What Microsoft SKU to buy for Media Center?

[CZ Eddie]

What are the SKU's I should be Googling to get a legal instance of Media Center running in 8.1?
I have both 8.0 and 8.1 keys for the OS itself. But nothing for Media Center.

Yes, I know it's no longer available from MS.
But it should still be available from 3rd party software vendors?

Maybe not the $10 one but the ~$100 pro pack ought to be available still.

Please don't suggest Win7, I've considered my options and want to go with Win8.1.
And yep, I've read the debates between the two.

[CZ Eddie]

Windows 8.1 Pro Pack Upgrade - Windows [Digital]
Model: 5VR-00139
SKU: 2240003

Just posting this for anyone needing the info in the future.
This is the SKU that BestBuy was selling at one time.
So that should make it a retail SKU.

I just bought a used one (previously activated) on eBay for $47.
I'll let everyone know how it works out when I get it.

This website says they have it for $80 and it's "in stock" but who knows.
The site does seem to have good reseller reviews but I have no experience with them.
https://techsupplyshop.com/collections/ ... e-download

[CZ Eddie]

Another potential SKU?

-- Microsoft Windows 8 Pro Pack (Retail with License Key)
-- 5VR-00001

There's a few of these on eBay.
One is there right now with a $12.50 starting bid.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Wind ... SwkXlbhDlp

[StinkyImp]

Bad news if you're looking for WMC. It may be hard to find a "Pro Pack" that includes it.

The techsupply link has the following wording... *Windows Media Center is no longer in production and not included*

The eBay link has the following wording... This product does not include the Windows Media Center and is only compatible if you are upgrading from Windows 8 Core to Windows 8 Pro.

[DavidinCT]

Bad news if you're looking for WMC. It may be hard to find a "Pro Pack" that includes it.

The techsupply link has the following wording... *Windows Media Center is no longer in production and not included*

The eBay link has the following wording... This product does not include the Windows Media Center and is only compatible if you are upgrading from Windows 8 Core to Windows 8 Pro.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... lable-to-b


If it's the main sku that included Media Center you should be ok. You MIGHT need to do it the back door method. It's shady but once it's done you should be legal. Find a slipstreamed iso with 8.1 WMC and find a fake WMC install key. Install it and install it with WMC, then go into system and change your key to your legal one. Then activate it. If it activates your legal.

This is the way I was doing WMC with a clean install with WMC... Otherwise I would have to install 8.1 and upgrade to 8.1 WMC using 2 keys.

You need to find the right version and you can get WMC.. it's going to be NOS

According to sites... the 5VR00139 is the right part number but, this is a upgrade from 8.1 standard, this will upgrade 8.1 home to pro with WMC. You do need a working copy of 8.1 installed to do this, or follow the back door method above.

[CZ Eddie]

Yep, I now have a fully activated Windows 8.1 Pro "With MediaCenter" by using 5VR-00139.

The steps below are what I used.
The network cable disconnect may or may not be necessary, who knows.

1) Formatted drive
2) Installed MSDN ISO "Win 8.1 With Updates".
3) Booted up and activated it with my 8.1 standard license (the non-Pro version).
4) Shut down.
5) Disconnected network cable.
6) Booted up and installed my 5VR-00139 license key.
7) It accepted the key!
8) Rebooted as part of the pack install and MCE showed up!
9) Connected network cable and rebooted.
10) Upon bootup, I now see it says it's fully activated, WITH Media Pack.

I'm hoping I can use the same license on a VM.
But if not, then at least I know what to buy.

I'm surprised that no phone calls were needed and the whole thing was hassle free.
Reading threads around here it seems like most installs are a nightmare.

[CZ Eddie]

n/m

[CZ Eddie]

FYI, the VM will be my WMC server that will be online 24/7 and dish out epg123 scheduling to my physical Win7MCE and Win8MCE as well as the xbox 360('s).
Amongst performing various other media duties.

Yes, I could have stayed with Win7MCE for everything but that discussion is not for this thread.

[CZ Eddie]

Windows 8.1 Pro Pack Upgrade - Windows [Digital]
Model: 5VR-00139
SKU: 2240003


This website says they have it for $80 and it's "in stock" but who knows.
The site does seem to have good reseller reviews but I have no experience with them.
https://techsupplyshop.com/collections/ ... e-download

Just a warning, but I purchased this from techsupplyshop (aka MyChoiceSoftware.com) and instead of sending me this key, they sent me a regular full win 8.1 pro key. Not an upgrade, not a pack, but a full, which does not help me at all.
And they are waffling on what to do about it.

[DavidinCT]

Yep, I now have a fully activated Windows 8.1 Pro "With MediaCenter" by using 5VR-00139.

The steps below are what I used.
The network cable disconnect may or may not be necessary, who knows.

1) Formatted drive
2) Installed MSDN ISO "Win 8.1 With Updates".
3) Booted up and activated it with my 8.1 standard license (the non-Pro version).
4) Shut down.
5) Disconnected network cable.
6) Booted up and installed my 5VR-00139 license key.
7) It accepted the key!
8) Rebooted as part of the pack install and MCE showed up!
9) Connected network cable and rebooted.
10) Upon bootup, I now see it says it's fully activated, WITH Media Pack.

I'm hoping I can use the same license on a VM.
But if not, then at least I know what to buy.

I'm surprised that no phone calls were needed and the whole thing was hassle free.
Reading threads around here it seems like most installs are a nightmare.

Good news to confirm it. The WMC key is one thing, just for Pro with the media pack. The standard 8.1 key is different. I installed 8.1 with the Media Pack on my HTPC (dual boot config) but, I used the 8.1 standard KEY on a VM and it activated fine.

If your looking for WMC for that, for the standard one. GO over and download WMC for Windows 10. It's the same version with all the locking down stuff pulled out. Should work just like the official 8.1 Media Pack version.