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Dell Windows Media center edition

  • 25-09-2011 8:11pm
    #1
    danger_mouse_tm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    I have to reinstall windows on an old dell Desktop. It has a windows xp MCE sticker. I would ideally like to put MCE back on it rather than donate one of my xp home or pro keys to the cause. However, the original discs are long since gone.

    8< - - - - - - - -

    [Snip]


    Any comments welcome...


Comments

  • #2
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,565 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    check for a recovery partition on the drive

    check with dell on the tiny chance they might supply replacement media - unlikely and you would have to pay


  • #3
    danger_mouse_tm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭danger_mouse_tm


    The recovery partition is long since blown off that drive. Her (the customers) uncle had the computer for almost a year and said he would fix it up. After I repaired her laptop she got the desktop from him and gave it to me. He had told her that he couldn't load XP onto it so he gave her vista. He had loaded the vista from a dell OEM disc that came with an old laptop but he hadn't put a key in and there were two days left before automatic activation.
    i think as a last resort i will try to contact dell. Although i can see myself just putting xp home on it for her. That copy of xp MCE dell oem that i pulled down from the web last night has just finished installing and it never asked me for a key. That means that there was a dodgy key embedded in the install.


  • #4
    steveon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,905 ✭✭✭steveon


    There are 2 versions of xp media edition, I had the same problem recently. There is version 2002 and 2005. The dell discs will not install on non dell machines.

    I have a copy of the dell Media edition 2005 if you have an oem key check is that the version you need.


  • #5
    danger_mouse_tm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 992 ✭✭✭danger_mouse_tm


    I pulled down a 2002 version from the torrent. I forced all the updates after the install and it never asked me for a key. I'm still a little confused why windows media player 11 didn't come down. Anyway, I had previously downloaded a 2005 version of MCE which is a lot "shinier", however it spit the dell oem key back at me after WGA rejected the embedded install key.
    I have shown the customer where her oem key is on the tower if it ever asks for it. Fingers crossed she will be looking for a new computer before then!


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