How to Add "Windows Media Center" to Windows 8 and 8.1
Information
You can use Windows Media Center, a home entertainment center in Windows, to watch and record live TV, create slide shows of your photos, listen to songs in your music library, and play CDs and DVDs.
Some editions of Windows include Windows Media Center. If you don't have Windows Media Center, follow these steps to get the Windows Media Center Pack. Note that you need an analog or digital TV tuner to play and record live TV. A TV tuner is a hardware device that lets you connect a TV signal to your PC. If your PC didn't come with a TV tuner, you might be able to add one.
For more information about this, see:
This tutorial will show you how to purchase install Windows Media Center in Windows 8 since it is not preinstalled by default.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
Some editions of Windows include Windows Media Center. If you don't have Windows Media Center, follow these steps to get the Windows Media Center Pack. Note that you need an analog or digital TV tuner to play and record live TV. A TV tuner is a hardware device that lets you connect a TV signal to your PC. If your PC didn't come with a TV tuner, you might be able to add one.
For more information about this, see:
- Making Windows Media Center available in Windows 8 - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs
- Get started with Windows Media Center - Microsoft Windows Help
This tutorial will show you how to purchase install Windows Media Center in Windows 8 since it is not preinstalled by default.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
Note
Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise will not have Add features to Windows 8/8.1 available since there are not any features available to add in that edition.
Windows Media Center is available as an economical “media pack” add-on to your installed and activated Windows 8/8.1 Pro.
If you have Windows 8 Pro installed, then you can add Windows Media Center by buying the Windows 8 Media Center Pack.
If you have Windows 8.1 Pro installed, then you can add Windows Media Center by buying the Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack.
If you have Windows 8 installed, then you will need to buy the Windows 8 Pro Pack to have Media Center added and all the features of Windows 8 Pro.
If you have Windows 8.1 installed, then you will need to buy the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack to have Media Center added and all the features of Windows 8.1 Pro.
Windows Media Center is available as an economical “media pack” add-on to your installed and activated Windows 8/8.1 Pro.
If you have Windows 8 Pro installed, then you can add Windows Media Center by buying the Windows 8 Media Center Pack.
If you have Windows 8.1 Pro installed, then you can add Windows Media Center by buying the Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack.
If you have Windows 8 installed, then you will need to buy the Windows 8 Pro Pack to have Media Center added and all the features of Windows 8 Pro.
If you have Windows 8.1 installed, then you will need to buy the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack to have Media Center added and all the features of Windows 8.1 Pro.
Tip
Please be sure to save your email or print out the invoice for safe keeping of your purchased product key. Without this product key, you will not be able to add the Windows 8/8.1 Media Center Pack or Windows 8/8.1 Pro Pack again without having to purchase it again.
If you lost your product key, then you could enter your order number, last name, email address, and country, along with the code displayed at Microsoft below to view your order information at any time.
https://www.mswos.com/
If you lost your product key and have the proof of purchase for the Windows 8/8.1 Media Center Pack or Windows 8/8.1 Pro Pack, then the Microsoft Store Support Team may be able to help you in recovering the product key for the product that you have purchased. You can contact the Microsoft Store Support Team from this link:
Microsoft Store Support
If you lost your product key, then you could enter your order number, last name, email address, and country, along with the code displayed at Microsoft below to view your order information at any time.
https://www.mswos.com/
If you lost your product key and have the proof of purchase for the Windows 8/8.1 Media Center Pack or Windows 8/8.1 Pro Pack, then the Microsoft Store Support Team may be able to help you in recovering the product key for the product that you have purchased. You can contact the Microsoft Store Support Team from this link:
Microsoft Store Support
EXAMPLE: Windows Media Center
Here's How:
1. Open the Add features to Windows 8/8.1 wizard, and do step 2 or 3 below depending on if you have already purchased the Windows 8/8.1 Media Center Pack or not.
Note
Windows 8 /8.1Enterprise will not have Add features to Windows 8/8.1 available since there are not any features available to add in that edition.
Note
If you already installed the Window 8/8.1 Media Center Pack or Windows 8/8.1 Pro Pack, then Add features to Windows 8/8.1 since there are no longer any features available to add.
2. If You Have Already Purchased the Windows 8 Media Center Pack
NOTE: You can only install this on one Windows 8 installation. You will need a separate purchased key per installation.
A) Click/tap on the I already have a product key option. (see screenshot below)
B) Enter your product key number for your purchased Windows 8 Media Center Pack, and click\tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The key number in the screenshot is just the one from the Windows 8 Release Preview. It will no longer work.
C) Select (check ) the I accept the license terms box, and click/tap on Add features. (see screenshot below)
D) Go to step 4 below.
3. If You Need to Purchase the Windows 8 Media Center Pack
A) Select, and click/tap on Choose for the pack you need below. (see screenshot below)
Note
If you have Windows 8/8.1 Pro installed, then you can get Windows Media Center by getting the paid Windows 8/8.1 Media Center Pack.
Note
If you have Windows 8/8.1 installed, then you will need to buy the Windows 8/8.1 Pro Pack and then enjoy Media Center and all the features of Windows 8 Pro.
B) Finish filling out any required billing information, and click on Next.
4. Windows Media Center will now start to be added to Windows 8, and your PC will automatically restart during the process. (see screenshot below)
5. When your PC has finished restarting, you will now notice that Windows Media Center will be pinned to your Start screen. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You may need to scroll over right more to see it.
6. Open the desktop, and click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)
7. The Add features to Windows 8/8.1 wizzard will now no longer be available since there are no longer any additional features available to be added.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Remove "Windows Media Center" and go Back to Windows 8 Pro
- How to Add Features to Windows 8 and 8.1
- Compare Features Between Windows 8 Editions
- Compare Features Between Windows 8.1 Editions
- How to Turn Windows Features On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Download and Run "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" and "Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant"
- How to Install Media Feature Pack for N and KN Editions of Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Activate Windows 8 and 8.1 by Phone
- How to Find Your Product Key Number for Windows 8 and 8.1
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