Upgrading from XP MCE to XP Pro?

Hello,

I just purchased an e1705 with XP MCE loaded. I am planning to do a clean re-install with XP pro. Does anyone know if this would cause any conflicts with the Dell Utility or the Media Direct?

This is the specs to the system:
Inspiron E1705, Intel Core DuoProcessor T2400
1GB, DDR2, 533MHz 2 Dimm
256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800
80GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Cardand Modem

Thanks.

 

Umm unless I am mistaken MCE is just XP Pro with the Media Center Ability added on ( I could be wrong, it could be Home with Media Center) However, if you got the $10 Operating System Disk through Dell I would go through Southern Girl's Clean Reformat, with special attention on how to keep the ability of the Media Direct Button

Hope that helps.

-Dunc

 

You would just need to do the Media Direct Repair Utility, and download the drivers from support.dell.com

Also, MCE is HOME with Media Center Add-ons, and select few pro add-ons.

 

I disagree MCE is PRO however you can not join it to a domain by default but with 1 registry hack you can fix that.

 

I'm a bit confused, is having XP MCE the same as having XP home/pro "with media"

About the reformat though, you need to have the right cd in order for it to work or so I'm told. It won't let you reformat with a different XP version CD as far as I know.

Also is Delll media expeience(the software that activates when you press the mediadorect button when you're booted into Windows if you don't have XP MCE) installed as a regular program on the same partition as Windows?

Here's another possible explanation:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=50926
(on page 3)

 

XP Home is XP Pro with some networking features cut out. XP MCE is XP Pro only without the ability to logon to a PDC. (Domain Controller) These are used on corprate networks to help administrate workstations.

As far as speed, reliability... and function they are identical. MCE is perfect, and XP Pro is not considered an "upgrade". All you are paying for is a few networking functions that allow sys-admins greater flexibility on corp. networks. XP Pro would be considered for use in an office enviornmet so M$ can charge a little more for the same OS.

Stick with Windows Media Center Edition...

 

What if you failed to order the $10 Disk....Can you call dell and get one after the fact?

 

I think most folks have been successful in doing that....

Mark

 

Thanks Mark

 

Nah, you can use any version of XP, 2000, 98 or whatever you want, as long as you have the necessary drivers. (I'm not so sure about 98, it was just an example.) You don't have to use the version of Windows that Dell gives you.

 

I have heard that, and it isn't that I don't believe it, but I think there has to be something more. I have seen boxes with Home on it need a reinstall after 6 months due to increasingly poor performance, and/or certain operating files (SOFTWARE in particular) going corrupt for no good reason. Yet I have seen those same boxes, used by the same people in the same way as before, run Pro without a hitch for at least a year (and still counting).

I would rather pay more money and get a box with Pro on it then go with MCE and hope that whatever MS did to it to make it different doesn't impact performance like it does with Home.

 

there is nothing more. you're free to pay more money for Pro, but it's not any more or any less stable then Home.

 

My guess would be user error in those cases. Windows 2000, XP Pro, XP Home, XP MCE all run on the NT5 Kernel. They are all the same OS with various enhancements to the UI and Networking. However, Under the hood, its the same product with a different nametag. ( XP supposidly has better memory management but even microsoft says its only noticable on a machine running a 400mhz processor with 256mb ram, go figure )

 

You could disagree about that all you want, but MCE is not XP Pro, it's XP Home with some additional media only features added into it. I've also looked at all claimed registry hacks floating around out there that claim to turn XP Home into XP Pro and also turn XP Pro into Server 2003, it's a bunch of BS.

Try hacking into a XP Pro vs a XP Home computer sometime and see which one gives in first. XP Pro is a lot more robust than XP Home.

There was an informative post added in to correct a bunch of myths and misinformation about what partitions to blow out and what not to touch that got locked and has since drifted deeply under the pile of posts now on top of it, you might want to go searching for it and read that one before doing this so you see what not to do.

 

So i dont get it. Whats the point of media center edition? What does it have that Home and Pro Do Not Have?

More importantly, i just bought a new dell and just had it come with the standard MCE. I have my own copy of Pro already, and now i have MCE cause i got an extra disk.

The first thing i am going to do when i get it is Reformat. So should i install MCE or Pro.

I have even been told you can install one on top of the other to get all the features of both (or something to that nature)!?!?!? But, assuming you can, what are the features im getting from MCE? In terms of my new E1505?

 

Why don't you just wait till you get your system with MCE already on it then, check it out, if you like it keep it, if you don't then load XP Pro on it.

 

The point of MCE is to make your laptop a "media center," whatever that is.

For more details, I suggest you check out
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsxp_mce2005.asp.

