Windows Media Center Edition is only available in OEM versions
and is not "free".
It cannot upgrade over an existing Windows XP installation. It must
be installed "clean" on a reformatted drive installed in a computer
meeting the Windows Media Center hardware requirements.

FAQ on Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m...ation/faq.mspx

Discussions in Windows XP Media Center Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e....mediacente r

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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"Stevie Boy" wrote:

| Hi all,
|
| Just done a little search of the Microsoft site but failed to come up with
| my answer.
|
| So is it possible to download the Media center edition as an upgrade to
| Windows XP or does this require shelling out for?
|
| I heard maybe wrongly or misunderstood that Microsoft in their jolly wisdom
| where giving the software away free as they do.
|
| Steve