Clean Install Windows 8 Professional with Media Center

[Joni_78]

Quick guide on how to modify Windows 8 disc to allow clean install of Windows 8 Professional with Media Center.

I suggest using USB flash drive, it's much faster to install and you don't have to burn DVD's. Use Windows 7 USB tool.

1. Create folders C:\W8 and D:\Mount. Copy contents of your Windows 8 disc or ISO into C:\W8.

2. Run Command Prompt as Administrator "WIN+X".

3. Paste these commands one at a time and wait for the tasks to finish

Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:C:\W8\sources\install.wim /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:C:\install.wim /Compress:Maximum
[/CODE]

[CODE]
Dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:C:\install.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:C:\Mount
[/CODE]

[CODE]
Dism /Image:C:\Mount /Get-TargetEditions
[/CODE]

[CODE]
Dism /Image:C:\Mount /Set-Edition:ProfessionalWMC
[/CODE]

[CODE]
Dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:C:\Mount /Commit
[/CODE]

[CODE]
Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:C:\install.wim /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:C:\W8\sources\install.wim /DestinationName:"Windows 8 Pro with Media Center" /Compress:Maximum
[/CODE]

Windows 8 Pro with Media Center is now in C:\W8. You can delete temporary install.wim and mount directory.

[Joni_78]

When was the option to always edit the first post removed?

[Steve Bruno]

Im sorry can you clarify what exactly you are doing here.

[ahhell]

Umm...Media Center has it's own license so I don't think what you are doing is entirely legal.

[Steve Bruno]

you get media center if you upgrade from windows 7

[Joni_78]

You can do a clean install of Pro with Media Center instead of a upgrade, you'll need the WMC key of course.

[Shane Nokes]

He's showing how to create an ISO with it integrated, not how to bypass the licensing restrictions. It's just a tutorial on how to create an integrated backup media.

[Raa]

you get media center if you upgrade from windows 7

Say again?

[Shane Nokes]

Say again?

I believe the user was referring to the information out there on the web that states if a user purchases the Windows 8 upgrade that they will receive the ability to get a free key for Windows Media Center for Windows 8 until a specific deadline. I believe that deadline is stated as January 2013.

[hoskins12801]

Hello I keep gettin error after 2nd input can u help????

C:\Windows\system32>Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:C:\W8\sources\install.wi

m /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:C:\install.wim /Compress:Maximum

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Exporting image

[==========================100.0%==========================]

The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>Dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:C:\install.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:D

:\Mount

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Error: 0xc1420127

The specified image in the specified wim is already mounted for read/write acces

s.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

also i dont understand the D:\Mount??

can u pm me

[Joni_78]

Hello I keep gettin error after 2nd input can u help????

C:\Windows\system32>Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:C:\W8\sources\install.wi

m /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:C:\install.wim /Compress:Maximum

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Exporting image

[==========================100.0%==========================]

The operation completed successfully.

C:\Windows\system32>Dism /Mount-Wim /WimFile:C:\install.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:D

:\Mount

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.2.9200.16384

Error: 0xc1420127

The specified image in the specified wim is already mounted for read/write acces

s.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

also i dont understand the D:\Mount??

can u pm me

D:\Mount mounts the image so it can be edited. I think you might have previously mounted it, try this

Dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:D:\Mount /Discard
[/CODE]

Then try again.

[George P Global Moderator]

I got my hands on a new SSD that I plan to install Win8 to once it's hit GA and I can actually buy it. So this could be a bit off topic but I figure the best way would be to disconnect my current HDD with Win7, leaving just the ssd and my other drives, install Win8 on it, then reconnect my win7 HDD back so I don't lose a few things I have on it (which I'll then move over to another location and format it for reuse as a new download hdd.

I'm doing this because I don't want to dual boot with Win7 etc. Anyone else have this sort of upgrade/install in mind?

[Raa]

I believe the user was referring to the information out there on the web that states if a user purchases the Windows 8 upgrade that they will receive the ability to get a free key for Windows Media Center for Windows 8 until a specific deadline. I believe that deadline is stated as January 2013.

That makes more sense. I thought he was trying to say people could get a free entitlement to MCE, which would have my interest.

[neo1911]

This method is of no use till online purchasing Media Center upgrade key becomes possible. That is not before 26th Oct.

I have my AIO ready with itegrated drivers. :)

[hoskins12801]

D:\Mount mounts the image so it can be edited. I think you might have previously mounted it, try this

Dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:D:\Mount /Discard
[/CODE]

Then try again.

Nope nothing dso i have to do it on win 7 or can it be win 8???

[Joni_78]

This method is of no use till online purchasing Media Center upgrade key becomes possible. That is not before 26th Oct.

I have my AIO ready with itegrated drivers. :)

It's not impossible to activate Pro with WMC now.

Nope nothing dso i have to do it on win 7 or can it be win 8???

It works on both. Check if the Mount folder has any files inside.

[hoskins12801]

It's not impossible to activate Pro with WMC now.

It works on both. Check if the Mount folder has any files inside.

no it dont

[Joni_78]

no it dont

 
DISM /cleanup-wim
[/CODE]

[hoskins12801]

DISM /cleanup-wim
[/CODE]

went to win 7 and now it wont work at all lol going back to win 8

[Joni_78]

I got my hands on a new SSD that I plan to install Win8 to once it's hit GA and I can actually buy it. So this could be a bit off topic but I figure the best way would be to disconnect my current HDD with Win7, leaving just the ssd and my other drives, install Win8 on it, then reconnect my win7 HDD back so I don't lose a few things I have on it (which I'll then move over to another location and format it for reuse as a new download hdd.

I'm doing this because I don't want to dual boot with Win7 etc. Anyone else have this sort of upgrade/install in mind?

That's how I've done it too. Whats weird is that if I have single drive and I repartition it on Windows setup, it creates 350Mb system partition. But if I have my other drives attached (no Windows installs or previous system drives) it doesn't create the 350Mb partition. Is it only needed when there is single drive?

went to win 7 and now it wont work at all lol going back to win 8

Weird. Can't think of anything other than try again and with different partitions.

[hoskins12801]

That's how I've done it too. Whats weird is that if I have single drive and I repartition it on Windows setup, it creates 350Mb system partition. But if I have my other drives attached (no Windows installs or previous system drives) it doesn't create the 350Mb partition. Is it only needed when there is single drive?

Weird. Can't think of anything other than try again and with different partitions.

can u do a step by step in detail for me so i know im not missing anything??? thanx

[hoskins12801]

can u do a step by step in detail for me so i know im not missing anything??? thanx

never mind i got it also what key do i have to use for this now and media center will be part of windows now after install and be able to use it????

[Joni_78]

Just use the default WMC key for Pro with Media Center or default Pro key if you wan't to install Professional until you can buy it. There is no timebomb in Windows 8 so you can use it unactivated.

[hoskins12801]

Just use the default WMC key for Pro with Media Center or default Pro key if you wan't to install Professional until you can buy it. There is no timebomb in Windows 8 so you can use it unactivated.

so media center will work with no prob. ??

[hoskins12801]

so media center will work with no prob. ??

with the wmc key