HP z540, z545-h, z545, z552, z555 Software Guide

...

Software Reference Guide

HP Digital Entertainment Center

Microsoft Windows XP

Media Center Edition 2005

Reference Guide

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The information in this document is subject to change without notice.

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

Experience the Entertainment Fun ............................. 1

Watch and record live TV.................................. 1

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

Share your digital memories .............................. 2

Transform your living space into a theater............ 2

Using Media Center Features...................................2

Using Media Center...........................5

Setting Up Media Center.........................................5

Completing the setup wizard steps...................... 5

Getting the Most out of Media Center ....................... 6

Opening Media Center ..................................... 7

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

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

Using More Programs in Media Center ..................... 9

Navigating Media Center................................ 10

Closing Media Center........................................... 10

Synchronizing Media to a Portable

Media Device ..................................................11

Viewing files on a portable media device .......... 11

Using Media Center Help...................................... 12

Opening Media Center Help............................ 12

Media Center menu bars and control menu .......13

Using Instant Messaging in Media Center................ 14

Logging in to your messenger account............... 14

Changing Media Center Settings............................ 15

Media Center settings categories...................... 15

Changing audio, video, display resolution,

and other settings ........................................... 16

Changing the display resolution .......................17

Contacting HP Support in Media Center.................. 17

Finding Additional Media Center Information........... 18

Using the Remote Control ............... 19

Remote Control Buttons Overview ........................... 20

Begin using your remote control........................ 22

Remote Control Buttons..........................................23

Shortcut buttons .............................................. 23

Standby button ...............................................24

Recording in standby mode..............................25

Remote control LED and the remote

sensor LED .....................................................25

Media playback buttons ..................................26

Navigation and other buttons ...........................28

Alphanumeric Keypad and Print buttons ............29

Watching and Recording

TV Programs .................................. 31

Navigating My TV ................................................ 31

Watching TV........................................................32

Watching Live TV............................................33

Controlling TV playback ..................................34

Using the remote control in My TV ....................35

Using the Television Program Guide........................36

Important information about the

Television Program Guide ................................36

Viewing the Television Program Guide ..............37

Setting up how Media Center downloads

the Guide ......................................................38

Manually downloading the Guide.....................39

Changing a postal code to receive the

correct Television Guide ..................................39

Adding missing channels to the Guide............... 40

Removing channels from the Guide ...................40

Searching for TV Programs ....................................41

Searching for TV programs using categories ......42

Table of Contents

Table of Contents iii

Recording TV Programs ......................................... 43

Recording TV from the Guide ........................... 44

Recording manually ........................................ 44

Recording TV without the Television

Program Guide .............................................. 45

Record by using the Record button.................... 45

Recording TV from Search ............................... 46

The Record icon in the taskbar .........................47

Recording TV tips ........................................... 47

Important information about My TV

and FM radio................................................. 47

Standby mode and scheduled recordings .......... 48

Recording quality and hard disk drive

storage space ................................................48

Copying recorded TV programs to

DVD or CD .................................................... 49

Playing Recorded TV Programs............................... 50

Using the More Information button

with recorded TV programs............................. 50

Playing a recorded program on a

non-HP Digital Entertainment Center.................. 51

Locating recorded TV programs on your

hard disk drive ............................................... 52

Viewing recording errors ................................. 52

About Recording Errors ......................................... 53

Common recording errors................................ 53

Resolving Recording Conflicts ................................ 54

Recording priority rules ...................................54

Resolving a recording conflict .......................... 55

Deleting TV Programs............................................ 55

Deleting a scheduled program or series............. 55

Deleting a recorded program or series .............. 56

Setting Parental Controls ....................................... 56

Blocking unwanted TV programs

and movies.................................................... 56

Setting movie/DVD ratings .............................. 57

Changing parental control access code............. 57

Setting Caption Display................................... 58

Displaying Teletext.......................................... 58

Safeguarding Recorded TV Programs ......................59

Important information about recorded

TV programs .................................................. 59

Preparing the code key files .............................60

Making the backup CD ...................................62

Using the code key backup CD after a

system recovery ..............................................62

Using Two TV Tuner Cards..................................... 63

Recording two programs at the same time..........63

Watching live TV and recording a

different channel at the same time..................... 64

Managing Hard Disk Drive Space ..........................64

Increasing hard disk drive space ......................65

Adjusting TV recording and storage settings.......65

Using the Disk Cleanup utility ...........................66

Adjusting System Restore settings ......................66

Deleting recorded TV programs ........................67

Uninstalling software programs that are

not needed ....................................................67

Content Protection Update .....................................68

Playing Music Files..........................69

HP Tunes .............................................................69

My Music ............................................................70

Using HP Tunes with Media Center .........................70

Adding Music to the iTunes Library .........................71

Adding music files from a CD in iTunes..............71

Adding music files from a CD in HP Tunes .........72

Adding music files from the Internet...................72

Adding music files from your hard disk drive...... 73

Using supported music file types .......................73

Changing song name, genre, artist, or

album in iTunes ..............................................74

Playing CDs with HP Tunes ....................................74

Creating a Playlist with iTunes ................................75

Creating and Editing a New Playlist

with HP Tunes...................................................76

Creating Music CDs with iTunes .............................77

iv Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Using My Music with Media Center........................ 78

