MCE 2002 or 2005?

Question

My daughter just got a Dell PC E310 P4 that was supposed to have WINXP MCE 2005, item #420-5646.  When I went to 'My Computer, Properties'  it reported on that screen that the OS is 'Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition version 2002, service pack 2'.  Did Dell install the wrong MCE on this PC??  2002 is NOT 2005!?   Thank you very much! Rob

davejohn · Answer

You got Media Center 2005.  Start Media Center, click on Settings, General, About Media Center and Software Version. What My Computer is showing is the core Win XP, which is XP Pro, Sp2. Dave

CTskydiver · Answer

This is one of those questions the mods should add to the FAQ's.

johe · Answer

That's funny.  My computer, bought last year, says Media Center 2005, SP2   BUT   In the system information on control panel it says Media Center 2002, SP2   Is there really a difference or is this just a case of 'A rose by any other name....'?

lenbwilson · Answer

I just received my new Dell E310 and noticed a similar problem. When I go to Windows XP Help, it says that I have Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004. In System settings, it indicates 2002. Make up your mind, Microsoft!!

Anyway, I was trying to figure out what version I really have since I recently ordered a TV tuner card that says it's only compatible with the 2005 version. I went into Media Center using the advice above and confirmed that I have 2005 (version 5.1.2715.2773).

Thanks for all of your help. I agree that this should be listed somewhere in the FAQ section!

Message Edited by lenbwilson on 12-29-2005 12:20 PM

CTskydiver · Answer

It makes sense when you realise XP 'Media Center Edition' isn't really an operating system, but an interface application on top of an operating system. Specifically, the OS is the latest version of Windows XP - Windows XP Professional 2002 (SP2). The Media Center application has different versions as well, the latest being the 2005 flavor with Update Rollup 2. However, the core OS hasn't been upgraded since 2002, and probably won't be again. There might be a SP3, however, before or around the release of Windows Vista next year. Service Packs, however, are just collections of all of Microsofts weekly or monthy sercurity patches or bug fixes ... though they someties do add additional features to the OS (like SP2 added the Security Center and changed the way IE handled downloads and installers).

Windows General

MCE 2002 or 2005?

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