Can it be installed on my Windows XP computer ?

If so were can i purchase it & how do i go about doing it.

Thanks

 

Try here

 

Yes it can.

 

Sort of. You can't upgrade from Xp to media centre, you have to do a fresh install of the new operating system, (i.e. format the hard disc and start again)

 

I installed this the other day on my HP laptop, have since had a few strange issues. Also make sure you don't want to connect the computer do a domain.

 

XP media center is designed for home use, and as such is basically just XP Home with some extra media bits added on. It has no domain support, (or any of the XP Pro specific features).

 

Just want it for home use & for home networking, so it should be fine ???

 

Yep. Should be fine. I'm using it (3 pcs linked together) with no problems

Make sure you can get graphics drivers for your video card though. The media center video card drivers are different o the normal xp ones...

 

Err, that's not entirely correct. Media Center 2005 shares 99% of the functionality of XP Pro and with a registry hack can be added to a domain, but you cannot use the extenders.

You also have Remote desktop access, access to offline files, viewing of websites offline and a few other things. XP Home does not have these.

The only things that MCE does not have compared to XP Ro is Group policies & central administration.

You don't have to use the MCE front end and as Ian says, the video drivers have to be of a certain standard to utilise MCE.

 

Ah, I didn't know that. According to Microsofts web site it's XP home with a few extras. Sounds like it's somewhere between the two...

 

http://www.newzbin.com/browse/post/2079844/

"Windows XP to Media Center Edition 2005 Converter"

it is possible to get - not sure of the legal side though

 

I can see why, look at the price difference.

I'd deffo go for MCE, though I have a domain at home I use a different PC to administer it.