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II. Enjoying Media with Windows Media Center
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II. Enjoying Media with Windows Media Center
by Mark Edward Soper
Unleashing Microsoft
Copyright
Dedication
About the Author
Acknowledgments
We Want to Hear from You!
Reader Services
Introduction
Maximizing the Potential of Windows Vista’s Multimedia Control Center
How This Book Is Organized
I. Getting Started with Windows Vista Media Center
1. Introducing Windows Vista Media Center
A Brief History of Windows Media Center
Windows Vista and Windows Media Center
Where WMC Fits into Vista’s Multimedia Experience
Starting Windows Media Center
The WMC Interface
Features of WMC
2. Equipping Your PC for Media Center
Essential Components for Any Windows Media Center PC
WMC’s Favorite Processors: Fast, Multi-Core, and 64-Bit!
RAM-a-Rama: Bigger Is Better!
Scanning Your System to Determine Memory Upgrade Options
Other Methods for Analyzing Your System’s Memory
Hard Disks—Bigger, Better, More!
Crunching the Numbers: TV Recording
Crunching the Numbers: Digital Photography
Crunching the Numbers: Digital Music
Summing It All Up: How Much Space Do You Need?
Customizing Your WMC PC for Particular Tasks
Wireless Input Devices and Remote Controls
Watching and Recording Live TV and HDTV
Internal Versus External Tuners
Internal Tuners—PCI Versus PCI Express
NTSC TV and ATSC HDTV
Digital Cable TV: QAM and OCUR
Hybrid and Dual Tuners
Video Card and Integrated Video
DVI and HDMI Ports
HDCP and Your Video Card or Integrated Video
Displays and Monitors
HDCP and Your Display
Surround Sound
Working with Digital Video and Photos
FireWire (IEEE-1394) Ports
Card Reader
Scoping Out Your Hardware
Using MSInfo32
Using an Online System Scanner
Building or Buying a Media Center PC
3. Setting Up Windows Media Center
Making Sure Your PC Is Ready to Rumble
Starting WMC and the Setup Process
Custom Setup: Required Setup
Custom Setup: Optional Setup
Optional Setup: TV
Manual TV Channel Setup
Activating the TV Program Guide
Optional Setup: Optimize Display
Adjusting the Preferred Display
Optimizing for Your Preferred Resolution
Adjusting Display Settings
Optional Setup: Speakers
Optional Setup: Music, Pictures, and Videos Library
Adding Folders on Your System
Adding Folders on Other Systems
Wrapping It Up
Using Settings to Reconfigure Your System
Using the General Settings Menu
Configuring Startup and Window Behavior
Configuring Visual and Sound Effects
Configuring Program Library Options
Rerunning Windows Media Center Setup
Other General Settings Options
Using Other Settings Menu Options
II. Enjoying Media with Windows Media Center
4. Viewing and Recording Live TV
Understanding Your TV Viewing Options
Broadcast and Basic Cable TV
Digital Broadcast TV (ATSC)
Digital Cable TV
Clearing Up the Confusion About Clear QAM
HD Cable TV
Satellite TV
Setting Up Your TV Signal
Configuring Cable/Satellite TV Using a Set-Top Box
Digital Cable Tuner
Using a Converter Box with an NTSC TV Tuner
Configuring the TV Program Guide
Checking ATSC Channel Signal Strength
Watching Live TV
Using the TV Program Guide
Viewing and Using Program Info for Current and Upcoming Shows
Guide Tips and Tricks
Editing Channel Listings
Recording Live TV
Configuring TV Recorder Settings
Recorder Storage
More TV Locations
Recording Defaults
One-Touch Recording
Scheduling Recordings Using the Guide
Recording a TV Series
Dealing with Recording Conflicts
Viewing the Episode List
Configuring Recording Quality and Other Settings
Recording Settings for an Individual Program
Recording Settings for a TV Series
Watching Recorded TV
The Recorded TV Menu
Viewing Scheduled Recordings
Using the Series View
Deleting a Recording
Canceling Recording of a Series
Add Recording
Watching Internet TV
Parental Controls
Enabling and Using Parental Controls
Configuring and Using TV Ratings
Understanding TV Ratings
Configuring and Using Movie/DVD Ratings
Specifying a New Access Code
Resetting Parental Controls
5. Watching and Recording Movies
How to Find Your Favorite Movies Your Way
