HP z556, z558 Software Guide
HP Digital Entertainment Center
Software Guide
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Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional
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USA
Copyright © 2005 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is
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viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision
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Table of Contents
Welcome...........................................1
Experience the Entertainment Fun ............................. 1
Watch and record live TV.................................. 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...................................2
Using Media Center...........................3
Setting Up Media Center.........................................3
Opening Media Center using a trackball.............3
Opening Media Center using the remote control .. 4
Media Center menu bars ................................... 5
Navigating Media Center.................................. 5
Media Center control menu................................ 6
Using Media Center Away mode........................ 7
Completing the setup wizard steps...................... 8
Media Center Start Menu ........................................ 9
Online Spotlight .............................................10
Using Instant Messaging in Media Center................ 10
Logging in to your messenger account............... 11
Changing Media Center Settings............................ 11
Media Center Settings Categories..................... 12
Contacting HP Support in Media Center.................. 13
Finding Additional Media Center Information........... 13
Using the Remote Control................15
Remote Control Buttons Overview ........................... 16
Watching and Recording
TV Programs .................................. 19
Navigating My TV ................................................ 19
Watching TV........................................................20
Watching Live TV............................................21
Controlling TV playback ..................................22
Using the remote control in My TV ....................23
Using the Television Program Guide........................24
Using Media Center without a Guide ................25
Television Program Guide Errors....................... 25
Viewing the Television Program Guide ..............26
Setting up how Media Center
downloads the Guide...................................... 27
Manually downloading the Guide.....................28
Adding a postal code to receive
the correct Guide............................................28
Adding missing channels to the Guide............... 29
Editing channels in the Guide...........................29
Removing channels from the Guide ...................29
Searching for TV Programs ....................................30
Searching for TV programs using categories ......31
Recording TV Programs .........................................32
Recording TV from the Guide ...........................33
Recording programs manually with or
without a Guide..............................................34
Recording quality and hard disk drive
storage space.................................................35
Copying recorded TV programs to DVD or CD ...36
Media Copy Protection....................................37
Playing Recorded TV Programs...............................37
Table of Contents
Table of Contents iii
Playing Music Files ......................... 39
My Music ............................................................ 39
Using My Music with Media Center........................ 40
Adding Music to the My Music Library .................... 41
Adding music files from your hard disk drive...... 41
Adding music files from a CD........................... 42
Deleting music files from the My Music library.... 42
Using supported music file types ...................... 43
Playing Music Files in My Music............................. 44
Playing an album in My Music ......................... 45
Playing a song in My Music............................. 45
Creating a Queue List in My Music......................... 46
Finding and Playing an Album in My Music............. 46
Creating a Playlist in My Music .............................. 47
Copying Music Files to CD in My Music .................. 48
Working with Pictures .................... 49
HP Image Zone .................................................... 49
My Pictures.......................................................... 49
Working with Digital Images ................................. 50
Using HP Image Zone in Media Center ................... 50
Creating your picture catalog in
HP Image Zone ..............................................51
Creating albums............................................. 53
Modifying a date assigned to your pictures........ 53
Assigning a keyword to your pictures................ 54
Assigning a place to your pictures .................... 54
Searching for pictures in Media Center .............55
Viewing Pictures in HP Image Zone......................... 56
Viewing a slideshow
in HP Image Zone........................................... 56
Viewing a slideshow with music
in HP Image Zone........................................... 56
Editing Pictures in HP Image Zone ..........................57
Editing pictures in HP Image Zone
from the desktop............................................. 57
Editing pictures in HP Image Zone
in Media Center ............................................. 58
Sharing Pictures in HP Image Zone .........................59
Using supported picture file types
with HP Image Zone ....................................... 61
Printing Pictures in HP Image Zone..........................62
Creating a Backup Disc of Your Pictures ..................62
Using My Pictures in Media Center .........................63
Adding Pictures to My Pictures ...............................64
Adding picture files from your hard disk drive ....64
Viewing Pictures in My Pictures ..............................65
Viewing pictures as a slideshow .......................66
Viewing a slideshow with music
in My Pictures.................................................66
Using supported picture file types
in My Pictures ................................................67
Editing Pictures in My Pictures ................................68
Fixing red eye or contrast ................................68
Cropping pictures in My Pictures ......................69
Rotating pictures .............................................69
Printing Pictures in My Pictures ...............................70
