Windows XP Media Center Chat, December 15, 2005

Chat Topic: Media Center
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2005

Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity
Introduction

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Hi everyone, and welcome to the Media Center chat!

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Today we are answering your questions about Media Center. I'll have our hosts for the chat today introduce themselves:

Todd_MS (Moderator):
My name is Todd; I am a program manager working on Media Center Extender technologies

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Hi, my name is Owen (Gamer Tag is O2). I work at MS on the Media Center Extender Test Team and I am the test lead for Extender on Xbox 360.

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Hi , my name is Nathan and I'm a program manager on the Media Center Extender team. Welcome everyone to the chat!

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Hi! I'm Andy Vanosdale, an MVP for Media Center. Xbox 360 is released and makes a great extender!

Robert Schlabbach (Expert):
Hello everyone! I'm Robert Schlabbach, MCE MVP from Berlin, Germany. Ready to take your questions!

Chris [MS] (Expert):
Hi all. My name is Chris and I work in the Windows Media & Internet Services group with focus on the EPG.

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Hey everyone. I'm Aaron Stebner, and I'm a program manager on the Media Center setup team.

Start of Chat

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: How can I reproduce DivX files on my MCE 2005 ?
A: You can need to install a codec that matches the file you are trying to playing. I would suggest using your favorite search engine and trying to find something "divx". If you want to watch these moves on the 360, check out this: <http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/Xbox360/video.html>

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: I have a problem with my MC on Live TV that there is no tuner. It happens from time to time.
A: I would check to ensure you have the latest drivers for the TV tuner. If you do, this sounds like a great post for the Media Center public newsgroups (Microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter) as there will need to be more troubleshooting involved.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: What plans are being made for the upgrade to the XBOX 360 when Windows Vista Media Center Edition launches?
A: We have not yet announced details regarding the Media Center Extender functionality coming with future versions of Media Center.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: Are there any plans to enhance the music cataloguing speed?
A: The product team has heard this request (I have made it as well). I will let the program manager know your concern in this area.

Robert Schlabbach (Expert):
Q: Is VMR9 rendering exclusive to Windows Media Center Edition 2005? Is the video quality better than overlay?
A: If by "exclusive" you mean in comparison to previous MCE versions, then yes. Aside from that VMR-9 is available on all Windows platforms with the DirectX 9.0 runtimes installed, though I heard that some fixes and quality enhancements have been made exclusively for MCE 2005.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: I have a quick question. I am trying to stream music off of my laptop which is connected wirelessly and it does not see the 360. Also, I am using a bridge on the 360.My pc, which is wired it sees. Is this an issue because of the wireless?
A: Wireless shouldn't be a problem, but you problem could be your network configuration. Are you trying to use Windows Media Connect? If so, this FAQ is a good place to start troubleshooting: <http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/devices/wmconnect/faq.aspx>

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: Yes, I am using media connect. Both pc's are using xp pro with sp2. I will check that faq.
A: If you still have problems, try the xbox forums http://forums.xbox.com/333/ShowForum.aspx

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: why did microsoft not include divx/xvid support on media center extenders? i use xvid primarily since it gives great quality/size compared to wmv. is there a possibility of this feature being added in the future??
A: We are aware of the collective desire for xvid, divx, real, h.264, etc. As much as our development team wanted to support these (and other) codecs, it was not possible to do that and still provide a high quality experience in the time we had available. Supporting these varied and often changing codecs would have required a significant development effort. Additionally, there is significant legal and business work required to run 3rd party codecs on Xbox 360.

Again, we are aware that support of these codecs is a compelling feature for some users and are constantly evaluating features for future versions of our products.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: are there any public details about stand alone dvd changers being made. Specifically, any vendors other then the ridiculously expensive powerfile units. If there are details you may mention, please mention timeframe for availability, pricing and vendor info.
A: Microsoft has not announced any new DVD changers certified for Media Center. I would continue to check the Media Center website for compatible DVD changers as they are certified.

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Q: Are there any plans to support watching visualizations when playing music files on Xbox 360 MCE?
A: There are no current plans to support visualizations when playing music on Xbox 360 via Media Center Extender.