Adding Music to My Music Library ......................... 79

Adding music files from your

hard disk drive ............................................... 79

Adding music files from a CD........................... 80

Deleting music files from the

My Music library ............................................81

Using supported music file types.......................81

Playing Music Files in My Music............................. 82

Playing an album in My Music ......................... 83

Playing a song in My Music............................. 83

Creating a Queue List in My Music......................... 84

Finding and Playing an Album in My Music............. 84

Creating a Playlist in My Music .............................. 85

Copying Music Files to CD in My Music .................. 86

Deleting music files from the

My Music library ............................................87

Editing song and album information.................. 87

Selecting a Visualization.................................. 87

Working with Pictures.....................89

HP Image Zone Plus.............................................. 89

My Pictures.......................................................... 90

Working with Digital Images.................................. 90

Using HP Image Zone Plus in Media Center............. 91

Organizing Pictures in HP Image Zone Plus .............91

Creating your picture catalog in

HP Image Zone Plus ........................................ 92

Creating albums ............................................. 94

Modifying a date assigned to your pictures........ 94

Assigning a keyword to your pictures................ 95

Assigning a place to your pictures .................... 95

Searching for pictures in

HP Image Zone Plus ........................................ 96

Viewing Pictures in HP Image Zone Plus ..................97

Viewing a slide show in

HP Image Zone Plus ........................................97

Viewing a slide show with music in

HP Image Zone Plus ........................................97

Changing view and slide-show options..............98

Editing Pictures in HP Image Zone Plus ....................98

Updating edited picture files in

Media Center.................................................98

Using supported picture file types with

HP Image Zone Plus ........................................99

Printing Pictures in HP Image Zone Plus .................100

Using My Pictures in Media Center .......................101

Organizing Pictures in My Pictures........................102

Adding Pictures to My Pictures .............................103

Adding picture files from your

hard disk drive .............................................103

Viewing Pictures in My Pictures.............................104

Viewing pictures as a slide show ....................105

Viewing a slide show with music in

My Pictures ..................................................105

Zooming into and panning across

your pictures ................................................105

Sorting pictures.............................................106

Changing picture settings...............................106

Turning photo captions on or off .....................107

Using supported picture file types in

My Pictures ..................................................107

Editing Pictures in My Pictures ..............................108

Fixing red eye or contrast ..............................108

Cropping pictures in My Pictures ....................108

Rotating pictures ...........................................109

Printing Pictures in My Pictures .............................110

Setting up your printer ...................................110

Copying Pictures to CDs and DVDs.......................111

Using the Desktop for Some Picture Tasks ..............111

Table of Contents

Table of Contents v

Playing Videos ............................. 113

Playing Digital Videos in Media Center................. 114

Using Supported Video File Types ........................115

Transferring and Recording Video Files ................. 115

Creating a CD/DVD from Video Files ...................116

Organizing Videos ............................................. 117

Playing a Video Stored on

Removable Media ..........................................118

Changing the Display for Better

Image Quality ................................................ 118

Creating a Desktop Background from

a Video File ................................................... 119

Adding Digital Videos to My Videos ..................... 119

Using the More Information Button

with My Videos .............................................. 121

Playing DVDs ............................... 123

Playing DVD Movies in Media Center ................... 123

Changing the DVD Movie Language..................... 124

Changing DVD Audio Settings ............................. 124

About playing DVDs .....................................125

Stopping a DVD movie.................................. 125

Watching DVD in the inset window or

in a resized window ..................................... 125

Playing a DVD movie already in

your drive.................................................... 126

Programming Remote Control Buttons for DVD ....... 126

Listening to FM Radio ................... 127

Playing FM Radio Stations ................................... 128

Organizing Pre-set Radio Stations......................... 129

Using the FM Radio and the TV Signal

at the Same Time............................................ 129

Recording TV Programs.................131

Copying Recorded TV Programs to DVD................131

Copying a TV program to CD/DVD

using Media Center ......................................131

Copy a recorded TV program to a DVD

with other programs ......................................132

Watching Recorded TV Programs on DVD .............132

Digital Media Copy Protection .............................133

Copy protection for DVD movies.....................134

CGMS*....................................................... 134

Macrovision .................................................134

Using Double-Layer Technology and Media ...........135

Playing CDs and DVDs ..................137

Playing Music CDs with iTunes ............................. 137

Setting Media Center as the automatic

CD or DVD player.........................................138

Playing DVD Movies with

InterVideo WinDVD ........................................139

Using country/region codes...........................140

Playing Video CDs (VCD) with

InterVideo WinDVD ........................................141

Creating (Burning) CDs

and DVDs .....................................143

Creating (Burning) CDs and DVDs with

RecordNow! ..................................................143

Creating music CDs with RecordNow!.............144

Creating CDs to play in your car or home

CD players...................................................144

Creating CDs to play on your HP Digital

Entertainment Center .....................................145

Creating a music CD.....................................146

vi Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Storing Files on a DVD or CD............................... 146