Copying Pictures to CDs and DVDs......................... 71
Playing Videos................................73
Playing Digital Videos in Media Center ...................74
Using Supported Video File Types...........................75
Transferring and Recording Video Files ...................75
Creating a CD/DVD from Video Files......................76
Playing DVDs..................................77
Playing DVD Movies in Media Center .....................77
Changing the DVD Movie Language .......................78
Changing DVD Audio Settings ...............................78
Listening to FM Radio......................79
Playing FM Radio Stations .....................................80
Organizing Preset Radio Stations............................81
Using the FM Radio and the TV Signal
at the Same Time ..............................................81
iv HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Creating Audio and Data Discs ........83
Erasing Rewritable Discs Before Recording ..............84
Working with Audio CDs ......................................85
Verifying an audio disc recorded
without errors ................................................. 86
Audio CD tips ................................................86
Creating audio CDs ........................................ 87
Creating jukebox discs .................................... 88
Working with Data DVDs and CDs ......................... 89
Verifying a data disc recorded without errors..... 89
Creating data discs......................................... 91
Copying a DVD or CD .......................................... 92
Archiving Files on a CD or DVD ............................. 93
Archiving files using Media Center ...................93
Working with image files................................. 94
Creating an image file ....................................94
Burning from an image file............................... 95
Disc Labeling with LightScribe ................................ 95
LightScribe requirements.................................. 96
Burning a LightScribe label with
Sonic Express Labeler...................................... 96
Using adhesive disc labels............................... 97
Compatibility Information ......................................97
Disc Features and Compatibility Table..................... 98
Optical Drive Quick Reference Table ......................99
Software Quick Reference Table........................... 100
Creating Video Discs and Movies...103
Before You Begin Capturing Video .......................103
Sonic MyDVD Video Projects ...............................104
Creating a video project................................ 104
Adding files to a video project .......................105
Capturing video to a video project ................. 105
Adding slideshows to a video project.............. 106
Adding submenus to a video project ............... 106
Editing the style of a video project .................. 107
Editing movie files......................................... 107
Burning a video project to disc ....................... 108
Creating a Video Project with the
Direct-to-Disc Wizard ......................................109
Video Quality and Disc Size ................................110
DVD Recording Time ...........................................111
Creating Movies Using
muvee autoProducer .................... 113
Basic Steps to Make a Movie ...............................113
Locating the two versions of
muvee autoProducer......................................115
Using muvee autoProducer on the Desktop.............116
Getting started on the desktop ........................116
Capturing video from a DV camcorder ............117
Adding videos..............................................119
Adding pictures ............................................120
Adding music ...............................................120
Selecting the style .........................................121
Changing the settings....................................121
Adding an opening title and closing credits .....122
Making the movie .........................................122
Saving the movie project................................123
Recording the movie project to disc.................123
Using muvee autoProducer unPlugged
in Media Center .............................................124
Selecting videos............................................125
Selecting pictures..........................................125
Selecting music.............................................126
Setting the style.............................................126
Adjusting audio and video settings..................127
Making the movie .........................................127
Upgrading muvee autoProducer ...........................128
Table of Contents
Table of Contents v
Using an HP Personal
Media Drive ................................. 129
Setting Up the HP Personal Media Drive to
Work with Media Center................................. 130
Locating the Drive After Installation ....................... 130
Assigning a Drive Letter to the
HP Personal Media Drive................................. 131
Viewing and Storing Files.................................... 131
Playing Media Files ............................................ 132
Playing Music Files .............................................132
Viewing Picture Files ........................................... 132
Playing Video Files .............................................133
About Recording TV to Your
HP Personal Media Drive................................. 133
Watching TV Programs Stored on the
HP Personal Media Drive................................. 134
Recording TV programs to Your
HP Personal Media Drive...............................135
Changing the TV recording path to the
HP Personal Media Drive ...............................135
Changing the TV recording path to the
local hard disk drive .....................................136
Disconnecting the
HP Personal Media Drive Safely .......................136
Changing Disk Allocation .................................... 137
Updating Recorded TV List After Removing
Your HP Personal Media Drive .........................137
System Requirements to View R
ecorded TV Programs on Other PCs ..................138
Index............................................139
vi HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Welcome
Experience the Entertainment Fun
Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 with
Update Rollup 2 lets you do amazing things with your HP
Digital Entertainment Center. With a full range of digital
entertainment features, you can 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 Windows Media Player music library.
