Re: Upgrading to Windows XP Professional

MCE ***IS*** XP Pro with a lot of additions and some modifications. Therefore, unless you have specific need of one of the relatively few and relatively insignificant changes, there is no reason to replace MCE with XP Pro. The one change that is most often an issue is that MCE normally cannot log onto an active directory domain based network. However, there are workarounds for this if you are willing to give up some MCE functionality (specifically the ability to use extenders).

Perhaps you are being "fooled" into thinking it's more different than it is because on startup you see Media Center interface instead of the standard windows desktop. What you see on startup is a configurable option, and in any case you can move back and forth between Media Center and the standard desktop as often as you like, and as easily as moving between an application such as Word and the desktop. You can leave Media Center for the desktop (select the "on-off" icon at the upper left of the media center screen, then choose exit media center), and you can also select for Windows to startup with the normal desktop rather than media center (which you can then access through the start menu or you can put an Icon on the desktop, or use the remote control).

If you truly need XP Pro instead of MCE, you have two choices: You can replace MCE with XP pro (it will require a total new installation and all that goes with that), or you can install MCE and XP Pro in different partitions as "dual boot".


Gregory wrote:
I recently purchased a new laptop running Windows Media Center Edition (2004). I need to be running Windows XP Pro. The 'upgrade' compatability charts I've been able to find reference Windows Home Edition as capable of being upgraded to Windows XP Pro. I can't find any specific reference to Media Center Edition.

Anyone have info on such an upgrade? Thanks in advance!


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Can I go back to regular Windows XP?
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  • Re: Feel Duped by Microsoft with MCE NOT being allowed to join DOM
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  • Re: Feel Duped by Microsoft with MCE NOT being allowed to join DOM
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