How to Get Windows Media Center 2005 to Join a Domain

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Changing a registry key will allow you to join a domain and cache credentials thus making MCE2K5 the same as XP SP2 Pro (Retail) w/ Media Center. The problem is this registry key cannot be changed from within Windows. One quick note: THIS WILL DISABLE FAST USER SWITCHING AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO USE MEDIA EXTENDERS (XBOX 360).
Here are some instructions:

  1. Dual boot into Windows or use Barts PE
  2. Start Registry Editor, click on HKEY_Local_Machine
  3. Click on File, Load Hive
  4. Select c:\Windows\System32\Config\System file
  5. Give it a name: MCE
  6. Browse to HKEY_Local_Machine\MCE\WPA\MedCtrUpg
  7. Change IsLegacyMCE to 1 (ONE)
  8. Browse to HKEY_Local_Machine\MCE
  9. Click File, Unload Hive
  10. Reboot the PC

The method above is the easier way to go about this. If for whatever reason you have an issues you may want to try this other method. This way uses the recovery console to copy the registry file, edit the copy and then copy the duplicate over the original.

  1. Insert Windows XP CD.
  2. Start > Run > X:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
  3. (replace X: with the appropiate drive letter)
  4. Acknowledge prompt by clicking Yes
  5. Skip updating process by clicking Cancel or by pressing Esc
  6. After installation, acknowledge success msg. by clicking Ok
  7. Start > Shutdown > Restart
  8. At boot menu, select Microsoft Windows Recovery Console
  9. Select proper installation to log onto (default: 1) and press Enter
  10. (If prompted, enter Administrator password and press Enter)
  11. Type (without quotes) and press enter: cd system32\config
  12. Type (without quotes) and press enter: copy SYSTEM C:\
  13. Type (without quotes) and press enter: exit
  14. At boot menu, select Windows XP Media Center Edition
  15. Start > Run > Type: regedit and press enter
  16. Click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  17. File > Load Hive
  18. Browse and select C:\SYSTEM
  19. Specify key name BANANA and click OK
  20. Expand: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > BANANA > WPA > MedCtrUpg
  21. On the right-hand side, double-click IsLegacyMCE value
  22. Change selected value to 1 and click Ok. (THAT IS NOT AN L!)
  23. Click on BANANA subkey (under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE)
  24. File > Unload Hive. Confirm.
  25. Start > Shutdown > Restart
  26. At boot menu, select Microsoft Windows Recovery Console
  27. Select proper installation to log onto (default: 1) and press Enter
  28. (If prompted, enter Administrator password and press Enter)
  29. Type (without quotes) and press enter: cd \
  30. Type (without quotes) and press enter: copy SYSTEM C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
  31. (Yes, you want to overwrite – Go ahead and do it)
  32. Type (without quotes) and press enter: del SYSTEM
  33. Type (without quotes) and press enter: exit
  34. At boot menu, select Windows XP Media Center Edition