Install ONLY Media Center On 8.1 Laptop With 8.1 Pro ISO?

Hello All!

I have a Dell laptop that came with Windows 8.1. (I guess it's not an "update" since it came with 8.1 out of the box.)

I just purchase a legitimate version of Windows 8.1 Pro (student) edition from the Microsoft store. I downloaded the installer and created both an ISO file and media drive on a USB stick.

My question is, can I somehow install only Media Center onto my 8.1 laptop without installing the entire 8.1 Pro operating system?

Thanks!

Jan

yes, there is a link to it, I am wanting the same, so will go and try and find it. Back later

See this:

Add Windows 8.1 Pro Pack or Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack to your edition of Windows 8.1

• Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap [FONT=WOL_Bold]Search[/FONT].
  (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Search[/FONT].)
• Enter [FONT=WOL_Bold]add features[/FONT] in the search box, and then tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Settings[/FONT].
• Tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Add features to Windows 8.1[/FONT] and then do one of the following:
  • If you need to purchase a product key, tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]I want to buy a product key online[/FONT].
    Follow the steps to purchase and enter a product key.
  • If you already have a product key, tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]I already have a product key[/FONT].
• Enter your product key and click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Next[/FONT].
• Read the license terms, select the check box to accept the license terms, and then click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Add features[/FONT].

[FONT=WOL_Reg]If you were running Windows 8.1, your PC will restart automatically and Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center will be available for use.[/FONT]
[FONT=WOL_Reg]If you were running Windows 8.1 Pro, your PC will restart automatically and Windows Media Center will be available for use.

Add features - Microsoft Windows

The product key I dont understand as they offered it free with Win 8.1 and there was a link to it. Still looking for that

[/FONT]

Hi there

I think that Free offer was for a limited time only. Everything these days is about that ghastly word "Monetisation". I.e PAY or screw the public out of what you can get them to cough up.

Fortunately some very capable FREE products are out there -- Why not use VLC - it plays nearly every Video and Audio codec known to man including commercial DVD's and with the addition of a library you can play BLU RAY's too.

VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!

Cheers
jimbo

Anxiously awaiting.... :O

I did not purchase the Media Center Pack because they didn't offer that at a student rate. So what I did was I purchased the full 8.1 Pro student edition for $69.

You know.. I don't even know if the Pro comes with Media Center or if I have to buy it (I think I read somewhere that it's like $10 if you have 8.1 Pro).

So this might complicate my situation a little bit.. I might have to find a way to buy Media Center for $10 without having to install 8.1 Pro first. It's my understanding that the "standard" way to buy Media Center when you already have 8.1 Pro installed is to go "Add Features" and then select "Buy product key online" and I will then be given the option to buy Media Center.

Since I don't have 8.1 Pro installed I won't have the option to get Media Center using the "Add Features" method. Is there another way to get Media Center without going through the OS? (Like a page where I can buy it for $10 by just providing my 8.1 Pro license key?)

Thanks.

I have just followed the above links and when I click I want to buy online - it offers it to me for £6.99 which is not bad so will proceed with the purchase

elbmek said:

yes, there is a link to it, I am wanting the same, so will go and try and find it. Back later

See this:

Add Windows 8.1 Pro Pack or Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack to your edition of Windows 8.1

• Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap [FONT=WOL_Bold]Search[/FONT].
  (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Search[/FONT].)
• Enter [FONT=WOL_Bold]add features[/FONT] in the search box, and then tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Settings[/FONT].
• Tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Add features to Windows 8.1[/FONT] and then do one of the following:
  • If you need to purchase a product key, tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]I want to buy a product key online[/FONT].
    Follow the steps to purchase and enter a product key.
  • If you already have a product key, tap or click [FONT=WOL_Bold]I already have a product key[/FONT].
• Enter your product key and click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Next[/FONT].
• Read the license terms, select the check box to accept the license terms, and then click [FONT=WOL_Bold]Add features[/FONT].

[FONT=WOL_Reg]If you were running Windows 8.1, your PC will restart automatically and Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center will be available for use.[/FONT]
[FONT=WOL_Reg]If you were running Windows 8.1 Pro, your PC will restart automatically and Windows Media Center will be available for use.

Add features - Microsoft Windows

The product key I dont understand as they offered it free with Win 8.1 and there was a link to it. Still looking for that

[/FONT]

Click to expand...

