Would it be possible to copy over vista media center to ws2008??

I copied the ehome folder over, but am guessing you need to do more than just this,
maybe some services need starting and some reg enteries need adding.

Anybody tried?

i don't see the point in this

Vista SP1 is essentially the same as Server 2008

When people gave 2003 media centre i could see why -2003 has a newer kernal than xp sp2

has anyone done this because im waiting for a way to get media center onto 2008 as well. ive just purchased the enterprise edition and was hoping that media center would be included.

if anyone does have a way of doing this, please reply.

Regards, Guj

I fail to understand why desktop features would be included in a server operating system. That's just additional cost overhead that 99.99999% of us don't want/need in our server OSes.

Personally, I never saw the reason for people to run Server 2003 as a desktop OS. I could understand some perceived benefit since it has a newer kernel than XP SP2. But Server 2008 and Vista SP1 have the same kernel. Yes, some things are tuned a bit differently, but they're more geared towards making server-based applications work faster. If you want the desktop features, buy the desktop OS.

Just my 2 cents.

I did, have a look at this:

Click to view attachment

You have a * - Add.reg to add registry settings to run MCE, a * - Remove.reg to undo that you added (if you mess it up) and a txt file containing all file dependencies you need.

Dexter, I tried running the registry files in your ZIP, and I get an error when it tries to import them. Are you sure they are formatted correctly? When I open the "Add" registry file, some of the paths have truncated names in them with "..." replacing what should be there.

Same here!!

After playing a bit more with this i decided to install MediaPortal to see what was going on, before doing what Dexter suggested.

MediaPortal installed fine so i went to configuration to set up my TV-Card (Nova-t 500 DT) But it couldent create a graph and
bda tuning space etc, for my device.

So, once this has been sorted we could then at least move on to what Dexter suggested.
I still think the tv-card needs more work before moving on.

p.s Thanks Dexter for your time and effort

hm... some dots are in the registry, some are not. Well, at least I'm making some progress with my tool

how did you examine it?

a special prg?
something to read out all dependencies of an executable?

need to know for some other things to import/export!

tired of searching everything by myself!

The data is extracted with my own application. I'm developing it for a very similar purpose. It has a diffing engine that compares 2 images of the OS and extrapolates specific dependencies for a given component.

I'm still working on this particular concept for the moment, these files are something like a "proof-of-concept". It will be opensource later on.

Vista SP1 and Server 2008 are the same, its like comparing XP Home to XP Pro, you can install that same Service Pack to both, but they just have different features. In fact, Vista SP2, will also update WS2008, just like SP2 for WS2003 can update XP x64..

Sorry never mind i tryed this on xp. Wont work there ofcourse.

But could you supply me with a reg file of xp. I'm trying to make a mce addon for xp.

I went ahead and collected all of the dependencies from a vista ultimate install, through the use of a batch file, however it is a pain to move some files to the server 2008 installation specifically the winsxs folder and any sybfolders, I had to take ownership of the folder as administrator (normally the only user with full control is "TrustedInstaller". All of the other files copy without issue. Hopefully someone can work out the files and the registry entries to get a fully functional MCE in server 08. If anyone wants the batch files to grab the files easily i can attach them here.

Edit: I have managed to import the registry entries as well, the issue now seems to be the error I am recieving upon launch:
"Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a software restriction policy. For more information contact your system administrator."

Normally this is either a group policy setting, or setting the program access and computer defaults settings in the control panel. However i have checked these settings and they are not what is preventing the program from lauching.

I was afraid of that too...
Vista/Server 2008 have a internal "licensing" global policy per-component, saved somewhere in the registry that defines what internal components (a.k.a for stuff registered in WinSxS) are allowed to run. The WAIK makes changes there when modifying setup options.

I will try to monitor changes made by WAIK to see what keys are involved. In this case it's probably a simple DWORD called Installed, that should enable MCE in the policy.

