Working with Home Video

Working with Home Video
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In this document:
Transferring home video from a VCR or camcorder
Connecting a digital video camera (USB or Firewire)
Recording videos from a digital video camera (USB or Firewire)
This document pertains to HP Media Center PCs and Microsoft Windows XP, Media Center Edition.

This document addresses some basic ways to import and work with video. If you are using a digital camcorder, the documentation that came with your video camera might be different from this document. If this is the case, read the instructions for your video camera before using this document.
Transferring home video from a VCR or camcorder
Transferring video from a VCR or camcorder to the computer is also called capturing video from an analogue video stream. The methods for capturing and saving video vary depending on the software application used to capture and record the stream. Use the following steps to get an idea of how analogue video capturing works:

With the computer off, connect the VCR, television, or camcorder to the HP Media Center using a coaxial or S-video cable or . Connect the cable using the TV-out connections on the VCR/camcorder and the TV-in connections on the back or front of the HP Media Center computer.

NOTE: For some Media Center PCs with front and back video connectors, HP recommends that you connect your analog device to the Composite Video 2 or the S-Video 2 connector on the front of the PC.
Turn on the computer and the VCR/camcorder.

NOTE: Before you open your video capturing software make sure that you have completed the Media Center setup screens and then check the following:
Close the Media Center software.
Press CTRL+ALT+DEL, click the Task Manager button, select ehRec.exe from the list of items (if it is listed).
With ehRec selected, click End Process.
Close the window. You can now use your capturing software.
Open the software used for the video capturing. The software has to be able to recognize the special video format, called MS-DVR, that the TV tuner card uses. Many popular video editing programs (like Windows Movie Maker) do not work with this format and may produce the error message Video device in use.
At the time of this writing, the software options that are available for HP Media Center computers are as follows:
WinDVD Creator or WinDVD Creator 2. Open WinDVD Creator, select Capture video into hard disk button, click the wrench icon, and then select the Device Control tab. Select the video input source from the Video Source drop-down menu. If the items cannot be selected, some other software program is already using the TV Tuner. Find and close the software that is already using the video card and close it.

NOTE: For some HP Media Center PCs that have front and back video connectors, HP recommends that you use the front S-Video or Composite Video connector on your PC, and then select S-Video 2 or Composite Video 2 from the Video Source drop-down menu.
ArcSoft Showbiz and ShowBiz 2: This software is already on the HP Media Center computer. HP Media Center computers made in Summer of 2003 and later are capable of recording analogue video directly from the TV tuner.
HP Media Center 854, 854n, 864, 864n, 884, 884n, and 894c computers require an update to ArcSoft Showbiz before they can record directly from the TV card. To get this update, connect to the Internet, open ShowBiz, and check for updates using the Internet button in ShowBiz.
MovieMill by eMuzed: If your Media Center computer contains an eMuzed TV card, like the 863n, 873n, and 883n, you can reinstall this application using HP's application recovery software.
Change the signal setting (video input setting) according to the connections or channel selection on the VCR or camcorder. Here are some examples:
A VCR is connected with coaxial cable and is set to channel three (by a small switch on the back of the VCR. Set the signal setting in the capture software to channel three. With some software applications, selecting Composite also works.
A VCR is connected with an S-video cable. Set the signal setting in the capturing software to S-video. With some software applications, selecting Composite works better and produces higher quality recordings.
If a camcorder is used and it has a special cable that goes to an RCA style connector, use an RCA-to-S-video adapter to connect it to the computer and select Composite.
A camcorder with an RCA style connector is used to transfer video and plugged into the video-in connector on the bottom front of the Media Center (on some models). In ShowBiz 2 or other editing software you would select composite 2 under video input settings.
Use the software to record the analogue stream to a video file. This is usually done by clicking the Capture or Record button. Once the file is saved to a standard file format (Mpeg, WMV, AVI), it can then be edited by most video editing software like Arcsoft Showbiz, Windows Movie Maker, and many others.

Connecting a digital video camera (USB or Firewire)
Follow these steps to connect a digital video recorder to the computer:

Turn on the HP Media Center computer and wait for Windows XP to start.
Connect the video camera transfer cable into the camera and then into an open port on the computer. The port on the computer is usually the USB or firewire port on the front of the computer.
A Found New Hardware message appears in the lower-right corner of the desktop, next to the time. Wait two or three minutes for Windows to make the necessary settings for the new device.

Figure 1: Found New Hardware message
A separate Digital Video Device window might appear stating that Windows can perform the same operation every time you plug in the camera. For now, just close this window by clicking Cancel. Answer this window later, when you are more familiar with video editing software.
Click Start, and then right-click My Computer.
Click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button.
Click the Plus (+) sign next to Imaging devices. The name or brand of the video recorder should appear under Imaging devices. If a name appears, then the digital video recorder is ready. If a name does not appear, try the following items until the problem is resolved:
In Device Manager, select the computer name at the top of the list, click Action, and then select Scan for hardware changes. Look in Device Manager for a new addition under Imaging devices.
Unplug the video camera transfer cable from the computer and plug it into a different port. Look in Device Manager for a new addition under Imaging devices.

Figure 2: Digital camera listing in Device Manager
Once the camera is connected and the name is displayed in Device Manager, you can use video software to import the video from your camera (see next section).

Recording videos from a digital video camera (USB or Firewire)
This section describes how to import a basic video from a digital video recorder using Windows Movie Maker. Use the following steps to import and edit a video:

Connect a digital video camera to the PC.
Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then click Windows Movie Maker.
In Windows Movie Maker, click File, and then click Record. If Windows Movie Maker finds a valid video capturing device, a Record window appears.
If Windows Movie Maker does not recognize the capture device, use different capturing software to save your movie to a file. Then use Windows Movie Maker to import the file.
Select a quality setting from the Setting drop-down list. The setting you select will affect the quality of the recorded video and the size of the video file. Settings in the top of the list produce smaller file sizes but are of lesser quality, while those settings towards the bottom of the list produce higher quality videos but can produce very large video files.
The video from the camera displays inside the Record windoweven though you have not started recording.

Figure 3: Record window
Control the camera from the digital video camera controls located in the Record window. Before recording, you might want to pause at a point in the video where you want to start so that you do not miss anything when the recording starts.
Click the Record button, and then click the Play button (the single blue triangle) under Digital Video Camera Controls. The video plays and is stored temporarily on the hard drive.
The Record button changes into a Stop button and the words Recording should flash.
Click the Stop button when you are ready to stop the video. A Save Windows Media window appears.
Type a filename and click the Save button to save the video file to My Videos folder. The saved video is now ready to be used by other video players or can be saved to CD or DVD for future use.
After saving the video, Windows Movie Maker automatically splits the video up into various clips and places these clips into the main window for editing. This document does not address the editing features of Windows Movie Maker. Click Help inside the Windows Movie Maker main window to learn more about how to edit videos. To use more advanced editing features (such as different video compression options and special effects), use ArcSoft ShowBiz, MyDVD, or other video editing software.

