Windows Media Center 2002 images

[Signum]

Just wondering if anyone knows where to get a MCE (first version) CD's or images? I have a valid key that came with my HP machine. I do not have backup DVDs (long gone) or the restore partition due to me dban'ing the drive.

I know there are many MCE images available on the web, but all of them seem to be 2005 versions. I'm having a hard time finding the first version of MCE

Of course, I do not need any direct links....... just hints where I might find them.

Thanks guys.

[rock hard]

there is no such creature as the 2002 version.

Windows XP MCE came out in 2004/2005 :)

[i6s1]

there is no such creature as the 2002 version.

Windows XP MCE came out in 2004/2005 :)

Nope. That's when the public could first buy it. OEMs could get the original version in 2002.

[Ojam]

You can order recovery discs from HP.

[Signum]

Yes, I am looking for the OEM version you mentioned i6s1. I don't know a lot about the 2002 OEM edition, were there even install CD’s for that version released to the public or was it OEM install exclusive?

Ojam, that is a possibility. Would anyone happen to know if it is possible to extract the windows image out of the recovery disks?

I would like to be able to get a hold of a clean image so I can nlite it. The HP machine is getting a little long in the tooth so I would like to tweak and strip a lot of the garbage out, but still retain MCE capabilities and use of my product key.

[i6s1]

All 3 oem versions were the same after sp2. The 2005 version is the fourth and final version, and it was the first to be available to end users and minor oems.

Since the original versions were never released to anyone but the big oems, (HP/Dell/etc) and since they usually make their own images, I don't know if a standalone version of *just* Pre-2004 MCE exists.

FWIW, there is a iso called "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 OEM" and the comment seem to indicate that legit serials work with it.

This will ONLY work with OEM computers, and ONLY with an OEM specific key AND your OEM specific OEMBIOS.BIN OEMBIOS.SIG OEMBIOS.DAT AND OEMBIOS.CAT FILES! You must go to oembios.net and try to find your manufacturer in the list.

Would your serial work in that? Might be worth a try.

Of course, I wouldn't know where to get this iso. Good luck!

[IoannI]

Since Media Center is a vesion of XP, and XP came out in 2002 then wouldn't be version 2002? I would assume its built on-top of XP.

[Signum]

i6s1, I'll give it a try and then post back how it went......if I find the iso ;)

[warpdrive]

Media Center XP 2004 came out around end of 2003

[Kwirky]

Media Center XP 2004 came out around end of 2003

i6s1 is correct in saying it was released in 2002. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Center