Transcript: Chat about Windows Media Center Edition, March 18, 2005
Published: March 25, 2005
Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity
Introduction
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the Media Center chat!
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Today we are answering your questions about Media Center.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Now, I'll have our hosts for the chat today introduce themselves:
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
I'm Andrew Brown, and I'm the MVP Lead for Media Center, and the moderator for this chat.
Nick_MS (Expert):
Hey, everyone - I'm Nick, a developer on the Media Center Extender team.
CoreyGouker_MVP (Expert):
Hi, I'm Corey a Media Center MVP and also help support the MCE Beta. To get to know me better check out http://blogs.coreygouker.com/
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Hi everyone! I'm Andy Vanosdale and am an MVP for Media Center. I do want to say go UTC in their NCAA game today against Wake Forest at 7:00 PM EST. Tune in if you get in your area!!!
Joe [MSFT] (Expert):
Hi, I’m Joe and I am a developer on the Windows Media Center TV team.
MarkS_MVP (Expert):
Good Evening everyone, my name is Mark Salloway. I’m an MVP for Windows Media Center based in England and am currently a student studying for a degree in Software Engineering at De Montfort University in Leicestershire.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Go ahead and begin sending us your questions, and we'll get the chat underway.
Start of Chat
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: For some reason, after I installed the remote record service I always get the message that it cannot connect in order to schedule a show. Do you need to be logged on on windows messenger for the service to run?
A: Where do you see this message? Is this when you schedule a show to record through the web interface or on the PC itself?
Joe [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: There's a repeatable defect with MCX with closed captioning turned on and viewing recorded TV. When bringing up the MCX interface, video moves to smaller box, lower right. CC turns off. When you resume full screen video, CC stays off permanently.
A: Thanks for the feedback. I'll pass this on to the proper people on the team to look at.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: I've installed MSN Remote Record service on my WMCE computer, but for some reason I cannot get any show to be schedule over the internet. How does exacly this service work. Do you need to be logged on onto MSN on both sides?
A: MSN Remote Record uses the Microsoft Passport to identify your Media Center PC. You will need to be logged into the Passport service when you go to the website. From there, it will send an MSN Event to your PC and the PC will pick it up and verify the show recorded. At times, a firewall may block the service. You should run the Test MSN Remote Record Connectivity program from Start -> All Programs -> MSN Remote Record.
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: i cant play dvds in media player but i can in mce-is this a problem-media player the audio and video arent synced, the audio crackles and both video and audio are way to loud'
A: Unfortunately, none of us here are experts with Windows Media Player - I'd suggest that you post your problem to the Video newsgroup at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsxp.video
CoreyGouker_MVP (Expert):
Q: anyway to get the alarm clock to start a tv channel yet?
A: That's a good suggestion. I'll be sure to forward it on to the dev for his consideration.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: I tried many times to Test MSN remote record Connectivity software but I always get the message that the service is not available "at this time". I know I am connected to the internet. How come?
A: That's a very good question. I am getting that as well right now. I will let the MSN folks know about the issue. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
CoreyGouker_MVP (Expert):
Q: Where can I see a price/feature/config comparison list for the more popular Media Center PCs?
A: There isn't a particular list comparing the MCE's on Microsoft. There is however a Product Showcase located here, http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/products.mspx. You might also try CNet, AnandTech, etc for full reviews and comparisons.
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: Is there any way of automatically tuning to a particular channel, without setting recording, at a particular time?
A: No, there's no feature to do this without recording in Media Center at this time.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: I've lost close captions on my MCE PC and my extenders. Can you recommend something to help me get them back?
A: Do you know when this problem started occuring? Have you checked your Settings to ensure that Closed Captionings are turned on?
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: Captions issue: Yes, I have captions set to "on when muted" and they don't appear. I can't remember off hand when it stopped working, maybe when I added a second Hauppauge 150 TV tuner. Also, TV recorded from either of my tuners won't display captions.
A: Please post details of your setup to the Media Center newsgroup at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter and someone will try and help you diagnose the problem.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: For the experts: When I use the Enter/OK button on the remote to get the previous channel viewed, the remote does not transmit the first digit of the channel number (for example, if the last channel was 250 it will jump to 50). How can I solve this?
A: I will let the product team know about this issue. Can you private message me with details about your set-top box and Media Center PC information? Thanks.'
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: The IR bug is where the remote will not send the right channel to the STB or the IR blaster does not work at all .. thefix most people have posted works including me .. is simply unplug USB IR blaster wait 10 seconds and then plug it back it in
A: I'm not familiar with this issue, but I can follow up with the product team about it.
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: Hello, I have an HP MCE running MCE 2005, an XBox MCX and a Linksys MCX. The MCE and the XBox MCX work wonderfully; however, the Linksys MCX causes the MCE to lock up. I have applied all updates and all firmware updates. All systems are wired to my LAN.
A: We can't do specific troubleshooting in this chat, but try posting the details of your issues to the Media Center Newsgroup at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter and someone can look into it for you.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Jumping in a bit late, so not sure if this was asked; in the Guide, it would sure be nice to edit channel listings (add/delete) without having to go to Settings, TV, guide, etc.
A: How would you expect to be able to edit the channel listings within the Guide without having to go through Settings?
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Regarding channel settings in the Guide: when highlighting a channel, press More Info... at this point would be nice to have a Delete option. Whenever the provider adds more channels (i.e. pay-per-view, etc.) the process is more painstaking to edit
A: Thanks for the feedback... I have sent this to the developer for the Guide.
Joe [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: is there a working HD tuner for MCE?
A: For over-the-air (ATSC) HD, you can use the ATI HDTV-Wonder or the VBOX DTA 110/111 150/151.
