How to convert Windows Media Center Edition into Windows XP Pro

[xxjman]

Hi all,

This is for all of you which use to include me having trouble with Midi/Audio software and hardware in Windows Media Center Edition.

Windows Media Center Edition is actually XP Pro with a few added features!

Most of the hardware and software out is not compatible with MC due to the media center extensions installed in the operating system. Well after much digging and experimenting I have found a solution!

Here are the instructions to convert Windows Media Center Edition into Windows XP Pro.

First locate this key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\McrdSvc

and remove the RMSvc string from the DependOnService value.

Next:

To turn off the services, goto Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services then Stop the following services (if they exist).

Media Center Extender Resource Monitor
Media Center Extender Service
Media Center Monitor Service
Media Center Receiver Service
Media Center Scheduler Service

Next:

Remove the 'Extender Resource Monitor' from the Startup group if it exists and restart Windows.

I hope this info will help my fellow music makers!

xxjman

[Justin]

I don't think this restores all the functionality of XP Pro.
There are also a few Pro functions that are not put into MCE anymore. It's probably because they didn't want people buying the cheaper product and getting the Pro features.

I know there is some networking functionality that is less full featured in MCE, but I think it's mainly Domain and remote admin features that most people won't miss.

[xxjman]

Yes you are correct networking is limited. Since I made the changes all of my hardware and software work great now! Leave it to Microsoft to release a multimedia product that won't let you make your own multimedia!!:confused:

I just posted this in hopes it would help others running MC so they would be able to get their gear working without having to purchase another OS.

Thanks
xxjman

[erik_hz]

Has anyone else tried this and had any sucess?

[tech1]

I have had success walking thru this process with one of our customers. Keep in mind, though, that MCE is still unsupported by our manufacturers, so we cannot guarntee ANY functionality with MCE, nor support technical issues with hardware and software running on it. But if it works, and you're OK with that, go for it.

[erik_hz]

If you don't mind, what did you get to work? I am hoping to enable the ability to add an audio interface, and allow the use of a trigger finger within Ableton Live 5? I have yet to purchase the audio interface, so I'd like to know if there is anything that has at least been sucessfully implemented. Thanks for you help on this.

[xxjman]

Erik,

I got Music Creator 3 and a USB Edirol Um1ex to work with a Yamaha DGX 500 and a MicroKorg. Nothing would work properly until I did the mod. Everything is working fine now.

[tech1]

It was an 828mkIIUSB that I got to work. After posting last time, I had an incident where a ProjectMixIO did NOT work. Please, PLEASE keep in mind that this is NOT a guaranteed fix, nor will it ever be. Additionally, Sweetwater CANNOT provide support on Media Center, as none of manufacturers provide it. You are MUCH better off buying an upgrade to XP Home or Professional.

But if it does work, and you're OK with no support, go for it.

[erik_hz]

It was an 828mkIIUSB that I got to work. After posting last time, I had an incident where a ProjectMixIO did NOT work. Please, PLEASE keep in mind that this is NOT a guaranteed fix, nor will it ever be. Additionally, Sweetwater CANNOT provide support on Media Center, as none of manufacturers provide it. You are MUCH better off buying an upgrade to XP Home or Professional.

But if it does work, and you're OK with no support, go for it.
Hey thanks for responding guys... I actually got a Trigger Finger Installed and working great, without having to edit the registry or do anything too drastic at all. All I did was follow the rest of the instructions without editing my registry. In other words I ended up not having to edit my registry because I did not find the same string in my version of XP MCE that was listed. I decided to see what happened if I just left that alone after I did a little research elsewhere, and I found that the string in my registry reffered to 2 known, and essential services that run normally in XP. Those values are RPCSS SSDPSRV. I can't remember exactly what they do, but they are supposedly essential to a stable operating system under all versions of XP!

So I guessed that if they were essential, the rest of the steps could work without editing my registry, and they did, so thank you! I now have full functionality of My Trigger Finger, and everything in Ableton Live, and Reason 3 work great! I have still to try to get a new sound card in there, but I don't think I'll have any trouble. I am really happy this worked out, and thanks for the help. Maybe my story will help someone else?

