Add Media Center to Win 8 RP

**Medico** · 2012-06-02 17:52

Win 8 RP does not have Media Center installed by default. This app must be added after the installation completes.

Here's how:

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.)
Enter add features in the search box, and then tap or click Add features to Windows 8.
Tap or click I already have a product key.
Enter this product key: MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7 and then click Next.
Select the checkbox to accept the license terms and then click Add features.
Your PC will restart and the Windows Media Center tile will be pinned to the Start screen.

**bobprimak** · 2012-06-02 23:01

In the RTM, that Step 4 will cost you money.

**CLiNT** · 2012-06-02 23:09

[?]...And that will add DVD playback capabilty codecs as well?

**bobprimak** · 2012-06-02 23:49

Originally Posted by CLiNT

[?]...And that will add DVD playback capabilty codecs as well?

No.

VLC Player will add DVD playback. Windows Media Center is not Windows Media Player, but neither will support the DVD codecs. At least not as of this posting. DVD burning is also not to be included without paying for the Media Center Upgrade. I would consider using CDBurnerXP (minimal installer without OpenCandy) for a free DVD burning alternative.

**CLiNT** · 2012-06-03 00:38

All of my DVD burning/ripping/mods are currently third party anyway, so I don't see the use of Media Center as far as my uses go.
VLC player is a highly acceptable alternative to the Windows Media Player at any rate.

So I guess there's no real issue here then.

Thanks for the clarification.

**Medico** · 2012-06-03 07:16

Yes everyone, once Win 8 is for sale, getting the key for Media Center will not be free. This does illustrate the means by which this app can be added once you purchase a key.

In my case, having Media Center is probably not going to happen. I just do not use it. I do not have a TV tuner, nor do I have an X-Box or Z-Box or whatever it is called. I do not watch DVD's on my PC, but if that ever becomes an option (I do have a Blu Ray player on my Laptop) I have available all the freeware available, including VLC Player (I already have the installation files downloaded. Just have not installed it yet)

**bobprimak** · 2012-06-04 16:18

I'd rather stream content directly, either through a Hulu Plus or Netflix subscription, or through a dedicated set-top box. Network distribution (perfectly legal within the same household) can also be added to the mix without adding to ISP bandwidth usage.

By the way, there is talk that some of the content streaming and downloading services we've been using or hearing about will soon broker deals with carriers for data plans, in which users will get some bandwidth which doesn't count toward caps, if we purchase subscriptions to certain content services. Check this out. (I'd skip the "tinfoil hat" paragraph at the end of the article.)

**Prescott** · 2012-06-07 09:54

I installed Windows Media Player on Windows 8 RP, and then went to look at the TV shows. There aren't any. Where Windows Media Player for Windows 7 has dozens of TV shows, on Windows 8 it just says "No shows havwe been recorded". It's pretty useless.

**Medico** · 2012-06-07 15:50

The capability of using Media Player in Win 8 RP has been changed. It can play back CD's, but not DVD's. To play DVD's on Win 8 RP will require the Media Center. Woody's most recent Windows Secrets Newsletter had a very good explanation of why this was done. Click on the Woody's Windows link.

**bobprimak** · 2012-06-21 12:34

I suspect that Netflix, Hulu Plus and several other streaming video services will develop Metro Apps (which will not be free) with their own players. That's what has happened on Android and Apple devices.

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