Frequently Asked Questions

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005,¹ available pre-installed on Media Center PCs, allows you to get the most out of digital entertainment in a simple, connected way in any room in the home. Photos, music, television, movies, and games—you can experience them all to the fullest, while easily controlling everything from one place. Media Center PCs deliver advanced computing plus easy-to-use integrated digital entertainment that you can enjoy when and how you want. All your digital media is in one place, accessible on either a PC monitor or TV display, using a single remote control. With Media Center, you can pause and rewind live TV or radio, digitally record an entire TV series or program category, watch DVDs and videos, organise and play your music collection, and showcase digital photos.

With Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, you can get the most out of digital entertainment in a simple, connected way in any room in the home. Photos, music, television, movies, or games—experience them all to the fullest, while easily controlling everything from one place. When connected to a home network, the Windows Media Center PC becomes a hub for whole-home entertainment with connected devices in any room in the house, or even on the go with portable devices. Best of all, it's Windows, making it all familiar and easy. New features include:

Yes. Localised versions of the product are now available for Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands and Switzerland, and of course the UK.

Media Center is a full-screen interface that helps you access more entertainment with less effort. Using the Media Center interface, you can access your entertainment using your mouse or a remote. From your favorite chair, use the Media Center remote control to browse TV Program Guide listings for shows to watch and record. Browse thumbnail images of your music, photos, and videos to find entertainment easily. Sort choices by artist, show or album title, or genre. While you browse your entertainment choices, the Now Playing window keeps your currently playing media selection in view and within easy reach. You can also access Media Center while sitting at your desk using a mouse and keyboard.

You can purchase Media Center PCs from a variety of retailers or direct from the manufacturers. See the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 How to Buy page for complete details.

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is made available only with the purchase of a new PC. New this year, System Builders and smaller manufacturers may offer Media Center Edition 2005 pre-installed on new PCs. Always be sure that the Media Center PC that you purchase comes with a Genuine Windows Certificate of Authenticity (COA) complete with hologram.

Software upgrades from the original Windows XP Media Center Edition to the new 2005 version are available through most hardware manufacturers. Due to support requirements and hardware configurations, Media Center Upgrades are made at the discretion of the PC manufacturer. Please contact your Media Center PC manufacturer regarding upgrade availability, and see the "How to Upgrade" page for details.

Yes. A computer running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 delivers the full power and functionality of Windows XP. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is the best version of Windows for the home. In addition to enjoying the rich digital media and gaming experiences it offers, you can use a Media Center PC to surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail messages or Instant Messaging, run spreadsheets, create documents and presentations, and a lot more.

Yes, you can run Media Center in a smaller window and use Windows XP-compatible applications simultaneously. Simply resize the Media Center window to view your program or movie while simultaneously working, e-mailing, or surfing the Web. If you are interrupted while watching TV, just click to mute the volume and automatically display closed captions³ that stream along the bottom of the window.

The Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system software is designed to be distributed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and System Builder PC manufactures with either a fully assembled computer system or a non-peripheral computer hardware component. Microsoft’s licensing and channel policies are designed to support the practice of having the operating system flow with the appropriate hardware – providing PC manufacturers with the resources needed to sell and support full Media Center PCs to end-users. Consumers who buy a standalone version of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system will not have access to the benefits of system integration and support assistance that a qualified OEM System Builder vendor would provide with the sale of a full Media Center PC. Vendors who distribute the operating system as a standalone product or with hardware components not compatible with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 are providing a sub-optimal experience to consumers and this practice is not supported by Microsoft.

Media Center PCs are complete desktop PCs equipped with hardware and software to deliver advanced computing and rich digital entertainment experiences. Media Center PCs include mid- to high-end processors, high-capacity hard drives, CD-ROM and DVD drives, and optionally, a remote control. The systems feature advanced graphics and audio capabilities, as well as networking connectivity.

Many Media Center PCs come equipped with a single TV tuner that captures your television signal from a cable, satellite, or antenna source. If your Media Center PC is not equipped with a TV tuner, it is possible to upgrade. Please consult our list of hardware partners who provide TV tuner cards that are compatible with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Many Media Center PCs support multi-channel output for speakers and connected A/V devices (using digital interconnect outputs, such as SPDIF or Toslink), letting you enjoy the same home theater experience you can achieve using a stand-alone component-based home theater system. When connected to a home theater system, Media Center PCs can deliver Dolby Digital, DTS, or PCM surround decoding while enjoying DVD entertainment, TV, and other media sources, such as Windows Media Audio Pro.