I am a bit confused.. on my Dell Laptop which is 8.1 if I right-click This PC and select Properties then click Add Features and choose I want to buy a product key online the only choice it gives me is 8.1 Pro Pack which I already purchased...

Do I need to go online somewhere and buy the $10 Media Center "pak" and get the product key then go back to Add Features and select I already have a product key and then enter my Media Center key?

OK, purchase done, product key provided and paid with paypal. Then it went into auto download and install and I now have Windows Media Centre installed, it did not ask me for the key, so presume it auto loaded with the download.

No, click on I want to buy - that's for the media center pak which after pruchase, installs auto.

you can also get a free media tv tuner here:

BEWARE: Softronic uses ad bugs, so ensure you do a custom install and DESELECT their pretty little ticked boxes.

free tv tuner media center windows 7 download

and

TunerFree MCE - Software Informer. It is a Windows Media Center add-in for watching streaming Internet TV.

elbmek said:

OK, purchase done, product key provided and paid with paypal. Then it went into auto download and install and I now have Windows Media Centre installed, it did not ask me for the key, so presume it auto loaded with the download.

No, click on I want to buy - that's for the media center pak which after pruchase, installs auto.

Click to expand...

I am confused, you have Media Center installed on a NON Pro 8.1 machine? When I click on "buy online" using the Add Features option I don't have the choice to get Media Center because I am running 8.1 not 8.1 pro.

So again, I need to find a way to buy Media Center without using the Add Features to get the key, then go back to Add Features and enter the key after I buy it somewhere else.

elbmek said:

TunerFree MCE - Software Informer. It is a Windows Media Center add-in for watching streaming Internet TV.

Click to expand...

But their website says I have to have Media Center already installed. :O

tackyjan said:

Hello All!

I have a Dell laptop that came with Windows 8.1. (I guess it's not an "update" since it came with 8.1 out of the box.)

I just purchase a legitimate version of Windows 8.1 Pro (student) edition from the Microsoft store. I downloaded the installer and created both an ISO file and media drive on a USB stick.

My question is, can I somehow install only Media Center onto my 8.1 laptop without installing the entire 8.1 Pro operating system?

Thanks!

Jan

Click to expand...

No. Pro does not include Media Center, its a separate purchase on top of Pro. You install Media Center though "Add Features" by entering your Media Center product code. You have to be running Pro for this to work though, if your running 8.1 Core it will not accept the Media center product code. If you want Media Center you will have to upgrade to Pro first. You may be able to do that by just entering your newly purchased 8.1 Pro key in Add Features. I upgraded my laptop that way. It came with 8.0 Core. I entered my TechNet 8.0 Retail Pro key in add features and it upgraded to Pro no problem. I then entered my Media Center key in add features and upgraded again no problem. Activated online both times with no issues.

EDIT: No.2 Looks like I'm back to what I originally said, as I just noticed the OP bought 8.1 Pro, not the Pro Pack.

tackyjan said:

elbmek said:

OK, purchase done, product key provided and paid with paypal. Then it went into auto download and install and I now have Windows Media Centre installed, it did not ask me for the key, so presume it auto loaded with the download.

No, click on I want to buy - that's for the media center pak which after pruchase, installs auto.

Click to expand...

no my pc is 8.1 Pro.

Forget that second link, I tried it and deleted it. It self installed in WMP but kept stalling, so binned it


I am confused, you have Media Center installed on a NON Pro 8.1 machine? When I click on "buy online" using the Add Features option I don't have the choice to get Media Center because I am running 8.1 not 8.1 pro.

So again, I need to find a way to buy Media Center without using the Add Features to get the key, then go back to Add Features and enter the key after I buy it somewhere else.

Click to expand...

no I have 8.1 Pro pc. I tried that second link, but deleted it. It self installed into WMP but stalls, so binned it.

tackyjan said:

My question is, can I somehow install only Media Center onto my 8.1 laptop without installing the entire 8.1 Pro operating system?

Click to expand...

Have a look here and see if this works - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6559-windows-media-center-add-windows-8-a.html

I have the standalone version of Media Center for which the above tutorial works so....