 

Actually, I'm almost entirely certain you're wrong about MCE being based off XP Home.

i.e. why else would it have domain-joining capabilities but just grayed out?

I've read a lot about the subject, and I've read the history of MCE, and I have no idea where you're getting the idea that MCE is based off Home. From EVERYTHING I've heard to this point about MCE, the initial post that said it's just XP Pro with Media Center tacked on and domain capabilities disabled is completely correct. If you have some other information, though, I'd be glad to hear it it's too bad there's no "sideways-grade" path from MCE to Pro, because I'd rather just get rid of Media Center and have domain capabilities enabled without the registry hack.

 

If i'm not wrong,
MCE, Pro - Multi-threaded
Home - Not Multi-threaded

If you failed to order the re-installation CD with your initial purchase, request one, and dell will ship it for free!

 

esoterica, I have to agree with Rellik. According to Paul Thurrott, MCE is XP Professional Service Pack 1 with Media Center tacked on.

 

MCE is XP Pro with a few networking functions disabled. It still supports multiple processors (same as Pro), and what not. All it includes above Pro is the Media Centre interface and a new desktop theme. If you run dxconfig, you will see that it is recognized as XP Pro.

And they all lived happily ever after,
The End

 

So then XP Pro will run faster than Home on a Duo Core?

 

XP Home suffers from more than just "some networking features cut out". The following is a list of features available in XP Pro NOT available in XP Home:

Remote Desktop
Dynamic Disk Support (HE supports only the standard Simple Disk type)
Internet Information Services/Personal Web Server
Encrypting File System
File-level access control
"C2" certification
Domain membership
Group Policy
IntelliMirror
Roaming profiles
Multi-language support
Sysprep support
RIS support
The user interface for IPSecurity (IPSec)
SNMP
Simple TCP/IP services
SAP Agent
Client Service for NetWare
Network Monitor
Multiple Roaming feature
Client-side caching
Administrative Tools option on the Start menu

XP MCE is in fact a superset of XP Pro with Domain services disabled and, as no one seems to be disputing, Media apps installed.

 

So what are the media apps specifically?
And dones anyone know about my earlier question of install one on top of the other to get the features of both?

 

1) I don't think XP Pro will run any faster than Home on a dual core. Your apps, that support dual core / multi threads, will run faster

2) Just one app. It's really a "Media Centre", like a full screen version media player, allowing you access to all your media, with functions like TV tuner support, slideshows, etc. It works very nicely with a remote control.

3) You can't combine XP Pro, Home, or MCE. The only way to get all the features of all 3, is to use MCE and find the tweaks/hacks to enable the other Pro features (primarily, connecting to a domain).

 

No... You cannot install XP Pro on top of XP MCE. To get the "missing" Domain features in MCE try GOOGLE-ing for the registry hack!

 

I'll make it easy for you:
http://aspadvice.com/blogs/pmurphy/archive/2005/02/09/2084.aspx

Works seamlessly. I am very happy.

Mike

 

I'd like to know that too, besides the Media Center. Is there any DVD burning Software included in the OS itself?

 

Yes, however for a more feature-rich application I recommend buying authoring software like Nero or Roxio.

 

So whats everyone general opinion of the "full size" media player? I'm one of those "I HATE ****PY JUNK and my computer is clean as a whistle" people. Will this just end up taking up prescious rescources for no good reason? I didnt get the remote or anyhitng like that with my notebook

Edited to Add: ... why did it bleep out a word that can be used as a slang alternative for feces or poop (in case is bleeps that out too)?

 

No there is not....

Mark

 

So is Sonic for CD's(music and data) and Cyberlink is the equivalent except for DVD's? Are there any good free apps out there? I don't want some software that's loaded with features I'm not going to use. I'd just need the basics.

 

Also, just noticed this:

The MCE installer says "Windows XP Professional Setup" at the top of the screen so I think that settles any remaining question.

 

As far as CDs go.... you don't need anything. Microsoft Windows Media Player will burn/play audio CDs and Microsoft Windows has built in support for burning data CDs. Just a question of how much [if any] DVD burning you think you'll do... be it data or video.

wrt Playing video DVDs.... I'd keep it simple and go with the PowerDVD offering. It will work and you won't have to mess around trying to get the video and AC3 codecs on your own....

fwiw

Mark

 

Windows XP MCE has the same group policy editor, but it does not have the domain networking ability or the securtiy tab, but the security tab can be legally downloaded for free (thats why I have it on home).

 

but what's the difference between Sonic and Cyberlink?

 

What I take away is that the Sonic software is for recording/authoring CD and DVDs. Cyberlink PowerDVD is for playing DVDs...

Mark

 

So Sonic is for burning and Cyberlink is for playing?

And is Cyberlink better at playing DVD's than WMP?

Thanks for the info