Confused by Windows Media Center for Windows Vista? Get your MPEGs mixed up with your JPEGs? The Couch Potato can help...when he's not too busy watching the tube.
Each month the Couch Potato picks a new reader-submitted question to answer on the website. E-mail him at askspud@microsoft.com, and please don't forget to include your name and where you live. Due to the large number of questions, the Couch Potato regrets he can't answer each e-mail personally.
I’d like to remove the commercials from recorded TV programs in Media Center. Is there an easy way to do that?
– B.G., Anchorage, AK
I feel your pain, B.G. Skipping commercials in recorded TV is a real chore. But there’s software designed specifically for Windows Media Center that can give your fast-forward button a rest.
One of the most popular is DVRMSToolbox. This program does several handy things. For starters, it can convert Media Center’s native DVR-MS video files into MPEG or WMV files, so you can play back recorded shows on a Zune, iPod, or other portable device.
But the real reason DVRMSToolbox is so popular is that it’s also designed to flag commercials in a recorded program, so the next time you watch, Media Center automatically skips the ads. The downside? DVRMSToolbox doesn’t come with much in the way of setup instructions (hey, it’s free, right?). It can also require a little tinkering to set up. This CyberNet article can help get you going. If you hit a snag, check the forums on the DVRMSToolbox site or The Green Button for help.
DVRMSToolbox isn’t the only commercial-cutting tool around. Another option is Lifeextender. This program—also free—takes a different approach and actually cuts the commercials from your recorded shows. It then replaces the original video file with a commercial-free one.
The Couch Potato
I love Windows Media Center. My problem is that when I play music with the slide show option, it shows all the photos on my laptop, even those outside the Pictures folder. I’ve told Media Center to ignore files outside the Pictures folder, but they still show up. This is also my work laptop, and I have scanned client documents I don't want friends or family to see. Can you help?
– S.A., Pensacola, FL
Hi S.A. Get ready for a surprise: Your problem probably isn’t Windows Media Center, but Windows Media Player.
That’s because under the hood, Media Center relies on the Player to manage its multimedia libraries. Like all complicated marriages, miscommunication occasionally occurs. For example, you might find that once you instruct Media Center to watch a folder on your computer, it’s difficult for Media Center to stop. The upshot: Stuff you thought you'd removed from Media Center still shows up.
The good news is that there’s a workaround. Before you begin, however, I need to caution you that the workaround is a tad tricky and might not solve your problem. I don’t have your computer in front of me, so it’s possible there’s something else going on. But my hunch is this will stamp out those pesky pictures. In fact, I used this workaround just the other day to refresh my Media Center libraries.
Here's what you need to do:
Step 1: Open Windows Media Player and see what it’s watching. If there are folders or files you don’t want Media Center to know about, remove them from the Player watch list. (If you’re not sure how, read this article on the Microsoft website.)
Step 2: Close both Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center.
Step 3: Follow the steps in this Knowledge Base article on the Microsoft website for clearing out the Windows Media Player 11 library.
Step 4: Open Windows Media Player, and wait while it creates a new library database.
Next time you open Media Center, it should now reflect only the folders you chose to watch in Windows Media Player.
The Couch Potato
Whenever I click on a picture attached to an e-mail message, it launches Windows Media Center. What happened? My computer never used to do this.
– Carla M., Houston, TX
Hi Carla. Typically, Windows launches Windows Photo Gallery (or Windows Live Photo Gallery if you’ve installed the suite of Windows Live services) to display JPEG and other digital picture files. My hunch is that the default settings on your PC somehow got flipped. Don’t worry, it’s easy to fix.
Click the Start button, and then click Default Programs. You’ll see several options. Click Set your default programs. From the list, select either Windows Photo Gallery or (if you have it) Windows Live Photo Gallery, and then click Set this program as default. The next time you click on a picture, it should now open in Photo Gallery.
Of course, sometimes you might want to automatically launch Windows Media Center—to play music or movies, for example. For more information about how to do this, see Change which programs Windows uses by default.
The Couch Potato
Who makes a reliable remote control for Media Center in Windows Vista?
– Peter Schindler, Hong Kong
Hi Peter. Lots of companies make great Media Center remotes—including Microsoft. Remotes come in all sorts of styles and prices. The trick is finding one that suits your needs and budget. As you shop, here are a few things to keep in mind.
