1. Download Windows Media Center For Windows 8.1
2. 8.1 Media Center Pack Download
3. Download Windows Media Centre For Windows 8
4. Windows Media Centre For Windows 8.1 Free Download
5. Download Windows Media Center For Windows 8.1 Free

Windows 8 media center free download - My Media Center for Windows 8, My Movies for Windows 7 or 8 Media Center, Windows XP Media Center Edition, and many more programs. No matter which edition of Windows 8 operating system you are using, Windows Media Center isn’t part of Windows 8. Media Center is available as a paid add-on for Windows 8 Pro edition only (see Windows 8 vs Windows 8 Pro) and one needs to shell out $9.99 to purchase Media Center Pack. Computers running the basic edition of Windows 8 must first be upgraded to Windows 8 Pro before Windows Media Center can be installed. The Windows 8 Pro Pack upgrades Windows 8 to the Pro edition that includes Windows Media Center and additional features. Microsoft removed Windows Media Center from Windows 10, and there’s no official way to get it back. While there are great alternatives like Kodi, which can play and record live TV, the community has made Windows Media Center functional on Windows 10.

Download Windows Media Center For Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1, just like Windows 8, ships with Windows Media Player by default. The program has been crippled by Microsoft as it does not play DVD movies anymore. You may remember that it did play them on Windows 7. So, if you want DVD playback on Windows 8.x, you need Windows Media Center or a third party alternative.

As part of the Windows 8 promotion, Microsoft has given away Windows Media Center keys for free to interested users. It is interesting to note that you did not have to own a Windows 8 license to snag a key, and that each customer could get up to five Media Center keys for free in that period.

Depending on whether you have upgraded Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, from a previous Microsoft operating system, or did a clean install, you may not have access to Media Center right away.

The easiest way to find out if you have it installed is to enter Media Center on the start screen of the operating system. If you see Windows Media Center listed in the results, it is installed on your system. If you do not see it, it needs to be added first.

Installing Media Center in Windows 8.1

It is actually not that difficult to install Media Center. It works best if you already have a key though. You can purchase Media Center for $9.99 provided that you are running Windows 8.1 Pro already. If you are running the regular version of Windows 8 instead, you need to purchase the Pro upgrade for $99.99 first before you can add Media Center as well.

Windows RT users are out of luck, Media Center is not available for their operating system.

1. Type features on the Windows 8.1 start screen and select the 'Add features to Windows 8.1' entry from the results.
2. If you already have a Media Center product key, select 'I already have a product key' from the window that opens up on the desktop.
3. If you need a key, select 'I want to buy a product key online' instead and follow the instructions.
4. Enter the product key on the next page and wait for it to be verified.
5. The computer will restart if everything turned out to be alright and Windows Media Center will be installed in the process.

Screenshot gallery

Closing Words

If you already have a product key for Media Center, it is a no-brainer to add the program to the Windows 8.1 operating system. That may also be the case if you are a die-hard fan of it, or have used it extensively on your previous system.

Microsoft launcher download. Tap the option for Microsoft Launcher. Tap Get Started ( Figure A). That action takes you to the Welcome to Microsoft Launcher screen.

Is it worth the extra $10 if you have to purchase it? That depends on what you want to use it for. If you just want to play DVDs - Blu-Rays are not supported - then you may want to try free alternatives like VLC Media Player instead for that instead to see if it fits the bill.

Now read: 3 free alternatives to Media Center

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I have a ZOTAC ZBOX Mini-PC connected to the TV in my den and use Windows Media Center in Windows 7 Ultimate to access movies, pictures, music, and Netflix. Recently, I decided to connect the laptop I have running Windows 8 to the TV, but then remembered that the Release Preview edition of Windows 8 doesn't come with Windows Media Center installed. You have to download and install it separately.

