Basically, I downloaded the 2 disc untouched version of MCE on here. I burned the discs as they were to see if they would work but they don't recognize my NEC/Packard Bell product-key on the side of my PC, which is a legitimate product-key that came with the unit. It works with a Dell XP Professional SP3 Re-installation disc that I have but I have no idea how I would get the Media Center elements on it. I've tried re-installing it for the past 2 days. I have tried following a video to create a MULTI-OEM disc, but that didn't work either. Sometimes, I wish M$ would just adopt the Apple way of 1 CD that just WORKS for everything. Any ideas or help would be appreciated as I urgently need to finish some 3D work!
Use any ISO editing software like UltraISO & edit i386\setupp.ini. From Code: [Pid] ExtraData=786F687170637175716954806365EF Pid=76487270 to Code: [Pid] ExtraData=786F687170637175716954806365EF Pid=76487OEM
I'm sorry dude. As I said earlier, I downloaded the 2 CD's posted on these forums for MCE and have them as ISO's on my PC atm. Initially, I burnt them on my Macbook as Seperate discs, as my PC's drive isn't working and that didn't work when I tried booting onto them. I then followed the instructions and think I have missed out the bit where you explained about changing the setupp.ini file. :/ I may have to leave it until the weekend to try and burn those discs again as I have no time at the moment. May I consult you again if I require assistance as this is all too complicated for my already busy mind? Apologies though and I really do appreciate your help!
Also, you suggest that I leave it as 2 discs as opposed to putting the contents of disc 2 onto disc 1? When I tried this previously, it threw up errors and didn't like the fact that the CMPNTS folder was present on that disc.
The combined version is made by putting the contents of the components folder of the cd 2 in the 1st CD root. I have done it many times ~ no errors.