Protecting Recorded TV Programs

Protecting Recorded TV Programs
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In this document:
Important information about recorded TV programs
Preparing the code key files
Making the backup CD
Using the code key backup CD after a system recovery
This document pertains to the HP Media Center PC using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
When you record TV programs using Media Center, the TV program broadcaster may have an encryption code that Microsoft includes as a special code in the recorded files. This code is keyed to your PC and is required to play broadcaster-encrypted TV programs previously recorded to your hard disk drive, copied to DVD, or copied to other media. When you perform a system recovery or replace the hard disk drive in your PC, you lose the special code that is stored on your computer.
You can safeguard your capability to play recorded TV programs by making a backup CD and using it as described in this document. Make the backup CD now, before you need it, so that you can use the CD after you perform a system recovery or replace the hard disk drive in your PC. If you do not have the backup CD after you perform a system recovery or replace the hard disk drive, you will not be able to play any previously recorded TV programs that are broadcaster encrypted.
The procedures that follow describe how to prepare your PC, make the backup files you need, copy the file to CD, and use the backup CD to restore the files to your PC after a system recovery.
To safeguard your recorded TV programs you need to:

Prepare the code key files.
Make a backup CD.
Perform a system recovery, if necessary.
Use the code key backup CD after a system recovery.

Important information about recorded TV programs
When you replace the hard disk drive, you lose any files or software that you created, saved, or installed on the PC. You also lose a special code that Microsoft includes in the files of the recorded TV programs.
Without the code, Media Center will not play the TV programs previously recorded to disk or copied to DVD or to other media.

Preparing the code key files

After you set up your PC and turn it on, complete the initial Microsoft Windows setup. Open Media Center and complete its setup.
Record at least one TV program.
Close Media Center.
Open the Microsoft Backup utility: Click Start on the taskbar, choose All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click Backup. The Backup or Restore Wizard opens.

NOTE: The code key files and backup CD you make can be used in your PC only.
Click the Advanced Mode link near the middle of the window.
At the top of the Backup Utility window, click Tools and select Options.
Click the Exclude Files tab.
In the Files excluded for all users box, put your cursor over the vertical line between Filename and Application in the title bar, and then click and drag the line to the right to see the full list of entries.
Scroll down the list to see and then click the entry: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM\*
Click Remove, click Apply, and then click OK. The Options window closes.
In the Backup Utility window, click the Backup tab.
In the left box, click the plus sign (+) for Local Disk (C:). The file tree expands. Click the plus sign (+) for Documents and Settings, click the plus sign (+) for All Users, and then click the DRM box so a check mark appears.
Scroll down the list and click the System State box so a check mark appears.
At the bottom of the window, beneath Backup media or file name, click Browse. Because a floppy is too small to save the backup, you need to save the file to the desktop portion of the hard disk drive before writing the file to CD. If the message Insert a disk into drive A appears, click Cancel.
The Save as window opens. In the Save as type box, select Desktop from the drop-down list. In the Save as box, use the default name (Backup.bkf), or type a file name with the extension .bkf and then click Save. The window closes.
Click Start Backup in the Backup Utility window. The Backup Job Information window opens.
Click Start Backup. The Backup Progress window opens. When the process finishes, the window displays the message The backup is complete.
Click Close.
Close the Backup Utility window. Continue with the next procedure.

Making the backup CD

Click Start on the taskbar, choose All Programs, RecordNow!, and then click RecordNow! again.
The RecordNow! window opens.
Insert a blank CD.
Select the Data Projects tab, and then click Data Disc.
Click Continue.
Click Add Files and Folders.
The Select files and folders to add window opens.
In the Look in box, select Desktop from the drop-down list.
Click the backup file (for example, Backup.bkf) so it appears in the File name box. Click Add.
The window closes.
In the RecordNow! window, click the red Burn icon. If a warning window opens, click OK.
Wait while the program writes to the CD and the disc tray ejects.
Remove the CD, label it, and store it in a safe place for use with the next procedure. Click Done.
Close the RecordNow! window.
Because you do not need the backup file you created, drag the file to the Recycle Bin on the desktop.

Using the code key backup CD after a system recovery

NOTE: Before you perform a system recovery, it is important that you disconnect any external hard disk drives, such as the HP Personal Media Drive, to avoid data loss. A system recovery erases all content on an external hard disk drive that is connected to the PC.

Insert the backup CD you made into a drive. The drive window opens and shows the disc contents.
Or
If the window does not open automatically, click Start, My Computer, and then right-click the drive icon to view the contents of your backup disc.
Double-click the backup file (for example, Backup.bkf). The Backup or Restore Wizard opens.
Click Next.
Choose Restore files and settings, and then click Next.
When the What to restore window opens, click Browse, and the Browse window shows the A: drive.
Click Browse again, and the window shows Select file to catalog.
Click the drop-down menu arrow, and click the optical drive with the backup CD.
Click the backup file name.
Click Open, and then click OK.
In the Items to restore box, click the plus sign (+) for the backup file name. The file tree expands. Click the C box so a check mark appears. Click the System State box so a check mark appears.
Click Next.
The Backup or Restore Wizard window shows the message You have created the following restore settings. In the window, click the Advanced button. Click Next.
A warning message window opens. Click OK in the Warning window.
Select Replace existing files, and then click Next. Click Next again. Click Finish. The Restore Progress window opens.
Wait until the process completes, and click Close in the Restore Progress window.
A Backup Utility message window opens. Click Yes to restart the PC. Wait until the restart completes.
Open Media Center and complete the setup. You can now play previously recorded TV programs that are broadcaster encrypted.

Creating a CD or DVD in Microsoft Media Center Edition 2005 Using the Remote Control

Creating a CD or DVD in Microsoft Media Center Edition 2005 Using the Remote Control
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This document pertains to HP Media Center PC s using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
Use your remote control with Media Center to burn CDs and DVDs.
Creating a CD or DVD with recorded TV programs

Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, and select More Programs.
Insert a blank, recordable CD or DVD.
Select Create CD/DVD.
Use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select the Untitled text box.
Use the numeric keypad buttons on the remote control to enter a name for your CD or DVD, and then select OK.
Select Recorded TV.
Select the files to record. A check mark appears next to the file when it is selected. Use the Back button on the remote control to select more files from different menus.
When you are finished adding files, select View CD or View DVD to see the files you have selected.
If you want to remove files from your list of files to be recorded, use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select the X next to the file you want to delete.
Press OK on the remote control to remove the file. This does not delete the file from your PC.
Select Create CD or Create DVD.
Select Yes.


NOTE: HP supports the lawful use of technology and does not endorse or encourage the use of our products for purposes other than those permitted by copyright law.

Creating a music CD

Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, and select More Programs.
Insert a blank, recordable CD or DVD.
Select Create CD/DVD.
Use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select the Untitled text box.
Use the numeric keypad buttons on the remote control to enter a name for your CD or DVD, and then select OK.
Select Music .
Select the files to record. A check mark appears next to the file when it is selected. Use the Back button on the remote control to select more files from different menus.
When you are finished adding files, select View CD to see the files you have selected.
If you want to remove files from your list of files to be recorded, use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select the X next to the file you want to delete.
Press OK on the remote control to remove the file. This does not delete the file from your PC.
Select Create CD.
Select Yes.