What do you want to control? Some remotes are designed mainly for Media Center. Others are “universal” models that can also command your TV, DVD player and nearly everything else in your living room (except, alas, your kids or spouse). A universal remote is a handy choice if you want to cut down on the number of lost remotes in your life.
Where is your computer? Traditionally, most remote controls have been based on infrared (IR) technology, which requires the remote and the device it controls to “see” each other to work. The upshot: IR remotes typically have a range of 30 feet or less. To get around that limitation, companies such as Keyspan, Philips and others now offer radio frequency (RF) remotes. The advantage of RF is that it doubles or triples the remote’s range. RF also works through walls—handy if you want to station a noisy Media Center PC in an adjacent room to keep your living room quieter.
If you don’t mind spending a bit more, check out the new generation of remotes with Windows SideShow technology. These slick devices, which are just starting to hit the market, feature a small LCD screen that serve as mini-information stations, displaying your Media Center library and more. Ricavision, Philips, and Interlink Electronics all have SideShow-based remotes in the works.
Finally, always look for the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo to make sure the remote you're considering is compatible. For more general tips on using a remote with Media Center, see this handy Windows Help and How-to article.
The Couch Potato
Where are recorded TV programs in Media Center stored? I want to exclude them when I back up my computer.
I use Windows Media Center on my plasma TV through an Xbox 360 Extender. Is there a way to play visualizations while playing music? I'm concerned about burn in.
– Bret Polk, St. Louis, MO
Hi Bret. Aren’t Extenders great? Unfortunately, visualizations—those fun splashes of color or geometric shapes that move to the beat of the music—aren’t available when you’re using a Media Center Extender device. (New to visualizations? See Listen to Music in Windows Media Center to learn more.)
But if you’re concerned about burn in, you could create a little slide show to play along with your tunes. It's simple. First, start your music. Then navigate to the Media Center start screen, scroll to Pictures + Videos, and then click picture library. Select a bunch of shots. Then click play slide show.
One last thought. Burn in was a problem when plasma TVs were first introduced. But screen technology has steadily improved. So if your TV is a recent model, you might not have to worry as much. To learn more, see this article from the Plasma TV Buying Guide.
The Couch Potato
How do I watch television in Media Center and work on my other computer programs at the same time? For example, every time I start up Microsoft Word the Media Center window disappears, but I continue to hear its sound. Can you help?
– Don Aronson, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
Watching TV while working? Now that’s my idea of multitasking. Luckily, it’s easy to keep the Media Center window from disappearing.
On the start screen, scroll to Tasks, click settings, click General, and then click Startup and Window Behavior. Select the Windows Media Center window always on top check box and then click Save.
The Media Center window getting in your way? Simply make it smaller or place it in an empty spot on the desktop.
To resize the window, click the Restore button on the menu bar in the upper–right corner of the window. Then press the mouse button and drag the resize handle in the lower-right corner of the window. To move the window, click the title bar, and then drag the window to a more convenient spot.
The Couch Potato
Can I make Media Center start automatically when I turn on my PC?
– Mario Potts, Lee's Summit, MO
Anybody who wants to make Media Center the first thing they see when Windows starts earns the Couch Potato's immediate respect. The good news, Mario, is that it's easy to do.
On the start screen, scroll to Tasks, click settings, click General, click Startup and Window Behavior, and then click Start Windows Media Center when Windows starts.
Finally, click Save and voila. Media Center will greet you the next time you restart your computer.
The Couch Potato
Can I create a slide show in Media Center for my son's birthday party?
– K. Stroh, Redmond, WA
Great question, K. Windows Media Center's slide show feature is one my favorites. I assume your Media Center library is already stocked with photos and music. If not, read Add digital media files to Windows Media Center to get set up.
Once that's done, creating the actual slide show couldn't be simpler. On the start screen, scroll to Pictures + Videos, and then click picture library. Select a bunch of photos. Then click play slide show.
If you really want to get fancy, add a soundtrack to your slide show. The best way to do that is to scroll to Music on the start screen, and then click music library. Choose the music you want to hear. Then follow the steps I just outlined for playing a slide show.
Finally, if you don't want to drag your computer out of the office for the party, and you happen to have an Xbox 360 lying around, consider setting up the Xbox as an "Extender." That way you can play your slide show right on your TV. See Set up a Media Center Extender device to learn how.
Help and How-to
