Home Edition with MCE product key
    ... Now I need to reinstall the OS, but I don't want all the Media Center clutter to occupy disk space, so I've been thinking of installing from a Home Edition DVD. ... Product Keys are bound to the specific type and language of CD/license (OEM, Volume, retail, or full) with which they are purchased. ... For example, a WinXP Home OEM Product Key won't work for any retail version of WinXP Home, or for any version of WinXP Pro, and vice versa. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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