[font="Arial"][code]Well there are two registry entries relating to one group policy setting that specifically says whether or not media center is allowed to run or not, but not whether it is installed or not. The third entry just specifies whether it is allowed to run through program access and defaults, which is not an available option in server 2008 under the add/remove control panel applet (there might be a way to enable those options), so I found the registry entry for that instead. the winsxs files and folders installed ok after i took ownership of them, althought the registry entry regarding "LocalService" and "LocalServiceNoNetwork" needs to have entries modified in the registry by hand, otherwise you end up overwriting other entries listed in that key. I tried to automate the ownership of files in my batch file using takeown and icacls, but it would not work without me doing so manually through the explorer menus. The policy reg entries I found so far are:

For per-user settings available in the User Configuration tab:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaCenter]
MediaCenter

For per-machine settings available in the Computer Configuration tab:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaCenter]
MediaCenter

Both should have a setting of 0 (a setting of 1 disables media center)

The other registry entry I found that causes the error is this one:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Media\Windows Media Center\InstallInfo]
IconsVisible

If the IconsVisible value is set to 0, then Windows Media Center will not run.

If there are other entries, I have not found the, yet.

There were a few entries that I had to remove from your reg file so that it would import successfully, I isolated the entries down to the ones that would cause it to fail, I can post them here if necessary.

Has anyone looked into the setup inf's from a vista install? Perhaps they can provide some insight as well.

I see you found them

I was wondering if changing them in the WIM image (before installing) might result in proper policy settings / functionality

The problem I seem to be having is getting the services started, whether related to the policy issues or not. Whenever i click on them, i get an error message saying something to the effect of the device associated with the service not being present. Near as I can tell this has to do with the LEGACY entries for those services unable to be imported to the registry (those were the errors in the reg file that prevented import), though I will try to remove the enum key in the regular service entry and see if the registry will repopulate those instances automatically. The error pops up if you try to view the properties of the service, and upon trying to start the service it just throws back an error saying it did not repspond in a timely fashion. I also had to import the pnp-x ip bus enumerator service due to it being a dependancy of the windows media center extender service. Not sure if that service is a necessity yet, but I'm trying to be all inclusive here.

I agree... I was checking out a few other forums and so forth and someone was complaining and stating how 2008 "sucks" because their favorite game would not install/run on it.

If you need Desktop OS features, why run a Server OS? Just because it is the latest and greatest?

Hi guys,

I use AMD64 proccesor, instead of x86.
I've copied all files listed in your list (x86 files changes into amd64 files) from Vista Ultimate installation to Windows Server 2008 Enterprise.
I've also imported all the registry keys you've provided (also, modified to suit my proccesor) - had to grant administrators access to many keys.
When I try to launch Media Center, I get the software restriction policy error (same as you wrote here).
I trieid adding the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaCenter - MediaCenter (DWORD 32 BIT) = 0 value, but the error box keeps appearing and won't bother launcing my media center .
Do you have any other suggestion how to KILL this message box ?

Thanks ahead,
Effy.

Does anybody finished this project; watchting tv at server 2008 via Vista Media Center?

Dexter: Do you have a newer/better version of this MCE.zip? I get an error when I want to add to the registery....

I would be gratefull if some one can tell me how to do this. I just want to use the Vista Media Center on Server 2008 to stream the Live TV to my XBOX 360 elite.....

I still can't find what's preventing it from working.. i'm quite sure we're missing something here, after the "policy" issue my RSoP (Resultant Set of Policy) is unusable. Any ideas? I still don't understand how the policies are related to the registry data

Hey Guys -

I know someone in an earlier post mentioned that they were getting the messages that their tuner card couldn't be communicated with. I have solved that problem on my system with the following set of commands:

regsvr32 /s Mpeg2Data.ax
regsvr32 /s mpg2splt.ax
regsvr32 /s kstvtune.ax
regsvr32 /s MSDvbNP.ax
regsvr32 /s MSNP.ax
regsvr32 /s VBICodec.ax
regsvr32 /s vbisurf.ax
regsvr32 /s bdaplgin.ax
regsvr32 /s ksxbar.ax
regsvr32 /s psisrndr.ax
regsvr32 /s WSTPager.ax

I grabbed those files from my Vista 32-bit install and it works (they will be under system32 and need to be copied to system32 on your 2008 install.) You can put the commands in a batch file for ease of running them. It just registers a whole bunch of ax filter files that aren't registered by default. My TV (Hauppauge HVR-1600) now works in DScaler, but I still can't get the WinTV software working.

Hope this helps someone.

Maybe an stuppid idea. But is it possible to copy and overwrite every file from Vista to Server 2008. And just copy the Registery of Vista to Server 2008 and overwrite everything?

Then is must be working... If NOT, it's not possible.... I Suppose....

The regserv32.exe command... That registers some file, does he save that in the Registery :S ?

