Re: install oem version of XP Mediacenter 2005

I had no trouble partitioning my Media Center 2005 into two partitions.
I have a 500 GB drive partitioned into 40 GB for Windows & Programs and 460
GB for data.

MCE did ask for the format of the drive, and when asked I reduced the
suggestion of the whole drive to the 40 GB I wanted for Windows.

After MCE was completely installed, I then ran the Computer Management and
partitioned and formatted the remaining 460 GB.

There is Microsoft TweakUI that allows moving the Documents and Settings to
the Data drive.

Tweakui is part of the Microsoft Powertoys. Most work with MCE 2005.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

--
CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com
--
"rindi" <rindi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1D494F66-D941-4AFA-905D-D872A6F48DFF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I've reinstalled Media Center the way an OS should never be installed. The
standard, M$ prefered, Single Partition way. Like that it works. But I
NEED
to completely separate the OS and the Data (Documents and Settings) to
different partitions. I can't believe M$ forces you to install things the
wrong way!

Does anyone know how I can change the location of the "Documents and
Settings" Folder after the installation?

Also, regarding the last post about not mistaking an o for a 0 etc, had I
entered the key wrongly, I wouldn't have been able to install at all,
because
the setup routine won't go forward without a valid key.

"CSM1" wrote:

I would double check that you have entered the Product Key correctly.
Do not confuse an O (Oscar) for 0 (zero) or B (Bravo) for 8 (eight).
Media center OEM is Three disks.
Disk 1 is Windows XP Professional,
Disk 2 is the Media Center software and
Disk 3 is the Roll up 2. Which is on Windows Update also.

I second, use the CDs not the ones you copied to your hard drive.
Boot from the first CD (Disk 1)

You may have to make the CD your first boot in BIOS.

--
CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com
--
"Jaime" <jaimelobo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uW60Y80gHHA.1332@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I think the simplest thing to try would be a reinstall, using the CD's
(not
copying to the HD) in the prescribed manner. Just to see if it installs
correctly, as Doug said, during the install you should start with Disc
1,
be prompted for Disc 2 (MCE bits), and then you will be prompted for XP
SP2
(that means it want Disc 1 back, not a separate SP2 disc you might
have).
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey!"), Florida

"rindi" <rindi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:C64C5B29-94DA-45B2-9465-EC6B180E9D71@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I still don't understand how a shrink wrapped XP MediaCenter Box with
the
3
original CD's inside and a Genuine Microsoft Sticker with Key should
only
be
an XP Key. Also when I add windows components I have the extra sonic
and
digital media stuff in the selection, those aren't available in a
standard
Windows XP CD.

Can there be any other reason why the installation of Media Center
doesn't
work, apart from the wrong key? Or is this the absolutely only reason
why
it
doesn't work?

Could it by any chance have anything to do with using an answer file
on a
floppy for the installation (winnt.sif)? The main reason for using an
answer
file is that I definitely can't have the user files (Documents and
Settings)
on the same partition as the OS is on. The OS is more or less
something
static that doesn't change too often while any data is dynamic. Those
MUST be
separated from each other.

"S.Sengupta" wrote:

If the key is not working then contact the vendor from whom you have
bought it.

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

rindi wrote:
But since that is the key on the box (I can't see any other key)
where
do I
find the key that is for the mediacenter? It's an original m$ box.

"Jason Tsang" wrote:


The fact of the matter is that if you do NOT enter a Media Center
key,
the
install won't know to go instal the Media Center bits.

It sounds like you entered a Pro key, in which case Pro would have
been
installed (your install can be either Pro, MCE or Tablet depending
on
the
key that is fed to the installation routine).

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
http://jtsang.blogspot.com

More information by me
http://jtsang.mvps.org
http://www.classicsunveiled.com

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx



"rindi" <rindi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:492E2AFA-B50F-4B30-B3F9-D5CF7CA7B274@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's an original mediacenter CD box with 3 CD's inside, and also
within
that
box is a sticker with a product key, and that key I used. How can
that not
bet the mce key? Also, how would I be able to install the first CD
with
the
wrong key? doesn't XP always refuse installation if you don't have
the key
that matches the product version?

"Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]" wrote:


If you are not being prompted to insert the second CD in the set,
then
you
are not using a Media Center CD key.

You start the install from the first CD. You'll be asked to put
in
the
second CD. After that part is finished, you'll be prompted to
insert
the
Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD (this is the 1st CD).

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart
Display\Security
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"rindi" <rindi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:C95D6412-B8E3-464C-91CA-640B5662B34A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I can't properly install XP Mediacenter. After having finished
installing
the
first CD I have XP installed OK. There is no media center
button
etc.
So
I
try installing extra options by running setup from the HD (I
copied
all
3
CDs
to the HD so that whenever any new option is needed I won't have
to
go
looking for the CD). I select the sonic software, the digital
media
stuff
and
the .net framework. This seems to install, but there is some
meaningless
error message where I can only select OK. The installation
finishes
without
any further errors. I look in the programs and only see the
digital
media
stuff and the .net framework installed, but still no media
center
button
or
sonic software installed. I looked at the contents of the 2nd
CD,
and
extracted what was in the mediactr.cab file (don't remember if
that
was
the
exact name of the file) and looked if there was any setup
software
in
there,
but couldn't find it. The media center executable was there and
a
lot
of
html
files. If I start the media center executable a wizard opens and
eventually
it checks the internet connection, and then an error 3 shows up.
When I
try
to install the exe file on the 3rd CD, I get an errormessage
that
XP
Mediacenter needs to be installed for that file to run...

Can anyone tell me how to get the media center software
completely
installed? Thanks for your help.












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