Where can I get Windows Media Center 2005?

Janus · April 2nd, 2006, 02:32 PM

I'm wondering if anybody know where you can get a copy of Media Center 2005?

You are meant to only be able to get it with a new media center PC (which is the worst idea MS has had in a long time), but surely there must be somewhere willing to sell it not OEM.

Or if somebody has a registration key for it that they would be willing to share. images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

SL65 · April 2nd, 2006, 02:47 PM

No warez talk on the forums please....

If it ain't clean, restrict it to PM's.

hokiethang · April 2nd, 2006, 02:54 PM

I'm not sure where you would be able to find it in Australia. The licensing for Media Center is somewhat broken, because Microsoft would prefer you buy new hardware to run it on.

Here in the states the only place I have seen that you can buy an OEM copy is from newegg. Unfortunately they don't do international shipping.

Another option if you really want it, is to get MSDN access, which for one price gets you all of Microsoft's software, but it's VERY expensive ($2700 USD a year)

Also Media Center requires activation, so sharing keys wouldn't help you.

Overheat · April 2nd, 2006, 04:02 PM

Scan Computers in the UK have this disclaimer when buying:

PLEASE NOTE : The OEM agreement for SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION.

If the individual software license is a desktop operating system (including Windows XP Media Center Edition), we grant you a nonexclusive right to distribute individual software licenses; provided that each one is distributed with either (a) a fully assembled computer system or (b) a nonperipheral computer hardware component.

A “fully assembled computer system” means a computer system consisting of at least a central processing unit, a motherboard, a hard drive, a power supply, and a case.
A “nonperipheral computer hardware component” means a component that will be an integral part of the fully assembled computer system on which the individual software license will be installed.

mgkdk · April 2nd, 2006, 04:03 PM

I have bought a version of Media Center without a new comp, so it is possible, atleast in Denmark images/smilies/wink.gif

Janus · April 2nd, 2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~612BHP!!!!!!!

No warez talk on the forums please....

If it ain't clean, restrict it to PM's.

The comment about the key was a joke.

I'm mearly asking if anybody knows a store that will sell it non OEM.

I'm sure there are loads of store that do it, they just don't openly state it as "technically" you aren't allowed to sell it without a new system. Look at mgkdk's post, stores do it if they don't care about Microsoft's stupid OEM distribution rules.

**EDIT**

I have found a site that will ship you Media Center with a "free hardware component"...not quite sure what that means. images/smilies/lol.gif

jensked · April 2nd, 2006, 06:39 PM

^ not in every country microsoft OEM distribution rules apply. Here in Belgium it is also possible to just buy WMC in the stores.

Overheat · April 2nd, 2006, 08:51 PM

it'll probably be a network card or something - it's often a good idea to get it with a TV card as that's what it's meant for anyway.

Janus · April 3rd, 2006, 05:11 AM

I have a TV card in my machine already, but I really want to build a specialised media PC to stream video to my X-Box 360 (which rather stupidly requires you to have Media Center 2005).

Although I am hesitant to folk out the money as I have just read an article saying that Microsoft is going to release an update for the 360 to enable, amongst other things, streaming of videos using Windows XP and the ability to download files in the background. Now they just need to fix the problems with the DVD player and the very poor emulation of original X-Box games.

awdrifter · April 3rd, 2006, 10:55 PM

You can find this on Mininova.

jeffy777 · April 3rd, 2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awdrifter

You can find this on Mininova.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SL65AMG~V12~612BHP!!!!!!!

No warez talk on the forums please....

awdrifter · April 3rd, 2006, 11:06 PM

Well, it's not like a direct link or anything. This is just like telling him to search Google.

Janus · April 4th, 2006, 05:08 AM

The problem isn't the software, I have that from sources like the ones mentioned above. I do however need an unused registration key to validate online, which means buying the software.

LOUSY MICROSOFT MAKING ME PAY FOR THEIR SOFTWARE! images/smilies/lol.gif

But as I said, I'll think I'll just wait until they release this 360 patch or Vista is released, rather then having to pay hundreds of dollars for Media Center, going to all the trouble of installing and setting it up and then having to do it all again for Vista...if it ever comes out. images/smilies/tongue.gif

jeffy777 · April 4th, 2006, 05:13 AM

If you like software you should always buy it images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

FATMOUSE · April 4th, 2006, 05:36 AM

newegg.com sells it. And buy like a power cable or something to fit the oem hardware requirement.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832102357

The_Finn · April 4th, 2006, 05:36 AM

eh i say you just get it from the store with the free hardware... i mean whats the worst that can happen... you get some useless piece of crap HW and toss it of hell you may be able to sell it on ebay or something and get a bit of your money back... ebay itself is another option as well i would guess

Auction

TF

Janus · April 4th, 2006, 07:38 AM

Another question for people who have Media Center.

If each copy installed requires a key to be registered online am I not able to install the OS on multiple machines.

