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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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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TV on your computer: Understanding TV signals and TV tuners
With Windows Media Center you can watch and record live TV on your computer. All you need is a TV tuner and a TV signal. The following sections describe the kinds of tuners and signals that are available, and what you'll need to connect a TV signal properly.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Watching TV in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about watching TV in Windows Media Center. What is a TV tuner and why do I need one? Why do I get an error when I try to watch TV? Why did the TV stop or the channel change unexpectedly? I'm using an IR blaster and a set-top box with Media Center. Why can't I change channels? Why can't I get a signal for standard TV channels? Why can't I get a signal for digital TV channels received from an antenna? Why can't I get a signal for a digital cable TV channel?

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Managing recorded TV shows in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
With the right setup, you can use Windows Media Center to watch and record live TV on your computer. Here are answers to some common questions about managing recorded TV shows in Media Center. How do I change the settings for recording TV shows? What's the best way to delete recorded TV shows? What happens to shows that are recorded as part of a TV series? How do I cancel recording a series? What is copy protection and how does it affect me?

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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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Use Ease of Access features in Windows Media Center
Windows Media Center is compatible with the following Windows accessibility features: Narrator, Magnifier, and Descriptive Video Service (DVS). You can use Narrator to convert text to speech, set Magnifier to enhance the view of your screen, and activate Descriptive Video Service for your TV.

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Turn on high contrast in Windows Media Center
The high-contrast color schemes in Windows Media Center are designed for people with low vision. You can turn on high contrast to make text easier to read.

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Turn off your computer using Windows Media Center
You can perform some computer-oriented tasks from within Media Center, such as turning off your computer or making it sleep. This can be useful if you use a Media Center remote control, and you want to perform these tasks without a mouse and keyboard. To turn off your computer or perform other computer-oriented tasks using a Media Center remote control:

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Show closed captions or subtitles in Windows Media Center
Closed captions are textual representations of the audio in a TV program. For example, closed captions can display the spoken dialogue in a show, as well as non-verbal information, such as music and sound effects. This text is broadcast along with the TV signal from your TV service provider. You can turn closed captions on in Windows Media Center if you're deaf or hard-of-hearing, or if you just want to keep the volume low and read along.

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Playing DVDs in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about playing DVDs in Windows Media Center. Why isn't there sound when watching a DVD? Why is the video distorted when watching a DVD? Why won't a DVD play? Why is the movie information or cover art for my DVD wrong or missing? Why does a different program open every time I insert a DVD in my computer?

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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 Windows Security Center?
Action Center replaces Windows Security Center in this version of Windows. Action Center manages firewall settings, Windows Update, antispyware software settings, Internet security, and User Account control settings. Action Center also monitors computer maintenance settings and provides links to troubleshooters and other tools that can help fix problems.

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