How To Get Windows Media Center For Free

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Windows Media Middle was Microsoft's media PC interface, and immune you to record live Television set, manage and playback your media, and more. Media Center has been discontinued, but yous can still become it for Windows 7 or 8.one. If you are using Windows 10, you'll need to employ an enthusiast-made hacked version, as Windows Media Middle has been completely disabled.

1. i

   Understand the process. Windows Media Center has been discontinued, and is no longer supported past Microsoft. Because of this, it is not possible to install Windows Media Heart the traditional fashion you would do so in Windows 10. You tin use the following steps to become Windows Media Center upwardly and running, merely exist prepared for issues and quirks.^[i]

2. 2

   Download the necessary files. Y'all'll demand a repacked version of Windows Media Center created past enthusiasts. Yous tin can download the file hither, or you tin search for WindowsMediaCenter_10.0.10134.0v2.1.rar and download it from a trusted site on the list of results.

   • You will need the ability to open up RAR files in guild to excerpt the files. You tin can use the trial version of WinRAR or the gratis vii-Zip to open RAR files. Come across How to Open RAR Files for more information.

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3. 3

   Extract the folder. Utilize your RAR extraction plan to open up and extract the files. Place it on your root system drive (ordinarily the C: drive).

4. 4

   Open up the folder you extracted the files to. You should encounter several files hither.

5. 5

   Right-click on . _TestRights.cmd and click "Run as administrator". A command prompt window will appear and beginning installing automatically.

6. 6

   Right-click on . Installer.cmd and select "Run every bit administrator". Some other command prompt window volition announced. You'll be prompted to exit the window one time installation is consummate.

7. 7

   Run Windows Media Center. Yous should exist able to launch Windows Media Middle by searching for it on the Showtime menu, or past looking in the "Windows Accessories" folder.

8. eight

   Download additional codecs (if necessary). Some users have reported issues playing all of their files due to missing codecs. If this is the case, y'all can install codec packs from various sources online. Look for the "Shark" codec pack for Windows 10 and viii.1. It volition add MKV, AVI,, MOV, and other codec support.^[2]

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1. 1

   Empathise the procedure. Windows Media Center was not included in Windows 8 when information technology was released, and is simply available in the Pro version of Windows viii.1. Information technology is not included in the standard version of 8.1, which ways y'all'll need to upgrade to Pro in social club to use Windows Media Center. This is the simply legal fashion to get Windows Media Center on Windows 8.1

2. 2

   Upgrade Windows 8 to 8.1, if necessary. You'll need Windows 8.i in order to install the Pro Pack or Media Center Pack, which allows y'all to run Windows Media Heart. The upgrade to 8.ane is free, and you can get it from the Windows Shop. See [[Upgrade-from-Windows-8-to-eight.1|How to Upgrade from Windows 8 to eight.1] for detailed instructions on upgrading Windows 8 to viii.1.

3. 3

   Decide which pack you demand. There are two different packs that give Windows 8.i access to Media Center, and the pack you'll demand depends on which version of Windows y'all have. Press ⊞ Win+Pause to run across your version.

   • Pro Pack ($99) - This updates the standard Home version of Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.one Pro, and also includes Windows Media Center.
   • Media Heart Pack ($9.99) - This update is for Windows 8.1 Pro users, and adds Windows Media Center to Windows eight.1 Pro.

4. 4

   Purchase the upgrade. You can buy the upgrade pack directly from Microsoft, or yous can buy a key from a retailer from places like Amazon and Best Buy.

5. v

   Add the new pack key to Windows 8.1. One time you have the key, you tin enter it in Windows and then that your upgrade can exist downloaded and installed.

   • Printing ⊞ Win and type "add together features".
   • Select "Add together features to Windows viii.1".
   • Cull "I already have a product key".
   • Enter the cardinal into the field.

6. 6

   Wait for your files to be installed. Later entering the key and accepting the terms, the upgrade files will be downloaded and installed. Your computer will automatically restart in one case the installation is complete. One time your computer restarts and you receive confirmation that installation is complete, you tin launch Windows Media Center from the Start screen.^[iii]

7. seven

   Put off upgrading to Windows 10. All Windows 8.1 users are beingness offered a free upgrade to Windows 10, but if y'all rely on Windows Media Center yous may desire to avoid the upgrade. Windows Media Heart has been discontinued, and is not available on Windows 10. Y'all tin use the workaround at the top of this commodity, but y'all may non be able to get information technology to piece of work properly. For now, consider sticking with Windows 8.1.

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1. 1

   Ensure you take the correct version of Windows 7. Media Heart is available for free for all versions of Windows 7 except Starter and Dwelling house Bones. If you have either of these versions, y'all'll demand to upgrade to at least Home Premium in club to get access to Media Center.

   • Y'all'll need to purchase an upgrade key if you desire to upgrade your version of Windows 7. These usually toll around $100, but may be hard to find now that Windows 7 is getting older. This is the merely legal way to become Windows Media Center in the Starter or Home Bones versions of Windows 7.

2. two

   Open the Control Panel. If you lot have a supported version of Windows seven, but tin can't open Windows Media Center, it may likely be disabled during installation. You can start enabling information technology from the Control Console, which y'all can open from the Commencement menu.

3. three

   Click "Programs" or "Programs and Features". This volition open a list of all of the programs installed on your computer.

4. 4

   Click "Turn Windows features on or off". This volition open a list of all of the Windows features that have been enabled or disabled. You lot will need ambassador access to open this listing.

5. 5

   Expand the "Media Features" pick. You should run across iii dissimilar options when you aggrandize it: "Windows DVD Maker", "Windows Media Middle", and "Windows Media Role player".

   • If y'all simply run across "Windows Media Role player", yous have either Windows 7 Starter or Home Basic. It is not possible to legally become Windows Media Center in these versions. Y'all'll need to upgrade to a version of Windows 7 or 8.1 that supports Windows Media Center.

6. 6

   Check the Windows Media Eye box. Click "OK" to brainstorm installing the feature. This may take several minutes to complete.

7. 7

   Launch Windows Media Center. Afterwards being enabled, you can find Windows Media Center in your Starting time menu. If you can't find it, blazon "Windows Media Center" into the search field.

8. eight

   Avoid upgrading to Windows 10. If yous rely on Windows Media Center, you may want to put off the free upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft has terminated the Windows Media Center project, and it is no longer supported in Windows 10. In that location is a workaround available outlined at the the tiptop of this page, but it results in limited functionality.

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