Your pics on the big screen: Create slide shows in Windows Media Center
Every party needs a little background music to set the mood, but have you ever considered background photos? With Windows Media Center, you can have both. For those unfamiliar with Media Center, it's a feature in Windows Vista that serves as a center for your digital media collection, including photos, music, TV shows, and home movies. With the right setup, you can use Media Center to completely change the dynamic of your living room by playing a slide show of your favorite photos-along with background music-on your TV. The best way to experience slide shows is on an HDTV, using a Media Center remote to control the action.

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Listen to music in Windows Media Center
You probably already know that Windows Media Center is a great way to watch and record TV, but did you know that its also a fun way to listen to music as well? Whether on your couch or at your desk, you can use Windows Media Center to find your favorite songs, or you can create playlists for parties. You can even watch a slide show of your favorite pictures moving across your screen while the music plays .

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Troubleshoot audio problems in Windows Media Center
Here are solutions to some common problems with audio in Windows Media Center. Why aren't music files displayed in Windows Media Center? Why doesn't album information or cover art display? Why does a codec error display when I try to play music? Why isn't there sound? Why doesn't a music file play? Why doesn't an audio CD play? How can I change the program that AutoPlay opens when I plug in a device or insert a disc?

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Getting started with Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player provides an intuitive, easy-to-use interface to play digital media files, organize your digital media collection, burn CDs of your favorite music, rip music from CDs, sync digital media files to a portable music player, and shop for digital media content from online stores.

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Troubleshoot problems with a Windows Media Center Extender device
Here are solutions to some common problems when using a Windows Media Center Extender. What if a Windows Media Center Extender cannot connect to a Windows Media Center computer? What if Windows Media Center cannot detect the Extender during setup? I can't play some audio and video files when using Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender. What types of audio and video files can I play when I am using Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender? Why does the Network Issue notification often appear when I use a Media Center Extender device? Media Center Extender responds slowly when I am using it. What happens if the connection to the Windows Media Center computer is lost? What happens if the Extender did not acquire a valid IP address? How do I control the media experience when using Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender? I added new content to my libraries in Windows Media Center, but now I dont see the new content on my Extender. What can I do? What features aren't available in Windows Media Center when using a Media Center Extender? Where else can I find help for troubleshooting problems when using a Media Center Extender ?

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Using Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a feature of Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate that turns your computer into a multimedia powerhouse. You can use Windows Media Center to watch, record, and pause live TV; listen to your entire music collection; view your family pictures and home movies; play games; burn CDs and DVDs; and listen to Internet and FM radio. And if you have a compatible remote control, you can do all of this from across the room. You can even connect your Media Center PC to your TV so the whole family can enjoy the show.

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Play your digital media anywhere in the home using Windows Media Center
Let's say you recorded your favorite TV show on your computer using Windows Media Center, but when you returned to watch it, a family member was using the computer for something else. Did you know that it's possible to watch that show in another room without purchasing a second computer? Using a Windows Media Center Extender, you can access your TV shows-even your pictures, music, and videos-in the upstairs bedroom, the den, the living room, or anywhere else you happen to have a TV.

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Browse, stream, and download digital media from Online Media in Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center offers a number of partner programs in Online Media to enhance your entertainment experience. For example, you can play games on demand, share pictures, find digital music and radio programs, download movies, and watch videos over the Internet. Some of these programs will be pre-installed on your Windows Media Center computer, some require installation, and others will work over the Internet without installation.

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Sync TV shows to a device
You can use Windows Media Center to sync (or copy) digital media files such as recorded TV shows, music, and pictures to your Portable Media Center, Smartphone, Pocket PC, or mass storage device, provided that your portable device can play back these different types of digital media. This lets you enjoy the digital media that you have on your Windows Media Center computer away from home.

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Use a Windows Media Center Extender device
If your computer has no TV tuner, an optional analog or digital TV tuner is required to play and record TV in Windows Media Center. Windows Media Center Extender makes it easy for you to enjoy Windows Media Center experiences anywhere in your home. While the Extender works much the same as Windows Media Center, it is a separate device and there are some differences. The Extender is always on and running, ready for you to turn on your TV, watch a show, or view some pictures.

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Add digital media files to Windows Media Center
The first time you start Windows Media Center, it will look for digital media files in the Music, Pictures, and Videos folders. But you are not limited to these folders for storing your digital media.

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Rip music: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about ripping CDs in Windows Media Player. What is ripping? What happens if I decide to copy protect music that I rip? Where do I find the files that I ripped? Can I rename or move files that I have already ripped? Can I change the format or bit rate of files that I have already ripped? Can I listen to music while ripping? Can I copy the contents of a video DVD onto my computer using the Player?

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Troubleshoot problems with pictures in Windows Media Center
Here are solutions to some common problems with pictures in Windows Media Center. Why doesn't a picture display in Windows Media Center? The quality of the picture is low. I cannot save a picture after editing it in Windows Media Center. How can I change the program that AutoPlay opens when I plug in a device or insert a disc?

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Keep Windows Media Center on top of other windows
You can keep Windows Media Center visible on your desktop so that you can enjoy digital media content while doing other tasks on your computer. You can also resize the Windows Media Center window so that you can see everything that you want on your computer.

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Play games in Windows Media Center
Windows Vista, together with its media partners, offer on-demand online games that you can play on your Windows Media Center computer. The additional icons that appear in Online Media on the start screen in Windows Media Center vary by country/region.

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Change settings for ripping music
You can use Windows Media Player to rip (or copy) the tracks from your audio CDs onto your computer, after which the tracks that you rip become files on your computer. There are a number of settings you can customize to make ripping work better for you.

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Troubleshoot problems with recording TV on your computer
Here are solutions to some common problems you might encounter while using Windows Media Center to record TV on your computer. Why is there a recording conflict? Why didn't my TV show record? Why can't I find a recording? Why did the wrong channel record? What happens if the hard disk space is low or full? How can I increase the limit so more series shows can be recorded? Why can't Windows Media Center locate the channel to record? What should I do if Windows Media Center fails to record a program? What should I do if Windows Media Center fails to stop recording a program? Why was Windows Media Center unable to create the recording file?

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Use a remote control with Windows Media Center
If you want to control Windows Media Center with a remote control, an optional Windows Media Center remote control is required. If your computer has no TV tuner, an optional analog or digital TV tuner is required to play and record TV in Windows Media Center. There are different models available of the Windows Media Center remote control with a variety of options. The remote control can come with the Windows Media Center computer you have purchased or it can be purchased at retail locations.

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Set up Guide listings for use in Windows Media Center
If you have Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, and you have a TV signal connected to your computer, you can use the Guide to keep track of TV listings in Windows Media Center. The Guide is useful for scheduling programs you want to record in Windows Media Center, and for simply browsing through channels to see what's on TV.

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Set up a Windows Media Center Extender device
You can set up a Windows Media Center Extender so that you can enjoy digital media on your Windows Media Center computer in a variety of places. To enjoy your digital media files in your home by using an Extender, you need to make sure that your Extender and Windows Media Center computer are connected to your home network.

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Rip music from a CD
You can use Windows Media Player to copy songs from audio CDs to your computer. This process is known as ripping. During the ripping process, the Player makes a copy of each song, stores it on your hard disk as a compressed Windows Media Audio (WMA) or MP3 file, and then adds it to your library.

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Use Parental Controls in Windows Media Center
If your computer has no TV tuner, an optional analog or digital TV tuner is required to play and record TV in Windows Media Center. The advent of digital media provides unprecedented access to a wide variety of content, some of which might not be suitable for every viewer. Parents can specify and enforce which content is suitable for their families by configuring Parental Controls within Windows Media Center.

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Control which programs are displayed in Windows Media Center
In Windows Media Center, you can choose which partner programs are displayed in the Start screen, in addition to the Program Library. This allows you to quickly find programs that you use regularly. When a new program is installed, it will appear automatically in the associated category (Music, TV, or Pictures + Videos). The next program that is registered in that category will replace the one before it. Hiding a program does not uninstall the program.

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Play a CD or DVD in Windows Media Center
If you want to control Windows Media Center with a remote control, an optional Windows Media Center remote control is required. Using Windows Media Center, you can play audio and data CDs, as well as video and data DVDs. This lets you enjoy both commercial CDs and DVDs, as well as CDs and DVDs that you have created.

