Problems with MCE

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The music software I use does not work with MCE. It is not supported by
manufacturer. Pro is recommended. Certain audio drivers do not work with MCE.

Unfortunately I found out too late. As I understand it, I must buy a
full-fledged version of Pro and do a clean install, because you can't upgrade
MCE to Pro.

Does that mean I will need to format my hard drive (wipe off MCE) and start
from scratch?
 
The music software I use does not work with MCE. It is not supported by
manufacturer. Pro is recommended. Certain audio drivers do not work with MCE.

Unfortunately I found out too late. As I understand it, I must buy a
full-fledged version of Pro and do a clean install, because you can't upgrade
MCE to Pro.

Does that mean I will need to format my hard drive (wipe off MCE) and start
from scratch?
Click to expand...

Pro as in XP Pro? If yes, MCE *is* XP Pro with extra bits added for the
media features.
 
I personally prefer XP Pro over MCE anyway, but others on this newsgroup
vehemently disagree with me.

What I do think they agree with me on is that a clean install of an
operating system is always best.

If you purchased a brand new machine with MCE and now need XP Pro
instead, I don't see what would be wrong with buying an OEM copy of XP
for $140 instead of a boxed version for much more.

Prices could be changing now that Vista is out.

www.FreeComputerConsultant.com
 
Gordon said:
The music software I use does not work with MCE. It is not supported
by manufacturer. Pro is recommended. Certain audio drivers do not
work with MCE.
Click to expand...


Are you sure? They've told you that specificallly?

XP MCE is exactly the same as XP Professional, but with its extra media
related features added, and with one feature--the ability to join a
domain--missing. What you say sounds highly unlikely. If I were in your
shoes, I would at least try it.

Unfortunately I found out too late. As I understand it, I must buy a
full-fledged version of Pro and do a clean install, because you can't
upgrade MCE to Pro.
Click to expand...


That's correct.

Does that mean I will need to format my hard drive (wipe off MCE) and
start from scratch?
Click to expand...


Yes.
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
I personally prefer XP Pro over MCE anyway, but others on this
newsgroup vehemently disagree with me.
Click to expand...


Yes, vehemently. That's because there's nothing to prefer. They are
essentially identical, except that MCE has some extra features, and is
missing one--the ability to join a domain. They are both the same in
reliability, stability, etc., and that's because they are the same.

What I do think they agree with me on is that a clean install of an
operating system is always best.
Click to expand...


Nope. I don't agree with you on that either, and I think you'll find that
most of the MVPs here will not agree either.

Unlike with previous versions of Windows, an upgrade to XP replaces almost
everything, and usually works very well.

My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much easier
than a clean installation. You can always change your mind and reinstall
cleanly if problems develop.

However, in his case, an upgrade isn't an option. There is no possible
upgrade from MCE to Professional.


If you purchased a brand new machine with MCE and now need XP Pro
instead, I don't see what would be wrong with buying an OEM copy of XP
for $140 instead of a boxed version for much more.
Click to expand...



I'm going to disagree with you a third time.

If you shop around on the internet, you can find a retail upgrade package
that costs only a few dollars more than that OEM copy. In my view, it's well
worth spending the few extra dollars for a retail package, since it comes
without the disadvantages of an OEM version--the most severe of which is
that its license permanently ties it to the first computer it's installed
on.

I think OEM versions represent poor value, and I always recommend against
them.
 
So, you don't think years of installing and uninstalling misbehaved
software, not to mention effects of malware, leaves behind garbage - in
the registry, on the drive, etc., that is best done without by way of a
clean install?

Certainly you know what happens to the size of the registry over the
course of a couple of years; and that a larger registry loads more
slowly? And that an upgrade doesn't fix that, but a clean install does?

Come on, Ken.

I'd love to hear the other MVP's chime in. But google it and you'll find
I'm far from alone on this one.

And BTW, as long as it's a free country (maybe not much longer) I can
prefer what I want, even though it's "essentially" the same as something
else, in your opinion. To some people Coke and Pepsi are "essentially"
the same.
 
I will agree that perhaps, in this case - since the machine is new and
hopefully not infected in any way yet - that there would be little to
lose in trying an upgrade. It would save time.

However, since the machine is new, there would likely be fewer apps and
tweaks to reinstall as well, diminishing the time penalty of a clean
install.

Understanding that all of that is mute since an upgrade, in this case,
is not an option.
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
So, you don't think years of installing and uninstalling misbehaved
software, not to mention effects of malware, leaves behind garbage -
in the registry, on the drive, etc., that is best done without by way
of a clean install?
Click to expand...


No, only rarely is any of that an issue. Again, because Windows XP replaces
almost everything.

However, since you mention malware, I'll add one other point--that the time
when an upgrade is least likely to work successfully is when you have a
problem-ridden system. Those people who contemplate doing an upgrade as a
means of solving problems (and there are unfortunately many) are likely to
find that the upgrade exacerbates the problems rather than solving them.

Certainly you know what happens to the size of the registry over the
course of a couple of years; and that a larger registry loads more
slowly? And that an upgrade doesn't fix that, but a clean install
does?
Come on, Ken.

I'd love to hear the other MVP's chime in. But google it and you'll
find I'm far from alone on this one.
Click to expand...


I never suggested that you were alone. It's actually a common viewpoint.
It's one that I used to have myself, back in the days of Windows 9x, when it
was largely correct. But things have changed with Windows XP, and those many
people who still believe it just don't realize how significantly they have
changed.

And by the way, how many people believe something is completely irrelevant
to whether it's true or not. As a single Windows-related example, I'll point
out that that the great majority of Windows XP users mistakenly believe that
it's not possible to do a clean installation with an Upgrade version of
Windows XP.


And BTW, as long as it's a free country (maybe not much longer) I can
prefer what I want, even though it's "essentially" the same as
something else, in your opinion.
Click to expand...


You are absolutely correct. You may prefer whatever you want, and you may
even recommend to others what you prefer and believe, on any subject. I have
no quarrel with that; you are certainly free to express your opinions. Each
of us (you, I, and anyone else here with an opinion) may present different
opinions and recommendations. Others may assess each of our opinions and
choose who to believe.

However, just as you are free to advise and recommend, others are too. So
don't be surprised, when you recommend something that I (or anyone else)
disagree with, that a contrary opinion is expressed.

And for the record, this is not a free country, or any country at all. This
is an *international* newsgroup, where people who live in *many* different
countries participate.
 
Good points, all. I often forget about the international aspects especially.

Thank you for your polite and well thought out response.

Roger.
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
Good points, all. I often forget about the international aspects
especially.
Thank you for your polite and well thought out response.
Click to expand...


You're welcome, and thank you for understanding and your equally polite
response. I don't have any problem with anybody disagreeing with my
viewpoint on anything as long as we can all be polite and civil to each
other.
 
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