As we reported on Monday, in addition to removing limits on the use of their Watch Instantly Streaming video service, Netflix has also "upgraded" their system to require Windows Media Player 11 on subscribers' computers. This unfortunately leaves people with Windows XP Media Center Edition computers with a version from 2004 or earlier out in the cold as WMP 11 can't normally be installed ... [ read the full article ]
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This is strange, because I have an HP Z555 MCE PC with all current updates. I had to upgrade to MP11 because I could no longer play my Yahoo Music WMA files unless I upgraded to MP11. I went to the Windows web site and it said (wish I saved the link, sorry) that I had to install a special version of WMP11 for MCE 2005. I installed it and it works fine, no problems. You will have to allow MS to test your machine to see if it's a legal copy (no problem here, HP installed MCE in the PC) of Windows (and it will instal WGA - ugh - but I block it with my firewall). But bottom line is I have MCE 2005 with Windows Media Player 11 on it and everything works fine. You will have to go to the death star and ask lord Vader Gates for the software, and I know that bothers some people, but if you are willing to form a temporary alliace with the Federation, you too can have your MCE PC join in on the fun.
Anyway, I hope this helps! JPC
Wanpa-Kun is exactly right. If you have any version prior to 2004 it gets updated automatically (and for free) to MCE 2004 with the installation of Service Pack 2. However, if you have MCE 2004 and wish to upgrade to MCE 2005 (required for official WMP 11 support) you have to buy the OS all over again and probably install from scratch as well since there likely isn't any way to install it as an upgrade (with both being Windows XP).
Well thats good that included MCE in Vita because all the computers are all pre-installed with vista now I mean store bought machine with os loaded.
I actually use the xp and I am trying a vista I just got and I installed in easy on one of my second HDD partitions.
Works great.
I hope When they finally release the SP1 for it it does some good.
The thing I hate are those damn mac commercials that poke fun at vista although they are funny it don't make since since 80% of the people have a windows machine, 18% with mac and 2% with other linux style OS's.
If I am wrong please tell me the correct figures before you start screaming at me.
Just one thing I didnt get are you saying you can't get wmp 11 on xp because I believe you can because I have wmp 11 right now on my win xp home.
Originally posted by wolf123: Just one thing I didnt get are you saying you can't get wmp 11 on xp because I believe you can because I have wmp 11 right now on my win xp home.
No. MCE 2002 - 2004 are the only versions of Windows XP that WMP 11 normally won't install on. As soon as the installer sees that your computer has one of these versions of Windows on it you'll get a message telling you that it's not a supported OS. The problem isn't Windows, but rather the Media Center program. It relies heavily on WMP for most of its functionality.
The bottom line is that Microsoft came to the conclusion that MCE was populare enough to justify charging for further updates. Unfortunately since both MCE 2004 and MCE 2005 are Windows XP under the hood, all you're really paying for is an upgrade to the front end for a free media player.
This is great Vurbal on your part i am sure u have saved many users the heart ache from now on. I still feel the Microsoft or Netflix should give users an update or something like a fix of some sort so they do not have to deal with this issue.
