Windows 10 Media Center

Discussion of getting WMC to work on Windows 10 (unsupported)
cwinfield

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#141

Post by cwinfield » Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:51 pm

That has been updated to state it will let you upgrade from a non registered license or pirated version but still identify you as unlicensed once on 10. If it were not that way that would be a huge disservice to paid users. Info here http://www.windowscentral.com/you-can-u ... on-windows

glugglug

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#142

Post by glugglug » Thu Mar 26, 2015 3:09 am

Please let this be wrong (last response on the page):
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 7339345055

Worse here:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 07?page=13
Honestly, Microsoft knows that there are folks who love WMC and depend on it. They made a business decision that it wasn't important to THEM. There are some Microsoft EMPLOYEES who feel as you do. The future isn't uncertain, WMC is gone in Windows 10. If you upgrade you will lose WMC.

milli260876

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#143

Post by milli260876 » Thu Mar 26, 2015 5:41 am

Pure speculation tbf... She knows nowt!
Lee

bob_p

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#144

Post by bob_p » Thu Mar 26, 2015 10:21 am

Microsoft does want all Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10 - they're giving away free upgrades for one year.

While not a huge percentage of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users - if Microsoft doesn't provide WMC in Windows 10, those systems are likely to continue running the older operating systems, rather than losing WMC (unless Microsoft decides to provide the technology to Ceton, SiliconDust or another party - and allow them to port it to Windows 10).

Sharks

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#145

Post by Sharks » Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:54 am

glugglug wrote:Please let this be wrong (last response on the page):
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 7339345055

Worse here:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 07?page=13
Honestly, Microsoft knows that there are folks who love WMC and depend on it. They made a business decision that it wasn't important to THEM. There are some Microsoft EMPLOYEES who feel as you do. The future isn't uncertain, WMC is gone in Windows 10. If you upgrade you will lose WMC.

The person making that statement is not a Microsoft employee and later states that she in no way speaks for Microsoft and Microsoft has not made any official announcements on whether media center is or is not going to be available in Windows 10.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 07?page=13

JTScribe

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#146

Post by JTScribe » Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:27 pm

If WMC is not in 10, I wonder how the free upgrade will impact the pricing of Windows 8. OEM copies of Windows 7 are still selling for about the same price (and, ironically, enough, the Windows 7 system builder disk is Amazon's #1 seller in operating systems.)

You would think MS would be trying to bend over backwards to get people to leave 7 and not start dropping features. The ham-fisted way that the guide issue got solved doesn't look promising though.

mike_ekim

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#147

Post by mike_ekim » Fri Mar 27, 2015 3:16 pm

Microsoft trying to preserve WMC in today's environment, is like hanging curtains while the house is on fire.
JTScribe wrote:If WMC is not in 10, I wonder how the free upgrade will impact the pricing of Windows 8. OEM copies of Windows 7 are still selling for about the same price (and, ironically, enough, the Windows 7 system builder disk is Amazon's #1 seller in operating systems.)

You would think MS would be trying to bend over backwards to get people to leave 7 and not start dropping features. The ham-fisted way that the guide issue got solved doesn't look promising though.
Microsoft is trying to adapt to the new computer market where other OSs are destroying its sales. MS will be giving away free OS upgrades (not just free service packs) to hang onto market share. Microsoft needs to find cost effective ways to appeal to the broadest market possible. MS needs to correct some important UI changes that dissatisfied a lot of people.

WMC is a niche product. Windows needs to be concerned with the 25% of users who might buy a Chromebook, not the 1% of users who use WMC. With the wide adoption of streaming (and the corresponding diminishment of cable subscriptions) and the improvements of other PVR software, WMC users will decline regardless of whether or not Windows makes a Win 10 MCE edition. Microsoft will support the current versions of WMC until EOL but I suspect we will not see another WMC edition with the current DRM scheme and CableLabs support. Too much is changing with respect to DRM, codecs, and licensing. MS can't afford to wait for the dust to settle.

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DavidinCT

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#148

Post by DavidinCT » Wed Apr 01, 2015 2:52 am

glugglug wrote:Please let this be wrong (last response on the page):
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 7339345055

Worse here:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 07?page=13
Honestly, Microsoft knows that there are folks who love WMC and depend on it. They made a business decision that it wasn't important to THEM. There are some Microsoft EMPLOYEES who feel as you do. The future isn't uncertain, WMC is gone in Windows 10. If you upgrade you will lose WMC.
Barb Bowman is NOT a Microsoft Employee, she has a hair bit more info than we do... She is a MVP, like I was.