I think if we test this, we get an Vista machine with some extra (not over-written) files. Everything must be the same as Windows Vista...

Is this possible?

And your program w-desing, is the VMWare workstation needed? When I start the wizard: "New Acquisition", I can't "browse" to the files :S

Great news.
# AMDOpteron_185 - Would you mind uploading those files. I don't have a Vista installation avaliable.

You're wrong your Card it's working because it's a CX2388x card and it's using DScaler's own drivers (NO WDM drivers ?!) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any CX2388x & SAA713x Cards it will work with DScaler 4.1.17 on a tipical (out of the box) install of Windows Server 2008 Standard Trial x86 & x64 + drivers !!! All you have to do it's to say yes when DScaler it's asking you if it should use his own drivers instead of typical (WDM?!) drivers !
The Proof is the fact that your app (WinTV software) it's not working!!!!

I was wondering... If vlite can remove Media Center from Vista iso, there should be a way to add it to Windows 2008 ISO. The question is - how

There is no performace benefit in running server os, but it's very useful for laptop when you can't have access to development server and you need to test a code...

I have already compared the list of stuff to be added against what vLite does and there are all in there. The problem is the component policy that doesn't allow you to run Media Center.
Same codebase means same policy... when they built the distributions they opted in for a particular set of components and tied it to the policy.
Removing is not a problem because the policy grants you the right of executing those components. But adding is quite useless if you are not allowed to run components not included in the policy.

Btw, does anybody have any idea what wcm://Microsoft-Windows-Licensing-Server-Enterprise?version=6.0.6001.18000&language=neutral&processorArchitecture=x86&publicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35&versionScope=nonSxS&scope=allUsers does?

would it be possible when...?

load reghive
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\Packages\*everything mce needed*
setting owner to the "server sku" like the other ones!?

dont have time to test it

but i think it will work!

hi
maybe media center is impossible on server 08 at this moment. but does anybody knows how get bda support on server 2008. i just need my tv tuner to work on server the way it does on vista, and then i can use a third party application to watch tv.
thanks

I would love to install media center on my 2008 server! I hope someone figures this out!

me too

shahed26 has developed a process for this. I have consolidated all 3 threads related to this into this thread

Why I can't download the zip file? I just registered.

what zip file your talking about?

never mind, just mce.zip file. I get it now.

Since everyone got stuck at the same spot i'll at least post the two batch files i made for easy copying of files, though some tweaking is still needed for putting the files in the proper spots in the server 2008 installation. You will still run into the policy issues mentioned here, but the batch files grab the files easily.

We finally got Windows Media Center install on Windows Server 2008 but a last minute show-stopper bug emerge due to software restriction policy. If you would like to help complete the product you can download it here: http://www.msfn.org/board/post-a22409-More-MCE-Stuff.zip

1. run MCE from Vista.bat on Vista
2. copy C:\MCE from vista to C:\MCE in server 2008
3. run MCE to Server 2008.bat (or you can copy all files in C:\MCE to C:\)
4. run Media Center - Add.reg

If you run Windows Media Center you will get this error: Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a software restriction policy. For more information contact your system administrator.


If somebody find a solution, let me know.

To take a closer look at what is going on, I use Process Monitor from Microsoft and it show me that enshell.exe cannot find HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\App Management and HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\App Management. I take a look at a vista but it doesn't have that key either.

Right, that's where we had left off, we all got stuck at that software restriction policy.

I have a few ideas for you to check out..

Local Security Policy.
Software Restriction Policy
New
Additional Rules.
Unrestricted.

Have you tried changing everything so that it runs from within c:\program files\ or c:\windows rather than the MCE directory?

(I haven't tried or looked at the batch file / install) Just some observations

Can you look in the event log for more information about what's going on? It should have written an entry when Media Center failed to start with some more information on what blocked it.

Nothing gets logged over here when i try to start it.

I also tried the ProcessMonitor to check for some Policies restrictions etc but havent really found anything.

Also tried setting ALLOW MEDIA CENTER via computerdefaults.exe. NOTHING

Not sure if it is related or may help but someone I was talking to the other day said that they where having a problem with a package they where deploying which had the same guid as an existing package and the error they got sounded very much like this error. Don't know if it will help but maybe someone can look to see if their is a guid issue for Media Center and something else that exists in Server 2008

Im hav some Problem we here:



Hav anyone a Solution found for this problem ?

what does it say in the event viewer (specifically).