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: I read the public forums, and seen all kinds of problems, so I have avoided installing RU2...so I have no experience with it....too scared to go without my MCE!!!
A: There have been some issues reported, but we have been able to identify fixes or workarounds to nearly all of the ones I have seen so far. I definitely encourage you to try installing and using Update Rollup 2 - the large majority of folks I've talked to are not running into any issues. I have also compiled a list of troubleshooting steps at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/articles/487537.aspx in case you do run into anything.

Robert Schlabbach (Expert):
Q: Will there be a "DXVA for H.264" created just like the "DXVA for MPEG2" we all know and the recently released "DXVA for WMV-HD"? Currently there is no standard interface for H.264 processing in DirectShow via DXVA in MCE2005.
A: I haven't seen anything on it myself. I would keep an eye on the latest and upcoming Vista SDK/DDK releases, as I'd expect any extensions for H.264/AVC support via DXVA to show up there first...

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q:Q: Can I add subtitles?
A: There is a caption menu in Media Center that is located under Settings | TV | Captions that can be used to configure subtitles for TV within Media Center

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: What's the latest on HDTV over cable? When will we be seeing cable card support
A: There was a recent press release regarding cable card support. Please refer to http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/nov05/11-16CableLabsPR.mspx for details.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: Other than changing the digital output type, is there any way to make a 360 output analog or digital stereo when media player is playing stereo source material, either streamed from WMC computers, or directly connected a la iPod?
A: Not sure I understand the question. Switching the output type in the System setup is the only way to change what output the Xbox uses.

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Q: Why isn't a version of Media Center Extender available to run on any windows PC, (Or Just XP systems)
A: We are currently investigating the possibility of running Media Center Extender software on a PC although there are no plans to do this yet.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: I understand MCE works with DVD changers. Which ones does it work with?
A: I would check this page to find out what components are designed for Media Center: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/partners/directory.mspx

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: I was hesitant to check the box for "allow media cdenter to authorize access to all "my folders" when I went to install it. I didn't check that box and now I wish I did. How can I enable that once I installed it since I didn't originally?
A: You should be able to change this in the Media Center Extender Manager found at Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Media Center.

Robert Schlabbach (Expert):
Q: Is there support for DVB-T Conditional Access Modules in MCE2005?
A: No.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: Any word when MusicMatch OnLine Spotlight will work on Media Center Extenders?
A: No specific announcements have been made regarding a timeline for enabling this functionality. If you’d like to see this functionality on your MCX, I suggest passing along this feedback to MusicMatch.

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Q: after i install the proper sp2 media connect and start to install once it says authorizing it comes up with unable to autorize now would that be a firewall problem. I connect to xbox live fine everything runs great but i was wondering u would know what to
A: It may be. Check to make sure that the windows firewall allows for exceptions and that windows media connect is listed under the exceptions. Also make sure that any additional 3rd party firewalls allow for windows media connect.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: I was receving the following error - "Media Connect - Configuration Error" until I turned off my DSL Modem. With my PC & 360 connected to a Linksys Router - BEFSR41 ver. 4 with Windows XP SP2 and NET Framework version 1.1 with Service Pack 1 update.
A: For Windows Media Connect issues, try: Windows Media Connect Newsgroup: <http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/community/newsgroups/WindowsMedia/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsmedia.devices&lang=en&cr=US> Xbox Media Forum: <http://forums.xbox.com/333/ShowForum.aspx> Windows Media Connect FAQ:
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/devices/wmconnect/faq.aspx>

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: Any plans to allow other remotes, such as ATI's Remote Wonder, to allow native support in media center??? also, using an ati all-in-wonder card, is it possible to get the FM tuner working within Media center??
A: Since ATI owns their remote with the respective remote codes, ATI could create an add-in that would allow the remote to be used within Media Center. As far as the FM tuner portion, I would check with ATI to see if they have drivers available that would allow the FM module to work. Many old FM tuners will not work in Media Center.

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Q: I think you should seriously consider Media Center Extender for a standard PC. Even if it is a small cost $20-50 to purchase. We should not have to purchase special hardware for something we already have: A PC.
A: Thank you for the feedback!

