I thought Media Center has the same features as XP Professional, but I tried to join my domain network at home and it wouldn’t allow me to.

After a little research on google, I found out Media Center can actually join a domain network by tweaking the registry a little. That’s right! Windows XP Media Center joins domain network!

Insert Windows XP CD.
Start > Run > X:i386winnt32.exe /cmdcons
(replace X: with the appropiate drive letter)
Acknowledge prompt by clicking ‘Yes’
Skip updating process by clicking ‘Cancel’ or by pressing ‘Esc’
After installation, acknowledge success msg. by clicking ‘Ok’
Start > Shutdown > Restart
At boot menu, select ‘Microsoft Windows Recovery Console’
Select proper installation to log onto (default: 1) and press ‘Enter’
(If prompted, enter Administrator password and press ‘Enter’)
Type (without quotes) and press enter: ‘cd system32config’
Type (without quotes) and press enter: ‘copy SYSTEM C:’
Type (without quotes) and press enter: exit
At boot menu, select ‘Windows XP Media Center Edition’
Start > Run > Type: ‘regedit’ and press enter
Click on ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’
File > Load Hive…
Browse and select C:SYSTEM
Specify key name ‘BANANA’ and click OK
Expand: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > BANANA > WPA > MedCtrUpg
On the right-hand side, double-click IsLegacyMCE value
Change selected value to 1 and click Ok. (THAT IS NOT AN L!)
Click on BANANA subkey (under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE)
File > Unload Hive. Confirm.
Start > Shutdown > Restart
At boot menu, select ‘Microsoft Windows Recovery Console’
Select proper installation to log onto (default: 1) and press ‘Enter’
(If prompted, enter Administrator password and press ‘Enter’)
Type (without quotes) and press enter: ‘cd ‘
Type (without quotes) and press enter: ‘copy SYSTEM C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32CONFIGSYSTEM’
(Yes, you want to overwrite – Go ahead and do it)
Type (without quotes) and press enter: ‘del SYSTEM’
Type (without quotes) and press enter: ‘exit’
At boot menu, select ‘Windows XP Media Center Edition’
Join domain.