Licensing question: Media Centre on a domain

[MkII]

We've had 2 flash Sony laptops for SMT, and are wondering if we modified the registry as per published hacks to let Media Centre (that comes pre-installed) work to some extent on a domain.

 

Would this break any agreement with MS?

[flyinghaggis]

AFAIK Media centre is like Windows XP Home in that you can't log onto a Domain. You'd probably be able to access file shares /etc but I dont think you'd be able to apply group policies properly.

I'd expect that any hacks that work around this would probably be illegal unless it's just a minor registry change! Having said that I've never heard of or looked for anything to do this so I'm not sure what's involved it it but it sounds a bit dodgy :?

[ThatBoringBloke]

MCE can be added to a domain, but only during the installation stage. Once it is fully installed you no longer have the option to add it to a domain.

 

Can't see why it would break any agreements when MS put that functionality in there in the first place.

[Ric_]

MCE is XP Pro with extra bits. I use it on my PC at home without problems.

 

There's no limitations to joining/unjoining a domain at any time... the MCE bit just runs as a couple of services and an app.

[MkII]

On these laptops the option to join a domain are greyed out

[DMcCoy]

MCE is XP Pro with extra bits. I use it on my PC at home without problems.

 

There's no limitations to joining/unjoining a domain at any time... the MCE bit just runs as a couple of services and an app.

 

This depends on the version of MCE, there are at least 3 afaik.

 

The latest one has domain functionality removed, some earlier versions did not.

[robert.mabbutt]

I've been playing around with Media Center for the past couple of weeks.

 

Basically it is Pro with some extra bits added however during the installation of the second disc it takes so bits out.

 

From what i've seen during installation with OEM discs you have the option like in Pro to have custom netowrk settings and perhaps like simongrahamuk suggests you can add it to the domain through this option. Perhaps worth a try?

 

If your have Microsoft Schools Agreement you can download via select Vista Ultimate, as long as it works on these computers then you will Media Center and add to domain options

 

Robert

[Ric_]

I maybe incorrectly assumed that you were talking about MCE2005 rather than Vista.

[DMcCoy]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/faq.mspx

 

Domain functionality is mentioned on this page

[flyinghaggis]

MCE is XP Pro with extra bits. I use it on my PC at home without problems.

 

There's no limitations to joining/unjoining a domain at any time... the MCE bit just runs as a couple of services and an app.

 

Really! i thought XP MCE was the home version with a load of bolt-ons but lacked some of the XP Pro functionality? Willing to admit that I could be wrong as I've never tried connnecting it to a domain myself but all of the docs I've read seem to suggest it's no better than XP Home in that regard.

[ZeroHour]

Right, as far as I know you can have either. By def when MS sent you the 2 cd's the first CD was a home CD not a pro one.

The thing is though as the pirates discovered, you can use a normal pro cd (which gives the features) and the second cd and MCE would not check which CD you were using (home/pro) before installing. The CD key effectively enables the install or whatever the first cd is and then asks you for the MCE feature cd through the install.

[woody]

We have some Acer Pcs that came with MCE pre-installed on them. The option to join a domain was greyed out. I tried THIS and I can confirm it works! (Use at your own risk etc etc lol)

 

No, if you follow the instructions line by line (lines 13, 26 and 33 are really important) it WILL work.

 

As to the legality of it, I'm not sure but it is XP Pro with a few things disabled so I don't see why not.

 

Hope this helps!

[woody]

If the link above doesn't work, I've scanned the printout I have of these instructions and attached it here.

[ZeroHour]

As to the legality of it, I'm not sure but it is XP Pro with a few things disabled so I don't see why not.

I would think it would be illegal as you are specifically enabling features that you only get access to with a certain license. As you do not have the license you would be illegal to access the features. Its like cracking vista basic to ultimate "just cause its there" and I know you are not permitted to do that. The fact is that MS do not (so far as I have found) provide you with a pro cd and say you cant use it with the domain in the features list. That could mean if you use a pro cd you have a illegal copy and FAST will EAT YOU lol

[Ric_]

My copy is legit... I will be back at home at the weekend and I will double check but it definately seems like XP Pro to me.

 

As was mentioned earlier, there are different versions - starting with MCE2004, then MCE2005 (basically MCE2004 with SP2) and then the Vista versions.

[ZeroHour]

Found this, it seems like its a legal hack after all. MS disabled domains because fast user switching does not work when you are on a domain. If you enable a domain though the only penality is that you can use a media extender device (such as a xbox 360) as its based on Fast user switching.

 

Also this (all though is the wiki so accuracy can be debated) explains at the bottom about the versions and a little info on what was changed in each edition.

 

Hope this helps

[MkII]

Thanks Zerohour - that seems a pretty solid argument for adding the PC to the domain.

 

What exactly are the Media Extenders they're talking about there?

[MkII]

I see... Media Extenders: Wikipedia

[john]

Just to say that MCE is based on XP Pro rather than home. CD1 is XP Pro, or is on all the versions I have used, if you actually read the info stuff during setup (yes I was actually bored one day so kept watching!) it says Windows XP Professional frequently so its XP, its a bit like Server 2003 R2, the second CD has the extras on it and the CD key tells it once CD1 is done you must do CD2.

 

Domain joining in MCE is easiest done during setup as you can access it during setup.