Storing data files on disc ............................... 148

Copying a DVD or CD ........................................ 148

Erasing a DVD or CD.......................................... 149

Removing Files in RecordNow!............................. 149

Removing Files from a Recorded

Data Disc .................................................... 150

Creating an Image File.................................. 150

Saving an Image .......................................... 150

Burning an Image ......................................... 151

Archiving Files on a CD or DVD ........................... 151

Recording Video Files .........................................152

Using Disc Labels ...............................................152

Using Compatibility Information ...........................153

Identifying Disc Feature and Compatibility............. 154

Using the Optical Drive Quick

Reference Table.............................................. 156

Using the Software Quick Reference Table............. 157

Importing, Editing, and

Burning Videos .............................161

Using InterVideo WinDVD Creator ....................... 161

Getting Started with WinDVD Creator................... 162

Using the Preview window in

WinDVD Creator.......................................... 162

Using the Media Library in

WinDVD Creator.......................................... 162

Using the Storyboard in WinDVD Creator........ 163

Identifying Requirements for Capturing Video

with WinDVD Creator ..................................... 163

Capturing Digital Camcorder Video with

WinDVD Creator............................................ 164

Capturing Analog Video with

WinDVD Creator............................................ 164

Capturing a Still Image .......................................165

Editing Video Files with WinDVD Creator ..............165

Adding images with WinDVD Creator.............166

Adding audio effects with

WinDVD Creator ..........................................167

Adding transition effects with

WinDVD Creator ..........................................167

Adding title effects with WinDVD Creator ........167

Adding video filters with WinDVD Creator.......168

Authoring Your DVD with WinDVD Creator ...........168

Making a movie with WinDVD Creator ...........169

Recording VHS Files Direct to DVD with

WinDVD Creator ............................................170

Converting Recorded TV to VCD or

DVD Format ...................................................170

Using muvee autoProducer unPlugged................... 171

Getting Started with muvee autoProducer...............171

Adding Videos to Your Movie with

muvee autoProducer........................................172

Adding Pictures to Your Movie with

muvee autoProducer........................................173

Adding Music to Your Movie with

muvee autoProducer........................................173

Setting the Style in muvee autoProducer.................174

Changing the Settings in muvee autoProducer ........174

Making the Movie with muvee autoProducer ..........175

Recording muvee autoProducer Movie to Disc

with WinDVD Creator .....................................176

Using an HP Personal

Media Drive ................................. 177

Setting Up the HP Personal Media Drive to

Work with Media Center .................................178

Locating the Drive After Installation .......................178

Assigning a Drive Letter to the

HP Personal Media Drive.................................179

Table of Contents

Table o f C on te nts vii

Viewing and Storing Files.................................... 179

Playing Media Files ............................................ 180

Playing Music Files ............................................. 180

Viewing Picture Files ........................................... 180

Playing Video Files ............................................. 181

Watching TV Programs Stored on the

HP Personal Media Drive................................. 181

About Recording TV to the

HP Personal Media Drive................................. 182

Recording TV programs to the

HP Personal Media Drive............................... 183

Changing the TV recording path to the

HP Personal Media Drive............................... 183

Changing the TV recording path to the

local hard disk drive ..................................... 184

Disconnecting the HP Personal Media

Drive Safely ................................................... 184

Changing Disk Allocation.................................... 185

Updating Recorded TV List after Removing

the HP Personal Media Drive............................ 185

System Requirements to View Recorded

TV Programs on Other PCs...............................186

Troubleshooting ............................187

