How to get Windows Media Center on Your TV

Your desktop PC or laptop running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate can connect either directly to a TV or indirectly with an Extender for Windows Media Center. Here’s how it works:

Connect your PC to a TV directly

You can use several different types of connections to get Windows Media Center on your TV. You can connect your PC to many different types of displays, ranging from an HD-ready flat screen¹ TV to a standard CRT computer monitor.

Connect your PC to a TV using an Extender for Windows Media Center

Extender technology is built in to home entertainment devices like TVs, DVD players, and cool, quiet components that allow you to keep your PC where it makes sense. Your Xbox 360 works as an Extender for Windows Media Center², in addition to several new devices.

With the new Extenders for Windows Media Center, you can stream the digital media you have on your Windows Media Center PC in as many as five rooms in your house³—with full HD video (available only in the U.S.) and surround sound.

Use the table below to determine the type of connection you need. The connection types are listed in order of quality, with the greatest quality (HDMI) at the top and the least quality (composite) at the bottom.

	Connection Type	Looks Like	Application
	HDMI HDMI transmits audio and video signals together. It is the newest standard digital interface that, much like DVI, provides one of the highest quality connections.		Use to connect your Windows Media Center PC to a TV, a computer monitor, or certain newer high-end video displays.
	DVI DVI transmits the digital signal in its raw form. DVI cables provide one of the highest quality connections.		Use to connect your Windows Media Center PC to a TV, a computer monitor, or certain newer high-end video displays.
	VGA VGA separates the signal for red, green, and blue to transmit high-resolution images. VGA cables are a standard connection providing high-quality video from a PC to a monitor (or TV).		Use to connect your Windows Media Center PC to a TV or a computer monitor.
	Component Video With a component cable, the signals that generate the video image are separated into three individual signals. This keeps the images from degrading when the signal travels over the wire. The result is a high-quality image.		Use to connect your Windows Media Center PC to a TV.
	S-Video S-Video cables separate the signal into two parts, reducing the amount of interference between the source and display and delivering a good quality image.		Use to connect your Windows Media Center PC to a TV.
	RCA/Composite A composite cable carries a video signal that combines the parts of the video image into one signal. While this makes for lower-cost cables and connections, the quality of the image is not as good as other types of cables.		Use to connect your Windows Media Center PC to a TV.

Related links

• Read about Windows Media Center
• See what you may need to use Windows Media Center
• Learn how to record TV on your PC
• Find out about TV tuners and remotes
• Set up an Extender for Windows Media Center

¹ Enjoying live and recorded HDTV (U.S. only) may require additional equipment, including but not limited to an HD-compatible tuner and TV or other display.

² The Xbox 360 is the only Windows XP generation Extender for Windows Media Center that is compatible with Windows Vista.

³ Windows Media Center supports as many as two NTSC Standard tuners and two ATSC HD TV tuners, for a maximum of four TV tuners in a Windows Media Center PC.