B.T.W. My Laptop is:
Toshiba Satellite A105-S4094
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2250
1536MB DDR2
120GB 5400rpm (S-ATA)
DVD SuperMulti (+/- R double layer),
15.4” TruBrite™ widescreen WXGA
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950

[mkoplin]

I have just discovered that my Band-in-a-Box will not detect my midi keyboard controller as the midi-input device, since I have Windows Media Center. Wow, what a disappointment! :confused:

I thought a solution might be to install a sound card, and then connect the keyboard through a midi cable rather than USB. But after reading this forum it looks like that won't work. Am I reading that right? Could someone summarize the choices I have since it seems confusing? Pros and cons? Thanks!

My system:
Microsoft Windows XP
Media Center Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

HP Pavilion
AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor
3700+
990 MHz, 960 MB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

[richardh]

i also have windows media center edition and am concerned about incompatibilty. like erik_hz i dont see that string value in registry, im getting same string as erik. does it work to just uncheck media center services? has anybody else tried this? id rather avoid buying a new operating system so if this works it will be great.
thanks.
btw i use cakewalk home studio, soon to upgrade to home studio 4 xl if there no compatability issues and m audio audiophile 192 soundcard.

[ctbarker32]

Hi,

I am just discovering the issue with audio tools and MCE.

I am a bit disturbed because Windows Vista, which will ship in general availability at the end of January 2007, will ship by default with MCE.

There are several versions of Vista, Home Basic, Home Premium, Pro, etc. No one will be shipping Home Basic in quantity because it so feature poor (e.g. no Aero display, etc.). It is acknowledged that the default volume version of Vista will be the Home Premium version. This version includes MCE.

Are manufacturers such as M-Audio going to step up to the plate and support Vista Premium? It seems to me this information has been well known for a while and would be the correct thing to do?

-CB

[smileywiley]

Reguarding Vista, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I have a small guess that we may see more high end support for Vista Ultimate edition, the most expensive one, because it has better support for high end hardware (multiple processors, etc.).

I would imagine that, even if we got stuck with the MCE version of Vista, audio manufacturers would have to step up to the plate and design drivers and software that would work with it. It all depends on demand.

[Justin]

I think most audio users will be using Home Premium or Ultimate.
The Business editions don't make as much sense for audio at least in my head...as they cost more, and the only big feature difference is Bitlocker, Shadow Volume, and Remote Desktop. (and you lose games and media center playback)

Ultimate seems more geared for home theater, gaming, and overclocking power users to me than for audio production, but I'm sure some people will want it just to be sure they have every feature.

I think since all versions of Vista have the same core architecture and the Media Center component will be a documented part of the OS from the laungh, I think as long as the DAW software and Plugin manufacturers plan ahead, they shouldn't have compatiblity problems. They should be writing drivers from scratch, so I doubt they'll have the same MCE problems since they can plan ahead and start from scratch. I suspect the MCE problems we're having now are partially due to MCE sneaking onto the scene long after XP Home and Pro were already out, and drivers were already written.

There's a good article on the differences between the editions of Vista here:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2068718,00.asp

[rbell]

Hi

Has anyone any bright ideas? I have been recording and playing back with an Edriol UA 25 on window XP for some time with no probs. Just purchaed a new computer with XP MC and whenever i connect the audio outputs to an external monitor i get an awfull feedback distortion. I have tried removing some of the XP MC services & looked at the registries(although couldn't find the ones refered to in previous replys). What can i do(without purchasing XP professional at vast expense).

[smileywiley]

Hi

Has anyone any bright ideas? I have been recording and playing back with an Edriol UA 25 on window XP for some time with no probs. Just purchaed a new computer with XP MC and whenever i connect the audio outputs to an external monitor i get an awfull feedback distortion. I have tried removing some of the XP MC services & looked at the registries(although couldn't find the ones refered to in previous replys). What can i do(without purchasing XP professional at vast expense).