Troubleshooting Problems and

Finding Solutions ............................................187

Hardware and Operating System ......................... 188

Music................................................................190

Television, Guide, Recording TV...........................192

Video/DVD: Video or Display

Problems or Errors...........................................196

Pictures..............................................................198

Burning CDs or DVDs.......................................... 198

Index............................................199

viii Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Welcome

Experience the Entertainment Fun

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

Media Center is simple and easy to use. You can easily find and choose your media. You can play movies, listen to music, view photos, and watch TV with a single remote control. Combine the powerful features of your HP Digital Entertainment Center with a home theater receiver to enjoy an even more dynamic entertainment experience.

Watch and record live TV

With Media Center you can pause, advance frame by frame, skip ahead, or use instant replay to catch every moment of live TV. Use fast-forward to bypass unwanted content. When you are not able to watch your favorite show, you can use Media Center to record it.

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 iTunes music Library.

Record TV with ease by using the Television Program

Welcome

Guide to select the shows you want to record. You can record one show or an entire series and watch it when it is convenient for you. You will never miss a moment of your favorite shows.

Welc om e 1

Share your digital memories

Create personalized slide shows with music for viewing on your TV. Easily edit and create professional-looking home videos from the comfort of your couch with the remote control.

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.

Using Media Center Features

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

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

Some of the Media Center features listed are for select models only.

2 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

When using the remote control and the Media Center program, you can:

■ Watch, record, and play back television programs

on any TV in the house.

■ Pause, rewind, and fast-forward TV programs.

■ Watch an instant replay.

■ Play back your digital videos.

■ View your digital pictures or play them as a slide

show 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.

■ Listen to FM radio stations.

■ Access streaming music and video subscription

services.

■ Record your TV shows automatically while you are

doing something else.

■ Open specific windows in Media Center by using

the shortcut buttons on the remote control.

■ Communicate with your friends and family by using

instant messaging.

■ Enjoy Media Center remotely (select models only).

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

another hard disk drive such as the HP Personal Media Drive.

The Television Program Guide may not be available in all countries/regions.

Welcome

Welc om e 3

4 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Using Media Center

Setting Up Media Center

The first time you start your HP Digital Entertainment Center, a Media Center setup wizard opens. It is best to complete each step in the Media Center setup wizard to be able to use all the features in Media Center. The

Media Center setup wizard may take approximately 10 to 40 minutes to complete. If there are steps you still need to complete, you can go to the Settings menu by following the procedure below.

Completing the setup wizard steps

1 Press the Media Center Start button on the

remote control.

2 Select Settings. You may need to use the arrow

buttons on the remote control to scroll down to see all the menu items.

3 Select General, Media Center Setup, and then

select Run Media Center Setup Again. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the wizard.

Using Media Center 5

Using Media Center

Listed below are some of the items included in the setup wizard:

■ Check for your Internet connection. An

Internet connection allows Media Center to download and update your Television Program Guide and display information about your music CDs and other media.

■ Configure your TV tuner, TV signal source,

and Television Program Guide. You need to provide information about your TV signal source and your TV signal equipment (set-top box, cables, and so on). This step makes sure your Digital Entertainment Center receives the correct TV signal and Television Program Guide information. If you have a cable box or satellite receiver, the setup wizard programs your remote control to work with them.

