XP Media Center Edition - is there a way?

Typical situation...Basically for the future reference, because I'm gonna format damn thing.
I'm working on a laptop with XP Media Center Edition + SP3.
Some system files are messed up. No XP MCE CD available, only Recovery CD.
Even, if I had XP MCE CD, I'm aware, that for the reason, maybe known to M$ only, there is no way to slipstream any SP into XP MCE CD.
Tried sfc /scannow, and since system files are messed up, it asks for "Windows XP Pro SP3 CD".
This is the first thing, where M$ drives me nuts.
It asks for "Windows XP Pro SP3 CD", and it won't accept my legit "Windows XP Pro SP3 CD", because in reality it wants "Windows XP Pro Media Center Edition SP3 CD", but it won't tell you.
Tried repair installation, using "Windows XP Pro SP3 CD", but at some point, it asks for Windows license key, and it won't accept numbers printed on the bottom of the laptop (most likely, because I'm using "Windows XP Pro SP3 CD"), nor my "Windows XP Pro SP3 CD" license key (which is obvious, since license key has nothing to do with CD, but the computer).
Is Media Center Edition hopeless, regarding repair, or there is some workaround?

Unless you have the OEM disk
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116049

then you need to uninstall the SP's before sfc /scannow will run or the repair install.

Clean install is what I have seen is the best thing to do.

As far as I remember "Microsoft Windows XP Media Center " was only released as a OEM thing.

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Unless you have the OEM disk

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That's the thing. So far, I've never seen a computer, which came with it.

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Clean install is what I have seen is the best thing to do.

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This is exactly what I'm gonna do. Luckily, the guy has everything backed up, but as for my original question, we're back to square one.

No, you would NOT see a cd. OEM only and all the idiots use that recovery bit and make darn sure you/we do not get a cd.

...and they're really surprised, some people download bootleg Windows copies...

I know this isn't a lot of help to most people, but if you have either a MSDN or Technet subscription, then the Media Centre ISOs are available for download, which would enable a repair install to be performed.

I really don't think they ever thought things through properly when they stopped supplying CDs with systems. From what I heard they save $6 per computer by not supplying one, I'm sure many folks would be happy to pay the extra.

I think, they like ~$100 better, than $6...:D

Might not work,but you might try copying the i386 folder from the XP-CD into the root(C:\) folder. Then go into the registry to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup : Click the setup folder to open. In the right pane,change the 'SourcePath' and 'ServicePackSourcePath' both to C:\ . Reboot and run System File Check and it should now not ask for the disk.

That's interesting. I'll keep it in mind, when I have a chance o try it.
Thanks :)

This is ridiculous!
Almost every time, I work on Toshiba, there is something wrong with that brand.
The guy dropped off sealed Recovery DVDs.
I open them. It says Toshiba Qosmio G15, exactly what the guy have.
I boot from first DVD, and I see:
Starting Windows 98
and right after that, huge:
WRONG MACHINE!
Can you believe this crap??

Bothe G15-AV501 abnd the AV501-r WE SOLD WITH W2K, xp OR xp SP2.

I just bought a M$ OS cd and stoped all the Toshiba trouble witha clean install.

Although drivers are listed at toshiba. In my case, Vista had all I needed.

I wanted to clean install XP on the laptop, but the guy wants all kind of utilities, which came with the laptop.
I really don't care. I can wait, until he'll sort it out with Toshiba.
My point is just ridiculous situation.
I actually checked that DVD, and it all utilities files are from 2004-2005, but all installation files go back to 1997!!

Ouch is right.

Update...getting more weird.
Actually, I called Toshiba myself, and they said, all is cool (?)
Toshiba XP recovery disks apparently use Windows 98 installation files (why?) to run the disks (?).
Still, why the "Wrong machine" display?
They ask me, if mobo, or hard drive was ever replaced, and they weren't.
They suspect mobo is messed up, and they want the machine to be send in.
Oh, well.

Using DOS to start the install. Done it myself a couple times using 98SE boot disk.