Record TV with ease by using the Television (Electronic)
Program 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.
Share your digital memories
Create personalized slideshows 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.
Welcome
Welc om e 1
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.
n
If your HP Digital Entertainment Center came
with a rewritable DVD drive, the drive is able
to read and record to both DVD+R/RW and
DVD-R/RW media.
When using the Media Center program, you can:
■ Watch, record, and play back television programs.
■ 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
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.
■ Listen to FM radio stations.
■ Access streaming music and video subscription
services. Some music and video subscription services
may not be available in all countries/regions.
■ 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.
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.
n
Some of the Media Center features listed are
for select models only.
Some of the components listed in the HP
Digital Entertainment Center documentation,
such as speakers, are optional or sold
separately.
■ Communicate with your friends and family by using
instant messaging. Instant messaging 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 the 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.
n
The Television Program Guide (Internet
service required) is not available in all
countries/regions.
2 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software 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
recommended to complete each step in the Media Center
n
For more information about setting up your
HP Digital Entertainment Center, refer to the
Start Here guide.
Opening Media Center using a trackball
setup wizard to be able to use all the features in Media
Center. The Media Center setup wizard may take 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 8.
You can use either your remote control or your trackball to
open and to navigate within Media Center.
To use your trackball:
1 Click Start on the taskbar, and then click
Media Center.
2 Move your trackball 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 trackball 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 trackball to display the Media Center
toolbar, and then click the back arrow at the top of
the window to go to a previous window.
4 Click the ? icon at the top of the window to open
Media Center Help.
5 Click the Media Center Start icon to return to
the Media Center Start menu.
Using Media Center
Using Media Center 3
Opening Media Center using the remote control
You can use either your remote control or your trackball 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 Media Center Help.
6 Press the Media Center Start button to return
to the Media Center Start menu.
4 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Media Center menu bars
When you move the trackball, the Media Center menu
bars appear. These menu bars allow you to access media
controls, Media Center Help, the back screen arrow,
window control icons, and the Media Center icon that
takes you to the main Media Center menu. When you use
the remote control, or when you stop using the trackball
(after 5 seconds), the menu bars disappear.
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.
n
You can use the Minimize and Resize buttons
to switch to the desktop or to run Media
Center side-by-side with another program.
.
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.
Using Media Center
Using Media Center 5
Media Center control menu
To access the control menu in Media Center,
move the trackball 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 HP Digital
Entertainment Center
Restart the HP Digital
Entertainment Center
Put the HP Digital Entertainment
Center in a reduced power state
— standby mode
n
If you are recording a TV program and then
put the HP Digital Entertainment Center into
standby, the recording stops.
If the HP Digital Entertainment Center is in
standby and a recording is about to begin,
the HP Digital Entertainment Center wakes
from standby and records the program.
6 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Using Media Center Away mode
When your computer is in Away mode it appears off, but
you can actually still perform tasks such as record 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 Digital Entertainment Center 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.
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 trackball, 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.
Or
Prompt for password when the computer
returns from Away mode.
6 Click OK.
n
The audio and video of TV recordings are not
affected when the HP Digital Entertainment
Center is in Away mode.
Using Media Center
Using Media Center 7
Completing the setup wizard steps
1 Press the Media Center Start button on the
remote control or, with your trackball, click Start
on the taskbar, and then click Media
Center.
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.
Following 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, DVDs, and other media.
You must select analog or digital TV signals in
the setup wizard for your TV tuner to work
properly (select models only).
n
n
You must subscribe with an Internet service
provider (ISP) to have an Internet connection.
■ 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, cable, and so
on). This step makes sure your HP 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 Media Center remote control
to work with them.
8 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
■ Optimize how Media Center looks on your
display. You can change display settings such as
brightness, contrast, color, and centering.