■ Optimize how Media Center looks on your

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

■ Set up your speakers. Select how many

speakers you have and test them.

You must subscribe with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to have an Internet connection.

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

Getting the Most out of Media Center

To maximize effective use of Media Center and to ensure access to all of its features, complete the following list before getting started. Refer to the Start Here booklet and the User’s Guide that came with your HP Digital Entertainment Center. Before opening Media Center, make sure:

■ The HP Digital Entertainment Center is set up

correctly.

■ The remote control has two AA alkaline batteries

installed.

■ The remote sensor is properly plugged into a USB

connector on your HP Digital Entertainment Center and is placed where you can point the remote control at it.

■ The remote sensor control cable is securely plugged

into the remote sensor and attached to your cable or satellite set-top box, if present.

■ The HP Digital Entertainment Center has a properly

configured and working Internet connection.

■ The HP Digital Entertainment Center is properly

connected to your TV signal source.

6 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Opening Media Center

Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control.

Click Start on the taskbar, and then click Media Center.

Using Media Center 7

Using Media Center

Media Center Start Menu

CDE FG

N O

A Access a menu to exit Media Center, to

shut down or to restart the HP Digital Entertainment Center, to log off to end your Media Center session, to put the HP Digital Entertainment Center into standby mode, or to switch users

B Use media playback controls: Play, Stop,

Pause, Skip, Fast-Forward, Replay, Rewind, and Record, Volume Up/Down, Channel Up/Down

C Open the Media Center Start menu

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

J Go to the Media Center Web site for the

latest Media Center information

K Watch your home videos

L View digital pictures or play a slide show;

print photos

M Watch, record, and play back TV programs

N Play music files or music CDs, create and

edit playlists, and record music files to CD

O Play FM radio stations

P Find utilities and programs: instant

messaging, video editing, and creating CDs/DVDs, and sync to device

Some of the features listed are for select models only.

8 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Other menus not shown:

■ HP Image Zone — View digital pictures, play a

slide show, and print photos

■ HP Tunes — Play music from your iTunes music

Library or from music CDs

Using Online Spotlight

Online Spotlight is a link to the Media Center Web site for the latest Media Center information and for media offers and services.

Music: This area includes links to music service providers, such as Napster and Live365.

Movies: This area includes links to movie service providers such as MovieLink and Cinema Now. You can find information about popular films, view trailers, download movies, and more.

News/Sports: This area lists top stories from news and sports broadcasters such as MSNBC and ESPN.

■ Play DVD — Watch DVD movies

■ Settings — Change Media Center program settings

Tips: This area includes tips from Microsoft on how to use Media Center.

Downloads: This area includes information and services that you can download.

Some features listed for Online Spotlight may not be available for all countries/regions.

Using More Programs in Media Center

More Programs contains links to programs, services, and common tasks.

■ Create CD/DVD is a link to a CD creation wizard

that helps you find the media files you want to copy to CD or DVD. For more information about creating CDs and DVDs, see “Creating (Burning) CDs and DVDs with RecordNow!” on page 143.

■ Messenger opens an instant messaging log on

window. For more information see “Logging in to your messenger account” on page 14.

■ Sync to Device allows you to automatically transfer

your music, picture, video, and recorded TV files from the HP Digital Entertainment Center to a portable device such as a portable Media Center device, a SmartPhone, a pocket PC, or a mass storage device. Select Help in Media Center for more information.

Using Media Center 9

Using Media Center

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 trackball.

To select items in Media Center by using the remote control, use the arrow buttons on the remote control, and then use the OK button to enter your selection.

If you have media playing, such as music or television, 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 full-screen mode, use the arrows on the remote control to select it, and then press OK.

Closing Media Center

1 Move the trackball to display the Media Center

menu bars.

2 Click the Close icon to close Media Center.

10 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Synchronizing Media to a Portable Media Device

Sync to Device in More Programs allows you to automatically transfer your music, picture, video, and recorded TV files from the HP Digital Entertainment Center to a portable device such as a portable Media Center device, a SmartPhone, a pocket PC, or a mass storage device. Select Help in Media Center for more information.

1 Connect your portable media device to the

HP Digital Entertainment Center.

2 Select Yes when the message appears asking if you

want to sync content to the device.

3 If device is connected, press Start on the remote

control.

4 Select More Programs, and then select Sync to

Device.

