- XP to Media Center?
- Posted by jp2msft on July 3rd, 2008
What all would I need to do to convert my XP Pro SP3 machine to a Media
Center PC?
XP by itself does not seem to be that great for playing DVDs or recording
shows that we'd like to watch later. Does Media Center bring that?
I don't know much about Media Center, so please forgive my ignorance.
- Posted by Jaime on July 3rd, 2008
Media Center is considered a separate OS, it is based on XP Pro, but you
can't just add it or convert it, you would have to purchase and do a clean
install (no upgrade option). It is either available as an XP version Media
Center Edition 2005 or the features are included in Vista Home Premium or
Vista Ultimate.
The requirements are more or less the same as the equivalent version of
Windows for the basic system, if you want to do TV, you would need a
compatible tuner card and would need to make sure the video card is
sufficiently powered and has the proper connections if outputting to
something other than a PC monitor (like a TV with s-video).
As far as features, it would be much easier for you to go to the Microsoft
site, type "Media Center" in the search box and do some reading rather than
people here rehash everything to you.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida
"jp2msft" <jp2msft@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1571BD78-AFBC-4DCA-8437-764FD25693B5@microsoft.com...
- Posted by Gary Tsang on July 3rd, 2008
An alternative would be to go to either the Home Premium or Ultimate SKUs of
Windows Vista, if your computer has sufficient hardware to run Windows
Vista.
--
Gary Tsang
http://www.gtsang.com
Microsoft MVP - Windows Media Center
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
"Jaime" <jaimelobo@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:u7jp7iR3IHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
- Posted by CSM1 on July 3rd, 2008
"jp2msft" <jp2msft@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1571BD78-AFBC-4DCA-8437-764FD25693B5@microsoft.com...
If your object is to play DVDs, you probably just need to install real DVD
player software.
One I know of for sure is CyberLink PowerDVD.
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_1_ENU.html
You might check out the reviews for DVD player Software.
http://dvd-player-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
For recording shows there is PVR software the works in Windows XP and does
not require Windows Media Center.
Check Beyond TV. You need a tuner installed.
http://www.snapstream.com/
and WinTV.
http://www.hauppauge.com/index.htm
--
CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com
--
- Posted by Bill Davis on July 4th, 2008
jp2msft
If you are happy with the XP that you already have and on't want to take the
time to configure/Install an OS from scratch, why dont' you check out Beyond
TV, it has most of the the same features as Media Center but you can use it
with XP Home/Pro and Vista.
It is also cheaper than buying a new OS. I have Beyond TV on one XP PC and
Vista Ultimate on another PC, and I thing you you probably be happy with
either.
B.D.
"jp2msft" wrote:
