Action Center
Peeved by pop-up balloons? Action Center lets you decide which Windows 7 alerts you see and which you don't. Action Center consolidates message traffic from key Windows maintenance and security features, including Windows Defender and User Account Control. If Windows requires your attention, the Action Center icon appears in the taskbar...

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What happened to Problem Reports and Solutions?
Problem Reports and Solutions is now part of Action Center, which is a central place to view alerts and take actions that can help keep Windows running smoothly. You can use Action Center to review important notifications about security and maintenance settings that need your attention, get information about specific system settings, and perform recommended maintenance tasks. You can also find helpful links to troubleshooters and other tools that can help fix problems.

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Security checklist for Windows 7
Use this checklist to make sure you're taking advantage of all the ways that Windows can help keep your computer as secure and safe as possible: Action Center, Windows Defender, User Account Control, Backup and Restore, Windows Update, Windows Firewall.

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Getting started with Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a feature that is included in some editions of Windows 7. When used to its fullest, Media Center can turn your computer into a powerful home entertainment hub. You can unleash the full power of Media Center by connecting your computer to a high-definition TV and using a Media Center remote to control all the action from your couch.

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Get security updates for Windows
Security updates for Windows can help protect against new and ongoing threats to your privacy and to your computer. The best way to get security updates is to turn on Windows automatic updating and stay informed about security issues.

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Listen to music in Windows Media Center
Most people think of watching and recording TV when they think of Windows Media Center, but did you know that Media Center is also a great way to listen to music? You can use Windows Media Center to play your favorite songs, create playlists for parties, and even watch a slide show of your pictures while the music plays.

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Using Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is a feature included in some editions of Windows 7. You can use Media Center to watch, record, and pause live TV; listen to your entire music collection; view your family pictures and home movies; 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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Use a remote control with Windows Media Center
You can use a mouse and keyboard to get around Windows Media Center, but the best way to experience Media Center is with a remote control. There are many types of Media Center remote controls available to buy, with a variety of options. If you purchased a Media Center PC or a TV tuner, a remote control might have even been included with it.

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File types supported by Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center can play many different music, video, and picture file types. You can even make Media Center the default player for specific types of files so that they'll open in Media Center when you double-click them.

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How does Action Center check for problems?
Action Center checks several security and maintenance-related items of your computer that help indicate your computer's overall performance. When the status of a monitored item changes (for example, your antivirus software becomes out of date) Action Center notifies you with a message in the notification area on the taskbar, the status of the item in Action Center changes color to reflect the severity of the message, and an action is recommended.

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Radio in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
With the right equipment, you can play FM radio in Windows Media Center. Here are answers to some common questions about playing FM radio in Windows Media Center. What do I need to play FM radio in Media Center? Why doesn't my FM radio play? Why did the FM radio stop playing unexpectedly? Why doesn't fast forward or rewind work when I'm playing FM radio? Why can't I see the option to play FM radio on the start screen? Where can I find Internet radio stations in Media Center?

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Working with pictures in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
You can use Windows Media Center to view your pictures, edit them, and even create slide shows on your TV. Here are answers to some common questions about working with pictures in Media Center. How do I see my pictures in Media Center? How do I create a slide show with music? Why doesn't a picture display in Media Center? Why is the quality of a picture low? Why can't I save a picture after editing it in Media Center? Why does a different program open automatically when I connect my digital camera?

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Playing music in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about playing music and other audio files in Windows Media Center. How do I make my music appear in Media Center? Why doesn't album information (such as cover art) display? Why isn't there sound? Why doesn't a music file play? How do I play an audio CD or DVD in Media Center? Is there a graphic equalizer in Media Center so I can fine-tune the way my music sounds?

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Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Center
There are many options available to you for burning CDs and DVDs in Windows Media Center. Knowing how you want to use the burned disc will help you determine which option is right for you.

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Play a CD or DVD in Windows Media Center
In Windows Media Center, you can play audio CDs and DVD movies. You can also play data CDs and DVDs (discs that contain digital media files, such as MP3, WMV, and JPEG files). Playing CDs and DVDs in Media Center is best experienced using a Media Center remote control. Make sure that the type of Media Center remote control you use is compatible with your computer.

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Windows Media Center
Watch, pause, and record live TV. Listen to your tunes. Show off your photo collection. Enjoy online entertainment. And do it all from your living-room couch. Is it any wonder critics call Media Center the hidden gem of Windows? In Windows 7, we've made it even better-adding great new features (many suggested by you) and visual touch-ups.