For example, I want to get this to put on a machine I am planning to use as a media PC, but if I then choose that I want to reformat my main computer and put Media Center on that instead will I be expected to buy a new copy?

I'm guessing not (which is stupid) because it is meant to be pre-loaded on media machines.

v0od0o · April 4th, 2006, 09:29 AM

Weird that guys in other places than the US can get a copy at the store. I can't even get it at the company store!
Only way that I know of is msdn subscription, which thankfully is hugely discounted for employees images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Janus · April 4th, 2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v0od0o

Weird that guys in other places than the US can get a copy at the store. I can't even get it at the company store!
Only way that I know of is msdn subscription, which thankfully is hugely discounted for employees images/smilies/biggrin.gif

As I said, I think they are meant to be used to install on Media Center PC that the stores sell, but some stores are obviously less fussed with the Microsoft requirements for OEM software. Like offering me a "free piece of hardware", which I believe is a power cable of something.

hokiethang · April 4th, 2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janus

Another question for people who have Media Center.

If each copy installed requires a key to be registered online am I not able to install the OS on multiple machines.

For example, I want to get this to put on a machine I am planning to use as a media PC, but if I then choose that I want to reformat my main computer and put Media Center on that instead will I be expected to buy a new copy?

I'm guessing not (which is stupid) because it is meant to be pre-loaded on media machines.

You can but you will have to re-activate, which will require you to call microsoft. It won't let you reactivate over the internet if you change the hardware that it runs on. The call to microsoft typically takes about 5 minutes and all you have to do is tell the person you are transferring the software from one machine to another.

And voodoo, yeah I hear the MSDN price for employees is VERY nice. I've got a friend who interned there last summer and will be starting full time in June.

April 2nd, 2006, 02:32 PM	#1
Janus Joined: Apr 20th, 2005 Last Online: December 31st, 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 24 Posts: 1,347 Rep Power: 18	Where can I get Windows Media Center 2005? I'm wondering if anybody know where you can get a copy of Media Center 2005? You are meant to only be able to get it with a new media center PC (which is the worst idea MS has had in a long time), but surely there must be somewhere willing to sell it not OEM. Or if somebody has a registration key for it that they would be willing to share. __________________ "Hopefully once petrol hits $2.50 per litre all the 18 year olds with riced up Nismos wont be able to afford to drive their neon-clad tard rockets around at 200km/h anymore, and it will be back to the good old days of riding a donkey to school."

April 2nd, 2006, 02:54 PM	#3
hokiethang Global Moderator Joined: Nov 30th, 2004 Last Online: 03:00 AM Location: Northern Virginia, USA Age: 25 Posts: 2,250 Car: 2007 Durango Rep Power: 20	I'm not sure where you would be able to find it in Australia. The licensing for Media Center is somewhat broken, because Microsoft would prefer you buy new hardware to run it on. Here in the states the only place I have seen that you can buy an OEM copy is from newegg. Unfortunately they don't do international shipping. Another option if you really want it, is to get MSDN access, which for one price gets you all of Microsoft's software, but it's VERY expensive ($2700 USD a year) Also Media Center requires activation, so sharing keys wouldn't help you. __________________

April 2nd, 2006, 04:02 PM	#4
Overheat Joined: Sep 7th, 2004 Last Online: September 30th, 2008 Location: Bradford, UK Posts: 5,735 Rep Power: 25	Scan Computers in the UK have this disclaimer when buying: PLEASE NOTE : The OEM agreement for SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION. If the individual software license is a desktop operating system (including Windows XP Media Center Edition), we grant you a nonexclusive right to distribute individual software licenses; provided that each one is distributed with either (a) a fully assembled computer system or (b) a nonperipheral computer hardware component. A “fully assembled computer system” means a computer system consisting of at least a central processing unit, a motherboard, a hard drive, a power supply, and a case. A “nonperipheral computer hardware component” means a component that will be an integral part of the fully assembled computer system on which the individual software license will be installed. __________________

April 2nd, 2006, 04:03 PM	#5
mgkdk .dk beauty Joined: Mar 19th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Denmark Age: 28 Posts: 4,255 Car: Volvo V40 LFS Status: Rep Power: 51	I have bought a version of Media Center without a new comp, so it is possible, atleast in Denmark __________________ "Danish is cool" - Jeremy Clarkson

April 2nd, 2006, 06:39 PM	#7
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 25 Posts: 4,007 Car: RIP Opel Astra -> 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 43	^ not in every country microsoft OEM distribution rules apply. Here in Belgium it is also possible to just buy WMC in the stores. __________________

April 2nd, 2006, 02:47 PM	#2
SL65 Ambitious but rubbish! Joined: Jul 12th, 2004 Last Online: 03:53 AM Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 18 Posts: 9,191 Car: 1998 Subaru Legacy 2.5L Rep Power: 41	No warez talk on the forums please.... If it ain't clean, restrict it to PM's.

