I have a HP Pavilion M7300e. Got it new from HP in 2006. It came with the recovery console, and I made the recovery disk set (3 Disk). But it's bloated big time. From searching on the new, I have seen articals on createing a working xp install disk, but none for Media Center. Under System, my system says Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2. This is after a clean install. I'm wandering if I can make a plain install disk with media center in it, and SP3 (without all the bunbled crap)? (Note) Under system it says,Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2. I'd apreciate any help. Thanks P.S I want to keep it legit. But my (Product Key) Sticker on the case says, Windows XP Media Center 2005.
You can use something like nLite to integrate SP3 into your installation disc. Not sure what "bundled crap" you are referring to though. http://www.nliteos.com/ After integrating SP3 you can then use this nLite addon which includes most, if not all of the post SP3 updates: http://xable.net/xp-sp3-update-pack-download.html Beware, since your CD Key is for the original (before service packs) XPMC, it might not work with SP3 integrated install disk.
The crap that I was refering to is the add-on programs thrown in on oem machines, quicken, games, trial software, a ton of this junk. (I don't have a setup cd) This is OEM, only came with pre-installed O.S, with a recoery partition, and the (recorery disk that it let me make) Under System, it says Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2. (On the tower) The Product Key says ( Windows Media Center 2005) This is really Microsoft Windows Professional (with media center add-on) This is how they make them. I just don;t know if makeing a setup cd will work, being it says 2002, and my cd key says 2005. This is how it came from HP. Thanks for your reply.