NOTE: HP supports the lawful use of technology and does not endorse or encourage the use of our products for purposes other than those permitted by copyright law.

Creating a CD or DVD with pictures or videos

Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control, and select More Programs.
Insert a blank, recordable CD or DVD.
Select Create CD/DVD.
Use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select the Untitled text box.
Use the numeric keypad buttons on the remote control to enter a name for your CD or DVD, and then select OK.
Select Pictures or Videos.
Select the files to record. A check mark appears next to the file when it is selected. Use the Back button on the remote control to select more files from different menus.
When you are finished adding files, select View CD or View DVD to see the files you have selected.
If you want to remove files from your list of files to be recorded, use the arrow buttons on the remote control to select the X next to the file you want to delete.
Press OK on the remote control to remove the file. This does not delete the file from your PC.
Select Create CD or Create DVD.
Select Yes.

System Not Eligible for Upgrade when Attempting to Upgrade to Media Center 2005

System Not Eligible for Upgrade when Attempting to Upgrade to Media Center 2005
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Click Start, Run, and type the following into the open field: regsvr32 rdbios32.dll
Click OK.
The message DllRegisterServer in rdbios32.dll succeeded appears when the file is properly registered.
Click OK to close the Window.
Try upgrading again: insert the upgrade CD or Open My Computer, right-click HP_MC_2005_UPGRADE, and select Run Media Center 2005 Upgrade.

Troubleshooting Power Supply Issues

Troubleshooting Power Supply Issues
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In this document:
Power supply light does not turn on (or no power supply LED)
Power supply light on or flashes
This document pertains to HP and Compaq desktop computers.
This document is about troubleshooting power supplies. Power supply problems can be easily mistaken for other startup problems. To try and isolate the problem and use the correct troubleshooting steps, please plug the power cord in, and press the power button on the front of the computer. Read each of the following startup conditions carefully, and then click the corresponding link to go to the correct troubleshooting steps:

If the lights on the front of the computer come on or the power supply fan spins, refer to the HP Support document Resolving Startup Problems (this is another support article).
The small LED on the power supply is missing or does not light and the fan in the power supply does not spin. Please use the steps in Power supply light does not turn on .
The small LED on the power supply comes on and remains lit. Please use the steps in Power supply light on or flashes .

Figure 1: Power supply LED

Power supply light does not turn on (or no power supply LED)
Perform the following steps, in order, until power is restored or it is determined that there is a hardware failure:

NOTE: If the Power Supply fan spins when the PC is turned on but the light does not come on, it is possible the LED is defective. If this is the case, use the section Power supply light comes on or flashes .

Disconnect everything from the PC, including the power cord.
With the power cord disconnected, press the power button on the front of the computer.
Plug in the power cord and test to see if the computer can turn on. If not, continue using these steps.
Replace the power cord with another power cord, like the one used by the monitor.
Test to see if the computer can turn on. If not, continue using these steps.
Ensure that the voltage selector switch is on the correct setting, 115V for North America.

Figure 2: Voltage selector switch
With the power cord removed, flip the red voltage selector switch to the opposite position, wait about five seconds, and then switch the red voltage selector switch back to its original location.
This ensures that the voltage switch is engaged and set correctly for your country/region.
Plug in the power cord and test to see if the computer can turn on. If not, continue using these steps.
Plug a lamp into the same outlet to see if the wall outlet has power. Try the computer in a different outlet in order to eliminate the outlet as a possible source of the issue. Test both to see if the wall outlets have power.
Remove all extension cords, power strips, surge protectors and any converters that remove ground. Plug the power cable directly to the wall outlet. Test for power. If this fixes the issue, find the device that is causing the issue and do not use it.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the build-up of dust from the power supply fan vent holes. Make sure that the PC is turned off and that the power cord is plugged into a grounded outlet. Only use the end of the vacuum hose near the outside of the fan entrance.

Figure 3: Power supply vent
Plug in the power cord and test to see if the computer can turn on. If not, continue using these steps.
If all of the above steps have been tried and the power supply light remains off, use the steps in the next section, use the next section Power supply light comes on or flashes , to reseat the cables and check the power switch connector.

Power supply light on or flashes
Perform the following steps, in order, until power is restored or it is determined that there is a hardware failure:

CAUTION: This product contains components that are easily damaged by ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD). To reduce the chance of ESD damage, work over a non-carpeted floor, use a static dissipative work surface (like a conductive foam pad), and wear an ESD wrist strap that is connected to a grounded surface, like the metal frame of a PC.

Disconnect everything from the computer, including the power cord.
With the power cord disconnected, press the power button on the front of the computer for five seconds.
Plug in the power cord and test to see if the computer can turn on. If not, continue using these steps.

NOTE: If the power supply fan makes an inconsistent grinding sound or stops and starts erratically, replace the power supply
With the power cord removed, flip the red voltage selector switch to the opposite position. Wait about five seconds, and then switch the red voltage selector switch back to its original location. Ensure that the voltage selector switch is on the correct setting, 115V for North America.
Performing this step ensures that the voltage switch is engaged and set correctly for your country/region.

Figure 4: Voltage selector switch
Plug in the power cord and test to see if the computer can turn on. If not, continue using these steps.
Plug a lamp into the same outlet to see if the wall outlet has power. Try the computer in a different outlet in order to eliminate the outlet as a possible source of the issue. Test both to see if the wall outlets have power.
Remove all extension cords, power strips, surge protectors and any converters that remove ground. Plug the power cable directly to the wall outlet. Test for power. If this fixes the issue, find the device that is causing the issue and do not use it.

NOTE: If you find the device that was causing the problem was a surge protector, resetting a breaker or fuse on the surge protector may fix the issue.
Remove all attached devices except for keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
Remove any internal component that was recently added, such as video card, memory, CD, DVD, and hard drives. An added device may take more power than the power supply is rated for. If the problem goes away when the component is removed, the only option is to upgrade the power supply to power supply with a higher wattage rating.
Check the power switch:
With the power cord disconnected, press the power button on the front of the PC. The button should release easily and not stick in the socket.
If the button sticks, it should be replaced or serviced.
If the power button does not stick and appears to be functioning, continue using these steps.
With the power cord disconnected, remove the case or side panel.
Follow the wires from the power button on the front of the computer to their connection on the motherboard.
Look at the power switch cables connected to the motherboard. If the cable has become disconnected, connect the power switch cable connector to the connector on the motherboard.

Figure 5: Power switch connector on Motherboard
Replace the side panel, plug in the power cord and test to see if the computer can turn on. If not, continue using these steps.
Find the defective part:
With the power cord disconnected, remove the case or side panel.
Disconnect all power cable connectors from their connectors on the motherboard and from the back of internal devices (the back of drives). Make sure to label or remember where each cable connects for future reference.

Figure 6: Example of common power connections
Replace the side panel, plug in the power cord, and examine the light on the back of the power supply:
If the LED is on solid and is not flashing, the power supply is probably good and the problem is most likely caused by a defective component (processor, memory, PCI card) or a defective motherboard. Have the computer serviced, or remove the components and replace them, one at a time, to find and replace the defective component.
If the LED is still flashing (it should not flash with all connectors removed), plug the power cable into a different power outlet that is known to be good. If the LED still flashes, the power supply should be replaced.
If the LED light is now off, plug the power cable into a different power outlet that is known to be good. If the LED stays off, the power supply should be replaced.