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: If there are any future updates for the Xbox 360 MCE, will it be delivered in the form of a firmware update or a hard drive patch?
A: We have not announced any updates for the Xbox 360 Extender software at this point in time, so it’s too early to discuss what form such an update might take.

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Will there be a technology-preview of MCE SDK for Vista or should developers continue to use the current SDK and worry about targetting Vista later?
A: We are planning community technology preview (CTP) versions of the new Media Center SDK to coincide with future CTP releases of Windows Vista. Please stay tuned to the newly launched http://blog.mediacentersandbox.com/ for more information about the Media Center development experience for Vista.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: As soon as I reconnect my Modem the 360 still shows approved but can no longer see the PC. Talked with Linksys who advised I adjust my MTU setting. When this did not fix the problem they claimed it is a Microsoft issue not Linksys.
A: If this is for Media Center connectivity, please describe your network topology in more detail and what error you get when it can no longer see the PC.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: I have a gone over the FAQ the newsgroup and have a huge post on Xbox Media Forum. Aside from me there are various other individuals with the same Modem that can only connect with Media Connect if the Modem is removed. Then Modem back on lose connect.
A: Point me to the the forum thread so I can read about your topology. My best guess is that having the modem on the network could be causing some IP conflicts. Have you checked the IPs of your Xbox360 and PC to make sure they are on the same subnet after the modem is plugged in?

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: Could MCE for the Xbox 360 be further enhanced by utilizing the hard drive for caching?
A: We do use the hard drive for caching, but probably not the way you are expecting. Some of the code that runs on the 360 is actually downloaded from the PC. If you have a hard drive, it is cached locally, so you don't have to wait for the code to download when Media Center starts. Caching content isn't practical right now since the hard drive is small AND we would still need to stream most content.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: The Welcome to Windows screen appears when I start Windows XP after I have installed the .NET Framework 1.1. Will this be fixed in a future patch?
A: I have not heard of this happening. I would recommend you post this in the Windows XP General or .NET Newsgroups where it can get better attention.

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Is Media Center compatable with .Net Framework 2.0?
A: Media Center 2005 and earlier use the .NET Framework 1.0, and Update Rollup 2 uses the .NET Framework 1.1. We have tested Media Center on systems that have the .NET Framework 2.0 installed in addition to the version required by Media Center and have not seen any compatibility issues.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: Where can I find a list of Media center "extensions" that are currently available?A: You can find an extensive list here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/partners/directory.mspx

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: The Welcome to Windows screen appears when I start Windows XP after I have installed the .NET Framework 1.1. Will this be fixed in a future patch?
A: This is a known bug in the setup for .NET Framework 1.1 that should be fixed starting in 1.1 SP1. To workaround this you can go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList and change the ASPNET value to 0

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: How do I add Internet Explorer, My email program, or any url link to my media center menu?
A: You can add shortcuts to your favorite programs in Media Center by adding them to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Media Center -> Media Center Programs.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: Has anyone figured out how to have Extenders "wake-up" a MCE machine out of sleep mode .. it's a drag having to run upstairs to activate my MCE machine in situations when it is in "sleep mode" and I turn on my extender
A: If you don’t have a Media Center PC that supports Away Mode (which out of the box supports MCX connectivity while in Away Mode), you can configure your PC’s network card driver to allow it to wake your PC from standby. Note that some network card drivers do not properly resume from standby and may not allow your MCX to connect in such cases.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: Todd_MS ... where on the MusicMatch WEB site is there a place to provide feedback to them that we want them to provide capability to play on Extenders?
A: You may want to start at http://www.musicmatch.com/form/support/ (select the "Customer Support" radio button)

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: How can I operate my HDTV through media center to record HD programming originating from a HDTV cable set top box?
A: You will not be able to bring in the actual HD content from your HDTV cable set top box. The new cablecard support recently announce will solve that issue. :)

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: Would it be possible for one of the Experts to take a look real quick at this thread: http://forums.xbox.com/1008454/ShowPost.aspx it shows the full details of my network setup all the ports I have opened and things I have tried. Appreciate it!
A: I will follow up on this thread in the Xbox forums.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: my question is regarding the extender profiles on the MCE machine. 1 "MY PROGRAMS" application requires a c:\docs&settings\MCX1\app. data\softwarename\index.xml -- should I be able to copy the files from my local 'administrator' profile and have it work?
A: Is "My Programs" a 3rd party extension for Media Center? If so, you should be able to copy files into the MCX user account to help the application run, but keep in mind there be other things that app requires OR MCX limitations that prevent it from working. This page can be really helpful if you are creating new apps (or making unsupported apps work on MCX): http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/developer/default.mspx

