Windows 8.1 Pro OEM - Volume License or not?

[Chumster]

I have a Windows 8.1 Pro laptop provided to me via my employer running a legitimate license via Volume Licencing. Generally works fine but when I went to add Windows Media Center (I have a HDHomeRun Prime) I discovered that the VL (Volume Licensing) versions of Windows 8.x are not eligible for the add-on. See this KB article for details: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2793650/en-us

I'm building a new PC to replace my existing Media Center PC and want to make sure I buy a license that will allow me to install WMC but details are difficult to find. Does anyone know if the "OEM" versions for sale at places like Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832416778) are considered "Volume Licensing" or no?

Wondering if I should just go with Windows 7 instead...

 

[glugglug]

OEM is not a volume license. BUT non-volume licenses do not include downgrade rights. And you are going to want Windows 7 for Media Center to work without tons of headaches/incompatibilities.

 

[Doomer]

XBMC

 

[Chumster]

OEM is not a volume license. BUT non-volume licenses do not include downgrade rights. And you are going to want Windows 7 for Media Center to work without tons of headaches/incompatibilities.

Decided to roll-back to Windows 7. For what it's worth it appears that the HDHomerunPrime works well on Win8.

XBMC

Love the interface but XBMC can't display any cable stream that's encrypted - which is basically everything at this point. Additionally, it won't work with my existing extenders.

 

[glugglug]

Love the interface but XBMC can't display any cable stream that's encrypted - which is basically everything at this point. Additionally, it won't work with my existing extenders.

RecordedTV HD and MC Reset Studio will make the interface a lot slicker.
But, at least for me, RecordedTV HD is unstable unless you disable the option to display commercials on the skip bar.