NOTE: If an electrical storm or power surge has recently occurred, then it is more likely that the power supply, the modem, or motherboard is damaged and requires replacement. If the power supply was damaged due to power outage or storm, this may not be covered under the "act of nature" policy in the warranty statement. Refer to the warranty statement that came with your computer for more information.

Media Center Radio does not Play after Switching from Live TV Mode

Media Center Radio does not Play after Switching from Live TV Mode
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ISSUE:
Media Center Radio fails to play after switching to Radio from Live TV mode when "Block unrated TV programs" is selected in Media Center.
This document applies to HP computers using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition.
SOLUTION:
First - Please restart Media Center.
Do the following:

Exit Media Center (press Alt and F4 together). The desktop displays.
Press Media Center on the remote control or the keyboard. You can also click Start on the taskbar, and select Media Center.
Click on My TV, and then Live TV.
Play FM radio.
If FM radio does not play in Media Center, go to the following solution.
SOLUTION:
Second - Please disable "Block unrated TV programs" in Media Center.
Do the following:

Press Media Center on the remote control or the keyboard. You can also click Start on the taskbar, and select Media Center.
Click Settings, General, and then Parental Controls.
Enter your Access Code.
(Create an access code, if you have not created it yet.)
Click TV Ratings.
Unselect Block unrated TV programs.
Click Save.
Play FM radio in Media Center.

Cannot Use Automatic Display Adjustment in the "Optimize how Media Center looks on your display" Feature

Cannot Use Automatic Display Adjustment in the "Optimize how Media Center looks on your display" Feature
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This document pertains to HP Media Center PCs and HP z540, z545, z552, z553, z555, and z557 Digital Entertainment Centers using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
If the TV is connected to the system using a composite or S-video connection, the Media Center Setup Wizard cannot make automatic adjustment of settings for your TV display. This automatic adjustment is available during the Optional Setup, within the "Optimize how Media Center looks on your display" option.
Instead of using the wizard for automatic adjustment, set the TV display by using the Windows Desktop Properties. The following procedure describes what to do within the Media Center Setup Wizard and how to use the Windows Desktop Properties to adjust settings for your TV display.

During the Media Center Setup Wizard, at the Optional Setup, after you select Optimize how Media Center looks on your display, select the display type for Identify Your Display Type, and then select the Connection Type for your TV display by proceeding as described below:
If you choose the Composite or S-video option, click Next, and then continue with step 2.
If you choose the DVI or VGA options, you do not need to continue with this procedure (you can continue using the wizard to adjust your TV display).
On the next screen, select Keep my current settings and continue, and then click Next. Do not select the Preview Automatic Adjustment option.
IMPORTANT: If you choose the Preview Automatic Adjustment option, the screen may appear black or seem to halt for approximately 20 seconds. Wait until the wizard screen reappears, choose Do not adjust any settings, click Next, and then continue with the next step in this procedure.
Continue using the wizard until finished, and then either close or minimize Media Center.
Right-click a free area of the Windows desktop and choose Properties.
Click the Settings tab, and then click the Advanced button on that tab.
Click the ATI Displays tab.
Click the TV button (the small bar above the TV icon). The TV Properties window opens. (Your TV must be connected to the system.).
NOTE: You may need to click On (at the left corner of the TV button bar) to make the On button green, and then click Apply.
Click the Adjustments tab.
Adjust the screen position or screen size, and then click Apply.
Click OK as needed to close the open windows.
Repeat steps 4 through 10 when you want to adjust your TV display settings.

NOTE: If you perform the Preview Automatic Adjustment steps with Composite/S-Video selected and Media Center in Windows mode (that is, where the Media Center interface is not maximized, but instead running as an application in Windows), you will encounter a black screen when you switch to Media Center mode (full screen). To correct this, repeat the function "Optimize how Media Center looks on your display" procedure in Windows mode (simultaneously press Alt+Enter on the keyboard to switch between modes) and select DVI or VGA options instead of Composite/S-Video and accept the settings.

Using an HP Media Center Extender X5400

Using an HP Media Center Extender X5400
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In this document:
System requirements
Available tools
Frequently asked questions
Troubleshooting
Network performance troubleshooting
How to use
This document pertains to the HP Media Center Extender X5400 with PCs using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.
Use HP Media Center Extender to extend the Media Center experience to watch TV, listen to music, view family photos and family video in any room of the house. Just connect the HP Media Center Extender (via wired or wireless networks) to a Media Center PC with a TV to begin enjoying the experience.
NOTE: A Media Center Extender is not a Windows XP desktop PC. It only extends most of the content that can be accessed through the Media Center interface of another system with Media Center 2005 installed. It is not a standalone PC that can run other Windows XP software, like HP Tunes, HP Image Zone, Music CDs, DVD movies, Real Rhapsody, Microsoft Office, and all other non-integrated software.

System requirements
HP recommends 802.11a or wired Ethernet 802.3. These technologies deliver the best multimedia experience. There are very few products or equipment in the home that operate in the 802.11a frequency band, therefore limiting the interference to your home network. The telephones that are in the 5.8 GHz band do not interfere with your 802.11a network. HP recommends using 802.11a for your home media network in the Media Center experience, leaving 802.11b-g available for your home data network. Your home data network would consist of email, web browsing, and network backup.
Microsoft approved routers
Only approved wireless 802.11 b/g/a routers should be used. Look for this logo on your router packaging.

What are the requirements for the Media Center Extender?
Refer to the following information when using Multiple Media Center Extenders.

Media Center Extender System Requirements
Number of Media Center Extenders
CPU Speed (in GHz)
Amount of Memory (in MB)
Maximum number of recommended wireless connections
1
2.8 GHz
256MB
1 (see Note)
2
2.8 GHz
512MB
1 (see Note)
3 to 5
3.4 GHz
1GB
1 (see Note)

NOTE: For the best experience when using multiple extenders, HP recommends limiting your configuration to 1 wireless connection, with the remaining extenders using wired ethernet connections.

Available tools
Three tools are available for you to maintain the Media Center Extender and monitor its performance. These tools are installed onto the Media Center PC.
How do I get the most out of my Media Center Extender?
Three tools are available for you to maintain the Media Center Extender and monitor its performance. These tools are installed onto the Media Center PC:

Media Center Extender Manager – Add another Media Center Extender or update the software.
Media Center Extender Network Performance Tuner – Tests how well your network performs, helps to improve performance, and tests how well it supports the Media Center Extender.
Media Center Extender Resource Monitor – quickly view the status of system resources.
Media Center Extender Manager
Use the Media Center Extender Manager to add another Media Center Extender to your Media Center PC or update the software for the Media Center Extender. To start the Media Center Extender Manager:

On the Media Center PC click Start on the taskbar.
Select All Programs.
Select Accessories.
Select Media Center, and then click Media Center Extender Manager.
Media Center Extender Network Performance Tuner
The Media Center Extender Network Performance Tuner tests how well your network supports the Media Center Extender. If you have problems receiving video information such as Live TV or Recorded TV on the Media Center Extender, use the Network Performance Tuner to determine the strength of the network signal and capacity. In addition, the Network Performance Tuner provides information about how to improve network performance between the Media Center Extender and the Media Center PC. To use the Media Center Extender Network Performance Tuner:

On the Media Center PC click Start on the taskbar.
Select All Programs.
Select Accessories.
Select Media Center, and then click Media Center Extender Network Performance Tuner.
For information on using the Network Performance Tuner refer to How to Use .
Media Center Extender Resource Monitor
You can view the status of system resources and turn on notifications to let you know if the resources are beginning to reach maximum level.