April 2nd, 2006, 08:51 PM	#8
Overheat Joined: Sep 7th, 2004 Last Online: September 30th, 2008 Location: Bradford, UK Posts: 5,735 Rep Power: 25	it'll probably be a network card or something - it's often a good idea to get it with a TV card as that's what it's meant for anyway. __________________

April 3rd, 2006, 05:11 AM	#9
Janus Joined: Apr 20th, 2005 Last Online: December 31st, 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 24 Posts: 1,347 Rep Power: 18	I have a TV card in my machine already, but I really want to build a specialised media PC to stream video to my X-Box 360 (which rather stupidly requires you to have Media Center 2005). Although I am hesitant to folk out the money as I have just read an article saying that Microsoft is going to release an update for the 360 to enable, amongst other things, streaming of videos using Windows XP and the ability to download files in the background. Now they just need to fix the problems with the DVD player and the very poor emulation of original X-Box games. __________________ "Hopefully once petrol hits $2.50 per litre all the 18 year olds with riced up Nismos wont be able to afford to drive their neon-clad tard rockets around at 200km/h anymore, and it will be back to the good old days of riding a donkey to school."

April 3rd, 2006, 10:55 PM	#10
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: 04:38 AM Posts: 1,549 Rep Power: 26	You can find this on Mininova. __________________ TP

April 3rd, 2006, 11:06 PM	#12
awdrifter Joined: Aug 29th, 2004 Last Online: 04:38 AM Posts: 1,549 Rep Power: 26	Well, it's not like a direct link or anything. This is just like telling him to search Google. __________________ TP

April 4th, 2006, 05:08 AM	#13
Janus Joined: Apr 20th, 2005 Last Online: December 31st, 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 24 Posts: 1,347 Rep Power: 18	The problem isn't the software, I have that from sources like the ones mentioned above. I do however need an unused registration key to validate online, which means buying the software. LOUSY MICROSOFT MAKING ME PAY FOR THEIR SOFTWARE! But as I said, I'll think I'll just wait until they release this 360 patch or Vista is released, rather then having to pay hundreds of dollars for Media Center, going to all the trouble of installing and setting it up and then having to do it all again for Vista...if it ever comes out. __________________ "Hopefully once petrol hits $2.50 per litre all the 18 year olds with riced up Nismos wont be able to afford to drive their neon-clad tard rockets around at 200km/h anymore, and it will be back to the good old days of riding a donkey to school."

April 4th, 2006, 05:13 AM	#14
jeffy777 Joined: Feb 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: US Age: 27 Posts: 5,662 Car: '04 Toyota Sienna, crippled people like vans.... Rep Power: 53	If you like software you should always buy it __________________ A man named Jeffy once said, "If laziness is craziness, then I've lost my marbles...and I don't feel like trying to find them."

April 4th, 2006, 05:36 AM	#15
FATMOUSE Joined: Jun 30th, 2005 Last Online: 05:28 AM Location: NYC Posts: 3,090 Rep Power: 35	newegg.com sells it. And buy like a power cable or something to fit the oem hardware requirement. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832102357 __________________ woohoo someone changed my sig

April 4th, 2006, 05:36 AM	#16
The_Finn Joined: Feb 7th, 2005 Last Online: 05:32 AM Location: Worcestersheshershire MA Age: 27 Posts: 2,521 Car: 1988 Mazda 323 GTX / 1997 Saab 900s Rep Power: 32	eh i say you just get it from the store with the free hardware... i mean whats the worst that can happen... you get some useless piece of crap HW and toss it of hell you may be able to sell it on ebay or something and get a bit of your money back... ebay itself is another option as well i would guess Auction TF __________________ Proud owner of a 1988 mazda 323 GTX: The ~~poor~~ rich mans evo... “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” ~Ernest Hemingway~ It's all about having the right priorities. You can sleep in your car but you can't race your house -\|- Basically i go accurately and on special lines

April 4th, 2006, 07:38 AM	#17
Janus Joined: Apr 20th, 2005 Last Online: December 31st, 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 24 Posts: 1,347 Rep Power: 18	Another question for people who have Media Center. If each copy installed requires a key to be registered online am I not able to install the OS on multiple machines. For example, I want to get this to put on a machine I am planning to use as a media PC, but if I then choose that I want to reformat my main computer and put Media Center on that instead will I be expected to buy a new copy? I'm guessing not (which is stupid) because it is meant to be pre-loaded on media machines. __________________ "Hopefully once petrol hits $2.50 per litre all the 18 year olds with riced up Nismos wont be able to afford to drive their neon-clad tard rockets around at 200km/h anymore, and it will be back to the good old days of riding a donkey to school."

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April 4th, 2006, 09:29 AM	#18
v0od0o Joined: Oct 25th, 2004 Last Online: January 2nd, 2009 Location: Egyptian living in Redmond, USA Posts: 1,618 Rep Power: 19	Weird that guys in other places than the US can get a copy at the store. I can't even get it at the company store! Only way that I know of is msdn subscription, which thankfully is hugely discounted for employees __________________ .

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