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: Would future iterations of Media Center take advantage Gigabit Ethernet? It is my understanding the the current version is optimized for Fast Ethernet.
A: Windows XP Media Center Edition takes full advantage of Gigabit Ethernet (just like any other flavor of Windows XP)

Robert Schlabbach (Expert):
Q: Will there be support for DVB-T Conditional Access Modules in the future? My DVB-T provider (KPN, the Netherlands) requires support for Conax CAM's.
A: While MCE 2005 does not support the Common Interface out of the box, there _are_ third party solutions available, e.g. here: http://www.digital-everywhere.com. Note that this is a third party solution and as such unsupported by Microsoft. I haven't seen or tried it myself either, so I don't think any of the experts here would be able to assist either.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: Does MS have any plans to partner with any of the Receivers manufactures [Onkio, Harman-Kardon, Dennon, etc.] to place a WMA decoder on their receiver... to allow the sending of multi-chanel WMA from MCE to the receiver digitally and decoding it there?
A: Absolutely; in fact, receivers with native support for decoding WMA Pro have been out for awhile now from Pioneer.

Chris [MS] (Expert):
Q: Hi, I'd like to ask how long I should be waiting for channels to be added to the EPG. I first used the MS webpage to report channels missing on ntl cable in the UK over four weeks ago. The missing channels haven't arrived yet. Thanks.
A: We aware of these issues and are working with our partners to get them resolved. Due to the fluid nature of the EPG data, we can't give specific dates for individual changes. What channels in specific are you missing?

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: How do I customize the media center menu?
A: You can use Set Program Access and Defaults (SPAD) to show or hide various Media Center start menu items. There is more info about this at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/09/30/475925.aspx.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: I'm thinking of purchasing a Terk TV5 antenna and a AVerMedia AVerTVHD MCE A180 tuner to add to my MCE 2005 setup so I can get HD Over the Air. Is there anything else I might need to get/check so this all works? Thanks!
A: This is a great article on getting started with OTA HD: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mce/expert/hdtv.mspx I like http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx for figuring out how to point the antenna. I've got OTA HDTV at my house - I get around 10 channels and can stream them all to my Xbox 360, it's sweet!

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: While searching the web, I seem to come across a lot of people who say that their SATA controller is causing TV to stutter - even with the latest drivers, and when they use their PATA, the stuttering goes away. Can you provide feedback about this?
A: This sounds like a timing issue with the controller. Will you post this in the Media Center public newsgroups along with the SATA controller manufacturer and driver version so that it can be investigated further?

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Is there a Microsoft blog dedicated to Media Center?
A: There is not one single blog dedicated to Media Center, but several folks on the team have blogs that they use to write about Media Center (myself included). There is a list of some of these blogs at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/anch_winxpmce.asp. In addition, Charlie Owen just launched a central blog that we will be using for the Media Center Development Platform at http://blog.mediacentersandbox.com/.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: Other than My Movies Plug-in is there a way to get the cover of a DVD to appear in the my videos folder
A: You will need to download the cover art and save it as folder.jpg. For each DVD, it will need its own folder

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: Is anyone aware of any bugs/issues using Mtv Overdrive in MCE (in Online Spotlight)? I sometimes get a "Stack Overflow:0" error dialog box appering (within MCE), as well the Mtv Overdrive application hanging when loading video content.
A: I have alerted the partner team to the issue.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: I'm not sure if this has been asked already (sorry I'm coming in late). Are there plans to allow the streaming of video from XP SP2 (not MCE) to the Xbox360?
A: Nothing has been announced at this time, however we are aware that this scenario is interesting to many users.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: Any plans to expand MCE's role to also target the home automation market? Many of use already use X10 to control our Home Theater environment (lights, HVAC) in collaboration with MCE.
A: Media Center provides a great extensibility platform for companies, like X10, to integrate their own products. I would check with X10 to see if they have a Media Center application for their products.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: I have tried doing that I downloaded a jpg of the cover and in the properties for the folder that contains the video I assigned that jpg as the folder cover, I also put a copy of that jpg in the folder. It appears when browsing files using windows explorer
A: You will need to save the JPEG file as folder.jpg. Media Center does not pick up actual folder covers.