To quickly see the status of system sources in use by the Media Center Extender, use the Extender Resource Monitor. This tool shows you the status of four important PC resources: percentage of CPU utilization, disk usage, network usage, and memory available. If you are using the Media Center Extender and an experience suddenly changes, such as listening to music, check the Extender Resource Monitor to see if the PC is running out of resources.
You can use the Turn On Notifications option to have the Extender Resource Monitor notify you if one of the resources is beginning to reach its maximum level.
To use the Extender Resource Monitor:

From the system tray right-click the Extender Resource Monitor icon.
Then click Show System Resources.
You see the Extender Resource Monitor status.
How to check the version of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition on your computer
To view the version of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition on your computer, click Open Media Center, Settings, General, scroll down, and click About Media Center. An About Media Center window appears with version information listed.

Frequently asked questions
What are some possible problems with wireless networks?
Depending on your wireless network configuration, your experience may be different. Keep these basic rules of thumb in mind:

You must use a Microsoft-approved router. Approved routers have the Microsoft logo on the packaging.
The quality of your experience depends on reception. Factors that may impact reception include:
The distance between equipment on your network.
The number of walls within the networking area.
Reflections from metal obstructions (including mirrors and refrigerators) should be minimized.
The quality of your experience depends on your bandwidth. Adjust your bandwidth to enhance your experience. Refer to Network Performance Tuner.
Any firewalls that are being used must be set to allow network access to the MC Extender.
What are some of the ways to increase performance of the wireless path?
To increase the performance of your wireless components, minimize the number of obstructions that the wireless signal must travel through. This can be as simple as moving items in line of your wireless component. Imagine a straight line between your two wireless components; every object that exists on this line between them can strain the wireless performance. For example, if you've hidden your wireless access point or router behind a potted plant, that's going to affect signal strength and therefore performance. If your Media Center Extender antenna is placed in the back of a crowded A/V rack, and the access point it communicates with is located somewhere else in the house, the signal has to go through the other A/V components, which can drastically affect performance. Metal obstructions (including mirrors and refrigerators) are particularly important to remove from the path if possible. Use the Automatic Test or the Bandwidth Monitor options to see the effects of changes.
How can changing the location or orientation of my wireless equipment affect performance?
Even without changing the number of items in the wireless path, small changes to wireless networking equipment can improve the performance. Try moving your equipment to higher or lower elevations if possible, or try rotating equipment 45 or 90 degrees from its current position. For example, if your wireless access point or router is on the first floor of your house and your Media Center Extender is on the second floor, try putting the wireless access point or router up on a shelf. Use the Automatic Test or the Bandwidth Monitor options to see the effects of changes.
How does modifying antenna positioning affect performance?
The small antennas used in wireless networking devices are extremely sensitive to relatively minor changes in orientation and position. A good analogy is rabbit ears antennas, which were once widely used for TV reception: moving them an inch in any direction could change TV reception significantly. There might be one small spot where TV reception is fairly good. The same is true for wireless networking antennas. Sometimes performance works best when the antennas at both components of the wireless network are pointing vertically straight up. In other cases positioning the antennas on all devices at a 45-degree angle yields the best results. Performance usually decreases if the antennas are positioned vertically on one device (for example, your home networking access point/router) and horizontally on the other device (such as the Media Center Extender). Try different antenna positions while the bandwidth monitor (Network Performance Tuner) is running to see how it affects your network performance.

NOTE: Some wireless networking components have fixed internal antennas instead of external antennas. In these cases it may look as if the device doesn’t have an antenna at all. For devices with internal antennas you can rotate the device to change the antenna reception.
What are some possible problems with fully wired networks?
If you have a completely wired Ethernet network connecting from your Media Center PC to your Media Center Extender, double-check that all networking components support 100 Mbps. Older 10-Mbps Ethernet networking hubs are not supported and cause network bandwidth problems.
Questions about HP Tunes and HP Image Zone
HP iTunes and HP Image Zone will not work with the Media Center Extender. The Extender may display the HP iTunes and HP Image Zone screens but no functionality is available. These programs are intended to be used only from the Media Center PC.
Cannot connect during setup due to Norton Personal Firewall
Use the following steps to add MC Extender to the trusted zone of your home network, and then connect your MC Extender:

Click Start, All Programs, Norton AntiVirus , and LiveUpdate - Norton AntiVirus.
Follow the onscreen instructions to run the LiveUpdate until you receive a message that says "All the Symantec products and components installed on your computer are currently up-to-date."
Click Start, All Programs, Norton Personal Firewall , and Norton Personal Firewall again.
Click the Personal Firewall link in the System Status window.
Click the Configure button in the lower-right corner.
Click the Networking tab.
Make sure the Trusted tab is active and click the Add button.
Enter the MC Extenders IP address, and click OK.
NOTE: To find out your IP address, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and Command Prompt. Then enter ipconfig.
Run the Media Center Extender Setup wizard. You may see one or more Security Alerts from Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall. Follow the recommended actions on each alert to configure Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall for the Windows Media Center Extender software.
The Media Center Extender Setup wizard may detect Norton Internet Security or Norton Personal Firewall and may display a suggestion to open ports to permit communications between the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 computer and the Windows Media Center Extender, as shown in the following image:

If you have already run LiveUpdate until no new updates are available, then you may skip the steps outlined in this pane of the Media Center Extender Setup. Running LiveUpdate will automatically create custom rules for Windows Media Center Extender.
Connect the Windows Media Center Extender device by shutting down the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 computer and the extender device. In some cases, it is necessary to turn off the power on the extender device using the on/off switch.
Turn on the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 computer and click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Media Center, and Media Center Extender Manager.
Turn on the Windows Media Center Extender device. Select Add a New Extender from the File menu, as shown in the following image:

Enter the setup key displayed on the Media Center Extender device into the Media Center Extender Setup wizard.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the rest of the Media Center Extender Setup wizard.

