XP Media Centre uninstall?

QuadLeo

I need to run some software on my PC but the software won't run on XP media centre edition. Is it possible to remove media centre and install XP home edition instead. Is it as simple as putting in the XP Home CD?

Ruu_Old

I don't think so seeing as media centre is a newer version than XP Home I believe. You may have to format and re-install (or just disable the media centre)

QuadLeo

Ruu wrote:

(or just disable the media centre)

How do I disable the media centre. The software I have will only run on XP or XP pro.

irlrobins

You can't. You have to either install XP Home as a dual boot with MCE, or uninstall MCE and install XP Home.

Be aware that you will have to purchase a licence for XP Home. AFAIK, your MCE licence does not allow you to install a copy of XP Home or Pro.

QuadLeo

Yep, I understand that. I'll probably format the hardrive and install home. Once the hard drive is formated do I just restart the PC with the XP home cd in the drive and let it install itself?

irlrobins

yep

astrofool

Whats the software? Nothing that runs on XP shouldn't run on XP MCE.

QuadLeo

Cheers, I'll give it a try.

The software is Pro Tools LE, it doesn't run on MCE. Dunno why.

SouperComputer

I might be splitting hairs/clutching at straws here, but according to digidesign its not supported on MCE as opposed to not compatible ala NT 4.0, 98 etc etc.

Have you tried to install it?

Have you installed an operating system before? Formatting can be done as part of the setup process when you boot from the XP home disk.

You could use partition magic to repartition the drive and have both OS on there. You cant have both OS on the computer unless they are on seperate partitions\drives.

Karoma

[strike]Have you tried the Program Compatibility Wizard?[/strike]
Unlikely.

SouperComputer

Karoma wrote:

[strike]Have you tried the Program Compatibility Wizard?[/strike]
Unlikely.

Tis a good theory, but the latest OS supported in MCE under compatibilty mode is 2K, same as XP.

Anti

If you have gone into your bios and selected your dvd/cd drive as the first bootable device yeah.

QuadLeo

I haven't tried installing it at all. I read on digidesign website that Pro Tools won't run on MCE so I never bothered. I think I'll just format the drive and install XP Home. I don't really like MCE anyway. I won't bother partitioning the drive. I've never done it before, and I'd probably feck it up. I don't care if I lose MCE.

The DVD drive is the first bootable device.

SouperComputer

Not sure what you mean by "not liking" MCE, its not an aweful lot different TBH. It looks like LE will run fine on MCE, it just isnt supported by Digidesign. Then again your PC may not be supported by its vendor if you install XP home! May sound silly, but it you think its going to be an issue, call them and check.

Just be sure to source all of your drivers (Graphics, chipset, sound etc etc) for the computer before you format it. Throw them onto a CD or flash drive. Also, be sure to download Service Pack 2 if it is not integrated on the install disk.

Does the computer have an SATA drive? If it does you will more than likely need to make/source a floppy disk with the drivers for your SATA controller. It will be needed during windows setup, otherwise it wont see your HD! Pop the floppy in and press F6 when promped during the boot up process, referring to the XP setup boot process that is. It will ask you for the drivers when it has loaded setup. Be forewarned that you cannot use drivers from a CD or flash drive. You either must use a floppy (USB will do) or slipstream the drivers into an XP installation CD.

QuadLeo

So Pro Tools LE will run on MCE but it's just not officially supported?

irlrobins

Well install it and see if it will run. Quickest way of finding out tbh!

astrofool

You would also need a legal copy (as in u'll have to buy) XP Home, as MS has starting making it a hassle to use non legal copies by not supporting them with security patches.

And you're really just wasting time here if you haven't even tried to install it (= idiocy), given the amount of hassle the alternative is.

CatInABox

If the program doesn't work, partitioning is wery easy anyway.

There'll be a screen during the install asking where you want to install to, just select create a partition and create one of about 20 gigs. Then do the same when you install MCE.

As far as I know, MCE is the best version of XP, as it contains optimisations from windows server 2003. Something to bear in mind if your getting rid of it.

SouperComputer

QuadLeo wrote:

So Pro Tools LE will run on MCE but it's just not officially supported?

Its worth a try, from digidesign's website:

digidesign wrote:

Not Compatible with any version of Pro Tools 6.x or Pro Tools 7.x:

* Pro Tools TDM 6.1 and higher, Pro Tools LE 6.1 and higher, or Pro Tools M-Powered software can NOT be installed on systems running Windows 2000, 98, Me, NT, 95, or 3.1

Not Supported with any version of Pro Tools:

* Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
* Windows XP Media Center Edition

As Astrofool said, be prepared for a world of pain if you dont buy XP home. M$ have made it messy at best to run pirated versions of Windows.

CatInABox wrote:

There'll be a screen during the install asking where you want to install to, just select create a partition and create one of about 20 gigs. Then do the same when you install MCE.

XP setup does not allow dynamic resizing of partitions. IE you can only create a new partition if there is space on the HD not used by a partition that you want. Its highly unlikely there there is any space not already used by a partition. Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director will allow you to dynamically resize if needed. There is an open source progaram that resizes NTFS, but im not sure if its suitable for someone who hasn't done a Windows install before.

CatInABox wrote:

As far as I know, MCE is the best version of XP, as it contains optimisations from windows server 2003. Something to bear in mind if your getting rid of it.

It's XP pro with some features removed. Most significatly, you can only join a Domain network with some trickery but IIRC you cannot use AD. This is rarely an issue for a home user though.

The main other difference is the addition of a rather bloated, but cool app called Media Centre.

Thats its really. There is no codebase from 2k3 AFAIK, although you can install the Media Centre application on 2003 server. Not quite sure why you would want to do that though!

QuadLeo

I never bothered installing the software because I thought "not supported" meant it wouldn't work. I'll give it a shot. If it doesn't work I'll use XP home which I bought legally.
Thanks for the help,
Hope it wasn't too time wasting.

irlrobins

QuadLeo wrote:

Thanks for the help, Hope it wasn't too time wasting.

Always welcome to post. If it's something stupid we'll just make fun of you until you cry.

Karoma

irlrobins wrote:

Always welcome to post. If it's something stupid we'll just make fun of you until you cry.

And then drag up old posts of irlrobins' and take him down a peg; a whole peg!

"Not supported" generally means "we know there are issues, but can't be bothered, or don't know how , to fix them at this time"
ProTools seems unusually picky about its host OS. Hmmm.

astrofool

Not supported generally means they used deprecated functions, or hard coded bits that should have been dynamic to the OS (like those old windows installers that checked for win95 and wouldn't run on 98/XP). Avoid companies that do this at all cost