If an automatic channel scan isn’t working for you, you can select No, Proceed to Manual TV Signal Setup and set up your TV signal manually. On the first dialog, you select the type of TV signal you use: Cable, Satellite, or Antenna.

If you select Satellite, the next dialog reminds you to verify that your satellite receiver is working correctly. Click Next to continue. Select from channels 2, 3, and 4, S-Video, or composite video to find a TV signal. A preview window displays the TV signal (refer to Figure 3.5). Click Scan Again if you need to rescan your TV after making adjustments. WMC detects the infrared (IR) hardware used by your set-top box and completes setup.

Figure 3.5. Searching for a working TV signal when setting up satellite TV manually.

If you select Antenna or Cable, you are prompted to use the TV Program Guide (“Guide”). See the next section for details.

Whether you are automatically or manually setting up your system for cable or antenna (over-the-air) TV, WMC asks you if you want to use the TV Program Guide (“Guide”). The Guide is a virtual necessity if you want to record live TV or movies automatically, but you can turn down the offer. (If you do, you will need to record manually or use another source for TV listings.) If you’re feeling paranoid, you can view the Guide privacy statement before you answer the question, but be prepared for 68 screens of data (as delivered by the 10-foot WMC graphical user interface (GUI), so you don’t need to squint).

After signing off on the Guide, U.S. residents are prompted to enter their zip codes. This information is used to find and download appropriate over-the-air (antenna) or cable TV providers to choose from. Select your TV signal provider from the list (see Figure 3.6 for a typical example), and the appropriate TV Program Guide downloads to your system, completing the TV portion of Optional Setup.

Figure 3.6. Selecting a TV signal provider.

On the next dialog, WMC asks if you are running the wizard on your preferred display. Click Yes if you are or No for instructions on rerunning the wizard on your preferred display later.

On the next dialog, select your display type: monitor (CRT), built-in (laptop and all-in-one desktop units), flat panel (LCD monitor), television (all types), or projector.

Next, select your connection type from three families:

Move your mouse over each selection to see pictures of each connection type, or refer to Figure 3.8 (pictures of cable connectors).

Figure 3.8. Video cable connector types.

Next, select the width (aspect ratio) of your display: traditional TV/monitor 4:3 ratio (also known elsewhere as 1.33:1) or widescreen 16:9 ratio.

After you select the width of your screen, it’s time to review your current display resolution. Click Yes to accept it or No if it is not correct.

If you answer No, a list of supported display resolutions appears (refer to Figure 3.9 A). Select the best one from the list. If you don’t see the mode you want to use, click Select All Modes to see additional display resolutions along with the refresh rates they support (see Figure 3.9 B). Choose the mode you want to use.

Figure 3.9. Selecting a different display resolution.

When you select a different mode, WMC attempts to switch to the new resolution, apply an overscan correction, and optimize colors and fonts. Use the Preview option to see if the changes can be made. You will be notified if the resolution switch was successful. Click Yes to accept the changes. If you don’t want to accept the changes or if the resolution changes didn’t work, you are prompted to try a different resolution or stick with your current selection.

If you answer Yes, WMC applies overscan correction and optimizes the colors and fonts on your display. Use the Preview option to see the adjustments first. Click Yes to accept the changes.

Note that some resolutions might use interlaced video (refer to Figure 3.9). Interlaced video writes every other screen line with each pass of the electron gun that creates the picture inside the TV or CRT monitor. Although these resolutions look just as good within WMC as non-interlaced modes, interlacing makes the standard Windows desktop look jumpy. If you plan to switch between WMC and the standard Windows desktop, avoid interlaced resolutions if you can—your eyes will thank you!

After you confirm (or adjust) your display resolution, it’s time to adjust display settings. If you’re satisfied with contrast, brightness, color, and other settings, click Finish This Wizard, and WMC checks off another task. However, if you want to fine-tune these settings, click Adjust Display Controls.

First, it’s time to calibrate your display. Click Next to display a list of changes you can make. These include

Select the option you want to adjust, and click Next. You can run these tasks in any order and skip tasks you don’t need to perform.

To adjust onscreen centering and sizing, watch the video (starring our old friends, the pool players), and use the centering and sizing controls to adjust the large picture so it matches the inset picture. Figure 3.10 shows you an example of an improperly and a properly adjusted display. Keep a careful eye on the edges of the display, which can be cut off if you don’t adjust centering and sizing properly.

Figure 3.10. Adjusting sizing and centering.

The video plays several times to allow you adequate time to make adjustments. However, if you are not satisfied (or just plain out of time to make adjustments), go back and run the test again. After the test is completed, it is checked off the Display Calibration list, and you can proceed to the Aspect Ratio adjustment.

The Aspect Ratio (Shape) helps you fine-tune the screen geometry of your display. Even though you selected the aspect ratio of your display earlier in the setup process, you might still need to tweak the size and centering (screen geometry) of your display to ensure that squares are square, circles are circles, and so forth. During the video playback (which features the pool table seen in previous videos), adjust the display to make sure the billiard balls are round and the chalk block is square. Figure 3.11 shows you examples of incorrect and correct screen geometry.

Figure 3.11. Adjusting Aspect Ratio (Shape).

The video plays several times so you can make the necessary adjustments. At the end of playback, Aspect Ratio is checked off the Display Calibration list, and it’s time to adjust Brightness.