Troubleshooting
What elements can cause wireless network interference?
HP recommends 802.11a or wired Ethernet 100BaseT. The interference is limited on 802.11a as only a few devices operate in the frequency band of 5.8 GHz. 5.8GHz phones are in a different band. 802.11g wireless networks share their airspace with a number of other equipment and technologies that can influence overall performance. The following might affect your wireless network if they are in your house or nearby:

Microwave oven use
2.4-GHz cordless phones
2.4-GHz baby monitors
2.4-GHz analog wireless video senders
Neighboring wireless networks
Solving these types of interference problems can be challenging. If a significant interruption occurs for a short period of time, someone may be using a microwave oven nearby. Consider replacing your 2.4-GHz cordless phones or baby monitors with 900-MHz models if that's feasible. Refer to Changing Wireless Networking Channels for information on how to assign your wireless network to a different channel that may incur less interference from nearby equipment. Again you can avoid many of these by using 802.11a.
What about changing Wireless Networking channels?
Within a wireless networking standard such as 802.11g, individual channels exist that allow for multiple wireless devices to use different portions of the available bandwidth, (for example, 802.11g uses channels 1 though 11). Many wireless access points and routers are pre-configured to use a specific channel. If your neighbor has a wireless network, it is possible that you are both using the same channel. This can cause both of your wireless networks to slow down because they have to deal with traffic that doesn’t belong to them. Changing to a different channel may improve your performance. For 802.11g, even though there are 11 available channels, there are actually only 3 that do not overlap. You don’t need to test all the channels, checking channels 1, 6, and 11 should be sufficient to see whether you can improve performance with this technique. To change your wireless networking channel you need to use the Web page administration utility of your access point or router. See your wireless access point or router user's guide for more details on advanced configuration of your wireless network. Again to avoid this issue, 802.11a has many more channels that minimize interference.
About Network Topology Changes
One of the difficult modifications to make to your home network can have the most significant impact on overall performance, network topology changes. For example, you may have a Media Center PC in your living room, and a productivity PC in an office or den, and you want to put a Media Center Extender in your master bedroom. If your DSL Internet access is coming into your house at your office or den, then you may want to have both the Media Center PC and the Media Center Extender connected wireless. This type of configuration is not supported because video must travel over wireless twice and may result in seemingly unsolvable network performance problems. Consider modifications to your home network such as changing the point of entry of Internet into your house. If you have a phone jack near the Media Center PC in the living room, perhaps the DSL modem and your router can move there and the office PC can connect wireless. This configuration change allows the Media Center PC to connect to the router with wired Ethernet and places significantly less stress on the network for TV playback. Another option to consider is moving your wireless access point or router to a different room in the house that reduces the overall wireless distances or obstructions. Perhaps its reasonably easy to run a longer Ethernet wire between your Media Center PC and the access point but still get it into another room.
Recording TV shows at lower quality levels
If you are unable to solve your network performance problems, one option to consider is setting Media Center to record TV shows at a lower quality level. Each of Media Centers' recording levels uses less storage, but also requires less network bandwidth to watch on your Media Center Extender. Try successively lower quality levels until you get more reliable recorded TV playback on your Media Center Extender. Recording shows at lower quality levels will not affect the playback of Live TV on your Media Center Extender. Live TV is always sent from the Media Center PC to the Extender at the best quality level.
Cannot connect during setup due to Norton Personal Firewall
When the Media Center Extender software on the PC attempts to access the network address of the extender, Norton Personal firewall (NPF) blocks the access. To fix this, the MC Extender needs to be added as trusted software in Norton Personal firewall's rules. To allow access, minimize the Media Center setup screen when it attempts to connect. Do so willallow you to view and respond to the NPF window that appears (next to the time).

Network performance troubleshooting
What if I run into problems using the Network Performance Tuner
If you run into problems using the Network Performance Tuner check to make sure the following items have been addressed:

Your Media Center Extender has been successfully set up on your Media Center PC.
The Media Center Extender is turned on and showing the Media Center Start menu.
No media playback is occurring on the Media Center Extender (Live TV, Recorded TV, Music, My Videos, or Radio).
No one else in your house is using the Media Center Extender while the Network Performance Tuner is in use.
Your home network is not in use with significant network traffic from other PCs or equipment.
If all else fails, disconnect the Media Center Extender from its power source restart your Media Center PC and then reconnect the Media Center Extender to its power source.
What do I do if I see a Media Center error code?
Error code number, message, and action:

1 The Media Center Extender is defective and must be returned for repair.
Contact the HP to determine how to return the Media Center Extender.
2 The Media Center Extender software is either damaged or missing and must be restored.
Contact HP for information about restoring your Media Center Extender software.
3 The Media Center Extender software update is incorrect or the Media Center PC is not ready to upgrade.
Contact HP for more information about updating the Media Center Extender software.
4 There is a problem with the Ethernet connection or the Ethernet cable is defective.
Make sure the Ethernet cable is properly installed or replace the Ethernet cable with another one.

How to use
Accessing the Network Performance Tuner
When a Media Center Extender is initially set up with your Media Center PC, the Network Performance Tuner is launched in Automatic Test mode after setup is complete. This ensures that the current network configuration is capable of delivering a quality TV video experience. The Network Performance Tuner is also accessible at any time from the Start menu. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then click Media Center.

Getting started
Use the Network Performance Tuner to ensure that your Media Center Extender is set up successfully, and when turned on, shows the Media Center from the Start main menu. To accurately understand the performance of your network make sure no media playback is occurring on the Media Center Extender while the Network Performance Tuner is in use (Live TV, Recorded TV, Music, My Videos, or Radio). For best results, before use, turn off your Media Center Extender then turn it back on again to clean up all Media Center Extender resources.

The Network Performance Tuner
The Network Performance Tuner is an advanced utility that measures the overall bandwidth between a Media Center PC and a Media Center Extender in the same way as the Automatic Test. The difference is that the Network Performance Tuner runs indefinitely continually showing the results of the testing on a graph displayed on the screen. The purpose of this utility monitor is that it allows you to make changes to your network configuration, such as changing the location of your access point or modifying the position of antennas, while seeing the results of those changes real time. When using the Network Performance Tuner the objective is to make adjustments to your network configuration until you can keep the green graph line consistently above the solid yellow line in the middle of the screen. The higher above the yellow line you can get your network performance the less likely you are to have problems watching TV on your Media Center Extender. See the Troubleshooting sections that follow for more detailed suggestions for how to improve your network performance.

Testing your network with the Automatic Network Performance Test
The Automatic Test within the Network Performance Tuner measures the available network bandwidth between your Media Center PC and your Media Center Extender for a short period of time. The test checks to see if video transmitted over your home network would have any quality problems that would be noticeable when watching live or recorded TV. When the test completes it shows if there are any potential problems or if the network performance looks acceptable for TV usage.

NOTE: Successful completion of the Automatic Test is not a guarantee against future performance problems. The Automatic Test is only run for a short time and wireless networks are susceptible to occasional interference from a variety of sources including 2.4-GHz cordless phones, microwave ovens, nearby wireless networks, and other seemingly random influences.

