Vista - Media Center missing from Ultimate install

I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 32bit Dell Vostro laptop and I don't seem to have Windows Media Center. I'm concerned because I want to install it (Vista) on another machine so I can use the XBox extender at home, but before I go to the trouble and expense of upgrading that machine I'd like to try it out with the laptop to make sure it's worth it.

I've been over the standard fixes:

• Media Center does not appear as an option under Control Panel > Default Programs > Set program access and computer defaults (Windows Media Player 11 only)
• Local Group Policy Editor > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components only shows Windows Media Player as well.
• C:\Windows\Ehome\ehshell.exe does not exist. However, ehshell.dll, the WMC update executable, and several other files are present.

System restore is out of the question because I don't know when the problem started - I've never tried to use WMC before now so I have no idea where to back up to. Further, this is a work machine and I can't risk rolling back changes at random.

Is there such a thing as a version of Ultimate without WMC? Is this just a bad install? I guess it's worth mentioning that although my WEI is 3.5 I am not even given the option of turning on Aero in display settings. Maybe it's just that this computer is irrevocably effed up even though literally everything else works fine and daily.

I can't help but mention that is completely ridiculous that you can't just download an update or install package for this thing. Ah, Microsoft, you never cease to amaze.

Edit: Ah, forgot to mention... any help or advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated, and thanks very much in advance.

Assuming that you aren't using a copy downloaded from the interweb.

I had problems with bits missing from Dell X64 ultimate, down to their goldbrick.

I use an OEM/volume licensed version and media center is builtin, no problems.

No, it's a legitimate volume license copy from my employer.

I figured out what happened though. Apparently when I was cooking up my install in vlite I decided this Media Center thing was unwanted baggage and nuked it. I've just confirmed that it's one of the features you can strip out on the vlite forums.

So, now the question is... can I get it back without rebuilding my machine? Will the original (non-vlited) disc allow me to reinstall missing features?

I spent several minutes finding it on mine. Was not listed by alphabet. Instead in middle of list of program files. May not be your situation though.