Upgrading from XP Windows Media Center 2002 to WMC 2005

Hi,

I have an HP media center my1000 that has XP Windows Media Center 2002
installed on it. It's a little less than 2 years old and works great, but I
just found out that it won't run Windows Media Player 11.

Does anyone know what my options are as far as upgrading and how much it
would cost? According to the Microsoft website the only way to get a new
version of Windows Media Center XP is to buy hardware that it has it
preinstalled. Can anyone suggest any other options? Thanks

 

This is incorrect. Microsoft recently changed the licensing requirements. You can buy just the operating system, with no hardware purchase. However, it will not "upgrade", only clean installations. So, you'll need to see if HP has Media Center 2005 compatible drivers for your hardware. Additionally, Media Center 2005 does not come with a DVD Decoder. This is required for Live and Recorded TV, as well as DVD viewing. You'll have to purchase this separately.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832102357

It cannot be installed as an upgrade, only a clean install so backup,
backup, backup. Then install, sit back, relax and enjoy.

 

Cari and Doug, thanks so much for the advice and the link.

 

Are you sure about the "clean install" because I upgraded my Sony Vaio from
MCE 2004 to MCE 2005 using the "upgrade" rather than "clean install" route
without any problems at all when 2005 first came out.

 

Upgrades were provided specifically by the OEM vendors. If you purchase MCE 2005 online, or in a computer shop, it will NOT do an upgrade installation.

 

Be careful about where you are reading the version number. If you are
getting it from System-General tab in Control Panel it may be wrong. Even if
updated to a newer version by HP the version number will still show 2002
there.

The real Media Center version number is found in the Media Center Settings
under General-About-Software Version.