■ 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.
■ Set up your speakers. Select how many
speakers you have and test them. Speakers are sold
separately for some models.
Media Center Start Menu
CDE
A
B
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. See page 6.
B Use media playback controls: Play, Stop, Pause,
Skip, Fast-Forward, Replay, Rewind, Record, Volume
Up/Down, Mute, and Channel Up/Down. See
page 23.
C Open the Media Center Start menu. See page 4.
D Go back one screen.
E Open Media Center Help.
F Minimize the Media Center window.
G Resize the Media Center window.
FG
H
My Pictures — View digital pictures, play a slideshow,
and print photos. See page 49.
My Music — Play music files or music CDs, create and
edit playlists, and record music files to CD. See page 39.
More Programs — Find utilities and programs for
communicating with instant messaging (see page 11),
editing videos (see page 113), backing up files (see
page 93), and creating CDs/DVDs (see page 48).
Settings — Change program settings. See page 11.
My TV — Watch, record, and play back TV shows. See
page 19.
Radio — Play FM radio stations. See page 80.
*HP ImageZone — View, edit, share, and print digital
pictures, and play a slideshow. See page 49..
H Close the Media Center window.
Media Center Start menu items
Play DVD — Watch DVD movies. See page 77.
*Online Spotlight — Go to the Media Center Web site
for the latest Media Center information. See page 10.
My Videos — Watch your home videos. See page 73.
n
*Some of the features listed are for select
models only.
Using Media Center 9
Using Media Center
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 some countries/regions.
Your HP Di git al En ter tain me nt Center 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 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 i (More information)
button on the remote control to access the
Messenger login screen.
n
10 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Logging in to your messenger account
1 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.
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 trackball, click
Start on the taskbar, and then click
Media Center to open Media Center.
3 Select More Programs, and then
select the Messenger icon.
4 Select Sign In.
Changing Media Center Settings
In the Media Center Settings window, you can change
settings for watching television, 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 trackball, 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
buttons to select an option or follow the onscreen
instructions.
5 Select Save to save your changes.
Using Media Center 11
Using Media Center
Media Center Settings Categories
Media Center includes various settings categories listed
below.
■ TV to set up TV signal, audio, and closed captioning
(not all channels support 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.
n
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 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 and set notifications for caller ID. Instant
messaging may not be supported in all countries/
regions.
■ Radio to organize or delete preset radio stations.
■ 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;
access Windows updates; run Media Center
setup again; set up remote desktop; and reset
Start Page defaults.
■ Parental controls to block unwanted TV
channels and block unwanted TV and movie
ratings, change an access code, and reset
parental controls.
■ 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 Optimization
setting restarts your computer at a specific time
each day that you determine.
■ Help to find help about using Media Center and
your hardware.
12 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Contacting HP Support in Media Center
You can access 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, HP Settings, and then
select HP Support.
3 Select an option, and then follow the 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.
Finding Additional Media Center Information
n
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. Online Spotlight may not be
available in all countries/regions.
You can also find guides and information for your HP
Digital Entertainment Center using the Internet to access a
Support Web site.
To view information for your HP Digital Entertainment
Center, go to the Support Web address listed in the
Warranty and Support Guide, and search for your
model’s name and number. The model number is on the
lower front of the HP Digital Entertainment Center chassis.
To find the online documentation for your model, search
for your model number, and then click Manuals.
Using Media Center
Using Media Center 13
14 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software 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.
This remote control helps you navigate the Media Center
windows on your HP Digital Entertainment Center 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 HP Digital Entertainment Center in and out of
standby mode.
■ Shut down or restart the HP Digital Entertainment
Center.
■ Log off from Media Center or switch users.
DVD MENU
RADIO
MUSIC PICTURES VIDEOS
RECORD
REW
REPLAY
BACK MORE
PLAY
PAUSE
TV
STOP
FWD
SKIP
Using the Remote Control
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.
n
The remote control operates up to 7.9 meters
(26 feet) away from the remote sensor.
Make sure there is nothing blocking the
pathway between your remote control and
the remote sensor.
