[alalee33]

Hi,
I am sorry to trouble anyone/everyone. I have never posted or made a query on a forum before, but I'm at wits-end and I could really use a kind, savvy computer-type to help me out.
I have recently bought a Dell 530S Inspiron (I am a Mac user...but, to make a long story short: I chose to purchase a pc for the media centre value (I know there's Mac TV, but who are we kidding) and economic reasons - maybe not my finest hour, seeing as I have no idea how to work them, p.c.s that is). So, buying the Dell, I accepted the 'Vista Service Pack 1' that comes already installed and thought to myself, "fine, I will be able to install XP Media Centre no problem".
Now, I have a copy of Windows XP Media Centre, but anytime I try and run the CD i get the following prompts:
"What do you want to do?"
- I then select "Install XP Media Centre Edition" (there is an option on this CD to install the home edition, as well)
then it goes to another prompt and says:
"What do you want to do?"
- I then click the next option, which is again: "install XP Media Centre"
the next prompt says something to the effect of
"this softoware is not recognized you can either A: ignore or B: accept"
- I select "accept"
the next prompt (which calls itself the Program Compatibility Advisor") advises me that b/c I have a newer version of Windows on my computer, I am not allowed to proceed (but then it has a little disclaimed at the bottom saying something to the effect of: if I do proceed, then any chances of recovering Vista are nil...which I'm fine with). HOWEVER, it does not provide me with a prompt to continue with the download/installation and then I'm back to square one.
I cannot seem to 'shut-off' this stupid Program Compatibility Advisor thing and I cannot instal my Windows XP Media Centre edition.
What do I do?!?!?
any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
thanks!

[Bubba]

Have you tried the BETTER, installed, version of Media Center that comes integrated with Vista? Well it comes with Vista home premium and Vista Ultimate. You never stated which version of Vista you have, it may not come with Vista Basic.

[thingie2]

How are you trying to install? are you putting the CD in whilst Vista is booted up, like you would any other disk?

[philthomas]

Yep .... as thingie2 mentioned .... you need to put the Installation disk in, then reboot the PC.

This will start the Installation wizard, without loading Vista. You should get a prompt "Press any key to boot from CD" .... if you dont, you will need to go into bios and change the boot drive sequence, to make your CD Drive the 1st boot device.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by philthomas

Yep .... as thingie2 mentioned .... you need to put the Installation disk in, then reboot the PC.

This will start the Installation wizard, without loading Vista. You should get a prompt "Press any key to boot from CD" .... if you dont, you will need to go into bios and change the boot drive sequence, to make your CD Drive the 1st boot device.

But will it install an inferior version? Most programs I know of won't install an earlier version of themselves. If the dude (or dudette) has any version of Vista other than Vista Basic, it already HAS an updated, superior version of what he is trying to install.

Wonder what would happen if I tried to install my Window 3.1 diskettes on this computer.............

[thingie2]

it would work whatever you tried to install it on, as the installation disk doesn't pay any attention to any other OS, you just tell it to format, it formats, and then installs, and the installation is none the wiser that you are now running and older version.

[philthomas]

Yep ... exactly as thingie said ... when you boot with the CD, it is not reliant on the Operating System and once formatted, any trace of Vista will be erased.

[Bubba]

Doh!!!!!!!! I feel like Homer Simpson lol. I knew that about the OS, just wasn't thinking.

But what about a part of it (the OS) like the Media Center? I can't install Media Player 9 over Media Player 10 on my XP machine. (LOL I forgot what version I had once and tried). Same with DirectX. I have DX10 on my vista machine and several games I have bought since then have "downloaded the latest version of DX9" and it doesn't get rid of the DX 10.

Or does Media Center installation disc come with different programming that wipes any other versions off, as opposed to downloading it from the MS site?