Windows Media Center Expert Zone Chat (July 17, 2008)
Chat Topic: Windows Media Center Expert Zone Chat
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2008
Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity.
Introductions:
mikefos_msft (Moderator):
Welcome to today’s Windows Media Center Expert Zone Chat!
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Hello, I'm Nick, a developer on the Media Center Extender team.
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Hi; my name is Todd. I am a program manager working on Media Center Extender technology.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Hi - I'm Tim, the Media Center SE PM
Start of chat:
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: Hi, I have XP Media Centre O/S, my hard drive is partitioned into "C" drive & "D" drive. All my photos, videos & music is on the "D" drive. The Media Centre sees all the folders. When I click on a photo folder it says there are no photos in the folder.
A: Jim - what's the behavior in Media Player? Are the photos visible there? Media Center uses the gallery info setup from Media Player.
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: Hi, thanks for taking our questions.... Has Vista SP1 solved the mouse getting trapped on the secondary monitor issue?
A: Hi, KP - this is a Media Center specific chat and our experts today only have knowledge of Media Center issues. It sounds like your issue is a general Windows issue - if so, please ask on the Windows Vista discussions board at http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx.
mikefos_msft (Moderator):
Q: Microsoft NET.Framework 3.5 help, can you help me
A: Hey Tucker, Our chat today is in regards to Windows Media Center. I don't think that we'd be able to assist. I'd recommend checking out one of our newsgroups, such as microsoft.public.dotnet.framework, or one of our MSDN forums over at http://msdn.microsoft.com
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: Sorry, newbie, What is Media Center Edition? same with XP? or it's used to watch TV only? ;)
A: Windows Media Center is software for Windows designed to make it easy to consume all of your media content (videos, pictures, music), in addition to broadcast TV content and online media, either with keyboard and mouse or with a remote control. It further allows you to extend that media throughout your house on your homework with Media Center Extender. Windows XP included it in a specific edition (Windows XP Media Center Edition), whereas Media Center is available with Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate. Please see http://www.microsoft.com/mediacenter/ for more information.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: Hi A, Yes Media Player works just fine.
A: Does the music gallery show up OK in Media Center?
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: But can you watch FULL movies for free? because for about 2 hours today I was looking for this one movie but i couldn’t find it under the movies tab....so why do you have a movies tab but doesn’t have any FULL watchable movies..
A: If you mean the Movies tab in the Media Center guide, it is a movie focused version of your television guide, one that specifically pulls out all movies that are currently on Live TV as well as ones that will be broadcast in the future. You can easily set a recording for any movies you'd like on this tab and watch them once they're recorded.
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: The mouse issue is specific to MCE....
A: When Media Center is in full screen mode on one monitor in a multi-mon setup it is not possible to move the mouse cursor off of the screen that Media Center is running on. This is the case with all versions of Media Center (including Windows Vista SP1) and is a result of Media Center being a DirectX application.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: Hi, I have XP Media Centre O/S, my hard drive is partitioned into "C" drive & "D" drive. All my photos, videos & music is on the "D" drive. The Media Centre sees all the folders. When I click on a photo folder it says there are no photos in the folder.
A: Jim - what's the behavior in Media Player? Are the photos visible there? Media Center uses the gallery info setup from Media Player.
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: Hi, thanks for taking our questions.... Has Vista SP1 solved the mouse getting trapped on the secondary monitor issue?
A: Hi, KP - this is a Media Center specific chat and our experts today only have knowledge of Media Center issues. It sounds like your issue is a general Windows issue - if so, please ask on the Windows Vista discussions board at http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx.
mikefos_msft (Moderator):
Q: Microsoft NET.Framework 3.5 help, can you help me
A: Hey Tucker, Our chat today is in regards to Windows Media Center. I don't think that we'd be able to assist. I'd recommend checking out one of our newsgroups, such as microsoft.public.dotnet.framework, or one of our MSDN forums over at http://msdn.microsoft.com
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: Sorry, newbie, What is Media Center Edition? same with XP? or it's used to watch TV only? ;)
A: Windows Media Center is software for Windows designed to make it easy to consume all of your media content (videos, pictures, music), in addition to broadcast TV content and online media, either with keyboard and mouse or with a remote control. It further allows you to extend that media throughout your house on your homework with Media Center Extender. Windows XP included it in a specific edition (Windows XP Media Center Edition), whereas Media Center is available with Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate. Please see http://www.microsoft.com/mediacenter/ for more information.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: Hi A, Yes Media Player works just fine.
A: Does the music gallery show up OK in Media Center?
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: But can you watch FULL movies for free? because for about 2 hours today I was looking for this one movie but i couldn’t find it under the movies tab....so why do you have a movies tab but doesn’t have any FULL watchable movies..
A: If you mean the Movies tab in the Media Center guide, it is a movie focused version of your television guide, one that specifically pulls out all movies that are currently on Live TV as well as ones that will be broadcast in the future. You can easily set a recording for any movies you'd like on this tab and watch them once they're recorded.
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: The mouse issue is specific to MCE....
