Windows Media Center and Domains

**Mainframeguy** · December 18th, 2006

Not sure how many here may run with XP media center, but anyone that does and who runs with domains for their networking will find that they can ONLY join a domain during setup.

I missed this during my install because there was no network present during setup!

I have since found there is a hack for this situation. I am about to try the hack. If and when it works I shall post a link for it here.

In the meantime - has anyone else here made this change?

**Admiral Michael** · December 19th, 2006

I would be interested in the solution as my cousin has a media center PC at work (GM dealership) and he can't join the domain since the PC has media center. He has to dual boot with XP Pro in order to join the domain.

**madmatt** · December 19th, 2006

MFG --

Did you read this KB over at Microsoft?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887212

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 does not support a scenario where you join your computer to a domain. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is designed as the foundation for a premier home entertainment system. Media Center lets you share Media Center content with other locations in the home by using Media Center Extender devices. Media Center Extender devices require concurrent connections, and these connections are available only through the Fast User Switching component. Therefore, the domain join functionality in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is disabled.

Furthmore (older versions of MCE)...

In earlier versions of Media Center, a scenario where you join your computer to a domain is supported. If you upgrade to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 from an earlier version of Media Center that is joined to a domain, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 will retain the domain status and credentials. If you remove the computer from the domain to enable Fast User Switching for use with a Media Center Extender, the computer will not be able to rejoin the domain.

Note You may still be able to use Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to access domain resources that are shared on the network. You can do this if the shared resource does not require that your computer is a member of the domain.

MCE is built on XP Professional but lacks the networking capabilities that XP Professional has.

**Mainframeguy** · December 19th, 2006

yes - I read this and more - including the hack to reenable the crippled MCE to join a domain - when I have done this I shall post here how it is done....

**madmatt** · December 19th, 2006

I should have assumed you read it, I know you and your facts checking!

This hack should be an interesting trick if it works.

**perris** · December 19th, 2006

I wonder why microsoft attaches such a priority to joining domains that they would disable the function in an os that has the ability

**Mainframeguy** · February 1st, 2007

aha - I find the thread I meant to resurrect!

please see my post here and if a mod could merge or move that would be even more cool!

**Electronic Punk** · February 1st, 2007

Like I said, quite happy to let this one happen. I imagine you are the kinda guy that has XP Pro lying around anyway, so all you are doing is saving yourself the trouble of having to dual boot if you want to use Media Center and have a domain machine.

December 18th, 2006	Top \| #1
Mainframeguy Debiant by way of Ubuntu Joined: August 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,763 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 1390 Power: 166	Windows Media Center and Domains Not sure how many here may run with XP media center, but anyone that does and who runs with domains for their networking will find that they can ONLY join a domain during setup. I missed this during my install because there was no network present during setup! I have since found there is a hack for this situation. I am about to try the hack. If and when it works I shall post a link for it here. In the meantime - has anyone else here made this change? hosted by Lord

December 19th, 2006	Top \| #2
Admiral Michael Michaelsoft Systems CEO Joined: February 2003 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Canada Earth Posts: 3,125 Blog Entries: 8 Reputation: 2216 Power: 163	Re: Windows Media Center and Domains I would be interested in the solution as my cousin has a media center PC at work (GM dealership) and he can't join the domain since the PC has media center. He has to dual boot with XP Pro in order to join the domain. Apple MacBook Pro Intel Quad-Core i7 2GHz \| Corsair 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 Memory \| WD 750GB 7200RPM Black Edition SATA Hard Drive \| Intel HD Graphics 3000/AMD Radeon HD 6490M 256MB GDDR5 \| 15.4" LED backlit glossy screen @ 1440x900 \| Dual Band Airport Wireless/Bluetooth \| Gigabit Ethernet \| Thunderbolt I/O \| Built-in Webcam \| Backlit Keyboard \| Firewire 800 \| DVDRW \| OS X Lion 10.7.1 My Site \| My DVD Collection \| Your Chevrolet Guy

December 19th, 2006	Top \| #3
madmatt Bow Down to the King Joined: April 2002 Location: New York Posts: 13,312 Reputation: 4090 Power: 294	Re: Windows Media Center and Domains MFG -- Did you read this KB over at Microsoft? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887212 Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 does not support a scenario where you join your computer to a domain. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is designed as the foundation for a premier home entertainment system. Media Center lets you share Media Center content with other locations in the home by using Media Center Extender devices. Media Center Extender devices require concurrent connections, and these connections are available only through the Fast User Switching component. Therefore, the domain join functionality in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is disabled. Furthmore (older versions of MCE)... In earlier versions of Media Center, a scenario where you join your computer to a domain is supported. If you upgrade to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 from an earlier version of Media Center that is joined to a domain, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 will retain the domain status and credentials. If you remove the computer from the domain to enable Fast User Switching for use with a Media Center Extender, the computer will not be able to rejoin the domain. Note You may still be able to use Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to access domain resources that are shared on the network. You can do this if the shared resource does not require that your computer is a member of the domain. MCE is built on XP Professional but lacks the networking capabilities that XP Professional has.

December 19th, 2006	Top \| #4
Mainframeguy Debiant by way of Ubuntu Joined: August 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,763 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 1390 Power: 166	Re: Windows Media Center and Domains yes - I read this and more - including the hack to reenable the crippled MCE to join a domain - when I have done this I shall post here how it is done.... hosted by Lord

December 19th, 2006	Top \| #5
madmatt Bow Down to the King Joined: April 2002 Location: New York Posts: 13,312 Reputation: 4090 Power: 294	Re: Windows Media Center and Domains I should have assumed you read it, I know you and your facts checking! This hack should be an interesting trick if it works.

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December 19th, 2006	Top \| #6
perris OSNN Godlike Veteran Joined: January 2002 Location: new york Posts: 12,231 Reputation: 4333 Power: 288	Re: Windows Media Center and Domains I wonder why microsoft attaches such a priority to joining domains that they would disable the function in an os that has the ability IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'VE DONE IT'S WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO

February 1st, 2007	Top \| #7
Mainframeguy Debiant by way of Ubuntu Joined: August 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 3,763 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 1390 Power: 166	Re: Windows Media Center and Domains aha - I find the thread I meant to resurrect! please see my post here and if a mod could merge or move that would be even more cool! hosted by Lord

February 1st, 2007	Top \| #8
Electronic Punk The Last High Joined: December 2001 Location: London Posts: 18,506 Blog Entries: 51 Reputation: 3652 Power: 346	Re: Windows Media Center and Domains Like I said, quite happy to let this one happen. I imagine you are the kinda guy that has XP Pro lying around anyway, so all you are doing is saving yourself the trouble of having to dual boot if you want to use Media Center and have a domain machine.

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