And yes, what alphanumeric said

It looks like I was wrong, the Pro Pack does include Media Center. According to this it does anyway, Buy Windows 8 Pro Pack - Add Windows Media Center and BitLocker to your Windows 8 - Microsoft Store Online. It's listed as a feature. As far as I know though, you still have to install the full package to actually get Media Center, you can't pick and chose, what's installed and what's not.

EDIT: ops again as I just noticed the OP bought 8.1 Pro not the Pro Pack. Using that Product code in add features will just upgrade to 8.1 Pro with no Media Center. Looks like I'm having one of those days.

tackyjan said:

Actually I figured it out (I think)... I just went to "Add New Features" and selected "I have a product key" and then entered the product key for my Win 8.1 Pro. Windows accepted the key then I chose to buy Media Center, entered my visa, etc. Then it started to download/install. My computer rebooted and the next time I logged in my computer showed that it was now Windows 8.1 Pro and it had Media Center installed.

Click to expand...

Which is basically what I pointed to....

sygnus21 said:

tackyjan said:

My question is, can I somehow install only Media Center onto my 8.1 laptop without installing the entire 8.1 Pro operating system?

Click to expand...

Have a look here and see if this works - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6559-windows-media-center-add-windows-8-a.html

I have the standalone version of Media Center for which the above tutorial works so....

Click to expand...

Anyway glad you got it sorted. Peace

tackyjan said:

Actually I figured it out (I think)... I just went to "Add New Features" and selected "I have a product key" and then entered the product key for my Win 8.1 Pro. Windows accepted the key then I chose to buy Media Center, entered my visa, etc. Then it started to download/install. My computer rebooted and the next time I logged in my computer showed that it was now Windows 8.1 Pro and it had Media Center installed. I am a bit confused, however, because I thought that since this was a full Pro 8.1 purchase I could not use it to upgrade but apparently I was able to.

I now wonder if I can do the same thing on my PC.. use the same key for 2 different computers, MS is probably too smart to let me do that.

Click to expand...

Interesting I have the $14.99 upgrade to Win 8 Pro, I downloaded the ISO and at that time was offered a free MC I filled out the form and it was kind of flaky form Orentialish but a MC Key was e-mailed to me. I didn't upgrade to Win 8 just kept everything until 8.1 came out. So I used a leaked Win 8.1 pro RTM ISO used a Generic Key to start the install. Activated with my upgrade win 8 Pro Key and Clean installed Win 8.1 then used add new features entered my MC Key and MC was just turned on after a reboot. No download it was like just there waiting to be turned on.

tackyjan said:

Actually I figured it out (I think)... I just went to "Add New Features" and selected "I have a product key" and then entered the product key for my Win 8.1 Pro. Windows accepted the key then I chose to buy Media Center, entered my visa, etc. Then it started to download/install. My computer rebooted and the next time I logged in my computer showed that it was now Windows 8.1 Pro and it had Media Center installed. I am a bit confused, however, because I thought that since this was a full Pro 8.1 purchase I could not use it to upgrade but apparently I was able to.

I now wonder if I can do the same thing on my PC.. use the same key for 2 different computers, MS is probably too smart to let me do that.

Click to expand...

Maybe the MC but not the Pro

tackyjan said:

Actually I figured it out (I think)... I just went to "Add New Features" and selected "I have a product key" and then entered the product key for my Win 8.1 Pro. Windows accepted the key then I chose to buy Media Center, entered my visa, etc. Then it started to download/install. My computer rebooted and the next time I logged in my computer showed that it was now Windows 8.1 Pro and it had Media Center installed. I am a bit confused, however, because I thought that since this was a full Pro 8.1 purchase I could not use it to upgrade but apparently I was able to.

I now wonder if I can do the same thing on my PC.. use the same key for 2 different computers, MS is probably too smart to let me do that.

Click to expand...

Add Features will accept my TechNet/MSDN full Retail keys. I used one of my 8.0 Pro TechNet Retail keys on my laptop that came with 8.0 Core OEM. That got me 8 Pro and let me then add Media Center. I scored a couple of the free MC keys when they were available. They work for Windows 8.0 and 8.1.

Both keys are only to be used on one PC. If you activate with the same key on more than one PC you'll have issues. The key you enter though add features becomes the new Product Code the PC activates with. If you've added Media Center the Media Center Product code is what that PC is activating against. There were some people that tried using the same code on two or three PC's and then ended up with a PC that failed activation. They had to do a clean install to go back to 8 Pro.