HP PAVILION A1300, PAVILION A1200 User Manual

HP Pavilion PC Media

Center Software Guide

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Welcome...................................................... 1

Experience the Fun of Media Center ....................................... 1

The right music for the moment...............................................1

Share your digital memories ..................................................1

Transform your living space into a theater ...............................1

Using Media Center Features.................................................1

Using Media Center ...................................... 3

Setting Up Media Center.......................................................3

Opening Media Center using a mouse.................................... 3

Opening Media Center using the remote control ......................4

Media Center menu bars....................................................... 4

Navigating Media Center ..................................................... 5

Media Center control menu ...................................................5

Using Media Center Away mode ...........................................6

Completing the setup wizard steps .........................................7

Media Center Start Menu ...................................................... 8

Media Center Start menu items ..............................................8

Online Spotlight ................................................................... 9

Using Instant Messaging in Media Center................................ 9

Logging in to your Messenger account .................................... 9

Changing Media Center Settings.......................................... 10

Media Center Settings categories ......................................... 11

Archiving files using Media Center ....................................... 12

Finding Additional Media Center Information ........................ 12

Using the Remote Control ........................... 13

Remote Control Buttons Overview ....................................... 14

Playing Music Files ..................................... 17

My Music .......................................................................... 17

Using My Music with Media Center......................................17

Adding Music to My Music Library ....................................... 18

Adding music files from your hard disk drive.......................... 18

Adding music files from a CD ..............................................19

Deleting music files from the My Music library........................ 19

Using supported music file types .......................................... 20

Playing Music Files in My Music...........................................20

Playing an album in My Music ............................................. 21

Playing a song in My Music................................................. 21

Creating a Queue List in My Music.......................................22

Finding and Playing an Album in My Music........................... 22

Creating a Playlist in My Music............................................ 23

Copying Music Files to CD in My Music................................24

Working with Pictures ................................ 25

My Pictures........................................................................25

Working with Digital Images ............................................... 25

Using My Pictures in Media Center.......................................26

Adding Pictures to My Pictures ............................................. 27

Adding picture files from your hard disk drive........................27

Viewing Pictures in My Pictures ............................................28

Viewing pictures as a slideshow ...........................................29

Viewing a slideshow with music in My Pictures.......................29

Using supported picture file types in My Pictures ....................30

Editing Pictures in My Pictures ..............................................30

Fixing red eye or contrast ....................................................30

Cropping pictures in My Pictures ..........................................31

Rotating pictures.................................................................32

Printing Pictures in My Pictures .............................................32

Copying Pictures to CDs and DVDs ......................................33

Playing Videos........................................... 35

Playing Digital Videos in Media Center .................................35

Using Supported Video File Types.........................................36

Transferring and Recording Video Files .................................36

Recording an analog video file.............................................36

Recording a digital video file ...............................................36

Creating a CD/DVD from Video Files....................................37

Playing DVDs ............................................. 39

Playing DVD Movies in Media Center ...................................39

Changing the DVD Movie Language .....................................40

Changing DVD Audio Settings .............................................40

Creating Movies Using

muvee autoProducer............................... 41

Basic Steps to Make a Movie ...............................................41

Locating the two versions of muvee autoProducer....................42

Using muvee autoProducer on the Desktop.............................43

Getting started on the desktop..............................................43

Capturing video from a DV camcorder ..................................44

Adding videos....................................................................45

Adding pictures..................................................................46

Adding music.....................................................................47

Selecting the style ...............................................................47

Changing the settings..........................................................48

Adding an opening title and closing credits ...........................49

Making the movie...............................................................49

Saving the movie project .....................................................50

Recording the movie project to disc.......................................50

Using muvee autoProducer unPlugged in Media Center...........51

Selecting videos .................................................................52

Selecting pictures................................................................52

Selecting music...................................................................53

Setting the style ..................................................................53

Adjusting audio and video settings .......................................54

Making the movie...............................................................55

Upgrading muvee autoProducer ...........................................56

Index......................................................... 57

Table of Contents iii

iv Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

Experience the Fun of Media Center

Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2 lets you do amazing things with your PC. With a full range of easy-to-use digital entertainment features, you can experience movies, music, and photos like never before.

Media Center is simple and convenient to use. You can easily find and choose your media. You can play movies, listen to music, and view photos with a single remote control (select models only). Combine the powerful features of your PC with a home theater receiver to enjoy an even more dynamic entertainment experience.