VOLUME
LIVE TV
CH/PG
MUTE
GUIDE RECORDED TV
PRINT
Using the Remote Control 15
Remote Control Buttons Overview
Features and location may vary
1 Standby — Puts the HP Digital Entertainment Center
into and out of a power-reduced standby state. It
does not turn the HP Digital Entertainment Center 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.
5Record — Records a selected television program
and stores it on the hard disk drive.
6Rew — Moves the media backward at 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.
10
11
12
13
14
1
DVD MENU
TV
2
3
RADIO
MUSIC PICTURES VIDEOS
4
RECORD
PLAY
5
REW
6
REPLAY
PAUSE
STOP
FWD
SKIP
7
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
8
9
BACK MORE
24
25
VOLUME
MUTE
CH/PG
26
27
LIVE TV
GUIDE RECORDED TV
28
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.
16 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
15
PRINT
29
30
31
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 (–) — Change the TV
channels or move pages up and down, depending on
available options. Move to the next DVD chapter.
Using the Remote Control
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, #, * — 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 from the
My Pictures window of Media Center.
Using the Remote Control 17
w
If you turn off (shut down) your HP Digital
Entertainment Center, Media Center will not
record a scheduled TV program. The HP
Digital Entertainment Center must be turned
on or in standby mode to record TV
programs.
n
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 don’t want to be disturbed.
The HP Digital Entertainment Center will not
automatically go into standby mode if Media
Center is open. It is recommended to close
Media Center before you manually place
the HP Digital Entertainment Center in
standby mode.
18 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Watching and Recording TV
Programs
Watch live TV or record your favorite shows for later
playback. Use the Television Program Guide to find the
show you want to watch or record. You can also record a
show while watching another prerecorded show.
Navigating My TV
From the My TV window you can search for and play
your favorite TV shows. Use the following menu items to
help you locate what you want to do:
■ Live TV: Watch, pause, fast-forward, or
rewind your favorite TV shows. You can watch
recorded TV shows while recording another show.
Use the i (More information) button on the remote
control to display TV show information.
■ Recorded TV: View a list of recorded programs by
date or title, view a list of programs scheduled to be
recorded, play a recorded program, find out why a
program wasn’t recorded, or add a TV recording
manually.
■ Search: Quickly find a TV program or a series to
watch or record by entering a descriptive word,
program title, or program category.
■ Guide: (Not available in all countries/regions.)
Scroll through the Television Program Guide to find
programs to watch and record. You can record
specific TV shows or a whole series to your hard disk
drive or an HP Personal Media Drive.
■ Movies: Go online to find movies to watch now or
later. Get the latest information about movies on TV:
read reviews, see cast lists, find other times the movie
is broadcast, view the DVD cover, browse for related
movies, and find other movies with the same cast
members.
n
Digital video recording features are for select
models only.
TV Programs
Watching and Recording
n
The Movies online information feature is
available for some countries/regions.
Watching and Recording TV Programs 19
Watching TV
Before you can watch TV by using Media Center,
make sure:
■ The computer is set up correctly for your TV signal
source. Refer to the setup poster or the Start Here
guide and the HP Digital Entertainment Center User’s
Guide for more information.
■ You have completed the Media Center setup wizard.
If you have not completed the setup wizard, refer to
“Opening Media Center using the remote control”
on page 4.
n
You can change the channel by using the
remote control while in full-screen mode or
when the inset window is selected.
You can go to live TV from anywhere in
Windows Media Center by pressing Live TV
on the remote control.
While in the Guide, you can select a channel
to see upcoming programs for that channel
by pressing the arrow buttons on the remote
control.
20 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Watching Live TV
1 Press the TV button on the remote control or select
My TV from the main start menu. Use the arrow
buttons on the remote control to select Live TV, and
then press OK. The last channel selected or the first
channel available begins playing.
2 Select a channel by using the CH/PG (+) or (–)
buttons or the numeric keypad on the remote control,
and then press OK. The channel number and
program information are displayed in the window.
3 Press the i (More information) button to open
another menu with the following options and
information:
■ Access to Messenger and Settings windows.
■ Program information such as channel number
and station, title and time period of program,
actual time, and a brief summary of the program
and TV rating, if available. Recording options are
also shown.
