Member Avatar for itdupuis

so I worked on an older hp for this lady, i did full backup with a dvd set, but nasty viruses and trojans screwed up the back up set. She did not have an xp install disk with media center, so I installed xp with a random xp disk. I do have a cd key for her install, but of coarse, xp home will not accept it. Is there any way to upgrade to media center so the cd key will accept?

TYIA!!!!

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As found, Windows XP product keys are edition-specific: a Media Center Edition (MCE) key will not activate an XP Home installation. There is no supported "key-only" upgrade to turn Home into MCE — you must install the MCE edition (or use the OEM recovery media that matches the COA on the machine). That explains why the random XP disc refused the sticker key.

Practical, safe steps

  • Verify the COA on the case to confirm which edition the sticker actually shows (Media Center vs Home/Pro).
  • Use OEM recovery media from HP when possible — it installs the exact OEM image, drivers and the correct activation method for that system. Ordering HP recovery CDs (as you did) is the recommended route.
  • If OEM media is not available and you have a retail MCE key, install a retail Windows XP MCE disc that matches that key. Avoid downloading ISOs from untrusted FTP/torrent sites — they often contain malware or modified activation data.

Activation and driver notes

  • If online activation fails, phone activation can sometimes resolve it; have the COA and machine details ready. Don’t expect Microsoft to swap an edition key for a different edition. This matches ’s experience.
  • After a correct install, get drivers from HP’s support page for the exact model; if unavailable, identify chipset/audio/network hardware via Device Manager (Hardware IDs) and download drivers from the vendor (Intel, Realtek, Broadcom, etc.) on another PC and transfer them.

Clean-up and security

  • Because the machine had infections and the backup DVDs were corrupted, keep the system offline until it’s fully reinstalled and patched. Install XP Service Pack 3 and any vendor-supplied updates, then install a current, reputable AV/anti-malware solution.
  • The OEM recovery approach is the safest and most complete — it restores the licensed edition and correct drivers, so continuing with those CDs is the right call.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

not with out a winxp media cd

Member Avatar for Delphi51

I had the exact same problem several months ago. I called Microsoft help but they would not exchange the Windows Media Center code for an XP home code or otherwise help. I had bad luck last time I bought an install CD from HP for an old computer, including having them re-use my credit card without permission to charge me again after they bungled the first shipment.

I'm in education where thousands of computers are purchased with Windows installed, and then the corporate Windows license is pushed onto each new machine. So the key on the sticker is never used. Solution obvious, though dubious.

I couldn't get the sound working on that computer. It will have to wait until I happen upon another Media Center computer so I can copy the drivers. I did find all the other drivers, though.

Member Avatar for caperjack

try this http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/3979.aspx

not quite what the poster needs to do,that link is about doing a doing upgrade of media center over winxp ,with out removing xp pro or home ,they have windows media center key but no cd ,so they have no way of installing winxp ,and then installing media cent over it,you need to have both wintows media center cd and winxp or home cd to do what that links is all about .

Edited by caperjack because: n/a
Member Avatar for itdupuis

i was hoping someone knew of an ftp site to download upgrade or full version otherwise... O well, I have the oem cd's on the way. Thanks for all of your help :)

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