Windows Vista Media Center in easy steps

Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center is the latest and most powerful version of the Media Center technology from Microsoft. It is designed to exist as the heart of the modern home entertainment; with its primary purpose to orchestrate all elements of the home entertainment system: digital television viewing, programme recording and playback, digital photograph editing and viewing, DVD and all manner of digital music playback and recording.

Media Center is no longer a separate product; it's built into both Windows Vista Premium and Vista Ultimate, enabling all homes with a PC to enjoy the features of Media Center.

Windows Vista Media Center in easy steps will guide you through the process of upgrading your existing Media Center 2005 system or installing Media Center for the first time, advising you what specific hardware options you will need. It will also explain all of the configuration options within Media Center. It'll even walk you through each of the Media Center menu options, providing hint, tips and warnings, so that you know exactly what it is capable of and how to get the most out of it. All in easy steps!

Andrew Edney has been an IT professional for over 10 years and over the course of his career has worked for a range of high-tech companies, such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and Fujitsu Services. He has a wide range of experience in virtually all aspects of Microsoft's computing solutions, having designed and architected large enterprise solutions for government and private sector customers. Over the years, Andrew had made a number of guest appearances at major industry events, presenting on a wide range of Information Systems subjects, such as an appearance at the annual Microsoft Exchange Conference in Nice where he addressed the Microsoft technical community on Mobility Computing. Andrew is currently involved in numerous Microsoft Beta programs, including next generation Windows operating systems, next generation Microsoft Office products and actively participates in all Windows Media Center beta programmes.

1. Windows Media Center
   • Windows Media Center
   • Windows Vista Editions
   • Getting a Media Center PC
   • Building a Media Center PC
   • Upgrading an Existing PC
   • The Remote Control
   • Other Controls
   • The User Interface
2. Basic Setup
   • Starting Setup
   • Express Setup
   • Custom Setup
   • Wireless Networking
   • Internet Connection
3. Advanced Setup
   • Optional Setup
   • Regions
   • Supported TV Signals
   • TV Signal Setup
   • Selecting TV Sources
   • Set-top Box Remote Controls
   • Set-top Box Configuration
   • Scanning for Services
   • Setting Up the Guide
   • Setting Up Speakers
   • Media Discovery
4. Displays
   • Display Configuration
   • Display Types
   • Adjusting Display Resolution
   • Adjusting Display Settings
   • Onscreen Centering & Sizing
   • Aspect Ratio (Shape)
   • Brightness (Black & Shadow)
   • Contrast (White)
   • RGB Color Balance
5. TV and Movies
   • Watching TV
   • Recording Live TV
   • Recording a Series
   • The Guide
   • Recorded TV
   • Adding a Recording
   • Custom Recording
   • Scheduled Recordings
   • Searching
   • Search Types
   • Playing DVDs
6. Music and Radio
   • Music
   • Music Library Views
   • Listening to a CD
   • CD Ripping Options
   • Adding a CD to the Library
   • Editing Information
   • Library Options
   • Queues and Playlists
   • Now Playing
   • Searching
   • Radio
7. Pictures and Videos
   • Picture Library
   • Tags
   • Editing Pictures
   • Video Library
   • Supported File Types
8. CD/DVD Writing
   • Creating CDs and DVDs
   • Data DVDs
   • Burning the Disc
   • DVD Slide Shows
   • Video DVDs
   • Audio CDs
   • Other Burning Applications
9. Online Media & Tasks
   • Online Media
   • Program Library
   • Sync to Device
   • Synchronizing Content
   • Starting a Synchronization
   • Media Only Mode
10. Media Center Extenders
    • What is an Extender?
    • Unavailable Features
    • Firewall Changes
    • Xbox 360 Setup
    • Media Center Setup
    • Adding Additional Extenders
    • Network Performance
    • Network Bandwidth Views
    • Settings
    • Remote Controls
    • Troubleshooting
11. Settings
    • The Settings Menu
    • Behavior
    • Visual and Sound Effects
    • Program Library Options
    • WMC Setup
    • Parental Controls
    • Automatic Downloads
    • Optimization
    • About Media Center
    • Privacy
    • Music Options
    • DVD Options
    • Remote Control Options
    • Extenders
12. TV & Guide Settings
    • TV
    • Recorder
    • Recording Defaults
    • Guide
    • Guide Listing Updates
    • Channels
    • Adding Missing Channels
    • TV Audio
    • Reconfiguring Displays
    • Subtitles
    • Changing TV Signals
    • Multi-tuner Configurations