Is there a way install Media Center onto XP Pro?

I have Windows Xp Pro SP2 installed on my Dell, but I also have Windows Xp Media Center 2005 on 2 cd's with no serial #. What I'd like to do is install the Media Center program onto my Xp Pro, so that I can run it like any other application. How do I do this without it crashing?

Is there a way install Media Center onto XP Pro?internet explorer download

I am afraid I have bad news.

Many people do not realize that the "media center program" is actually not a stand-alone application. It is actually a key component of the Windows XP: Media Center Edition operating system. Just like any other operating system, it simply cannot be installed on top of another.

While it would be theoretically possible to reformat your system and and replace your XP Pro with XP Media, you may run into a problem. The XP Media operating system is very "picky" when it comes to hardware. This is why you can't purchase XP Media in a retail box like Home or Pro edition. Hardware that may function perfectly fine with other versions of Windows may have problems. The fact that your system is a Dell makes it especially likely that it will have problems, as many Dell hardware components use proprietary drivers. This process will have a much higher likelihood of success if your Dell model could have been purchased with either XP Pro or Media.