Media Center License

[raylo]

I have been working on replacing my old Win 7 (OEM license) HTPC with a new one and I want to use Media Center with my TV tuner card for DVR. I have the new hardware running Win 8.1 Pro (not 10 since MS did not port Media Center over). But I am having a real problem finding a copy of 8.1 with Media Center. I know MS no longer sells this but 3rd parties can sell existing licenses. But the advertising is a mess. Many sites show the download "Pro Pack" upgrade with text on the box that says has Media Center. But when you get it it is only an upgrade to Pro without Media Center. Had to return 2 already.

So I found some on Amazon that were very $$ and called to make sure and they assured me these licenses included Media Center. But I just went back to the order and way down at the bottom in the fine print there was a one line disclaimer that said "Media Center licenses sold separately". So this might have to go back to Amazon, too. I will need to call again later today and have a chat.

So is it really this hard to find a legit retail copy of media Center for 8.1? Anyone have any suggestions where to look?

 

[alphanumeric]

I got mine via the free offer way back when. They only work if Pro is installed. Other than that I don't know what to tell you? I could have sworn the Pro pack included MC though?

 

[raylo]

Well I have given up. I ordered several copies of 8 pro even the Pro Pack and none has media center. The pro pack was advertised as having it but the fine print said media center license sold separately and that is unavailable. So they all went back except 8 pro that I have since upgraded to Windows
10. Him a try media portal with that.

 

[raylo]

What I meant to say is that I am going to try to migrate to Media Portal 2 on this HTPC. Media Portal is an open source project that seems to try to duplicate a lot of what Media Center does in terms of TV and DVR. I just started this and it it is a lot more difficult to setup than Media Center that worked right out of the box. The initial MP2 install was easy but I haven't gotten the online guide to work yet and that is really the thing you need to make it all work.

 

[alphanumeric]

I feel for you. Trying to setup my XBOX to show the media guide was a PITA. Getting it to control my TV and cable box with its IR blaster was another episode in frustration.

 

[raylo]

But you did get the guide working? That is promising at least. My install will be simpler since I am just using a TV tuner card and recording over the air HDTV, so no other peripherals to control. It still looks like it is gonna be a PITA to set up. I managed to create the EPG data file but so far MP2 doesn't see it. Not sure why yet.... I wish the MP team would create a generic basic install profile to emulate Media Center.

 

[alphanumeric]

As near as I can tell yes. It shows on screen. I found it easier in the end to just use the remote and guide for the cable box. My XBOX can turn my TV and cable box on and off when you turn the XBOX on and off. It can change the channel on the cable box too, via its guide when you use the XBOX media remote. It was a little iffy though. Sometimes it would switch to the wrong channel etc. I never figured out if it was a guide error or the remote IR signal glitch. I never did get the volume up down to work from the XBOX remote and gave up at that point. If I ever have to do a reset on my XBOX I'll have another go at it. It is nice having my XBOX turn the TV and cable box on off when I turn it on off. It's in between the cable box and TV and has to be on to actually watch TV. It won't feed through when its off. It would make life a lot easier if it did, but it doesn't.