Are there retail versions of these?:

XP Tablet (release year 2003)

XP Tablet (release year 2005)


XP Media Center Edition (release year 2003)

XP Media Center Edition (release year 2005)


I got these images from my Technet subscription. I don't know if the license keys are OEM or retail. I looked at the "setupp" file in the i386 folder and they don't end in "OEM", so I assume they're retail but I don't think MS released retail version of these... I just don't know. If they ARE retail then I need to convert them to OEM so I have the OEM versions as well.

if i remember correctly i believe all versions derived from XP PRO such as those you listed were retail only. I dont think there were any OEM editions. Usually you can identify from the COA if the sticker is blue to be Retail. Green stickers are OEM. Some even identify with OEM within the PID but the sticker color is usually all you need.

Here's from Wiki:

"Due to its strict hardware requirements, Microsoft opted not to supply Media Center as an independent retail version. Microsoft only distributed it to MSDN subscribers and OEM System Builders in certain countries. Consumers generally purchase Media Center preinstalled on a new computer, or from a reseller that sells OEM versions of Microsoft software."

Ok, the retail is available to technet subscribers which is what I have. Problem, I can't get Media Center Edition to fully install when the disc is converted to OEM.

When using the OEM disc it never asks for you to insert the second disc which is where the components for Media Center edition are. It goes through the whole installation without the second disc and when it reboots media center is not installed and it looks like a regular XP professional installation.

I tried creating the OEM iso with the contents of Disc two integrated into the root directory of disc one, but it still does not install the contents of it. The retail discs work fine, but when after converting it to OEM it doesn't work right.

Are there any solutions for this?

check out the add/remove programs and look at the add windows components section. I think what might be happening is that windows MCE is based off windows pro with an OPK version and when changing to OEM the pre install XML file might be lost somewhere. If you see the MCE features within the "add additional windows components" area then simply adding them could give the functionality. I mean the only real difference is the windows media center program so take a look.

Also check out the installed windows PID. It should define its windows version with MCE if I remember. You may be able to also identify MCE status in the MSINFO32 window.

Hi,

From memory I don't believe that either Tablet or Media Centre Edition was ever available as a Retail version.

They were for OEM's to pre-install on suitable hardware.

You could check either the PID or the Volume Labels on these lists to see if you get a match:

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=342

It's possible to get the two disk CD MCE install onto one DVD (buy modifying the setup files) however I have never found a way to integrate SP3 on to the SP2 media supplied with MCE 2005. IT may not even be possible due to the WMP files included with MCE conflicting with those supplied in SP3.

Kind Regards

Simon