Windows Media Center was available in the Consumer Preview and I had always figured that Windows Media Center would be a part of the final release of the new operating system. But when Microsoft announced the Windows 8 editions in the Windows Blog back in April, they also sketchily announced that Windows Media Center will be available as a separate download to Windows 8 Pro. Then in a May 3rd blog post on the Building Windows 8 page, Microsoft clarified exactly why Windows Media Center will be available as an Add-on for Windows 8.

Well I finally got around to installing Windows Media Center in the Release Preview edition of Windows 8 and thought that I would write about the process in this edition of the Windows Desktop Report. I'll also provide an overview of why Windows Media Center will only be available as an Add-on for Windows 8.

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Complete Windows 8 coverage on TechRepublic

Making Windows Media Center an Add-on

As you may know, Windows Media Center has been available since the Windows XP days where it went through several versions as Windows XP Media Center Edition. It was then available in Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate. Then, in Windows 7 it was available in all editions of except for Starter and Home Basic. And while it was a great piece of software for many years, Microsoft claims that it has been steadily losing ground to other forms of online entertainment delivery systems, such as YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix, just to name a few. Yes, many people do use Windows Media Center, but not enough for Microsoft to justify including it in the operating system anymore.

In addition to a drop in interest, at several spots in the May 3rd post, Microsoft mentions the word cost in reference to codec licensing. So it would appear that by not including Windows Media Center and its expensive codec as a part of the Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft is saying that doing so will allow them to cut the cost of Windows 8 down a bit for those folks who don't use Windows Media Center. Those folks who do want to use Windows Media Center will then have to pay a little extra to get it as an Add-on to Windows 8 Pro. How much extra is unknown at this point in time - Microsoft only says marginal costs.

This blog post is also available in the Slideshow format as a TechRepublic Gallery.

Using the Add features wizard

To install Windows Media Center in Windows 8, just press the [Windows] key, type Add features, select Settings, and click Add features to Windows 8, as illustrated in Figure A. When you do, you'll have to work through the UAC that appears.

Figure A

Accessing Add features to Windows 8 from the Start screen is easy.

You'll then see the first screen in the Add features to Windows 8 wizard, as shown in Figure B, which asks you whether you need to purchase a product key or you already have one. In the case of the Release Preview, Microsoft has provided the Windows Media Center product key free of charge in the Windows 8 Release Preview FAQ. For your convenience, that product key is shown here:

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Therefore, you can just click I already have a product key.

Figure B

You can just click I already have a product key.

On the next screen, you can then enter the product key, as shown in Figure C, and click Next. On the next screen, you have to accept the license terms, as shown in Figure D, and then click Add Features.

Figure C

Enter the Windows Media Center product key and click Next.

Figure D

You have to accept the license terms to continue.

The installation

In a moment, you'll see a progress bar in the Add features to Windows 8 wizard screen, as shown in Figure E. At this point, you can sit back for a few minutes while the download, installation, and system restart occur.

8.1 Media Center Pack Download

Figure E

You can sit back for a few minutes while the installation occurs.

After the restart, you'll see that Windows Media Center appears as a tile on the main part of Windows 8's Start screen, as shown in

Download Windows Media Centre For Windows 8

Figure F.

Figure F

Windows Media Center appears on the Windows 8 Start screen.

When you return to the Desktop, you'll see the last screen in the Windows Media Center installation wizard is waiting for you to click Close, as shown in Figure G.

Figure G

Click Close to complete the Windows Media Center installation wizard.

When you launch Windows Media Center in Windows 8, as shown in

Windows Media Centre For Windows 8.1 Free Download

Figure H, you'll find that it looks, feels, and works exactly like in Windows 7. I connected it to my Pictures and Music libraries and even installed Netflix and watched an episode of Psych. It works perfectly.

Download Windows Media Center For Windows 8.1 Free

Figure H

Windows Media Center in Windows 8 - very familiar.

What's your take?

Do you use Windows Media Center? If and when you upgrade to Windows 8, will you be willing to pay extra for Windows Media Center? As always, if you have comments or information to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.

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