XP pro OEM (without the box and warranty, in other words) is only $139 at newegg.com:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116175

[tech1]

You can purchase XP Home at less expense. Here are some articles that may be helpful:
http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=30163&keyword=media%20center
http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=30821&keyword=media%20center

[kidofdynomite]

Hello,

I am another of the recently disappointed musicians who has discovered that MCE isn't capatible with the recording tools. I purchased MBox2. I have gone through these suggested mods, failing to find the registry key to be modified and the item in the startup file. I only found two of the Media Center...files in my control panel/admintools/etc. I stopped them both and am still experiencing problems. I am desperately hoping someone has a suggestion. If not, does anyone know a little about XP Home OEM. Aside from the added expense, I am hesitant to purchase the new OS because I have PHotoshop and Adobe Premiere that came with my MCE...I really don't want to purchase a new OS and then have to purchase the Adobe softwares on top of all the other expenses...any ideas...thanks very much,

[smileywiley]

Hello,

I am another of the recently disappointed musicians who has discovered that MCE isn't capatible with the recording tools. I purchased MBox2. I have gone through these suggested mods, failing to find the registry key to be modified and the item in the startup file. I only found two of the Media Center...files in my control panel/admintools/etc. I stopped them both and am still experiencing problems. I am desperately hoping someone has a suggestion. If not, does anyone know a little about XP Home OEM. Aside from the added expense, I am hesitant to purchase the new OS because I have PHotoshop and Adobe Premiere that came with my MCE...I really don't want to purchase a new OS and then have to purchase the Adobe softwares on top of all the other expenses...any ideas...thanks very much,

If you bought a computer that came with Photoshop and Premiere, OR you bought and installed them yourself, you now own the licenses to one copy each of those programs. If you were to reformat and install XP home or pro, it would be perfectly legal and right for you to "transfer" those licenses to the new OS. Did they come with CD's or some media with the software on them?

To answer your other question, what do you need to know about XP home? XP home, MCE and pro are all based on the same code at the core, each just has it's own set of features. I prefer XP pro, but most people notice no difference between it and home because most of it's extra functionality has to do with networking and security, and therefore are usually not encountered with home users. MCE is still Windows XP, it just has a lot of code piled on top of it to make it look nicer and be more geared for home multimedia tasks.

Long story short, you'd be fine with Home edition. It can be had OEM for less than $100. OEM is no different than retail in terms of the software, but it comes with no warranty or packaging (as in, a nice box with a book). There's absolutely no reason to pay for retail in my opinion.

My 2 cents!
Smiley

[dtmintz]

I've had a similar problem with my Roland 200. I bought the M-Audio but I'm to scared to attach it. So I bought a breakout box for my X-Fi sound card and attached a din cord to it. It works fine (no driver needed for this controller if it attaches to the sound card. Might depend on what controller you get. I would sure like to know if anyone has actually tried the M-Audio!
Dell 2.l Gz dual 2045 RAM XP Media Center Edition 2005 Service Pack 2
dtmintz@optonline.net


I have just discovered that my Band-in-a-Box will not detect my midi keyboard controller as the midi-input device, since I have Windows Media Center. Wow, what a disappointment! :confused:

I thought a solution might be to install a sound card, and then connect the keyboard through a midi cable rather than USB. But after reading this forum it looks like that won't work. Am I reading that right? Could someone summarize the choices I have since it seems confusing? Pros and cons? Thanks!

My system:
Microsoft Windows XP
Media Center Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

HP Pavilion
AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor
3700+
990 MHz, 960 MB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

[T.speer]

I sent the following msg to xxjman but never received a reply,anyone else have any suggestions ????
Thanks
Tom
T.speer@adelphia.net
******************************
xxjman,
Thanks for the info on xp mce to xp pro.
I tried it but I looked later and found all of the things I stopped ,"started again"do I need to do this each time I want to record ????

Also I didnt know where to look for the "startup group you refered to if it wasnt the one in start/programs to remove the 'Extender Resource Monitor' .

(The dependonservice value in the registry is still gone.)

What did I do wrong ???
Thanks
Tom
T.speer@adelphia.net

[gingersteve]

I just wanted to say thanks to the xxjman for this tip, which has saved my life!

