Media Center SP2 disk completely worthless

[UMfanatic]

I recently purchased Media Center 2005, when it asks for the SP2 disk during install the disk is missing all the files it wants to install from this disk, you actually have to insert the first disk again, is there anywhere to get a proper working SP2 disk

 

[ND40oz]

The SP2 disk is the first disk. The full name of the disk is Windows Media Center Edition 2005, which integrates XP service pack 2. Hence, the first disk is XP with SP2.

Edit: Install process is Disk 1, prompts you for Disk 2, Prompts you for Disk 1 (SP2)

 

[UMfanatic]

well then somebody labeled something wrong, I got 5 disks with this, and one of them was in the soft white cd sleeve and it had a label saying SP2 something or another implying it was on that disk in the sleeve

 

[jfunk]

What, exactly, does this mislabeled disc say on it?

 

[UMfanatic]

it has one of those stupid red labels that I think says SP2 included, but the disk in the sleeve is build disk, is a bunch of pre installation software, which I have no idea why I was sent system builder disks, since in theory I am the end user.

 

[UMfanatic]

the main MS MCE holographic disks were in a DVD case with the manual and CD key, then there were two disks in the white soft sleeves, plus the holographic disks has an Update disk with it too but nothing I couldnt download from WU

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
it has one of those stupid red labels that I think says SP2 included, but the disk in the sleeve is build disk, is a bunch of pre installation software, which I have no idea why I was sent system builder disks, since in theory I am the end user.

There are no "Retail" versions of XP MCE 2005. Only OEM disks, intended for System Builders.

Where did you purchase the XP MCE from?

 

[UMfanatic]

from a shop on ebay

 

[Steve Guilliot]

I installed MCE2005 just 2 days ago and ran into this exact issue. I inserted disk1 when prompted for the SP2 disk (since disk2 was already inserted), and it fortunately worked. SP2 is installed correctly, so this is the right way to do it.

I thought it was a little sloppy for the diagalogue to imply there is a third disk, but as others have pointed out, MS intended this to be pre-installed by OEM's. This small quality control snafu is not a big deal.

 

[Bluestealth]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
it has one of those stupid red labels that I think says SP2 included, but the disk in the sleeve is build disk, is a bunch of pre installation software, which I have no idea why I was sent system builder disks, since in theory I am the end user.

There are no "Retail" versions of XP MCE 2005. Only OEM disks, intended for System Builders.

Where did you purchase the XP MCE from?

Ebay aside it isnt like its hard or illegal to aquire... many retail shops sell it in its OEM form.

 

[jfunk]

The point is it isn't intended for average home users to install from. You are expected to know what you're doing.

 

[UMfanatic]

I do when things are labeled right, but its kind of hard to make sure the right disk is in when the disk are labeled otherwise

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Bluestealth

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
Where did you purchase the XP MCE from?

Ebay aside it isnt like its hard or illegal to aquire... many retail shops sell it in its OEM form.

I was just curious if somebody had sold the OP an NFR copy.

 

[jfunk]

Originally posted by: UMfanatic
I do when things are labeled right, but its kind of hard to make sure the right disk is in when the disk are labeled otherwise

I didn't mean to imply that you don't know what you were doing, I was just referring to the fact that OEM copies are available from many outlets does not imply that they are intended for Joe Blow usage by the manufacturer.

As far as the disc label goes, I suppose you could say it is misleading, but that's not the point of calling it that. I haven't seen this particular set of discs, but I'm sure the "SP2" disc you are talking about states on the label that it is a tools disc of some kind, not the operating system.

The first disc could perhaps be referred to as "MCE 2005 SP2" if you want to be verbose about it, but it's just "SP2" for short. Actually referring to it as disc1 would be a hassle, because it may not be disc1 in certain sets, such as those that sometimes come with machine manufacturers builds where disc 1 might be their own partition/setup type disc that then prompts you for the OS install disc of your choice.

 

[UMfanatic]

well in my case it is disk one, not even the manual says it has the SP2 information they want on it, I just figured it out as I knew the first disk would have the information it wanted off it even if it was older information. and the prebuild disks are of no use really unless you do a windows based install. although I had to laugh it comes with an update disk which has updates that are out of date compared to the ones WU downloads.