The Windows XP Media Center PC can connect to a variety of displays:

Media Center puts you in command of TV. Pause, rewind, and skip through live TV as easily as through videos or music—using many of the same controls. When interrupted, press PAUSE to freeze the broadcast. When you're ready to continue, you can play, rewind, and skip through content by using familiar buttons. With live broadcasts in your control, you can even advance recorded TV frame by frame, skip back by 7 seconds or ahead by 29 seconds at a time to navigate quickly through shows, or replay a moment that you might have missed.

With the Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) and Personal Video Recorder (PVR), your favorite shows are on when you want. Find shows to watch and quickly set recordings by using the Electronic Programming Guide, a grid-based view of up to 14 days of upcoming programming.

Simply plug one of the TV output connectors on your Media Center PC into the input on your TV. You may need to make adjustments to your display settings.

Yes. You can connect a set-top box to a Windows XP Media Center PC, and then configure Media Center for your set-top box type and TV service provider. You can then use the Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) to browse and navigate TV channels using the same remote control that lets you access and control recorded TV and movies, music, photos, and other entertainment choices.

The TV Setup Wizard and Display Calibration wizards help you configure your TV signal, type of display, and display settings (including video contrast, color hue, brightness, and height-width proportions), so you can enjoy a better-quality viewing experience for digital entertainment.

Using Media Center's Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), you can view and scroll through a listing of current TV shows that is periodically downloaded from your Microsoft TV Listings service provider. The Guide displays channel and network information, along with the title and scheduled broadcast time of each show. When you select a show title, a short description of the show displays at the bottom of the screen.

Some Media Center PCs come with more than one TV tuners, which means that more than one live TV show can be in use (either recorded or watched) at a time. If your Media Center PC has more than one tuner, you can view a live show while recording a live program in the background. If your Media Center PC has only one tuner, you can still watch a recorded show while the TV tuner captures a live show that is being recorded.

Media Center uses advanced conflict resolution features to help you prioritise recordings or find alternate airings of programs when pre-set recordings conflict. You can now assign priorities to TV recordings to ensure that important shows are recorded, helping you record the shows you want, in your preferred order, even if the airdate or airtime changes.

Yes, Media Center Edition 2005 is the first PC operating system to support playback, pause, and recording of free, over-the-air High Definition Television (HDTV) right out of the box. New PCs with the High Definition option will begin shipping shortly after Media Center 2005 launches, delivering up to 6 times the image quality of standard TV.

Not at the current time. While you can connect your High Definition Television (HDTV) tuner to your Media Center PC via standard connectors such as S-Video and record programs, these will be in standard TV format. In order to receive an HDTV signal, you must have access to local channels broadcast over-the-air and receive these freely available signals with a standard HDTV antenna. For more information on HDTV antennas and over-the-air reception, please visit the CEA's Antennaweb.org Web site.

Media Center uses a new file format called DVR-MS. DVR-MS is an MPEG-2 file that includes metadata about the recorded program to be stored.

No, Media Center supports only the DVR-MS file format for recording TV. It's not currently possible to edit DVR-MS files (the format used for recorded TV files).

At this time, there is no way to convert DVR-MS files to another format. Microsoft is currently working with third-party software manufacturers to add support for DVR-MS files to their products.

It isn't possible at this time to edit DVR-MS files (the format used for recorded TV files). Microsoft is currently working with third-party software manufacturers to add support for DVR-MS files to their products.

Windows Movie Maker does not support DVR-MS files at this time.

Media Center offers four levels of recording quality—Fair, Good, Better, and Best. The quality level affects the amount of disk space needed.

Approximate amount of disk space that each recording level will consume is:

Content owners and/or broadcasters can set copy-protection flags to indicate that a program is subject to content protection. When Media Center detects that this flag is set, it will protect the content by limiting the ability to copy and distribute the program.

No, protected files can be watched only on the Media Center PC that originally recorded the content.

Yes, as long as that PC has the capability of playing DVR-MS files (either through Media Center or an updated Microsoft DirectShow player such as Windows Media Player 10 see Watch Recorded TV on Other Microsoft Windows XP-based PCs).

No, protected files can be watched only through Media Center on the Media Center PC that originally recorded the content.