I have MCE 2005, which doesn't show up the registry key named, and only has 2 services running. To stop these services from starting up again, you right click, select properties and choose disable in the "startup type" drop-down box. Once I then restarted, everything works fine. I have my midi controller back.

Thanks again xxjman

[ericpr1]

Thank you xxjman for sharing this info. However, the registry values I have for the DependOnService string are these:

RPCSS
SSDPSRV

I don't have RMSvc as you describe in your post. Am I missing something? Can I remove one of these strings to get the same effect? Please advise

Thanks muchly,

Eric

[BrianWilder]

I have been trying for months to figure this out. I got a new laptop with media center. I loaded it up with a lot of software and then when I put Protools Ver6.9 on it. My laptop pretty much gave me the finger. It’s not as I wouldn’t pay for an upgrade to xp pro. You can’t upgrade. Only do a full install. This saved me a lot of time and frustration. Protools is running beautifully. Thank you so much. It was very hard to find this thread, but well worth it.
Thank you, Brian Wilder

[scottdemarko]

Thanks Brian for the post. Overwhelmingly this has been a helpful post, I will sticky it for future reference...

[Mike D]

I have been struggling with this process, looking for some simple directions.

Trying to disable/convert MCE to XP Pro (or whatever will enable communication with M-Audio Fast Track Pro)

I've disabled all the Media Center Applications, as instructed by xxjman.

Still cant get my laptop (Toshiba Satellite, MCE) to recognize "New Hardware - M Audio Fast Track Pro)

If anyone can guide me through this, or help troubleshoot (over the phone?), I will gladly pay them for their services and time.

Thanks much,

Mike

[donrandall]

I tried some of the suggestions posted here and in other places in my search to overcome the obstacles presented by Windows XP Media Center. It appears there may be variations on this operating system and that not everyone will be able to use the same method.

My computer is an HP desktop that I bought new in Oct 2004. Here is what worked for me - Yep, I said this is what worked for me and allowed me to successfully install and use a Focusrite Saffire:

Disable Windows XP Media Center:

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services Shortcut > scroll down to Windows Audio: select Stop The Service > Close Window.

Enable Focusrite Saffire:

Start > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Audio tab > Sound Playback: Focusrite Saffire Output 1/2 > Sound Recording: Focusrite Saffire Input 1/2 > select OK > Hardware tab > select Saffire > Properties, in Device Status box, text should say This Device Is Working Properly > Close Window.

Taskbar:

Double click Speaker Icon (Volume) make sure nothing is muted > Options > Properties > Mixer Device, select Focusrite Saffire Output 1/2.

[ramauer]

My main problem in trying to implement this modification is that when I go to current control set there is no RMsvc string at the dependonservice value.
There is a string after dependonservice of RPCSS SSDPSRV. Now what?

[Dave H.]

I just bought a E-MU 0404. Should I shut down the MC stuff first then install the 0404 software & then the card?:confused:
Dave Huffman:scared:

[puremotive]

First right-click on My Computer and click on manage. Go to "services" look for any services running that have Media Center in the description and disable them.

Second, go into your registry (start:run: regedit) and back it up (file:export) then go to the search command (ctrl f) make sure keys, values, and data are checked. Type in ehsched and delete anything having to do with ehsched , ehmsas , and ehrecvr. (to find the next key click f3)

Do the same search for “media” or "media center" if you are uncertain that the file is a "media center" file, then search for the file in google.

After you do this you will notice your computer runs faster.

By doing this you are giving up your Media Center. You may also want disable Windows "auto-update". I found that microsoft tries to restore missing components.

If you have usb drives you hook up, you may find corrupted files in your autoplay. You can correct this by going to

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/02/27/fix-or-remove-windows-autoplay-with-cleanhandlers/

Happy recording!

Brian Mangum

[puremotive]

I tried what this post said to do, and I found that you may also need to delete other items from the registry. This is what I came up with:

First right-click on My Computer and click on manage. Go to "services" look for any services running that have Media Center in the description and disable them.

Second, go into your registry (start:run: regedit) and back it up (file:export) then go to the search command (ctrl f) make sure keys, values, and data are checked. Type in ehsched and delete anything having to do with ehsched , ehmsas , and ehrecvr. (to find the next key click f3)

Do the same search for “media” or "media center" if you are uncertain that the file is a "media center" file, then search for the file in google.