A: When Media Center is in full screen mode on one monitor in a multi-mon setup it is not possible to move the mouse cursor off of the screen that Media Center is running on. This is the case with all versions of Media Center (including Windows Vista SP1) and is a result of Media Center being a DirectX application.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: Hi A, The media Centre sees all the music albums and tracks and will play them.
A: In Media Player where you can configure the galleries, do any of the paths point to the root of the drive or do they all point to folders? There is an issue if you point to the root of the drive.
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: I am using XP SP3 now, can I download and install some component for XP let the OS take full MCE functions? Or I need reinstall a full MCE OS?
A: For Windows XP, Media Center is only included in the Windows XP Media Center Edition version of the operating system, so if you have Windows XP Home or Pro you will not have access to Media Center functionality.
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: OK I understand that it's the underlying technology that causes this issue. BTW.. MCE is great, don't think I'll ever be able to live with-out it now. Grandma visted last week... guess what she wants now?
A: Good to hear... I’m glad you (and Grandma) like it :-)
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: i'm having a problem with 'eshell' since a windows update a few weeks ago
A: Unfortunately, I don't have an easy answer for this. The strong name validation error can indicate several underlying issues - version mismatch with binaries installed, corrupt binaries, etc. We have also seen reports where multiple install/uninstall/reinstall of .NET framework can cause some Media Center registration problems that can result in these types of errors.
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: Hi A, I don't understand the answer. Please give instructions for the configuring the galleries!
A: To confirm which folders are being monitored, do the following in Windows Media Player: 1) From the Tools menu, select Options, 2) Select the Media Library tab, 3) Click Monitor Folders. In the list of folders being monitored are there any items that have just a letter and no folder name after it? (for example “c:\” or “d:\” vs. “c:\music”)
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: How big the screen size you guys recommend for it if I try to use MCE OS? I think my laptop screen are too small.
A: It very much depends upon what environment you want to use Media Center in. For example I run Media Center on my laptop (10” screen) so that I can catch up on TV shows when I’m on the airplane. This is great for the airplane, but a little bit small to use as the primary TV in my house. In my house I have my primary Media Center plugged into a larger LCD TV.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: what can i remove/install to get eshell.exe signed again? i hate the crashes when I boot and shutdown. doesn't happen when hibernating usually
A: quick question - is this on XP MCE 2005 or XP MCE 2005 with Rollup Update 2 (KB900325) installed?
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: I thought you couldn't buy it, only with hardware purchase?
A: With Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Media Center was only available on new PCs and via the system builder channel (meaning you could buy an OEM copy, but not a retail boxed product). With Windows Vista, Media Center is included in both the Home Premium and Ultimate versions of Windows, which both are available for purchase at retail stores without any hardware purchase requirement.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: anything more for my issue on eshell.exe?
A: I had asked if this was on XP MCE 2005 or XP MCE 2005 w/ Rollup Update 2 (KB900325). Also, did this start happening after upgrading to XP SP3?
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: I have seen references in a newsgroup to a project concerning Media Center in Vista. Has a substantial upgrade to Media Center been announced and is there a link?
A: We recently announced the Windows Media Center TV Pack, which enables support for receiving native digital content from ISDB-T, the terrestrial digital broadcast standard employed in Japan. Details are available here: <http://www.microsoft.com/japan/presspass/detail.aspx?newsid=3467> (note: this link is in Japanese)
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: Is it needed to open the required ports for Xbox Extender on a router? or will the Windows Firewall port settings enough?
A: It is only necessary to open ports in the firewall running on your Media Center PC. The firewall in your router stops traffic from coming into your home network from the Internet, so you don’t need to adjust those settings (communication between your Media Center PC and Extender happens entirely within the confines of your home network)
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: maybe it failed on me? wrong edition if i recall?
A: more than likely there are some issues related to .NET framework due to XP SP3 beta and various upgrades
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Q: Are there any plans to supoprt more than 2 tuners?
A: Depending upon your locale and type of tuners, Media Center currently supports up to 4 tuners at once. Speaking generally though there are always folks looking to push their entertainment experience further, so we constantly are evaluating what makes sense in terms of tuner support.
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Q: can it be fixed? or dusted and reloaded?
A: A clean install should address this. I would suggest clean install off original XP MCE disks, then upgrade to KB900325 and then install XP SP3. It can likely be fixed without a clean install, but this is fairly complex process
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):Q: Thanks... MCE 2005 supports 4 or is that Vista only? Was thinking of adding another tuner to my MCE 2005 and might as well make it a dual for a total of 3.A: Starting with Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center 2005 the max is four (again differing by region and tuner type). If you are in the US, you can have up to 2 NTSC (standard definition) and 2 ATSC (high definition over the air) tuners.
Todd [MSFT] (Moderator):
Thanks everyone for joining in today!
Nick [MSFT] (Moderator):
Thanks for coming, all, see you next month!
Tim Schreck [MS] (Expert):
Thanks for the questions, everyone!
mikefos_msft (Moderator):
Thank you for joining us today for our Windows Media Center Expert Zone Chat! We hope that this was a good use of your time. If we weren’t able to answer your question of if you have others, please don’t hesitate to check out our public newsgroups: <http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.mspx> A special thank you to the Microsoft experts who came out to help! We’ll see you again for another chat next month, please check <http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/chats/default.mspx> for the list of upcoming chats.