Introducing the Movies Guide
Watching a Movie from the On Now Menu
Using the On Next Menu
Using the Genres Menu
Using the Top-Rated Menu
Using the Search Tool
Recording Movies
Recording from the Movies Guide
Recording Movies Not Listed in the Guide
Recording from the Search Tool
Customizing Recording Options
Canceling a Recording
Watching Recorded Movies
Resuming or Restarting Movie Playback
Saying “Goodbye” to Your Recording
Watching a DVD Movie
Selecting Zoom Settings
Using Other Menu Options
Creating a DVD Library with My Movies 2
Installing My Movies
Getting Started
Blu-Ray and HD-DVD Support
Adding My Movies to the WMC Interface
The Settings Menu
Watching Blu-Ray Movies in WMC
Hardware
Software
6. Importing and Playing Audio
Overview of the Music Menu
Using Existing Digital Music Libraries
Playing and Ripping Music CDs
Selecting a Visualization
Working with Music as It Is Being Played
Playing and Editing Individual Album Tracks
Editing Song and Rating Information
Working with Albums
Editing Album Information
Creating and Using a Queue
Editing the Queue
Creating a Playlist from a Queue
Using and Managing Playlists
Searching for Your Favorite Music
Listening to FM Radio
Selecting Stations and Creating Presets
Pausing and Recording FM Radio
Listening to Internet Radio
Synchronizing with Portable Players
7. Importing and Viewing Photos
What’s Cool about Photos with WMC
Using the Picture Library
Using the Folders View
Using the Tags View
Using the Date Taken View
“Date Taken”—What It Means and What It Doesn’t
Viewing and Importing Pictures in WMC
Viewing Pictures Before Importing Them
Importing Your Pictures and Videos
Viewing and Working with Individual Photos
Using the Picture Details Menu
Rotating Pictures
Deleting Pictures
Touching Up Photos
Playing a Slide Show with WMC
Supercharging Your Picture Viewing Capabilities with Photoshop Elements for Windows Media Center
Viewing Photos with Photoshop Elements for Windows Media Center
Viewing Slide Shows Created in Photoshop Elements
Displaying Other Pictures as a Slide Show
Tweaking Photoshop Elements for Windows Media Center
Using More Pictures
III. Beyond the Basics of Windows Media Center
8. Enjoying Sports with Windows Media Center
The On Now Menu
Viewing Sports Programs and News
Pausing and Resuming Live Sports
Watching TV Sports on the WMC Desktop
Recording Live Sports TV
Hanging Out in the SportsLounge
Viewing News Stories and Photos
Viewing Sports Videos
Viewing Scores and Game Details
Watching and Recording Games with the On Later Menu
Dealing with Recording Conflicts
Setting Advanced Recording Options
Viewing and Managing Sports Recordings
Viewing Your Recording Schedule
Viewing Your Recording History
Managing Scheduled Series Recordings
Burning DVDs of Your Favorite Games
Keeping an Eye on Scores and Games
Adding Players to Your Fantasy Team with the Players Menu
See More Sports Stories on Internet TV
9. Playing Games and Enjoying Online Resources
Tracking Down WMC’s Games Menu
Compatible Games
Playing the Games
Getting Access to More Games
MSN Games for Media Center
EMUCenter
Adding Your Favorite Games to EMUCenter
Playing Games Through EMUCenter
Exploring Online Media
Fox Sports
HSN Live
AOL for Windows Media Center
AOL Music on Demand
AOL Pictures
Showtime
Discovery Media Center
Live365
TVTonic
Viewing and Subscribing to Channels
Changing Viewing Modes
NPR
Movielink
MSN TV Today
CinemaNow
Promotional Features and Limited-Time Offerings
10. Creating CDs and DVDs
Creating Music CDs
Choosing Music or Data CDs
Burning an Album to CD
Burning Selected Tracks to CD
Burning a Playlist to CD
Selecting Tracks Manually for Burning
Editing a Queue
Transferring TV Recordings to DVD
Creating a Video DVD
Playing Your Video DVD
Burning a Recorded TV Data Disc
Reclaiming Disk Space by Deleting Recordings
Burning a DVD Photo Slide Show
Creating a DVD Slide Show from a Folder
Creating a DVD Slide Show from Various Folders
Editing the Slide Show
Adding Music to Your Slide Show
Burning Data CDs or DVDs
Creating a Mixed-Content CD or DVD
Burning Tips and Tricks
Make Two!
