Windows Media Center to XP

[Denvers Dawgs]

I currently have windows xp on my hp. I am planning on getting a new HP, but all the ones with the specs I want have media center. I already have the windowsXP recovery cds, so woudl it be possible to just use those to go from media center to XP?

[Prot]

Media Center is XP, just with some added features. But to answer your question, your recovery disks will not work on the new machine. There are far too many differences in the machines for it to install correctly.

[jimmalenko]

Normally the recovery CDs included with brand-name PCs are customised especially for that particular PC, including drivers, apps, restoring the same size partitions, etc etc. I would think it would be unlikely to work on a new PC without a few hassles along the way.

[budz]

Which is why it would be a good idea to build your own computer that way you have control of what components you want or don't want. You'll have the flexibility of using different operating systems with building your own computer. HP, DELL and other pc companies have recovery discs that is bloated with software you'll probably never use. There are a lot of guides on the internet to show you how to build a computer. There are members here that could help you along the way as well.

[thevoelk]

I have done this before, but you risk voiding the warranty, and it may not work. Pull the hard drive from your new HP and install it into your old one. Restore the XP (Pro I guess) from the original HP CDs. Go through the setup, and then run Sysprep. It may not be included on your CDs, but you can download it from Microsoft's website. Pull the new drive and put in your computer and run the setup again.

If you're going from the same class processor, you will probably be all right as long as the Hard Drive Controller is the same type, i.e. going from a SATA drive to a SATA drive. If you're going from an IDE drive to an IDE drive, it would probably be wise to update the IDE Controller driver to the Microsoft Generic Driver. When I did this, I did it from a Compaq to a Compaq, more or less in the same series line. This was before COmpaq was part of HP. I'm not sure how their recovery CDs are setup. It may or may not work.

[Denvers Dawgs]

ok thanks for all the help....I'll just keep the media center OS.