Basic file sharing
The Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional operating systems support basic file sharing. To use simple file sharing with Windows XP Professional, the PC must be part of a workgroup. It cannot be joined to a domain. It is recommended that all PCs on a home network use basic file sharing. When a folder is shared on the network, the contents can be viewed by anyone who has access to the network. Basic file sharing enables allows:

Sharing of a file or folder
Naming the share
Network users to change files in the folder
To share a folder:

Click Start, choose All Programs, Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.
Locate the folder you want to share.
Right-click the folder, and then click Sharing and Security.
Do one of the following:
If the Share this folder on a network check box is available, select the check box.
If the Share this folder on a network check box is not available, then the PC is not connected to the network. If you would like to set up a home network, click the Network Setup Wizard link and follow the instructions to connect the PC to the home network and to turn on basic file sharing. Once file sharing is enabled, follow this procedure again.
When basic file sharing is enabled, the following folders cannot be shared on the network:

Documents and Settings (including My Documents)
Program Files
Windows system folders
Other user profiles

Advanced file sharing
PCs that are running Windows XP Professional have advanced file sharing capabilities. Basic file sharing is disabled and customers can configure more options with advanced file sharing. Using advanced file sharing is more complicated than basic file sharing and is not recommended for home networks. Advanced file sharing requires customers to configure permissions in addition to sharing the folder. The options are:

Share a file or folder
Name the share
Provide a comment or description of the share
Set permissions on the share, including a list of users or groups and their level of access
Configure offline folder settings
Modify the settings of an existing shared folder or create a new share. With advanced file sharing, all folders on the PC can be shared.
There is a special set of folders, such as the Windows folder, that discourages sharing. If one of these folders is shared, a warning appears recommending that the folder not be shared. Advanced file sharing requires users and groups to be added to the permission list for the shared folder. After adding users and groups, security settings must be configured to permit access to the contents of a shared folder. Security includes the level of access users have to a folder. For example, users can be restricted to viewing the content of a folder only, or they can have permission to modify the contents of the folder.
Folder permissions include:

Full control
Modify
Read and execute
Listing folder contents
Read
Write
When using advanced file sharing, anonymous logon privileges must be added to users and groups for permissions and security. This allows Media Center Extender to access the content in the shared folders.

How to view content on Media Center Extender
To find music, videos, and pictures that are stored on the Media Center PC or other PCs on the network, use the following procedures.
To add pictures:

On the Extender, from the Media Center desktop, click Start, and then click My Pictures.
Click the More Info button.
Select Add pictures, and then click Next.
Do one or both of the following:
To add pictures that are on the Media Center PC, select Add folders on this computer.
To add pictures that are on another computer on the network, select Add shared folders from another computer.
Select the folder or folders that contain the pictures, select Next, and then select Finish.
To Add music:

NOTE: To find music with the Extender, from the Media Center desktop, click Start on the taskbar, and then click My Music. The Media Center Extender does not support AAC music files.

On the Extender, from the Media Center desktop, click Start on the taskbar, and then click My Music.
Do one of the following:
If this is the first time music is being added, click Yes.
If music has been added previously, press More Info on the remote control, and click Add Music.
Click Add folders, and then click Next.
Do one or both of the following:
To add music that is on the Media Center PC, click Add folders on this computer.
To add music that is on another computer on the network, click Add shared folders from another computer.
Select the folder or folders that contain the music, click Next, and then click Finish.
To add videos:


On the Extender, from the Media Center desktop, click Start, and then click My Videos.
Click Add Videos.
Select Add folders, and then select Next.
Do one or both of the following:
To add videos that are on the Media Center PC click Add folders on this computer.
To add videos that are on another computer on the network click Add shared folders from another computer.
Select the folder or folders that contain the music, select Next, and then click Finish.

Setting Up and Using Two TV Tuners in Microsoft Media Center Edition 2005

Setting Up and Using Two TV Tuners in Microsoft Media Center Edition 2005

___________________________________________________
In this document:

This document pertains to the HP Media Center PC using Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

NOTE: Two TV tuners are included with select models only.

Setting Up Two TV Tuners
An HP Media Center PC with two supported TV tuners can support:

1 analog antenna (NTSC or PAL)
1 analog cable (no set-top box)
2 cable set-top boxes (Select models only)
2 satellite TV set-top boxes (Select models only)
You must connect both TV tuners to the same signal source. You cannot set up the tuners to different TV signal sources, such as satellite and antenna. For example, you must use an antenna, cable, two cable boxes, or two satellite set-top boxes for both tuner inputs.

Figure 1: 2 Set-top box connection
NOTE: Use the (B) connectors if you have a dual tuner card and a second identical set-top box. Do not connect coaxial cables in this configuration.
To use an antenna or cable (with no set-top box) with dual tuners, the HP Media Center PC includes an internal splitter. The dual tuner card connects the input signal to both tuners internally.

Figure 2: Cable/Antenna connection

Using Two TV Tuners
With two TV tuners, your Media Center PC can record two programs at the same time. You can also watch live TV while recording a program on another channel.
Recording two programs at the same time

Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control.
Select My TV, and then select Guide.
Use the arrow buttons to select a show to record, and then press the Record button on the remote control.
Select a second show to record at the same time, and then press the Record button again.
Follow any onscreen instructions.

Watching live TV and recording a different channel at the same time

Press the Media Center Start button on the remote control.
Select My TV, and then select Guide.
Use the arrow buttons to select a show to record, and then press the Record button on the remote control.
Select a second show to watch, and then press the OK button to begin watching it.
Follow any onscreen instructions.

Setting up the Media Center Computer in Media Center Edition (first version) or Media Center Edition 2004

Setting up the Media Center Computer in Media Center Edition (first version) or Media Center Edition 2004

___________________________________________________
This document applies to HP Media Center PCs with Windows XP Media Center Edition or Media Center Edition 2004.
If your HP Media Center PC included Media Center Edition 2005, use HP Media Center PCs - Setting up the Media Center Computer Step-by-Step in Media Center Edition 2005 .
This document provides step-by-step instructions for setting up the hardware and software for the HP Media Center PC.
Before you begin
Make sure you have the following items available before setting up the computer:

A computer monitor is highly recommended to initially set up the computer. Using a television screen to make changes in Windows may be difficult due to the higher resolution of Windows.
All components that came with the computer. Use the setup poster that came with the HP Media Center computer to determine if a component is missing or refer to the product specifications.
Sufficient coaxial (television) cable to connect each device that accepts a television signal (set-top/receiver box, VCR, and the Media Center computer). One coaxial cable is supplied.
An S-video cable (not supplied), if a television capable of accepting S-video is used.
A flashlight, if the installation area is dark.
An Internet connection is required to use the Television Program Guide function.

Step 1: Set up the hardware
Perform the following steps to set up the HP Media Center hardware. At this time, do not connect any peripherals (for example printers, scanners, palmtops, cameras).

Insert the batteries into the remote control for the Media Center.
Place the computer in an area near the monitor, power plug, network connections, and television connections.
Connect the mouse to the round, green PS/2 port on the back of the computer, or if the computer came with a USB mouse connect it to an available USB port.
Connect the keyboard to the round, purple PS/2 port on the back of the computer, or if the computer came with a USB keyboard connect it to an available USB port.
If you plan to use the Television Program Guide function, connect the computer to your Internet connection. Internet connection cables will depend on the type of Internet service.
If the computer came with speakers, connect the speakers as shown in the setup poster. For more information on speaker setup refer to the HP support document, HP Media Center PC - Setting up and Configuring Speakers (in English).
Connect the remote sensor's cable into an open USB port on the back of the computer. The best location for the remote sensor is next to the display (television or monitor).
When using a cable set-top box or satellite receiver box, connect the remote sensor control cable into the remote sensor for the Media Center computer (see Figure 1).
Remove the adhesive backing from the remote sensor control.
Attach the remote sensor control directly over the remote sensor on the set-top or receiver box so that the sensor is fully covered by the remote sensor control.
Plug the Media Center power cable into the back of the computer. Plug the other end into a power outlet.

