Thread: "up"grading from XP Media Center to XP Home Edition

raddair wrote:

> I am currently running XP Media Center, but it is not compatable with
> ProTools LE (audio production software). XP Home Edition is (which I
> own the upgrade CD to), and I would like to change so that I can run
> ProTools. When I try to do this, it says that I do not have an
> available drive to install to (I'm guessing it's because I have media
> center already installed). Can someone walk me through the steps to
> downgrade?


"Downgrade," not "upgrade," is the proper term, and as with any other
possible Microsoft operating system downgrade, there is no support for doing
this. The only way to get to XP Home is by doing a clean installation.

But are you sure that MCE is not compatible with this program? Have you
contacted the vendor and explained the problem you're having. It's very rare
that a program will run on XP Home, but not MCE, since they are basically
the same.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

I am positive - the program is Pro Tools LE made by digidesign. They
specifically state that it is only compatable with Windows XP Pro and Home,
but NOT Media Center. I am going to try and do a clean install... hopefully
it will work!

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> raddair wrote:
>
> > I am currently running XP Media Center, but it is not compatable with
> > ProTools LE (audio production software). XP Home Edition is (which I
> > own the upgrade CD to), and I would like to change so that I can run
> > ProTools. When I try to do this, it says that I do not have an
> > available drive to install to (I'm guessing it's because I have media
> > center already installed). Can someone walk me through the steps to
> > downgrade?
>
>
> "Downgrade," not "upgrade," is the proper term, and as with any other
> possible Microsoft operating system downgrade, there is no support for doing
> this. The only way to get to XP Home is by doing a clean installation.
>
> But are you sure that MCE is not compatible with this program? Have you
> contacted the vendor and explained the problem you're having. It's very rare
> that a program will run on XP Home, but not MCE, since they are basically
> the same.
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
>

You don't have to boot to the MCE desktop, you can boot directly to XP Pro.

mi

"raddair" <raddair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>I am positive - the program is Pro Tools LE made by digidesign. They
> specifically state that it is only compatable with Windows XP Pro and
> Home,
> but NOT Media Center. I am going to try and do a clean install...
> hopefully
> it will work!
>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> raddair wrote:
>>
>> > I am currently running XP Media Center, but it is not compatable with
>> > ProTools LE (audio production software). XP Home Edition is (which I
>> > own the upgrade CD to), and I would like to change so that I can run
>> > ProTools. When I try to do this, it says that I do not have an
>> > available drive to install to (I'm guessing it's because I have media
>> > center already installed). Can someone walk me through the steps to
>> > downgrade?
>>
>>
>> "Downgrade," not "upgrade," is the proper term, and as with any other
>> possible Microsoft operating system downgrade, there is no support for
>> doing
>> this. The only way to get to XP Home is by doing a clean installation.
>>
>> But are you sure that MCE is not compatible with this program? Have you
>> contacted the vendor and explained the problem you're having. It's very
>> rare
>> that a program will run on XP Home, but not MCE, since they are basically
>> the same.
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>

"raymond" wrote

> Raddair, I am in the same exact boat. Pro Tools LE apparently does not
> support Windows Media Center. I am in the market for a new computer and
> it
> looks like all new computers are preloaded with media center. Im looking
> to
> just buy a new computer with media center and just downgrade.
>
> Since it says that media center is not a qualifying OS, are you telling me
> that it is it not possible to downgrade to XP Home from media center?

You can't "upgrade MCE to either XP Pro or Home. MCE is a "superset" of Pro
so a change to either Pro or Home is a downgrade, and the only way to do a
downgrade is to install the new OS clean. So an Upgrade copy won't work.
It has to be a full version of XP Home or Pro and do a clean install.

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

I am in the same boat, same software and a piece of M-audio hardware. I just
bought a laptop that is bundled with MCE. I have a copy of XP Home SP2 for
my other computer, and my licence of MCE on the laptop. Some Questions:

1. Can I do a clean install on the laptop using the XP Home CD and use the
CD Key from MCE on the back of the laptop to activate the laptop install?

2. Does owning the MCE licence qualify me to install and activate XP home
(a downgrade) without having to buy a another licence? Note, I will not be
using the MCE at all in this scenario.

Thanks in advance for the help

"Rock" wrote:

> "raymond" wrote
>
> > Raddair, I am in the same exact boat. Pro Tools LE apparently does not
> > support Windows Media Center. I am in the market for a new computer and
> > it
> > looks like all new computers are preloaded with media center. Im looking
> > to
> > just buy a new computer with media center and just downgrade.
> >
> > Since it says that media center is not a qualifying OS, are you telling me
> > that it is it not possible to downgrade to XP Home from media center?
>
> You can't "upgrade MCE to either XP Pro or Home. MCE is a "superset" of Pro
> so a change to either Pro or Home is a downgrade, and the only way to do a
> downgrade is to install the new OS clean. So an Upgrade copy won't work.
> It has to be a full version of XP Home or Pro and do a clean install.
>
> --
> Rock [MVP - User/Shell]
>
>

Q. 1. "Can I do a clean install on the laptop using the XP Home CD and use the
CD Key from MCE on the back of the laptop to activate the laptop install?"

A. No.

Q. 2. "Does owning the MCE licence qualify me to install and activate XP home
(a downgrade) without having to buy a another licence? Note, I will not be
using the MCE at all in this scenario."

A. No.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Mike P" wrote:

I am in the same boat, same software and a piece of M-audio hardware. I just
bought a laptop that is bundled with MCE. I have a copy of XP Home SP2 for
my other computer, and my licence of MCE on the laptop. Some Questions:

1. Can I do a clean install on the laptop using the XP Home CD and use the
CD Key from MCE on the back of the laptop to activate the laptop install?

2. Does owning the MCE licence qualify me to install and activate XP home
(a downgrade) without having to buy a another licence? Note, I will not be
using the MCE at all in this scenario.

Thanks in advance for the help

"Rock" wrote:

> "raymond" wrote
>
> > Raddair, I am in the same exact boat. Pro Tools LE apparently does not
> > support Windows Media Center. I am in the market for a new computer and
> > it
> > looks like all new computers are preloaded with media center. Im looking
> > to
> > just buy a new computer with media center and just downgrade.
> >
> > Since it says that media center is not a qualifying OS, are you telling me
> > that it is it not possible to downgrade to XP Home from media center?
>
> You can't "upgrade MCE to either XP Pro or Home. MCE is a "superset" of Pro
> so a change to either Pro or Home is a downgrade, and the only way to do a
> downgrade is to install the new OS clean. So an Upgrade copy won't work.
> It has to be a full version of XP Home or Pro and do a clean install.
>
> --
> Rock [MVP - User/Shell]
>
>