Windows Media Center brings together all your favorite entertainment for you to enjoy on your PC, on your TV or on the go.

Schedule a recording when you're away from home

Setting up MSN Remote Record

It's happened to everyone at some time or another—you're at the office or away from home and there's a great TV show that you want to watch but you forgot to set your PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to record. Wouldn't it be great if you could schedule a recording from somewhere else? You can with the MSN Remote Record Service.

With MSN Remote Record, you can schedule a TV recording on your Media Center PC from any computer that has an Internet connection and a compatible Web browser. Setting it up is fairly easy—but before you get started, make sure you have:

A sign-in name and password from the Microsoft Passport Network. If you have a Hotmail address or an MSN.com e-mail address, you already have Passport Network credentials. If not, you can create your Passport credentials on the Microsoft Passport Network home page.
A Media Center PC with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 installed.
An always-on broadband connection on your home Media Center PC.

Tip: Make sure that your Media Center PC at home is turned on and connected to the Internet at some point after you schedule the recording remotely and before the time the recording should take place.

Set up MSN Remote Record on your home Media Center PC

To set up MSN Remote Record on your Media Center PC while you are at home:

Press the Green Start Button on your remote to open the Media Center Start menu.
Select Online Spotlight.

Media Center Start menu with Online Spotlight selected

On the Online Spotlight page, select MSN Remote Record Service.

Media Center Online Spotlight page with MSN Remote Record Service selected

On the MSN Remote Record page, select Install Now.

After you install MSN Remote Record, it will prompt you to answer a series of questions, such as your TV service provider and ZIP Code.

Media Center MSN Remote Record questions

During the setup process, you need to be signed in with your Passport Network credentials. The MSN Remote Record Service uses these credentials to verify that you are authorized to send and receive scheduling information when you schedule recordings remotely.

Use MSN Remote Record on any computer that has an Internet connection

Schedule programs to record remotely

You can record anything from the TV listings grid on MSN TV while you're away from home using any compatible Web browser.

Sign in with your Passport Network credentials when you view the listings. These credentials confirm that you are authorized to record on your home Media Center PC.

Sign In button on the MSN TV listings page

Recording a show

To record a show, click the show in the listings on the MSN TV Web site, view the details about the show that are displayed, and then click Record This Show when you find the show that you want to record.

MSN TV Web site with Record This Show button highlighted

After you click Record This Show, the scheduling data is sent to your Media Center PC.

That's it! A confirmation message is displayed so that you know the show was scheduled to record.

MSN TV Request Received confirmation dialog box

Recording a series

Recording a series is just like recording a show. Instead of clicking Record This Show, click Record Series. A confirmation message is displayed so that you know your series was scheduled to record.

MSN TV Web site with Record Series button highlighted

Scheduling conflicts

If your Media Center PC is already scheduled to record a show at the time you've chosen, you will be prompted to choose the show that you want to schedule to record. If you selected the Always cancel the last recording request option on the Settings page on your Media Center PC, you will not be prompted to choose.

Scheduled recordings

You can view the list of shows that are scheduled to record on your Media Center PC using the Remote Record Service by clicking the Scheduled Recordings link on the TV listings page. You can also view the list of scheduled recordings from the Program Details page.

The Scheduled Recordings page lists the shows and series that you have scheduled to record using the Remote Record Service. The page displays Upcoming Shows, Pending Shows, Past Shows and Failed Shows.

Upcoming Shows: Shows that are scheduled to record in the future.
Pending Shows: Shows that could not be scheduled at the time of the initial request. The Remote Record service will continue to resend requests every 15 minutes, for up to one day or the show's end time (whichever comes first).
Past Shows: Lists shows that were scheduled to record, and whose dates have already passed.
Failed Shows: If a show could not to be successfully scheduled to record, “Failed” is displayed next to the show title.

Adding other users

You can add another user for the Remote Record service on your Media Center PC. To enable another user to the Remote Record Service on your Media Center PC, click Start, click All Programs, click MSN Remote Record, and then click Add Remote Record User.

Add Remote Record User option from the Start menu on your Media Center PC

Each additional user needs to sign in with their own Passport Network credentials so that they can be added to the list of users who are authorized to remotely schedule recordings.

Now you know how to schedule recordings when you are away from home on any PC that has an Internet connection and a compatible Web browser. If you're having trouble or have additional questions, visit the MSN TV–Remote Record FAQ.