Win8 Media Center Installation Process

Applying for Free Windows Media Center

In the previous article, we have already explained how to upgrade your system to Windows 8 Professional through the Win8 Upgrade Assistant. Some users will find that Windows Media Center (Media Center) is not included in this Win8 Professional Edition. This is not because everyone has problems during the installation process, but Microsoft has not built this software into the system.

For the sake of cost, there are no built-in media centers in the three versions of Win8 released by Microsoft, but they need to be purchased and added separately. But now Microsoft has launched a free gift for Windows Media Center on the official website, so we will take the time to apply for installation.

Applying for Free Windows Media Center

Due to limited time, we recommend that you apply to the official Microsoft page (click to enter). The application process is very simple, even without login, just fill in any email address that can receive emails at the specified location on the page, enter the verification code and send it.

Computer Knowledge
Official Free Application Interface

The free Windows 8 Media Center Pack will be sent to your reserved mailbox in the form of a product serial number, usually in Received the email within 24 hours. The speed at which the mail arrives is not very fast, so users who have not received the mail at one time do not have to worry. Also, please pay attention to your own spam mailbox, it is possible that the message was misidentified as spam.

The following is the content of the email we received. The most important one is the serial number of the product. Please save it properly.
The serial number is provided in the content of the received message

It should be noted that this promotion will only last until January 31 of next year, after which the serial number will no longer be used for activation. Therefore, we recommend that you activate the activation as soon as you receive the serial number. At the same time, Microsoft will also alert you when the product key activation period is about to end.

Installing Windows Media Center

With the serial number, we officially entered the Windows Media Center installation process. Windows Media Center installation does not require us to download the program first, then activate it with the serial number, but it is automatically installed and activated just like the Win8 upgrade assistant, but this time we don't need to use the tool.

First, slide the mouse to the lower right corner of the screen to bring up the Charm bar and select “Settings”, then click “ quo; Computer Information” to bring up the system interface. Now we see that there is a line in the Windows version of the block "Get more features of the new version of Windows", click on it.
Add more features

After that, we have entered the "Add function to Windows" interface, and then select "I have purchased the product key". Although our keys are freely available, they are still legally purchased by Microsoft.
Select the purchased product key

In the next interface, copy the serial number in our mailbox to the input box, and then the system will perform a verification. When the valid key is valid, you can continue. Go to the next step.
Fill in the product key we obtained

After accepting the license terms, click “Add function", our installation is complete. The system will then be installed automatically, the installation time will depend on your computer and whether it needs to be updated, and all we have to do is wait.
Accept License Agreement
The rest of the installation will be done automatically

It should be noted that the computer will restart at least once during the installation process, so if there are still programs in progress on your computer Or unsaved files, please handle them as soon as possible to prevent loss.
Reactivation Problem

After your computer is turned on again, you will see that the Windows Media Center Metro tile has been generated in the start interface. We can see a big one when entering the desktop. The prompt box, which indicates that the media center has been installed successfully.
After rebooting, the installation is complete.

However, some users will find that the system that has been activated after the computer restarts suddenly becomes inactive. Don't panic, still enter the "Computer Information" interface, click on the bottom of the "Details in Windows Activation", and then click once again "Activate" button.
Reactivate the system

At this point you will find that the system is activated again, and is no longer the previous activation serial number, but the product serial number of the Windows Media Center we obtained.

At the same time, look at the computer information, the Windows 8 Professional version shown in the original "Windows version" has now become "Windows 8 Professional Edition (including Media Center)", which means that we have Successfully activated the Media Center feature in Win8.
Product ID and Windows version have changed

With Windows Media Center, we can organize our own pictures, movies and music, watch TV on your computer, or watch TV on Xbox 360. Watch the content in Windows Media Center. Think of it as your home media center and manage multiple media devices.
Windows Media Center

The above is the entire application and installation process for Windows Media Center, which is now available for free. Therefore, if you have not installed this feature when you see this article, please go to the official website for free application as soon as possible, and activate it before January 31, 2013, and hope that our installation steps can really help you.