About Upgrading to Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Security level: HP and Customer Viewable
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In this document:
Availability

Eligibility

How to check the version of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition on your PC

How to obtain Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade

Before upgrading to Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade features overview

Software behavior differences to note after Installing Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade



An upgrade to Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (MCE2005) was available beginning October 12, 2004 for a limited time. This document explains the software upgrade program and briefly describes the new features it offers.


NOTE: If you receive an elegibility message when attempting to upgrade, refer to the HP support document " System Not Eligible for Upgrade when Attempting to Upgrade to Media Center Edition 2005 " for more information about this message.

Availability
The upgrade program was available from October 12, 2004 through February 28, 2005 in the United States and Canada.


Eligibility
HP Media Center PCs pre-installed with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition or Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, were eligible to obtain the upgrade. Following is a table of eligible HP Media Center computer models.



NOTE: HP notebook computers were not eligible for this upgrade.


Once-eligible HP Media Center PCs 854
886c
m1160n
m376n

864
894c
m1170n
m377n

884
896c
m1171n
m380

816n
m1000y CTO
m1180n
m380n

854n
m1050e CTO
m1195c
m385c

856x
m1050y CTO
m200y CTO
m390n

863n
m1070n
m260n
m400y CTO

864n
m1072n
m270
m470n

873n
m1080n
m270n
m476n

876x
m1082n
m280n
m480n

883n
m1090n
m300y CTO
m490n

884n
m1095c
m370n
m495c



How to check the version of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition on your PC
To view the version of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition on your PC, click Open Media Center, Settings, General, and scroll down and click About Media Center. An About Media Center window will appear with version information listed.


How to obtain Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade
The HP Web site for Microsoft Windows Media Center Edition 2005 upgrade fulfillment is now closed. The fulfillment phone numbers have also been closed now that program has expired.


Before upgrading to Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
MCE2005 contains Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. Before upgrading to MCE2005, the following steps are recommended:



Backup and secure all personal data files.

Remove spyware and all other unnecessary software to optimize your computer's performance. Refer to Increase System Performance without Adding Memory for more information.

Connect to the Microsoft Web site and download all critical updates using the Windows Update tool. Refer to Use Windows Update to Update Drivers and Software for more information.

Install all the updates listed in the document Important Information for Upgrading to Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 , in the section Update these drivers before installing SP2.


Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade features overview
Some MCE2005 upgrade features are:


MCE2005 offers complete entertainment center functionality for enjoying music, videos, photos, and near high-definition television in a theater-style setting.
MCE2005 can support two TV tuners allowing you to watch one TV program while recording another. This function will not work on the HP Media Centers listed in the eligibility section. HP does not recommend installing a second TV tuner.
Develop your own music and photo playlists, record DVDs, and experience the crisp colors of near high-definition viewing.
With the Media Center Extender, wirelessly extend the Media Center experience to other rooms in your house.
Control the Media Center experience using a handheld remote or wireless keyboard to navigate expanded and intuitive menu trees. Do this in either a desktop setting, or from a distance with what is referred to as a "10 foot" setting.


Software behavior differences to note after Installing Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade

Upgrade fails to initiate, stops, or an unexpected popup message displays. When installing the MCE2005 upgrade, should the installation process fail to initiate, or stop before it is complete, or display an unexpected popup message, such as "Please insert your SP2 CD," eject the upgrade DVD disc, re-insert it, and try again. You may need to do this several times. The upgrade DVD contains all the necessary files to complete the MCE2005 upgrade.
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade cannot be uninstalled. The MCE2005 upgrade once installed cannot be uninstalled using either the system restore or add/remove programs utilities. If it is necessary to return the computer to its previous operating system environment, a standard recovery is the only way to do so.
DVD playback freezes. While viewing a DVD movie from the inset window (the area in Media Center that displays TV, pictures, and videos), if you open the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) or the Media Center Start page and use the keyboard or mouse to browse the menu screens, DVD playback freezes. In this situation, if you close Media Center, the PC will take a longer than usual time to shut down the computer.
TV picture quality choppy. If you browse the menu screens while viewing live TV in the inset window, you may notice that the picture momentarily pauses or appears choppy.
Prompt to activate Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. While installing the MCE2005 upgrade over Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, you will be prompted to enter the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Certificate of Authenticity (COA) key. The COA key is a 25-character alphanumeric sequence that is unique to your computer and is used for validation. After completing the upgrade, you will be prompted to enter the COA key again to validate the installation with Microsoft (you must be connected to the Internet).
Recorded TV sample demo does not play. After installing the MCE2005 upgrade over Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, the recorded TV sample demo will not play and only a black screen will display. Installation of the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 upgrade removes the sample file.
Restore point not available. After installing the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 upgrade over an original version of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, a restore point set prior to the upgrade will no longer be available (even when SP26352 containing the Microsoft QFE 835409 was installed as part of Step 4 in the Before Upgrading to Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 section above). Following the upgrade, the earliest restore point available will be the first one set.
Unable to invoke standby mode from remote. After installing MCE2005, you will be unable to invoke Standby Mode from the remote, although it is possible to do this from the keyboard.
Video error exiting Standby Mode to resume DVD playback. While playing a DVD, you place the Media Center in Standby Mode. Later you wish to resume playback by exiting Standby Mode, but a video error displays on a black screen. This may happen as a result of the system failing to detect the viewing device. Remove the DVD, and restart the system.
Video error switching from DVD playback to Live TV. The Media Center may hang when switching from DVD playback to Live TV. The spinning-arrow progress indicator will continue to spin (for about 30 seconds) until a video error is displayed. Remove the DVD, and restart the system.
Burning recorded TV to CD or DVD stops. Burning recorded TV to CD or DVD intermittently hangs at 36% of completion.
Intermittent sluggish performance. Intermittently, sluggish performance may be noticed after switching from Live TV to Radio, or after selecting a pre-set radio channel. Also, occasionally no sound will be heard after selecting Start FM.
Get Recorded TV Shows in Sonic MyDVD does not work. After installation of the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 upgrade, the Get Recorded TV Shows link in Sonic MyDVD does not work.
Power scheme setting changed. After installation of the MCE2005 upgrade, the computer's power setting will be changed from Energy Star to Home/Office Desk.