When I was a MVP , we'd get tibits here and there but, no real deep inside info...
-Dave
Twitter @TheCoolDave

Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012

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Shark007

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#149

Post by Shark007 » Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:08 pm

Although not sanctioned by Microsoft, I did not fake this screenshot in any way.
This screenshot was taken from my own laptop just moments ago.

Image
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STC

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#150

Post by STC » Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:04 pm

That still looks like WMC for Windows 8 (2013).
'Version 10.x' is referring to the OS.
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RyC

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#151

Post by RyC » Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:27 pm

Even has the latest fast build number :o

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newfiend

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#152

Post by newfiend » Mon Apr 06, 2015 7:43 pm

If MS added WMC to Windows 10 I think I may pee myself... Shoot.. I would be happy if I could just upgrade my current Windows 7 OS to Windows 10 and keep WMC.

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holidayboy

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#153

Post by holidayboy » Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:51 pm

I have a quick look in the winsxs folder whenever a new build of win10 comes out. There still seems to be ehome DLL files in there.....

Probably because they just haven't bothered to remove them mind you!
Rob.

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boogmeister1

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#154

Post by boogmeister1 » Tue Apr 07, 2015 2:20 am

Shark007,

Is it functional? Have you been able to get anything to work with it?

Eric

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Shark007

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#155

Post by Shark007 » Tue Apr 07, 2015 6:03 am

functionality and usefulness is identical to that of Windows 8.1
I tested with a Hauppauge 2250 and I paired a xbox360 to it
I also played a few mkv's on the 360 through Media Center.
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boogmeister1

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#156

Post by boogmeister1 » Tue Apr 07, 2015 6:35 am

That's cool. You did an upgrade from 8.1? I'm assuming you did. Or did you use an 8.1 WMC key and install it on the new version?

Eric

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Shark007

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#157

Post by Shark007 » Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:56 pm

I am doing administrative installations using a Microsoft supplied key.
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bob_p

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#158

Post by bob_p » Wed Apr 08, 2015 11:35 am

Was this a key provided specifically for Windows 10? I tried using the WMC/Windows 8 key - and that doesn't work.

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Shark007

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#159

Post by Shark007 » Wed Apr 08, 2015 2:25 pm

There are caveats to this installation.
#1 It is not going to receive any OS update notices or downloads.
Regular updates, such as drivers etc. still function normally.
#2 The fact that as with the earliest Tech Preview release,
it will change Windows Properties and the desktop watermark to reporting a Windows 8 system.
#3 you cannot activate this installation.

With that out of the way, proceed as you wish . . .

Code: Select all

1st, have a Pro ISO extracted to a bootable USB key, example:  x:\sources\install.wim (for me, x = G)

1. Create a working folder, C:\MOUNT

2. Open an Admin command prompt, copy/paste these commands, waiting for each to complete before next
G:\sources\dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:G:\sources\install.wim /index:1 /MountDir:C:\MOUNT
G:\sources\dism /image:C:\MOUNT /set-edition:ProfessionalWMC
G:\sources\dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:C:\MOUNT /commit

3. change G:\sources\pid.txt contents to be your legal Win8.x MC key

4. Create and Save a text file named  EI.CFG as follows, then add it G:\sources\


 [EditionID]
 ProfessionalWMC

 [Channel]
 Retail

 [VL]
 0

Your USB key is now ready for installation. Have fun!
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JediDwight

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#160

Post by JediDwight » Fri Apr 10, 2015 1:51 am

Microsoft has announced the addition of free OTA HDTV to the Xbox One - for the U.S. and Canada (they did this for the UK last year) when you add a Hauppauge USB TV tuner. Available now for preview members and 'coming soon' to everyone else. It doesn't port over the Windows Media Center DVR but it does have a considerably updated interface, guide, and 30 minute pause buffer.

Check out the news article at Engadget and the YouTube video within:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/08/the- ... nd-canada/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOlkCTwduHg

Now Xbox One and Windows are both on x86-64 and both on the same core OS... Both are getting "Windows 10"... Hopefully they'll feel like the little bit of effort to push this onto Windows 10 PCs.....?

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