Make One Now, More Later
Troubleshooting CD/DVD Burning
Drive Compatibility Issues
Media Compatibility Issues
Error Messages
“Unable To Add File” Error
“Invalid Application CD/DVD Writer” Error
“CD/DVD Full” Error
IV. Adding Windows Vista Media Center to Your Home Network
11. Adding and Using Media Center Extenders
What Is a Media Center Extender?
Types of Media Center Extenders
Connecting a Media Center Extender to a TV
Connecting Your MCE to Your Home Network
Setting Up Windows Media Center to Work with an MCE
Using a Media Center Extender
Adding an Xbox 360 as an MCE
Configuring the Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender
Adding a Remote Control
Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote
Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360
Upgrading the Xbox 360’s Video Support
Improving Performance of MCEs
Troubleshooting Media Center Extenders
Can’t Finish the Configuration Process
Can’t View Some Types of Content Through the MCE
My MCE Has Stopped Working
My Picture Quality Is Not Acceptable
There’s No Audio
12. Connecting with Windows Home Server and Other PCs
Configuring PC Shares for Media Sharing
Configuring Windows XP for Media Sharing
Is Your Network Already Working? Skip the Network Setup Wizard!
Configuring Windows XP Manually for File Sharing
Configuring Media Folder File Sharing
Using the Shared Documents Folder for Shared Media
Configuring Windows Vista for Media Sharing
Enabling Sharing of Media Folders
Sharing Media Folders
Configuring Other Operating Systems for Media Sharing
Accessing MacOS X Media Shares from Windows Vista
Accessing Linux Media Shares from Windows Vista
Setting Up Windows Home Server for Media Sharing
Storing Media on Windows Home Server
Accessing Media Stored on Windows Home Server
Boosting Network and Internet Performance
Choosing the Fastest Internet Connection
Understanding Wi-Fi (Wireless Ethernet) Network Standards
Boosting Signal Strength—Inexpensively
Checking for Interference from Other Wireless Networks
Finding Out What Wireless Standards Are on Your Network
Changing Your Router’s Configuration
Changing the Channel
Using Wide Channel Settings (802.11n)
Changing Network Mode Settings
Using WPA or WPA2 Encryption Instead of WEP Encryption
Using Gigabit Ethernet Instead of Fast Ethernet
Upgrading Your Router
V. Enhancing Windows Vista Media Center
13. Using Windows Media Player with Windows Media Center
Why WMP and WMC Are “Made for Each Other”
Configuring Audio Ripping
Format and Bit Rate Options
Other Options
Creating Playlists
Creating a Custom Playlist Manually
Filtering Your Collection to Create an Auto Playlist
Viewing and Editing Playlists
Using New Playlists in Windows Media Center
Editing Track and Album Information
Rating Audio
Adding/Changing Album Art and Track Information
Adding and Editing Genres
Downloading Visualizations
14. Creating Photo and Video Content for Media Center
Using Other Vista Features to Make Media Center Even Better
Why Tag Your Photos?