Brightness calibration, despite the name, maybe ought to be called “black and shadow” calibration. It’s designed to make sure you don’t lose important details in the shadows. Look for the brightness or “black level” control on your display, and while the video of the black-suited, gray-shirted pool player runs, adjust the controls if necessary so that the suit is black, and you can tell the difference between the suit and the shirt. Figure 3.12 shows an example of an incorrectly and correctly adjusted display.

Figure 3.12. Adjusting brightness (black and shadow).

The video plays several times so you can make the necessary adjustments. At the end of playback, Brightness is checked off the Display Calibration list, and it’s time to adjust Contrast.

Contrast calibration is used to make sure bright areas don’t lose detail. Look for the contrast or picture control on your display or display menu, and while the video of the white-shirted pool player runs, adjust the contrast if necessary to ensure that you can see the wrinkles and buttons on the shirt (see Figure 3.13).

Figure 3.13. Adjusting contrast.

As with other adjustments, you might get tired of watching the video play or be glad you have several chances to make the needed adjustments. At the end of playback, Contrast is checked off the Display Calibration list, and it’s time to adjust your display’s RGB color balance.

RGB color balance calibration is designed to make sure your display produces accurate colors. If you can select a color temperature setting of 6500ºK on your display’s controls, use that setting, and you don’t need to run this calibration. Otherwise, go to the next screen, and play the video. While the video plays, adjust color settings to remove any off-color appearance of the white and gray bars behind the pool player (Figure 3.14). The camera pans up from the table and zooms in on the bars.

Figure 3.14. Tweak the RGB color balance to make the bars look pure white and shades of gray.

At the end of playback, RGB Color Balance is checked off the list, and you’re done with Display Calibration (Figure 3.15). Click Next to see a message that shows you’re finished with Display setup. Click Next again to return to the Optional Setup menu.

Figure 3.15. Finished with Display Calibration? The checkmarks say “Yes!”

To add a folder, click Add Folder to Watch. You can add folders on your computer, other computers, or both (refer to Figure 3.18). I recommend that you select the option to set up both local and network folders.

Figure 3.18. Library folder options.

When you add folders on your computer, you see a list of folder locations, including your desktop, the current user’s folders, Public Documents, the system hard disk, and CD/DVD drives (see Figure 3.19 A). To see subfolders of a particular location, click the plus (+) sign. To select a folder (and its subfolders), highlight it with your mouse or your remote, and click the checkbox or press the OK button on your remote. Use the scroll arrows to move to additional screens as needed. Click Next to continue.

Figure 3.19. Adding local folders.

Review the folders added, and click Finish to add those folders to WMC’s watch list (refer to Figure 3.19 B). A pop-up dialog appears as folder contents are being added to WMC’s libraries. Click OK to continue, or wait until the dialog is cleared away.

When you add folders from other systems, a list of shared folders is displayed on your monitor (see Figure 3.20 A). Click the checkbox next to each folder that contains media files you want to play. Use the scroll arrows to move to additional screens as needed.

Figure 3.20. Adding network folders.

Review the folders added, and click Finish to add those folders to WMC’s watch list. A pop-up dialog appears as folder contents are being added to WMC’s libraries (see Figure 3.20 B). When you add folders from remote systems, it takes longer than adding folders on local systems. Click OK to continue, or wait until the dialog is cleared away.

By default, WMC displays taskbar notifications, shows TV tips in the TV Program Guide, and displays a Not Designed for WMC dialog (if you try to run programs designed for the standard Windows GUI from within WMC). To change these options, to enable WMC to run on top at all times, or to run when Windows starts, check or uncheck the corresponding settings in the Startup and Window Behavior menu (see Figure 3.22). Click Save to save changes or Cancel to discard changes.

Figure 3.22. Suggested settings for optimizing WMC for full-screen, full-time use.

By default, WMC produces various types of beeps, boops, and chimes as you navigate its features. To disable the sound effects or to disable the transition animations WMC uses, clear the appropriate checkboxes in the Visual and Sound Effects menu (refer to Figure 3.23).

Figure 3.23. Adjusting sound effects and WMC screen display style.

You can also use this menu to switch to high-contrast white or high-contrast black menus (see Figure 3.24) or to change the background color used behind videos. Click Save to save changes or Cancel to discard changes.

Figure 3.24. High-contrast WMC menus.

WMC’s Program Library includes any third-party applications optimized for Vista WMC that you might install, such as Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0. Change how these programs work with the Program Library Options menu (see Figure 3.25).

Figure 3.25. Adjusting how the Program Library works.

If WMC’s current setup is not working, you can rerun selected portions of setup or all of setup by selecting Windows Media Center Setup from the General menu and choosing the portions of setup to rerun (see Figure 3.26). If you change audio, display types, or add a TV tuner, you can rerun only the portions of setup affected by your change in hardware.

Figure 3.26. Use this menu to rerun portions or all of WMC setup.

The Parental Controls menu is used to configure TV and movie viewing. Automatic Downloads is used to configure when WMC downloads the TV Program Guide. Optimization configures when WMC performs system optimizations. About WMC displays the current WMC version, the TV Program Guide Terms of Service, and the credits information for data providers. Privacy displays the current privacy statement and configures privacy and customer experience settings.