After you do this you will notice your computer runs faster.

By doing this you are giving up your Media Center. You may also want disable Windows "auto-update". I found that microsoft tries to restore missing components.

If you have usb drives you hook up, you may find corrupted files in your autoplay. You can correct this by going to

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/02/27/fix-or-remove-windows-autoplay-with-cleanhandlers/

[ira_numan]

First right-click on My Computer and click on manage. Go to "services" look for any services running that have Media Center in the description and disable them.

Second, go into your registry (start:run: regedit) and back it up (file:export) then go to the search command (ctrl f) make sure keys, values, and data are checked. Type in ehsched and delete anything having to do with ehsched , ehmsas , and ehrecvr. (to find the next key click f3)

Do the same search for “media” or "media center" if you are uncertain that the file is a "media center" file, then search for the file in google.

After you do this you will notice your computer runs faster.

By doing this you are giving up your Media Center. You may also want disable Windows "auto-update". I found that microsoft tries to restore missing components.

If you have usb drives you hook up, you may find corrupted files in your autoplay. You can correct this by going to

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/02/27/fix-or-remove-windows-autoplay-with-cleanhandlers/

Happy recording!

Brian Mangum

Hi, y'all!
I, 2, am kicking mine own butt for not researching WMCE prior to purchasing. But I have an excuse: I'm dangerously novice and I hold the world's record for bluescreening XP! :eek:
I bought a refurb'd Gateway off ebay that I thought may be a hotrod, enamored by the term "Media Center," and have encountered driver incompatibility issues with an M-Audio Uno usb that I wish to use to record guitar via my Line 6 POD (2.0). Will this be a sort of reasonably safe quick fix to put me where I want to be? I could care less about watching TV on my computer (much less in the livingroom, for that matter...), and I've jacked it to my home stereo for monitoring so WMCE is nothing but a waste of my money, which I have too little of anyway.... Ebay has, now that MS has axed XP sales, XP Home averaging at $90. I thought about (learning how to boot) dual OSs, but if this is a safe method, I know, I know, if I'm okay with no support:) , then I'd just as soon kill MedCtr.
Thanks for helping the computer semi-literate to creep into the 21st century!
Blessings to all-
eric, in the land of the sunburned yankees....

Gateway GM5259E
Pent D 2.8 GHz, .99g RAM, 181g hdd, sigma tel sound
Sonar7PE (eek), Magix, Boss DR-5 and a Zoom 8trk
Strat, Telly, LP, 335, and a Martin DR

[dirtytechnodog]

hi all..

just got off the phone with m audio... cant say im suprised with the incompitence of microsoft.
just purchased the trigger finger and am trying to use with ableton7 on mc... im pretty useless with pc tec and am hoping some one could run me through in laymans terms the procedure for getting rid of mc (messing with the registry looks like things could go a but wrong) and hooking the trigger finger up to ableton.

i appreciate the effort this would take but am shure the answer to this querey would benifit many.

many thanks, dan

[jobmaster]

Hi

Thanks for your information.. it is really rocking....

[rj7500]

I see that yours is a rather old post but it may have bearing on a problem I've been having lately.

I'm a voice actor with a barebones home studio setup from Sweetwater, consisting of a At4040 mic married to a Tascam 122 a>d converter into a Dell E510 tower loaded with Windows XP Media Center edition. My recording and editing software is Audacity 1.3.14.

Lately I've been experiencing glitches in my mic recording sessions. These are randomly generated and in most cases repeatable with each playback. They also appear in the exported mp3 file.

The good folks at Audacity and I have been over and over this subject for well onto 2 months now and by downloading another recording program I virtually eliminated Audacity from the problem. This leaves only the Tascam and the operating system in the mix.

I was wondering if folks here have had problems with the US 122 as it relates to Media Center Edition and if so, does an operating system change solve the problem.
Dell tells me that an upgrade to Windows 7 isn't feasible because they have no drivers for my model. I would appreciate any and all comments and advice.