Welcome

The right music for the moment

Browse your entire music library by artist, genre, and song. Select a playlist or a single album, or do a random shuffle from your music collection. You can even play songs from your Windows Media Player music library.

Transform your living space into a theater

Whether you are watching a DVD movie or your own home videos, Media Center delivers a rich viewing experience with a high-quality digital sound system. Sit back and enjoy the show.

Share your digital memories

Create personalized slideshows with music for viewing on your PC. View professional-looking home videos from the comfort of your couch with the remote control.

Welco me 1

Using Media Center Features

If your PC came with a rewritable DVD drive, the drive is able to read and record to DVD+/-R/ RW media.

Some of the Media Center features listed are for select models only. Some of the components listed in the PC documentation, such as speakers and TV tuners are optional or sold separately.

You can control the Media Center functions and navigate Media Center windows by using the remote control (select models only), the keyboard, or the mouse. You can easily switch back and forth between them by moving the mouse or by pressing a button on the remote control or the keyboard.

With Media Center, you can:

■ Play back your digital videos.

■ View your digital pictures or play them as a

slideshow with music. Easily print your photos.

■ Browse, select, and play music CD files with

full-screen visualizations.

■ Record CD tracks to your media library.

■ Play DVD movies. Resume playing your DVDs

where you left off.

■ Access streaming music and video

subscription services. Some music and video subscription services may not be available in all countries/regions.

■ Open specific windows in Media Center by

using the shortcut buttons on the remote control.

You can run Media Center side-by-side with other Windows software programs. It is possible to browse through your pictures, watch videos, and play music while using other Windows programs.

■ Communicate with your friends and family by

using instant messaging. Instant messaging (Internet service required) may not be supported in all countries/regions.

■ Easily back up your media files to CD, DVD,

or another hard disk drive such as the HP Personal Media Drive (sold separately).

■ Use the Optimization setting to keep your

computer running smoothly.

■ Use Away mode to save power when the

computer is not in use, and then you can display the computer desktop instantly by touching a keyboard key or a remote control button.

The Television Program Guide (Internet service required) is not available in all countries/regions.

2 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

Setting Up Media Center

Using Media Center

The first time you start Media Center on your PC, a Media Center setup wizard opens. It is recommended to complete each step in the setup wizard to be able to use all the features in Media Center. The Media Center setup wizard may take

Opening Media Center using a mouse

You can use either your remote control or your mouse to open and navigate Media Center.

To use your mouse:

1 Click Start on the taskbar, and

then click Media Center.

2 Move your mouse over the Media Center

Start menu items, and click an item to open it. Select an option by clicking it. To scroll the list of Start menu items, move the mouse pointer over the list until an item is selected, then continue moving the pointer down the list to see the items that are not displayed.

3 Move the mouse to display the Media

Center toolbar, and then click the back arrow at the top of the window to go to a previous window.

several minutes to complete. If there are steps you still need to complete, you can go to the Settings menu to do so. See “Completing the setup wizard steps” on page 7.

For more information about setting up your PC, refer to the setup poster.

4 Click the ? icon at the top of the window to

open the Media Center Help.

5 Click the Media Center Start icon at the

top of the Media Center window to return to the Media Center Start menu.

Using Media Center 3

Opening Media Center using the remote control

You can use either your remote control or your mouse to open and navigate within Media Center.

To use your remote control:

1 Press the Media Center Start button on

the remote control.

2 Use the arrow buttons on the remote control

to select a Media Center menu.

3 Press the OK button to enter your selection

and open that window. To scroll the list of Start menu items, use the arrow buttons until the item is highlighted, and then continue moving the arrow buttons down the list to see the items that are not displayed.

4 Press the Back button on the remote control

to go to a previous window.

5 Use the arrow buttons to select the ? icon at

the top of the window to open the Media Center Help.

6 Press the Media Center Start button to

return to the Media Center Start menu.

Media Center menu bars

When you move the mouse, the Media Center menu bars appear. These menu bars allow you to access media controls, Media Center Help, the back arrow,

You can use the Minimize and Resize buttons to switch to the desktop or to run Media Center side-byside with another program.

window control icons, and the Media Center icon that takes you to the main Media Center menu. If you use the remote control, or if you stop using the mouse (after 5 seconds), the Media Center menu bars become hidden.