Yes. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 includes built-in support for burning video and data DVDs from photos, music, video and TV content on a wide range of media types and formats. DVDs can be burned in one of the following formats:

In addition, you can continue to use your Media Center PC normally while DVD burning takes place in the background.³

Access your digital media anywhere in the home with Windows Media Center Extender devices, using your Media Center PC as your 'entertainment hub.' Or go mobile with Portable Media Center running Windows Mobile software and enjoy high quality digital video, recorded TV, movies, music and photos—anywhere, anytime.

Yes. Media Center PCs and Media Center Extender devices can both be connected to Wi-Fi home networks however certain configurations may not be supported. Please consult the Media Center Extender Web site or the Media Center Devices FAQ for additional information.

Media Center makes it easy to find the right music for any occasion within moments. Media Center allows you to automatically transfer CDs and explore all your music by album cover, artist, and more in one easy-to-use place. Queue up music to create a jukebox experience or save it in playlists and burn CDs, even from multiple PCs around the home network. Specify the file format that best suits your needs and optimise for efficient storage or for the highest possible fidelity to your original CD source. With your music collection in one place, use the remote to sort and shuffle by album, artist, song, or genre.

The Media Center Radio features let you tune in to FM broadcasts and control the way you listen. Station pre-sets and a seek function help you quickly access your favorite FM radio stations. If you're interrupted while listening, use the Media Center PC Personal Video Recorder (PVR) features to pause (up to 30 minutes), rewind, and skip ahead in radio broadcasts. An Instant Replay feature lets you skip back 7 seconds, so you can catch the title of a tune.

Media Center is the easy-to-use destination for viewing vivid, full-screen images of your digital memories. Use the remote to navigate thumbnail images of your photos stored in My Pictures or My Videos. Or insert a digital-imaging storage medium, such as CompactFlash or Secure Digital Cards, to automatically launch a slide show of your photos. Use the remote to flip through pictures individually or zoom in, pan, and print a photo. Just a couple of button clicks let you launch a dynamic slide show of your vacation or special event, complete with animated transitions and your favorite soundtrack. You can also use the remote to navigate within and control your video and home movie playback experience.

Online Spotlight⁴ connects you to the latest news, movies, and other content, letting you discover a world of entertainment from the comfort of your favorite chair using the remote control. Online Spotlight connects directly to online, on-demand content providers, so you can rent and watch digital movies on demand, find and download new music, watch movie previews, play games, and more. (Additional fees may apply.)

Microsoft is committed to protecting consumer privacy. Microsoft does not collect personal information with respect to your use of Media Center features, such as your name, home address, phone number, e-mail address, credit card number, social security number, or driver's license number. Anonymous and aggregate usage information may be shared with partners. For more information on Media Center terms of use and the complete privacy statement, please visit the privacy section.

No. There is no additional charge or monthly fee for access to the Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), the Movie Finder service, or included Web services such as automatic download of Music album art or chapter names for DVDs. Please note that connect-time charges may apply for Internet access you connect to your Media Center PC.

No. Media Center does not currently support operation over a Remote Desktop Connection. It must be run locally on the Media Center PC.

Yes. For consumers with multiple PCs in the home, Media Center PCs can easily access photos, music, Recorded TV, videos, and movies stored on other PCs and storage devices on the home network by selecting "More Info, then Add [Media]" from My Pictures, My Music, or My Videos.

While you can access network resources on a work network or a domain, you cannot join a Windows XP Media Center 2005 PC to the domain. PCs running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 are designed specifically for home use. Professional features, specifically Domain Join and Cached Credentials (Credentials Manager for logins) are not included. As a result, you will be prompted for your login username/password to access network resources after a reboot or logging back into the PC. In addition, file shares or network resources set to require a domain-joined PC for access will not be available. Remote Desktop and Encrypting File System support are still included.

No. Consumers who are eligible for an upgrade to Media Center Edition 2005 will keep these features as they were a part of their originally purchased product.

All Windows XP software updates can be found by visiting Microsoft Windows Update. Microsoft recommends that all critical updates be installed on your system. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-specific updates can also be found at the Microsoft Download Center and Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Downloads.

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 lets you do amazing things with digital media. A collection of tools let you create, edit, and manage your digital media. Then, you can use the Media Center interface to browse, organise, and enjoy your photos, movies, and music.