Gateway Media Center User Manual

Media Center

User Guide

Notices

© 2005 Gateway, Inc. All rights reserved. Gateway, the Gateway stylized logo, and the black-and­white spot design are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gateway, Inc. in the United States and
other countries. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies.

2

Planning your Media Center setup 4
Getting ready to set up

Media Center resources 6
Setting up Media Center hardware 8
Setting up optional computer connections 11
Turning on and setting up software 14
Learning about the remote control 17
Using Media Center 18
Media Center FAQs 22
Getting more information 25

Note: Your computer may vary from the following illustrations.

3

Planning your Media C enter c omputer setup

Locate connections

You’ve probably already decided where you want to set
up and use your Media Center computer, but before
you start connecting computer components, take a few
minutes to make sure that all of these connections are
available in the location you’ve selected.

Internet connection—Your computer needs an
Internet connection to update the program guide
and to access the Internet. Make sure that you have
access to a dial-up or broadband Internet connection
before starting your Media Center software
setup. Contact your Internet service provider for
more information about setting up your Internet
connection.

Video source—Make sure that you have access
to a video source before setting up your Media
Center computer. Your computer can receive video
input through coaxial and S-Video cables. The
video source is usually an antenna, a direct cable
TV connection, a cable box, or a satellite receiver.
Cable boxes and satellite receivers are also called

set-top boxes

.

4

Identify Media Center
computer components

Remove the computer components from the packaging
and lay them out for easy access during the setup
process.

Remote Control—Lets you remotely control the
Media Center Guide, TV, videos, DVDs, music,
pictures, recorded TV programs, volume levels,
and more. The remote control included with your
Media Center may look different than the one shown
below.

Batteries—Two AA batteries for the wireless remote
control.

Remote sensor (Infrared “IR” receiver)—
Receives and sends signals to and from the remote
control. The sensor included with your Media Center
may look different than this.

Infrared (IR) control cable—Sends input from the
remote sensor to a set-top box to change channels.

FM antenna—Receives FM radio signals. (optional)

5

Getting ready to set up Media Cen ter resourc es

Now that you’ve located an Internet connection and
a video source and have identified the computer
components, use the step-by-step instructions in this
guide to help set up your Media Center computer and
software. Also, use the other documents and information
resources described here to help you set up and use the
Media Center computer and software.

Documentation

Setup Poster

The setup poster helps you set up your
computer and other devices.

Monitor Guide

The monitor or display device
guide provides information about
using and adjusting your display
device settings.

Sound System Setup Poster

(Optional) The sound system setup poster helps you connect
your audio system. If you purchased a sound system with your
Media Center computer, follow the setup poster instructions. If
you are connecting your Media Center computer to an existing
sound system, see “Connecting the Media Center to an existing
home stereo or home theater” on page 13.

6

Windows XP Media Center
Edition Guide

The

Microsoft Windows XP Media

Center Edition

information about configuring
the Media Center software, tips
about using the Media Center, and
troubleshooting information.

guide provides

Computer Guide

Your Gateway computer
user guide provides
instructions for using your
Media Center computer and
troubleshooting information
to solve problems.

Windows Update

Remember to keep the Windows operating system
updated by installing updates as they become available.
When an update is available, Windows will automatically
prompt you to install them.

Web site

You can get the latest FAQs, information, and tips and
tricks about making the most of your Media Center
experience by going to the Microsoft Media Center Web
site at microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/ and the
Gateway Support Web site at

support.gateway.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/.

7

Setting up Media Cent er hardware

Now that you’re familiar with the components, connect
them to your Media Center computer.

Set up the computer

Before setting up the Media Center hardware,

•

make sure that you have:

• Set up your computer

• Set up your display device

• Set up the sound system (optional)

If you use a TV as the Media Center display device
instead of a display device provided by Gateway,
see

Connecting a TV

on page 11.

Install the remote
control batteries

Insert two AA batteries into the remote control.

•

Match the
+ and – on
the batteries
with the + and –
symbols inside the
battery compartment.

Connect the remote sensor

Connect the remote sensor to any USB port on
your computer. If your remote sensor does not

1

have the USB cable already attached to it, attach
the USB cable to the USB port on the back of the
sensor.

Note: Your computer’s ports may vary.

Position the remote sensor
so the remote control has

2

a direct, unobstructed view
of the sensor. The remote
control has a range of 23
feet and can be used up
to about 22° from the
centerline of the
sensor.

8

Connect the video and audio source

Your Media Center computer has connectors for S-Video
or coaxial (TV) cables. Select the connector that your video
source supports:

• S-Video—S-Video signals provide the sharpest picture.
If you use S-Video, you also need to connect the audio
using RCA stereo cables.

• Coaxial (TV)—The video and audio signals are both
carried on one cable. The coaxial cable is the way to
connect a direct cable or an antenna video source to
the Media Center.

Note: Your computer’s ports may vary.

The quality of the video coming into the Media Center computer
determines the quality of the video output to the Media Center display
device. A direct cable connection, cable set-top box, or satellite set-top
box usually provides a better quality signal than an antenna. Use the
highest quality video source available for best results.

The quality of cable used to connect the video source to the Media
Center computer has an affect on the video output quality from the
computer. Use high quality video cables to connect the video source to
the computer.

If the video devices connected to your computer are not grounded
correctly, your computer could be damaged. For more information
about correct grounding, see your Gateway computer user guide.

Connect an S-Video cable (not included) from
a video source (such as a cable set-top box,

1

a satellite set-top box, or other video device)
to the S-Video In jack on the back of your
computer.

Connect an RCA cable (not included) from
the Audio Out jacks on the video device to

2

the audio In RCA jacks on the back of your
computer.

- OR -

Connect a coaxial cable (not included)

•

from a video device (such as a direct cable
connection, a cable set-top box, a satellite
set-top box, or an antenna) to the Coaxial In
(TV) port on the back of your computer.

S-Video

Coaxial (TV)

9