4 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

Navigating Media Center

In the Media Center windows, a selected item such as a folder, file, or menu item is outlined with a green border.

You can control the Media Center functions and navigate Media Center windows by using the remote control, the keyboard, or a mouse.

To select items in Media Center, use the arrow keys on the keyboard or use the arrow buttons on the remote control, and then press the Enter key on the keyboard or the OK button on the remote control to enter your selection.

If you have media playing, such as music or a slideshow, it appears in an inset window in the lower-left corner. To switch from watching your media in the inset window to watching it in fullscreen mode, use the arrow buttons on the remote control or use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select it, and then press OK on the remote control or the Enter key on the keyboard.

Media Center control menu

To access the control menu in Media Center, move the mouse to display the menu bars. Select the Shut Down icon on the main Media Center window.

From this control menu, you can select icons to perform various actions.

Icon Action

Log off and end your Media Center session and switch users

Shut down the PC

Restart the PC

Put the PC in a power- reduced state — standby mode

Using Media Center 5

The audio or video of TV recordings are not affected when the PC is in Away mode.

Using Media Center Away mode

When your computer is in Away mode it appears off, but you can actually still perform tasks such as recording TV programs or music files. Away mode turns off the display and mutes the audio.

After you have enabled Away mode in the Control Panel, you can activate it by pressing the sleep button on your computer, keyboard, or remote control.

To enable your HP Media Center PC for Away mode:

1 Click Start on the taskbar, and

then click Control Panel.

2 Click Performance and Maintenance. 3 Click Power Options. 4 Select the Away tab. 5 Place a check mark in the Enable Away

mode check box.

6 Under Options you can select to:

You can return to your desktop almost instantly by pressing any sleep button again, by pressing any key on the keyboard, by moving the mouse, or by pressing any button on the remote control if you select the Return the computer from Away mode on mouse or keyboard activity option in the Power Options Properties window. See the following procedure.

Return the computer from Away mode on mouse or keyboard activity

Prompt for password when the computer returns from Away mode

7 Click OK.

6 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

Completing the setup wizard steps

If you did not complete the Media Center setup wizard steps the first time through, you can complete or change your selections by using the following procedure. You need to complete all of the required setup steps to access all of the Media Center features.

1 Press the Media Center Start button on

the remote control, or, with your mouse, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center.

2 Select Settings. You may need to use the

arrow keys on the keyboard or the arrow buttons on the remote control to scroll down to see all the menu items.

3 Select General, Media Center Setup,

and then Run Media Center Setup Again. Follow the onscreen instructions to

complete the wizard.

Following are some of the items included in the setup wizard:

You can change your Media Center settings in the Settings menu.

■ Check for your Internet connection. An

Internet connection allows Media Center to display information about your music CDs, DVDs, and other media.

■ Optimize how Media Center looks on

your display. You can change display settings such as brightness, contrast, color, and centering.

■ Set up your speakers. Select how many

speakers you have and test them. Speakers are sold separately for some models.

■ Display Calibration. You can test and

adjust the display settings of your monitor, TV, or other display. You can use the Media Center video to help you change onscreen centering, sizing, aspect ratio (shape), brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness of the display with your TV remote control or your monitor controls.

You must subscribe with an Internet service provider (ISP) to have an Internet connection.

Using Media Center 7

Media Center Start Menu

CDE

*Some of the features listed are for select models only.

A Access a menu to exit Media Center, to

B Use media playback controls: Play,

C Open the Media Center Start menu. See

D Go back one screen.

E Open the Media Center Help.

F Minimize the Media Center window.

G Resize the Media Center window.

H Close the Media Center window.

shut down or to restart the PC, to log off to end your Media Center session, to put the PC into standby mode, or to switch users. See page 5.

Stop, Pause, Skip, Fast-Forward, Replay, Rewind, Record, Volume Up/ Down, Mute, and Channel Up/Down. See page 14.

page 3.

Media Center Start menu items

Play DVD — Watch DVD movies. See page 39.

*Online Spotlight — Go to the Media Center

Web site for the latest Media Center information. See page 9.

My Videos — Watch your home videos. See page 35.

My Pictures — View digital pictures, play a slideshow, or print photos. See page 25.

My Music — Play music files or music CDs, create and edit playlists, and record music files to CD. See page 17.

More Programs — Find utilities and programs for communicating with instant messaging (see page 9) and backing up files (see page 12).

