Anyone know how to "hack" Windows Media Center Edition to function on domains? I know that by doing this, it disables any support for Extenders, however that is not an isssue. I remember seeing this a while back, and all it was, was a few registry changes. Any helps? links would be preferrable.


Thanks

8/15/2006 5:44:46 PM

i will try to find it later...i know exactly what you're talking about...i ended up going back to WORKGROUP because i wanted to watch my DVR through my XB360 (using an extender)...but yeah its basically changing some registry keys, saving the registry as a different name (or backing up the old registry), copying the windows setup file(s) to your hdd, creating a start menu option (not start menu in windows, but operating system start menu) for the windows setup, then going into the setup, changing from workgroup to domain, restarting, restoring registry...but like i said i'll try to find a link later

it sucks theres not a registry key you can change from 0 to 1 or something to "un-gray out" the option of switching between domain and workgroup...you basically have to trick the system into thinking its your initial setup

8/15/2006 6:05:45 PM

^exactly what im looking for, having been able to locate it myself -- thanks for the help, plz post if you find it

8/15/2006 8:16:33 PM

Not sure if this is what you are looking for and can't say it won't totally fuck up your install but with that being said....

So this is a simple way to enable extra features in windows xp home. This will enable simple networking features and some admin features missing in xp home. This has to be done to a copy of either oem or upgrade version of xp home.

Editing the setupreg.hiv

"setupreg.hiv" This was the most tricky part. To do this you need to open up regedit and go to:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"

Highlight it and click on file and load hive.
Load "i386\Setupreg.hiv". r
egedit will ask for a name - name it "Homekey".
Drill down throught this key untill you find

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Homekey\ControlSet001\Services\setupdd"

all you have to do is edit the binary key "default" and change all "01" and "02" to "00".

Once you have done this you can save it and go back and highlight "Homekey" entry and go to file and "unload hive" it should ask to where and save it to "i386\Setupreg.hiv". It will ask you to overwrite the existing. Go ahead and do so.

8/15/2006 8:29:33 PM

^I think that is specific to home edition, need help with MCE -- thanks though, and plz correct me if im wrong

8/15/2006 8:49:43 PM

this is about what i did http://extended64.com/blogs/rafael/articles/404.aspx

as long as you backup the registry like it says there shouldnt be any risk of permanent fuckup

8/15/2006 10:11:54 PM

isnt this the same thing as "hacking" ms home to wkr on a domain. as far as i understand mce is ms home with an extra application. someone correct me if im wrong.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-52,GGLG:en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=home+edition+join+domain&spell=1

8/15/2006 11:21:39 PM

sort of

and i dont think either of them are technically illegal...if you buy a new computer or just install a fresh copy of MCE or XP Home on a blank HDD, you have the option to join a domain...the problem is, unlike XP Pro and 2000 among others, you cant change that selection once you initially select domain or workgroup

8/16/2006 9:47:09 AM