5 Select the Up arrow or Down arrow on the screen to

move a playlist up or down in the list. The playlist at the top of the list is synchronized to the portable device first.

Select Delete next to a playlist you do not want to transfer to the device.

Select Add More to select other media categories you want to add to the list.

6 Select Start Sync.

Viewing files on a portable media device

1 Connect your portable media device to the

HP Digital Entertainment Center.

2 Minimize Media Center by selecting the

minimize icon.

3 Click Start on the taskbar, and then click

Windows Media Player.

4 Click the Sync tab to view files on the portable

media device.

Using Media Center 11

Using Media Center

Using Media Center Help

When you select the Help icon in Media Center, the Help Center window opens. From here you can access local help files located on your HP Digital Entertainment Center as well as help files found on the Internet.

The help categories are:

■ Help: Find help on using Media Center from files

located on your HP Digital Entertainment Center.

■ Community: Visit Media Center forums and get

help online.

■ Tips: Go to the Microsoft Web site for helpful tips

about using Media Center.

Opening Media Center Help

1 Press the Media Center Start button on the

remote control.

2 Move the trackball to show the Media Center

navigation bar, and then select the Help (?) icon from any window in Media Center.

■ Hardware: Find support information about your

Media Center HP Digital Entertainment Center hardware.

3 From the Help Center, select Help. 4 When Media Center Help files appear, use your

trackball, keyboard, or your remote control to select a help category.

5 Select a help topic.

When Media Center is open, you can also press F1 on the keyboard to open Media Center Help.

12 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Media Center menu bars and control menu

When you move the trackball, the Media Center menu bars appear. When you use the remote control, or when you stop using the trackball (after 5 seconds), the menu bars disappear.

To access the control menu in Media Center menu, move the trackball to display the menu bars. Select the Turn Off icon on the main

Media Center window.

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

Icon Action

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

Log off and end your Media Center session and switch users

Turn off the HP Digital Entertainment Center

Restart the HP Digital Entertainment Center

Put the HP Digital Entertainment Center in a reduced power state — standby mode

Using Media Center

Using Media Center 13

Using Instant Messaging in Media Center

Media Center supports instant messaging 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.

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

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

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.

2 Press the Media Center Start button on the

remote control to open Media Center.

3 Select More Programs, and then

select the Messenger icon.

4 Select Sign In. 5 Enter your net passport information,

and then select Sign In.

14 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Changing Media Center Settings

In the Media Center Settings window, you can change settings for watching television, for viewing your pictures and slide shows, 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.

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

buttons to select an option or follow the onscreen instructions.

5 Select Save to save your changes.

Media Center settings categories

■ TV to set up TV signal, audio, and closed

captioning. You can download or edit the Television Program Guide, view or clear recording history, set hard disk drive recorder storage space, configure your display, and set recording defaults.

Some settings, such as parental control and caption display settings for TV and DVDs, are included with select models only. Not all channels support closed captioning.

■ Pictures to set slide-show settings.

■ Music to select visualizations or song information to

display when playing a song.

■ DVDs to select a language for subtitles, audio

tracks, and menus of your DVDs, program the remote control buttons for your DVDs, and select closed captioning. You can also access audio settings for your speakers. You must use a trackball or keyboard to select the audio settings.

■ Messenger and Caller ID to allow instant

messages within Media Center and set notifications for caller ID.

■ Radio to organize or delete pre-set radio stations.

Using Media Center

Using Media Center 15

■ General to set:

■ Startup and Window behavior.

■ 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 HP Digital Entertainment Center.

■ Media Center Setup to configure your Internet

connection, TV signal, speakers, TV, or monitor;

■ Parental controls to block unwanted TV

channels and block unwanted TV and movie ratings, change access code, and reset parental controls.

■ Automatic Downloads Options to get

media information about CDs, DVDs, and movies from the Internet and to select how to download the Television Program Guide.

■ Help to find help about using Media Center and

your hardware.

access Windows updates; run Media Center setup again; set up remote desktop; and reset Start Page defaults.

Changing audio, video, display resolution, and other settings

To change your audio and video settings:

1 Press the Media Center Start button on the

remote control.

2 Select More Programs. 3 Select HP Settings.

■ Front Panel to adjust the brightness of the front

panel display on the HP Digital Entertainment Center.

