Get started with Windows Media Center
Some editions of Windows include Windows Media Center, a home entertainment center in Windows.
Follow these steps to get the Windows Media Center Pack.
You can set up Windows Media Center by:
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Connecting your PC to your TV.
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Connecting your PC to a standard monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
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Streaming your media over a home network using an Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender.
Depending on what you choose, you can watch and record live TV, create slide shows of your photos, listen to songs in your music library, and play CDs and DVDs.
Set up Windows Media Center
The first time you start Media Center, you'll see a setup page with info about various features, as well as a couple of different setup options. If you want the quickest setup, choose the Express option. If you want to set up Media Center with more options, choose Custom setup.
To open Windows Media Center
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.)
Enter Windows Media Center in the search box, tap or click Apps, and then tap or click Windows Media Center.
You can use Display Configuration to help you get the best image quality possible on your TV screen or monitor.
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Get a Media Center remote control. There are many types of Media Center remote controls available to buy, with a variety of options. If you bought a Media Center PC or a TV tuner, a remote control might have even been included with it. Press the green Start button
.
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On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks, tap or click Settings, tap or click General, tap or click
Windows Media Center Setup
, and then tap or click Configure Your TV or Monitor.
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Choose the display settings you want to change, such as aspect ratio, brightness, or contrast.
If your PC is connected to a surround sound system, you can use Speaker Setup to make sure that everything's set up properly.
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Get a Media Center remote control. There are many types of Media Center remote controls available to buy, with a variety of options. If you bought a Media Center PC or a TV tuner, a remote control might have even been included with it. Press the green Start button
.
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On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks, tap or click Settings, tap or click General, tap or click
Windows Media Center Setup, and then tap or click Set Up Your Speakers.
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Choose your speaker configuration, and then play a chime sound to test it. Listen closely to each individual speaker to make sure it’s receiving a signal.
Tips
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If you’re not getting any sound at all, check whether all cables are plugged in correctly and that the volume on both your speakers and your PC is turned up.
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If your PC is connected to a TV, the video card or the type of cable you're using might not support audio signals. You might need to connect the sound card in your PC directly to your speakers.
This option only appears in the Optional Setup menu if you have a TV tuner hooked up. If you have a compatible TV tuner, you can connect a TV signal to your PC to watch and record live TV.
TV Setup will guide you through the process of setting up a TV signal to watch and record in Media Center. When you get to the TV Signal Detection Result page, select Yes, configure TV with these results and Media Center will do most of the work for you.
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Get a Media Center remote control. There are many types of Media Center remote controls available to buy, with a variety of options. If you bought a Media Center PC or a TV tuner, a remote control might have even been included with it. Press the green Start button
.
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On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks, tap or click Settings, tap or click General, tap or click
Windows Media Center Setup, and then tap or click Set Up TV Signal.