4 To exit full-screen mode and return to the previous
window, press Back on the remote control.
TV Programs
Watching and Recording TV Programs 21
Watching and Recording
Controlling TV playback
The digital video recorder functionality lets you record
single shows or capture entire series for later viewing.
When you open the My TV window and begin watching
live TV, Media Center automatically begins recording and
playing back the selected program in the background.
This allows you to review a program for up to 30 minutes.
To replay a program longer than the 30 minutes, you
must select to record the program.
n
The 30-minute pause buffer applies
only when pausing, rewinding, and
fast-forwarding live TV. Media Center
allows you to record a program for
longer than 30 minutes when you select to
record the program.
You can return to the live broadcast by pressing the Live
TV button on the remote control.
When you change the channel, Media Center deletes the
previously recorded portion and begins recording again
after a short delay.
n
You cannot pause a live TV program and then
rewind to the beginning of the pause buffer
and then begin recording. You can record a
TV program only from live TV.
n
The digital video recording features are for
select models only.
22 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
Using the remote control in My TV
Button Action
To freeze the live TV image, press Pause. While paused, My TV continues to record a pause
buffer for up to 30 minutes. To resume watching TV where you left off, press Play.
To stop live TV or a recorded program, press Stop once. To resume watching the program,
press Play.
To move forward in a live TV program that has been paused, or in a recorded program, press
Fast-Forward (Fwd). To speed up the fast-forwarding, press Fwd two or three times. Fwd allows
you to skip 3 hours in the Television Program Guide.
To play a recorded TV program or to resume watching a program after pressing the Pause,
Fast-Forward, Rewind, Replay, or Skip buttons, press Play.
To advance in live TV or in a recorded program by 30 seconds, press Skip once. You can
repeatedly skip forward, but only to the end of the pause buffer or the recorded program.
Allows you to skip 12 hours in the Guide.
To move backward in live TV or a recorded program, press Rewind (Rew). To speed up
rewinding, press Rew two or three times. To resume watching the program, press Play. Allows
you to move back 3 hours in the Guide.
To move backward in live TV by 7 seconds, press Replay. You can repeatedly rewind with the
instant replay option, but only to the beginning of the pause buffer or recorded program.
Allows you to move back 12 hours in the Guide.
TV Programs
Watching and Recording
Live TV
To maximize the TV viewing window to full-screen mode, press Live TV. Also, to advance to the
end of the pause buffer and resume watching the live TV broadcast, press Live TV.
Watching and Recording TV Programs 23
Button Action
i (More
information)
CH/PG To move to the next channel or page in the Television Program Guide, press the CH/PG (+)
Guide To open the Television Program Guide, press Guide. When in the Guide window, press Guide
Guide
To see the channel number, station identifier, title of program, time slot, and category of
program, press the i (More information) button while in full-screen mode. If you select a
recorded show and then press the i (More information) button, you can access more
information about a program, stop or delete a program, change a recording setting, change
the “Keep Until” setting, access the instant messaging dialog box, and access TV settings.
and (–) buttons.
again to view a program categories menu. To filter your Guide to display only programs in a
category, you can select a category, such as Movies.
Using the Television Program Guide
The Television Program Guide (Internet service required)
is a free service from Microsoft that provides TV listings
information, such as channel, network, program title,
program summary, and scheduled broadcast times. This
service is currently not available in some countries/
regions. You can go to http://www.microsoft.com
to find out if the Guide is available in your country/
region and to find the terms and conditions of the
Television Program Guide service.
n
Your HP Digital Entertainment Center requires
a connection to the Internet to access the
Guide.
In countries/regions where the Guide is not available,
refer to “Using Media Center without a Guide” on
page 25 and see “Recording programs manually with or
without a Guide” on page 34 for more information about
recording TV programs.
Using the Guide, you can scroll through a list of the
current and upcoming television programs and channels
available from your television service provider. The Guide
displays the channel and network, as well as the program
title, scheduled time block, and a brief description of the
program. The number of days displayed depends on your
television service provider; most providers display up to
14 days. By selecting a program title, a detailed
description of the program appears at the bottom of the
window.
24 HP Digital Entertainment Center Software Guide
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