■ HP Media Drive to set up your HP Personal

Media Drive to access music, pictures, videos, and recorded TV shows from within HP Media

4 Select one of the following settings:

■ DVD to adjust audio and video settings for DVD

playback using InterVideo WinDVD player.

■ Resolution to adjust the appearance of

Center.

5 Use the arrow buttons to select an option or follow

the onscreen instructions.

Windows Desktop for your TV.

16 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Changing the display resolution

The desktop display resolution utility changes the viewing experience outside of Media Center. Use this if you have trouble reading programs running from the Windows Desktop. Some programs may not work with the lower resolution recommended for standard definition TVs.

1 Press the Media Center Start button on the

remote control.

2 Select More Programs, and then select

HP Settings.

3 Select Resolution, and then select OK. 4 Select a resolution that is best for your type of

Resolution settings:

1024 x 768 is best on high definition TVs.

800 x 600 is best for standard definition TVs larger than 32".

640 x 480 is best for standard definition TVs smaller than 32".

display, and then select Apply.

Select the Advanced button to open the display properties control panel where you can select the Settings tab, and then select another resolution setting by moving the slider bar under Screen

resolution. Select OK.

Contacting HP Support in Media Center

You can access a link to HP Support in Media Center by using your remote control. At HP Support you can:

■ Register your product with HP.

■ Learn more about your HP Digital Entertainment

Center and Media Center.

■ Test your hardware with interactive diagnostic

software.

■ Connect to online technical support or access a

telephone number to talk with a technical support agent.

1 Press the Media Center Start button on the

remote control.

2 Select More Programs.

3 Select HP Settings. 4 Select HP Support. 5 Select an option, and then follow onscreen

instructions. You need to use your trackball and keyboard in this Web site.

HP Support is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

Using Media Center 17

Using Media Center

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 trackball, click the Help icon in the Media 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.

Also, you can access the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide when you go online to the HP Support Web site at:

http://www.hp.com/support

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

18 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

Using the Remote Control

The remote control is designed to work with Media Center. You can use your remote control with Media Center to play CDs and DVDs, to view pictures, and to watch and record television programs.

DVD MENU

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.

■ Control the video or live TV display.

■ Place the computer in and out of standby mode.

■ Shut down or restart the HP Digital Entertainment

Center.

■ 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 HP Digital

Entertainment Center.

■ Turn on the HP Digital Entertainment Center.

The remote control has a range of about 26 feet.

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

MUSIC

RADIO

RECORD

REW

REPLAY

BACK

VOLUME

LIVE TV

GHI

PQRS

CLEAR ENTERPRINT

PLAY

PAUSE

MUTE

GUIDE

ABC

JKL

TUV

PICTURES

VIDEOS

STOP

FWD

SKIP

Using the Remote Control

CH/PG

RECORDED TV

DEF

321

MNO

654

WXYZ

987

Using the Remote Control 19

Remote Control Buttons Overview

Features and location may vary

AStandby puts the HP Digital Entertainment Center

into and out of a power-reduced state.

BDVD Menu opens the Play DVD window or opens the

main menu of a DVD movie, if available.

CMusic opens the My Music window.

D Radio opens the Radio window.

ERecord records a selected television program and

stores it on the hard disk drive when in Live TV mode. The Record button is inactive for all other media.

FRew (Rewind) moves the media backward at two

speeds.

GReplay moves media backward 7 seconds.

HPause pauses audio and video tracks and live or

recorded TV programs.

JBack returns HP Digital Entertainment Center to the

previous window within Media Center.

KArrow buttons move the cursor to navigate and select

actions within all Media Center windows.

LStart opens Media Center to the main Start menu.

MVolume increases (+) and decreases (–) volume.

NLive 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.

OGuide opens the Television Program Guide.

PClear deletes the last character entered.

G H

DVD MENU

RADIO

MUSIC

PICTURES

VIDEOS

Q R

S T

RECORD

PLAY

REW

REPLAY

PAUSE

STOP

FWD

SKIP

BACK

VOLUME

CH/PG

MUTE

GHI

GUIDE

RECORDED TV

ABC

JKL

TUV

DEF

321

MNO

654

WXYZ

987

LIVE TV

PQRS

CLEAR ENTER

20 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Reference Guide

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