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Do you have Windows Media Center?
Learn how to quickly find out if your current Windows operating system includes Windows Media Center.

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Listen to radio in Windows Media Center
An optional FM tuner is required to play FM radio stations in Windows Media Center. You can use Windows Media Center to listen to FM and Internet radio stations available in your area, and you can create presets for your favorite radio stations.

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Set up a TV signal in Windows Media Center
Did you know that it's possible to watch and record live TV on your computer? All you need is Windows Media Center a feature included in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate a TV signal, and a compatible TV tuner device.

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Play video and watch pictures in Windows Media Center
With Windows Media Center, you can play your home videos and view your digital photos in a number of fun ways. You can also organize your digital media files to make them easier to access from your computer's hard disk.

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Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about burning CDs and DVDs in Windows Media Center. What types of CDs can I burn in Windows Media Center? What types of DVDs can I burn in Windows Media Center? On average, how much video can I fit on a recordable DVD when burning a video DVD? What determines how long it will take to burn the DVD? Why does a notification appear that says the quality will be reduced when I add a few video files to a video DVD? Why am I asked if I want to skip a file when burning an audio CD?

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Troubleshoot problems with DVDs and movies in Windows Media Center
Here are solutions to some common problems with playing DVDs and viewing movie information in Windows Media Center. Why doesn't digital audio work for DVD? Why is the DVD video distorted? Why doesn't a DVD play? What happens if the DVD has a different region code and does not play? Why doesn't movie information or cover art display in Windows Media Center? How can I change the program that AutoPlay opens when I plug in a device or insert a disc?

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Windows Media Center Quick Reference for Xbox 360
This document contains important information about using your Xbox 360 with Windows Media Center. This document includes information such as using the Xbox 360 controller and the Xbox 360 Remotes with Windows Media Center and networking tips. (pdf file, install Acrobat Reader to view this file).

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Managing recorded TV shows in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
If you have Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, as well as a compatible TV tuner device, you can use Windows Media Center to watch and record live TV on your computer. Here are answers to some common questions about managing TV shows that you record in Windows Media Center. How do I change the default storage settings for my recorded programs? How do I delete my recorded TV programs? Why aren't my programs being recorded? What happens when there is no hard disk space available for recording a TV program? How long does Windows Media Center keep my recordings on the hard disk? What happens to programs that are recorded as part of a TV series? How do I cancel recording a series? How can I change recording settings for future recordings? What is copy protection and how does it affect me?

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What should I know before adding TV tuners to use with Windows Media Center?
A TV tuner is a device that makes it possible to connect a TV signal to your computer. With Windows Media Center a feature included in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate and a compatible TV tuner, you can watch live TV shows and movies on your computer, and record programs for future viewings.

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Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Center
You can burn many different types of CDs and DVDs in Windows Media Center. This lets you decide what type of DVD or CD you want to create, based on how and what you want to use to play the content after it is burned to a disc.

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TV signals that are supported by Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a feature included in Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate that enables you to watch and record live TV on your computer. The TV signals and programming that you can watch and record depend on the following:

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Troubleshoot problems with radio stations in Windows Media Center
Here are solutions to some common problems with playing FM radio in Windows Media Center. An optional FM tuner is required to play FM band radio stations in Windows Media Center. Why doesn't my FM radio play? Why are no FM radio stations detected? Why did the FM radio stop playing unexpectedly? Why does fast forward or rewind not work when I'm playing FM radio? Why can't I find the option to play FM radio? Why can't I find Internet radio?

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Use the Guide in Windows Media Center
If you want to find out what's on TV now or in the future, turn to the Guide in Windows Media Center. The Guide displays all TV programs in a table, listing the date and time across the top, the channel number and channel name down the left side, and program titles throughout the grid.

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Start Windows Media Center automatically when Windows starts
You can have Windows Media Center start immediately every time you start Windows.

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Watch TV in Windows Media Center
You can use Windows Media Center to watch live and recorded TV programs. You can even pause or rewind live TV so you don't miss any of the action.

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Visualizations for Windows Media Player
Add a visual experience to your music by adding visualizations to Windows Media Player. Visualizations move to the beat of the music. You can make your computer a digital jukebox at your next party by setting a visualization in the Now Playing view and enlarging the Player to full mode.

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