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Aaron, thanks for all you do on your blog. Those setup tips/help have been a lot of help on more than one occasion! Thanks
A: I appreciate the feedback. Thank you for reading!

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: I was also told by HP that dual OS isn't possible with XP Media addition. As part of my resolution I thought installing Win 2000 Pro by partitioning the hard drive and run both, please confirm
A: Windows XP Media Center Edition is built off of Windows XP, so dual booting is possible. I would advise you to check with your OEM (HP in this case) about the pros and cons of doing this (such as removing recovery partitions, etc).

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: Are there plans to be able to save what's in the buffer. For example, if I turn on the TV 15 minutes into a show and press record want to save the whole show, will this be possible?
A: We can't comment on specific features that may be in Windows Vista, but I do know that many people here are interested in this feature. I will pass your feedback on to the team that would implement this.

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Q: To record HD programming from a cable provider, is there a CableCARD (tm) available that fits into a PCI slot and then can be controlled by Media Center?
A: I would like to bring your attention to the CableLabs announcement. Aside from this release, no further information is currently available. (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/nov05/11-16CableLabsPR.mspx)

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: Any plans to extended the files types supported by Media Center Extenders .. e.g. today while WMA files are supported they must be a specific version, with specific parameters set when you record the file in order for it to play on MCE Extenders.
A: Support for additional media formats is something we constantly evaluate. With the Extender software for Xbox 360 for example, we’ve added support for numerous additional formats (including support for High Definition WMV content and HDTV content)

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Q: Is it possible to use the 360 with xp service pack 2? If so how? I have downloaded every peice of software recommended and am still unable to start the media center software?
A: Windows media connect is supported on Windows XP SP2 with xbox360 however you will need Windows XP Media Center Edition if you want to use your xbox 360 as a media center extender.

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: Is it possible to use the 360 with xp service pack 2? If so how? I have downloaded every peice of software recommended and am still unable to start the media center software?
A: Media Center only works w/ a Windows Media Center 2005 PC this post helps you see what will and won't work on your system: <http://forums.xbox.com/1081625/ShowPost.aspx>

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: Feedback: I certainly hope you would consider adding visualization support for Xbox 360 MCE while playing music files, the one built into the 360's dashboard would do just fine. This would IMHO really complete the MCE experience. Thanks!
A: Thanks for the feedback; I personally also think this would be a cool feature. We'll keep it in mind for the future.

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Q: Does it matter the location of the file "folder.jpg" and how do I name multiple covers for differnt DVDs "folder1.jpg" "folder2.jpg" etc.
A: Each DVD will need to have its own folder and, thus, its own folder.jpg file for the album art.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
Q: How can I get an invitation to join the Vista Media Center beta program?
A: Please visit <http://connect.microsoft.com/availableprograms.aspx> for information regarding currently available beta programs.

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Q: Thanks for doing this chat session! :D
A: Welcome :)

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Q: Any suggestions or help on HDTV display problems? Right now getting high quality HDTV playback involves a lot of trial and error, coordinating MPEG decoder, video card driver, display mode, resolution, etc. MCE forums are full of these?'s
A: You can consider using an Xbox 360 to pipe MCE to your HDTV. Fewer things to impact your experience.

Todd_MS (Moderator):
This concludes our Media Center chat for today. Thanks for coming, everyone!

O2 [MSFT - MCX Team] (Expert):
Have a good day. See you in the Xbox forums!
http://forums.xbox.com/333/ShowForum.aspx

Robert Schlabbach (Expert):
Good-bye everybody!

Aaron Stebner [MSFT] (Expert):
Thank you all for joining in this chat!

AndyVanosdale (Expert):
Thanks everyone! Great questions and we'll see you next month

Nathan_MS (Expert):
Thanks for the great chat everyone. Goodbye!

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