Settings — Change program settings. See page 11.

8 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

Online Spotlight

Online Spotlight is a link to the Microsoft Web site, where you can find the latest Media Center information and media offers and services. This site is periodically updated by Microsoft. Some of the services listed may not be available in certain countries/regions.

Your PC must be connected to the Internet to access the Online Spotlight Web site.

Using Instant Messaging in Media Center

Instant messaging may not be supported in all countries/regions.

Media Center supports instant messaging (Internet service required) so you can communicate with your friends and family while you are doing something in Media Center. You always have the option to turn this feature on or off.

Logging in to your Messenger account

1 First, you must go to

http://www.msn.com to set up your

Messenger account. You will need a .NET passport to log in to Messenger. A .NET passport is an e-mail address, a login name, and a password. Make sure you verify the account with MSN before you try to log in from Media Center.

You can use your remote control to log in and type messages. You can even have multiple conversations.

4 Select Sign In. 5 Enter your .NET passport information, and

then select Sign In.

2 Press the Media Center Start button on the

remote control, or, with your mouse, click

Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center.

3 Select More Programs,

and then select the Messenger icon.

From most areas in Media Center, you can select a media file and then press Ctrl+D on the keyboard or select a media file and press the i(More information) button on the remote control to access the Messenger login screen.

Using Media Center 9

Changing Media Center Settings

In the Media Center Settings window, you can change settings for viewing your pictures and slideshows, and for controlling sound and the display of all the Media Center windows.

To change your Media Center settings:

1 Press the Media Center Start button on

the remote control, or, with your mouse, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center.

2 Select Settings. 3 Select a category. 4 Select one of the settings listed. Then, use the

arrow keys on the keyboard or the arrow buttons on the remote control to select an option or follow the onscreen instructions.

5 Select Save to save your changes.

10 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

Media Center Settings categories

■ General:

■ Startup and Window behavior.

Optimization setting closes and then opens Media Center at a specific time each day that you determine.

■ Visual and Sound Effects to set

transition animations and sounds when navigating in Media Center.

■ More Programs Options to change

settings for other programs on the PC.

■ Media Center Setup to configure your

Internet connection and speakers, access Windows updates, run Media Center setup again, set up remote desktop, and reset Start Page defaults.

■ Automatic Downloads Options to get

media information about CDs, DVDs, and movies from the Internet.

■ Optimization to keep your computer

running smoothly by performing various tasks on a regularly scheduled basis. The

■ Pictures to set slideshow settings.

■ Music to select visualizations or song

information to display when playing a song.

■ DVD to select a language for subtitles, audio

tracks, and menus of your DVDs, program the Skip and Replay buttons on the remote control for your DVDs, and select closed captioning. You can also access audio settings for your speakers.

■ Messenger to allow instant messages within

Media Center. Instant messaging may not be supported in all countries/regions.

■ Help to find help about using Media Center

and your hardware.

Using Media Center 11

Archiving files using Media Center

To archive your hard disk drive files:

1 Press the Media Center Start button on

the remote control, or, with your mouse, click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center.

2 Select More Programs. 3 Select Media Archive. 4 Select the drive where your files are located

by selecting (+) or (–).

5 Select the type of files to archive, by placing

a check next to Music, Pictures, Video, and Recorded TV.

6 Select the drive where you want to archive

your files by selecting (+) or (–).

7 Select Archive. Follow any onscreen

instructions.

Finding Additional Media Center Information

To learn more about using Media Center, refer to the online and other Help files located in Media Center. Using your

Information and guides are associated with specific PC model numbers. Some models do not have guides or manuals available on the Web site.

Center toolbar.

You can select Online Spotlight from the main Media Center menu to go online for the latest Media Center tips and other information. Online Spotlight may not be available in all countries/regions.

You can also find guides and information for your PC using the Internet to access a Support Web site.

To view information for your PC, go to the Support Web address listed in the Warranty and Support Guide, and search for your model’s name and number. The product model is on the lower front of the PC chassis.

mouse, click the Help icon in the Media

12 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

To find the online documentation for your product, search for your model number, and then click

Manuals.

(Select models only)

The remote control is designed to work with Media Center. You can use your remote control with Media Center to play CDs and DVDs, view pictures, and much more.

This remote control helps you navigate the Media Center windows on your computer just as a TV remote control helps you navigate cable TV options or control the playback of a movie in a VCR or DVD player.