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Add media files to Windows Media Center
The first time you start Windows Media Center, it looks for media files in the Music, Pictures, and Videos libraries on your computer. Through these libraries, you can control which songs, movies, and other media appear in Media Center.

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Windows Media Center Extenders: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about using a Windows Media Center Extender. What are Extenders? I already have an Extender device. Will it work with Windows 7? What if my Extender won't connect to my computer during or after setup? Why won't certain albums, video files, or TV programs play on my Extender? Why does a Network Issue notification often appear when I use my Extender? Why does my Extender perform slowly? What happens if I lose the connection between my Extender and my computer? What Media Center features aren't available when using an Extender? Where else can I find help for my Extender?

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TV signals that are supported by Windows Media Center
With Windows Media Center, you can watch and record live TV on your computer.

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What happened to Windows Sidebar?
Windows Sidebar isn't included in this version of Windows. Instead, you can display gadgets on your desktop.

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Creating slide shows with music 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. You can use Media Center to play slide shows of your favorite photos-along with background music-on your computer. This is especially cool if you're computer is connected to a TV. A Media Center slide show can completely change the dynamic of your living room for parties and get-togethers.

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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 TV signal, and a compatible TV tuner device.

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Playing videos in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about playing videos in Windows Media Center. Why won't a video file play? Why can't I fast-forward or rewind a video? Why don't I see a video that I downloaded in Media Center?

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Watch TV in Windows Media Center
If your computer has the necessary hardware, you can use Windows Media Center to watch, pause, and rewind live and recorded TV programs on your PC.

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Use a Windows Media Center Extender
You can use a Windows Media Center Extender to stream the media stored on your Windows 7 computer to another room in your home.

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Record TV in Windows Media Center
With Windows Media Center, you can record live TV shows and movies directly onto your computer. You can even schedule a recording in advance or automatically record new episodes of your favorite TV series.

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Connecting to the Internet in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about connecting to the Internet in Windows Media Center. Why do I need an Internet connection to use Media Center? How can I confirm that I have an Internet connection in Media Center? How do I set up an Internet connection on my computer?

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Windows Media Center keyboard shortcuts
You can access any feature in Windows Media Center using only the keyboard. In addition, Media Center provides a variety of keyboard shortcuts so that navigating with the keyboard is easier.

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Use the Guide in Windows Media Center
If 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, or for simply browsing through channels to see what's on TV.

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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 and a compatible TV tuner, you can watch live TV shows and movies on your computer, and record programs for future viewing.

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Set recording options in Windows Media Center
You can customize how TV shows are recorded in Windows Media Center. For instance, you can prioritize certain recordings over others, or change the recording quality for future recordings.

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Edit pictures in Windows Media Center
You can make changes to your digital pictures in Windows Media Center, such as rotating a picture or removing red eye. You can also print pictures and delete pictures.

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Updating your computer
Updates can enhance the security and performance of your computer. Here are ways to help you keep Windows and your programs up to date. Learn: How can I tell if my computer is up to date? Get security updates for Windows; Understanding Windows automatic updating; Keeping computers on a network up to date; Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly; Keep Windows Defender definitions up to date; Update Microsoft Office.

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View pictures and videos in Windows Media Center
With Windows Media Center, you can play home videos and view your digital photos in a number of fun ways.

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Listen to radio in Windows Media Center
You can listen to FM radio in Windows Media Center and create presets for your favorite radio stations. To listen to FM radio in Media Center, you'll need an FM tuner connected to or installed in your computer, and an antenna connected to the tuner to receive a signal.

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Resolve recording conflicts in Windows Media Center
When recording TV shows in Windows Media Center, you'll run into a recording conflict whenever you have more scheduled recordings than available TV tuners on your computer for any given time. For example, if you only have one TV tuner, but two shows scheduled to record at the same time, Media Center will notify you of the recording conflict and you can choose which show you want to record.

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Set up a Windows Media Center Extender
With a Windows Media Center Extender and the right setup, you can stream the media stored on your Windows 7 computer to another room in your home. To do this, your computer and your Extender must be connected to your home network.

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What is Action Center?
Action Center is a central place to view alerts and take actions that can help keep Windows running smoothly.

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View Archived Messages about Computer Problems
The computer problems which are reported to Microsoft are archived by Windows 7 via its Action Center. The problems can be related to security of the system, abnormal termination of a program, system instability and so on.

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Why didn't my TV show record in Windows Media Center?
If a TV show in Windows Media Center doesn't record, and the show has already finished airing, there's no way to go back and record it again. However, you might be able to change your settings or your hardware configuration to prevent recording failures from happening in the future.

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