Windows Photo Gallery, Meet Windows Live Photo Gallery
Importing and Tagging Photos
Selecting Import Options
Import All New Items Now
Review, Organize, and Group Items to Import
Completing the Import Process
Using Gallery Mode
Tagging Pictures in Gallery View
Creating a Panoramic Photo Montage
Using Preview Mode
Using Auto Adjust
Using Adjust Exposure
Using Adjust Color
Cropping Your Photos for HDTV Viewing and More
Other Fixes
Using Windows Movie Maker
Creating Slide Shows Quickly with AutoMovie
Creating an AutoMovie from Your Photos
Selecting an AutoMovie Style
Saving Your Movie Project
Adding Audio to Your Movie
Adding and Editing the Title
Editing Transitions
Working with Timeline View
Adding Narration to Your Movie
Adding Narration to a Movie Containing a Music Track
Creating and Editing a Slide Show Manually
Publishing Your Movie for Use with WMC
Converting WMC TV Recordings to Save Space
Publishing Your TV Recording to a Different Format
Publishing Your TV Recording to a DVD
15. Extending Media Center with Third-Party Apps
A Word of Introduction
Codecs 101
Working with Converted Files
Software Installation Notes
Find It Useful? Donations Welcome!
Getting More Help
TV, Video, and Movies
clipShow
DVRMSToolbox
In the Movies SE for MCE
Joost.com http://www.mytvgenie.com/
Lifextender
MCEBuddy
Movie Collector MCE
MSN Remote Record
My Blockbuster
My Trailers SE for MCE
My TV to Go
MyNetflix
MyTV Genie http://www.mytvgenie.com/
Recorded TV Manager
Recording Broker
TV Manager
TV Toolbox
Video Browser for mce
WebGuide
Yougle
Music
MCE Tunes
RadioTime
Music Player
Web Media for Windows Vista Media Center
Photography
Big Screen Photos 2
Photato
Mapping
Google Maps for Media Center
My Mapquest for MCE
System Utilities
FrontView for Windows MCE
MCE Customizer
MC Menu Customizer
Media Center Communicator
Media Center Health Monitor
System Monitor for Vista
Gaming
Accedo Broadband Funspot
GameEx
MCEJoy
Business and Information
Big Screen Contacts 2
Big Screen Headlines 2
Big Screen Weather 2
mceContacts
mcePhone for Skype
mceTapiRex
mceWeather
My Tracker for MCE
Remind Me for MCE
Vista Media Center Outlook
Vista Media Center Email
Vista Media Center RSS Reader
Vista Media Center Video Phone
Vista Caller ID
Home Automation
HAI Home Control for WMC
Life|Ware
mControl
Hobbies and Special Interests
New Rides for MCE
Lottery Results SE for MCE
mceAuction
Tracking Down Additional WMC Add-Ons
16. Troubleshooting Media Center
Solving Performance Problems
Optimizing Power Management
Enable High Performance Power Plan
Improving Performance in Balanced Power Plan
Improving Disk Management
Freeing Up Space on Your System Drive
Defragging Your System on the Right Schedule
Optimizing Screen Display Settings
Switch to the Vista Basic Color Scheme
Disabling Windows Sidebar
Solving Network and Internet Problems
Solving HDTV Viewing Problems
Solving TV Tuning Problems
Troubleshooting Basic Cable TV Problems
Troubleshooting Set-Top Box Problems
Troubleshooting Set-Top Box and Remote Not Recognized Problems
Troubleshooting Broadcast TV
Troubleshooting Digital Broadcast (ATSC) TV
Solving TV Recording Problems
Solving Audio and Music Playback Problems
Solving Codec Problems
Useful Troubleshooting Resources
VI. Appendices
A. Using Windows Anytime Upgrade to Get WMC Features and More
The Benefits of Windows Anytime Upgrade
The Windows Anytime Upgrade Process
Control Panel Versus Website Anytime Upgrade
Checking Your System with the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
Other Preparations to Make Before Upgrading
B. Moving from Windows XP Media Center Editions to Windows Vista Media Center
So, What’s New In Windows Media Center for Vista?
Can Your XP MCE System Run Vista?
Everybody Can Upgrade, but not Everybody Should Perform an Upgrade Installation
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3. Setting Up Windows Media Center
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4. Viewing and Recording Live TV
Part II. Enjoying Media with Windows Media Center
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