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: MCE and MCX work perfectly together. Every once in a while, I run a VPN session on MCE followed by a Remote Desktop. I end the VPN session. Later, the UI comes up on the MCX but if you play video, it hangs. I end up resetting MCE to correct problem.
A: Interesting, I'd not heard that before. I'll send this on to the product team for investigation.
Joe [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Closed caption works fine on live tv, but as soon as I record a show or watch a recorded show, the closed caption is off sync by about 3 seconds is there a fix for this?
A: I'm not aware of this problem, but I will forward this on to the product team.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: In MCE2005 when manually browsing photos, it uses the settings from the slide show (i.e. random, etc.), which is a pain if you just want to browse photos manually, not randomly. In MCE2003/2004 it wasn't like this. Any chance of getting this changed back?
A: I will let the Program Manager know about your concern with this.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: I started my computer in diagnostic mode. Then I started it up in normal mode but all of the services are still in diagnostic mode. I have restarted several times in normal mode but still I have the same problem.
A: Have you tried running msconfig.exe and seeing if you are still in a diagnostic mode?
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Sometimes I have recorded TV which has no sound. Is there a fix for this?
A: I would contact your OEM or the manufacturer of the tuner card to get a more recent driver version.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: In MCE2005 when manually browsing photos, it uses the settings from the slide show (i.e. random, etc.), which is a pain if you just want to browse photos manually, not randomly. In MCE2003/2004 it wasn't like this. Any chance of getting this changed back?
A: Just got this back from the My Pictures Program Manager: "we are aware of the problem and are considering changing it back"
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Some content providers provide junk for the zap2it Guide data. Example, MTV Cribs. Often they will not provide the extra data, title, etc. So the MCE records same episode over and over. Any way to say only record show if it has a title?
A: You should report this issue here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mce/reporting/epg.aspx. The guide team will work with the content providers to correct the issue.
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: Is that a way to get rid of those annoying blue screens that say "This content has expired ..." that sometimes flashes for an instant across the screen when playing back recorded TV shows?
A: We're aware that this occasionally happens and we apologize for the inconvenience. There's nothing you can do about it at this point, but we are looking into this for the future.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Any plans to allow users to configure how long the "live TV" buffer can be e.g. abiltiy to put a program on Pause for 30 minutes vs. having to set it up to "record" ?
A: No plans have been announced regarding this, but it's an interesting suggestion.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Will there be any way to use a webcam for windows messenger on an xbox extender? Maybe the Xbox live headset could double as a mic?
A: There is not a way to do this. I will pass this along to the product team!
Justin Harrison MVP (Expert):
Q: what is the max. amount of time for which the live tv can be rewinded, or paused?..
A: The maximum amount of time is 30 minutes for rewinding/paused Live TV.
Joe [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Does anyone have a good experience with a digital camera (720 x 480) that will both store offline, and stream to a MCE2005 box so that both inputs can be managed by the MCE2005.
A: I'm not aware of any device that is capable of doing this. Windows Movie Maker can import video from most DV cameras via 1394.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Any plans to allow MCE to use MSN IM vs. the standard XP IM so you don't have to run both IM's if you want to extend IM into MCE?
A: I will pass this along to the IM PM for consideration.
Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: Will we be able to save what was in the buffer when we hit record, will it be able to be part of the whole recording instead of just recording from the moment you hit record (sorry if this was asked already)?
A: This is a feature request that we've known about for a while (I'd love this, too!) and it's still on the list of things to consider for a future version. No plans have been announced for this, however.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: wish list: have regular XP computers be a Extender. :)
A: It's definitely an interesting idea - thanks for the suggestion.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Does Bill Gates use Media Center in his home?
A: There is no telling what Bill Gates has in his home... Media Center could be a possibility...
Justin Harrison MVP (Expert):
Q: I have an xbox extender and have done the rollup1 and xbox live update and now can watch hbo! I am expecting the update discs any day now, is there something that the discs will have that I don't already?
A: The discs contain the same code that the update provides. There are no additional features or anything on the discs :)
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: Do the experts find these sessions tiring?
A: Not at all - in fact, we find them invigorating. :) It's great to be able to get feedback directly from users.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: Can you confirm or deny if the slideshow mode in Extenders works the same as in MCE 2005 on the PC?
A: You do not get the PhotoStory type transistions with the extenders and slideshows...
CoreyGouker_MVP (Expert):
Q: Do you reccomend the xbox extender or the linksys/hp?
A: Any of the extenders work great. Of course if you have a Xbox already then that would definitely be the cheaper option.
Justin Harrison MVP (Expert):
Q: Do you reccomend the xbox extender or the linksys/hp?
A: It depends on what you are looking for in a Media Center Extender. Xbox Extenders possess the capability to play DVDs and are useful if you already have an Xbox, while stand alone units are useful for other reasons. Its best to compare and contrast the feature set you're looking for in an extender. Ordinary Extenders do not play Xbox games, for example.
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Q: I upgraded a Toshiba Satellite Media Center to Media Center 2005 and after upgrading everything works fine except the fish screensave cannot be changed to another screen saver. Is that the normal behavior? I can edit the registry but it changes back?
A: This doesn't sound like a known issue with Media Center - you should contact Toshiba to find out if it's specific to your PC.
AndyV_MVP (Expert):
Q: I would like to request a modification of the tv guide listing. Right now when checking the schedule, I need to go into the program and check its original air date. It would be nice if the show title had an (R) next to it to show its a rerun.
A: I'll pass it along...
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
This concludes our Media Center chat for today. Thanks for coming, everyone!
Andrew_MSFT (Moderator):
Please feel free to stay and continue to chat about Media Center or other Windows topics