The remote control can:

■ Navigate and control all Media Center

windows.

Using the Remote Control

DVD MENU

RADIO

MUSIC PICTURES VIDEOS

RECORD

REW

REPLAY

PLAY

PAUSE

STOP

FWD

SKIP

The remote control is included with select models only. Features and location may vary.

■ Control the video display.

■ Place the computer in and out of

standby mode.

■ Shut down or restart the PC.

■ Log off from Media Center or switch users.

The remote control cannot:

■ Navigate the Windows desktop or control

other computer programs outside of Media Center.

■ Be used as a VCR, DVD player, or stereo

remote control.

■ Turn on or off a TV that is connected to your

PC (select models only).

■ Turn on th e PC.

BACK MORE

VOLUME

LIVE TV

MUTE

GUIDE RECORDED TV

CH/PG

The remote control requires two AA batteries.

The remote control operates up to

7.9meters (26feet) away from the remote sensor.

Make sure there is nothing blocking the pathway between your remote control and the remote sensor.

Using the Remote Control 13

Remote Control Buttons Overview

Make sure you turn off the monitor and turn down or mute the volume, for example, if you have a scheduled recording in the middle of the night and do not want to be disturbed.

The HP Media Center PC does not automatically go into standby mode if Media Center is open. It is recommended that you close Media Center before you manually place the PC in standby mode.

1Standby — Puts the HP Media Center

PC into and out of a power-reduced standby state. It does not turn the HP Media Center PC off.

2DVD Menu — Opens the Play DVD

window in Media Center or opens the main menu of a DVD movie, if available.

3Music — Opens the My Music window

in Media Center.

4Radio — Opens the FM Radio window

in Media Center.

5 Record — Records a selected television

program and stores it on the hard disk drive.

6Rew — Moves the media backward for

three speeds.

7Replay — Moves media backward

7 seconds, or to the beginning of a music track or a DVD chapter.

8Pause — Pauses audio and video tracks

and live or recorded TV programs.

9Back — Returns to the previous window

within Media Center.

10 Arrows — Move the cursor to navigate

and select actions within all Media Center windows.

11 Start — Opens the Media Center

main menu.

12 Volume — Increases (+) and decreases

(–)volume.

13 Live TV — Is a shortcut to the full-screen

view of live TV. Moves a TV program forward to the end of the pause buffer and resumes playing live TV.

14 Guide — Opens the Television Program

Guide.

15 Clear — Deletes the last character

entered.

13 14

DVD MENU

2 3

RADIO

MUSIC PICTURES VIDEOS

RECORD

PLAY

REW

REPLAY

PAUSE

STOP

FWD

SKIP

17 18

19 20 21

BACK MORE

VOLUME

MUTE

CH/PG

LIVE TV

GUIDE RECORDED TV

30 31

14 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

16 LED — Activity indicator light. The LED tells you that the

remote control is emitting a signal when you press a button.

17 TV — Opens the My TV window in Media Center.

18 Pictures — Opens the My Pictures window in Media

Center.

19 Videos — Opens the My Videos window in Media

Center.

20 Play — Plays the selected media.

21 Stop — Stops the media currently playing.

22 Fwd — Moves media forward at three speeds.

23 Skip — Moves media forward 30 seconds in videos and

live TV, one music track, or one DVD chapter.

24 i (More information) — Displays available information

about a selected media file and displays other menus.

25 OK — Selects the desired action or window option and

acts as the Enter key.

26 CH/PG up (+) and down (–) — Changes the TV

channels or moves pages up and down, depending on available options. Moves to the next DVD chapter.

27 Mute — Turns computer sound off. The word Mute is

displayed when Mute is turned on.

28 Recorded TV — Opens the Recorded TV window where

recorded TV programs are listed.

29 0 to 9, #, * — Use numeric keypad buttons to change

channels or enter text into a Media Center search or text box. Each time you press a number button, a different character appears. Press the Enter button to select a character.

30 Enter — Selects the desired action, menu, or window

option.

31 Print — Prints your pictures that you select in the My

Pictures window of Media Center.

The PC will not automatically go into standby mode if Media Center is open. It is recommended that you close Media Center before you manually place the PC in standby mode.

If the PC model does not include a TV tuner, some remote control buttons are inactive.

Using the Remote Control 15

16 Media Center Software Guide — HP Pavilion PC

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