Figure 1: Connecting the remote sensor control cable
1 - Remote sensor for the Media Center computer
2 - Remote sensor control
3 - Remote sensor on the Set-top box or receiver

Step 2: Connect the television signal
Perform the following steps to connect the television signal to the display (Refer to Figure 2 for assistance):

NOTE: If using a video game console device (like an X-Box, PS2, Gamecube, or other device), because of a small time delay while the signal is processed, it is not recommended that you connect it to the Media Center computer. Instead, connect the game console directly to the display device using video signal switching hardware from your local electronics store or connect it to a separate TV set.

Find the coaxial cable coming from the wall or television antenna. This is the main television signal coming in from an antenna, a cable company, or a satellite dish.
If using a cable set-top box or a satellite receiver box, connect the coaxial cable into the line-in connector on the back of the set-top box. Connect another coaxial cable into the line-out connector on the back of the set-top box.
If using a Video tape recorder (VCR), connect the coaxial into the line-in connector on the back of the VCR. Connect another coaxial cable into the line-out connector on the back of the VCR.
Connect the coaxial cable into the connector on the back of the Media Center computer.
If using a computer monitor (recommended for initial set-up), connect the monitor cable to the back of the computer and the monitor. Plug the monitor power cord into a power outlet.
If using a television, connect an S-video cable into the back of the computer and into the back of the television. If the television does not have an S-video-in connector, use the S-video-to-RCA adapter cable or use a standard video cable to make the connection. Plug in the television power cord.

Figure 2: Coaxial (television) cable connections

Step 3: Configure the software for television
Use the following steps to configure the Media Center software before viewing television:

NOTE: Required information for cable or satellite television is found in your television programming package.

Press the Power button on the computer and on the monitor or television. If using a television, use the television remote control to change the input source setting to match the incoming television signal connection (usually Line-1, Video 1, or S-video).
Read and respond to all setup screens that appear. Set up an Internet connection with an Internet provider. An Internet connection is required in order to use the Television Program Guide.
Connect to the Internet.
Double-click the Media Center icon on the Windows desktop or press the green Start button on the remote control. A Getting Started screen appears.
Click Next. A Check Your Remote screen appears. Press the keypad numbers on the remote control to brighten the numbers on the screen. A small red light also lights on the remote sensor when it successfully receives a signal. When done, click My remote is working properly. If the numbers on the screen do not brighten and the red light does not come on, check the following items and try again:
Make sure that the batteries for the remote control are good and are installed in the proper direction.
Make sure that the remote sensor for the Media Center computer is connected into a USB port behind the computer.
Make sure that the front of the remote sensor is within a 45-degree range and is less than 26 feet (8 meters) away.
Click Next. A Choose Your Connection screen appears. Select Broadband, LAN or None, I will connect manually. For a dial-up Internet connection select None, I will connect manually.
Click Next. A Choose Your TV Signal screen appears. Depending on the source of your television signal, select Cable, Satellite, or Antenna, and then click Next. If you selected cable, then select My TV signal passes through a set-top box or I do not have a set-top box. Click Next.
If you are using a satellite receiver or cable with a set-top box, use the following steps to match the code set used by the box to the remote control:
Click Next, and then click Next again.
A Choose Your TV Signal screen appears. Select channel 2, 3, 4, or S-video. A clear television signal should display when the proper channel is selected (the channel may be black, on a channel guide, or on a pay-per-view menu). If a clear television signal does not display, check the coaxial and S-video connections.
Click Next, a Choose Number of Digits screen appears. This number is usually the same as the number of digits in the highest available channel number. For example, if the highest channel number is 123, then select 3. If the highest channel number is 99, then select 2.
Click Next, a How Do You Change Your Channels screen appears. If you have to press an Enter or Submit key on the remote control for your set-top or receiver, select Yes, I have to press enter. If you do not press Enter to change channels, select I just enter the channel number.
Click Next, and select the brand of the satellite receiver or cable set top box from the list. If the brand or manufacturer's name is not on the front of the box, check the labels on the back or bottom of the box. Call the television provider if you cannot find the name.
Click Next, a Select Code Set screen appears. Select the first available code set.
On the next two screens, read the instructions for each screen and change the channel using the remote control. It may take a few seconds for the channel to change. If the channel changes, click Next and continue. If the channel does not change, or if a satellite or pay-per-view menu appears when a channel number is entered, turn the cable or satellite box off and then back on. Click Back to try a different code-set. If a compatible code-set cannot be found, call the satellite or cable company for the proper settings.

NOTE: If you are unable to find your particular brand of set-top box or MyTV only receives one channel, use Microsoft's Set-top box Issue Submission Form (in English) to report this.
Choose a remote control speed. Select Fast. If changing channels is troublesome in the future, this setting can be adjusted to a lower setting later from inside Television Options.
Click Next. A Terms of Service screen appears. If you agree to the terms, select I Agree, and then click Next. If you do not agree to the terms, select I don't agree, and then click Next. If you do not agree, television recording and certain program guide features will not be available.
Click Next, and then enter your Zip or Postal code. Make sure that you are logged onto the Internet.
Click Next. The television provider information automatically downloads. Click Next when downloading has finished. For customers of the United States you can verify the correct station listings yourself by going to the Zap 2 it Web site (in English) and typing in your zip code.
Select your television signal provider from the list that appears.
Click Next. The Television Program Guide for the current times downloads automatically.
When the program guide has finished downloading, click Next to finish the setup. Continue to the next step if you used a computer monitor to set up the computer and you now want to use a television set as a monitor.

Step 4: Replace the monitor with a television (optional)
After the HP Media Center computer has been set up using a monitor, you may replace the monitor with a television by using the following steps:

NOTE: Not all Media Center PCs are capable of displaying to a TV. Please refer to the PC product specifications (check the box or use www.hp.com and search by product) to determine if your PC supports the TV out option.

Shut down the computer and turn off the monitor.
Unplug the monitor power cable from the power outlet and from the monitor.
Unplug the monitor cable from the back of the computer.
Replace the monitor with the television.
Plug the television's power cord into a power outlet.
Plug in an S-video cable (not provided) or a composite video cable into the back of the television set (see Figure 3). If the television does not have an S-video or composite connector, use an adapter that connects from an S-video/composite connector to the type of connector on the back of the television.
Turn on the television and the computer.
Using the television remote control, change the input source setting to match the incoming television signal connection (usually Line-1, Video 1, or S-video).

Step 5: Install other hardware and software
Only install other hardware and software after the HP Media Center computer is set up and working properly. Install hardware and software one item at a time, as per the product's instructions. Restart the computer after adding each new hardware addition.
Step 6: Consider other optional settings and configurations
Consider the following item when using the HP Media Center computer:

Do not use the stereo out connectors on the television, VCR, satellite receiver, or set-top box. Only use the stereo out connectors from the television or sound card on the computer. Otherwise, sound will be heard before the television image or there will be two separate audio streams.