Windows xp media center edition 2006

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Windows XP Media Center Edition

Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) is a version of the Windows XP operating system which was the first version of Windows to include Windows Media Center, designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub. The last version, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2, was released on October 14, 2005. After that, Windows Media Center was included in certain editions of later Windows versions. It was an optional, paid addition to Windows 8^[4] and then discontinued in Windows 10.^[5] Windows XP Media Center Edition reached end of support on April 8, 2014, along with most other Windows XP editions.

Windows XP Media Center Edition has had the following releases, all based on Windows XP Professional with all features enabled except domain-joining ability disabled in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and Terminal Services in the original release.

• A preview version of Windows XP Media Center Edition from Microsoft’s eHome division, was shown at CES 2002, with the final version released later that year.^[6]
• Windows XP Media Center Edition (codenamed «Freestyle»)^[7] was the original version of Windows XP Media Center, which was built from the Windows XP Service Pack 1 codebase. It was first announced on July 16, 2002,^[7] released to manufacturing on September 3, 2002, and was first generally available on October 29, 2002, in North America.^[2]
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 (codenamed «Harmony»),^[8] which was launched on September 30, 2003, and was made available as an upgrade to the owners of the original editions’ licenses, was built from the Windows XP Service Pack 1 codebase, after the original Windows XP Media Center Edition.^[9]
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (codenamed «Symphony»),^[10] which was launched on October 12, 2004, was built from the Windows XP Service Pack 2 codebase.^[11] It is the first edition of MCE available to non-Tier 1 system builders. Among other things, it includes support for Media Center Extenders, and CD/DVD-Video burning support.^{[citation needed]}
• Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2 (codenamed «Emerald», October 14, 2005)^[12][13] is a major update to MCE 2005 (Symphony) and was a recommended download. It adds support for the Xbox 360 as a media center extender, DVB-T broadcasts, and support for two ATSC tuner cards. It is the second version of Windows XP Media Center based on Windows XP Service Pack 2, after Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

To determine the underlying edition of Windows XP on which a particular revision of MCE is based, the System Properties Control Panel applet can be used. To determine the revision of MCE that is being used, select the About Media Center option from the General -> Settings area inside MCE.

Windows XP Media Center Edition is distinguished with its exclusive component, Media Center, a media player that supports watching and recording TV programs, as well as playing DVD-Video, photo slideshows, and music. Media Center sports a user interface that is optimized for use from a distance with large fonts and icons.

Unlike competing commercial DVR products, Microsoft did not charge a monthly subscription fee for its Media Center TV guide service.

Due to its strict hardware requirements, Microsoft opted not to supply Media Center as an independent retail version. Microsoft only distributed it to MSDN subscribers and original equipment manufacturers in certain countries.^[which?] Consumers purchase Media Center preinstalled on a new computer, set-top box or embedded device.

• Away Mode in Update Rollup 2 allows the machine to appear off while it performs background tasks.^[14]
• Windows Movie Maker, contains new effects and transitions and support for DVD burning based on Sonic Solutions’s AuthorScript technology.
• Windows Media Player, upgraded to version 10, along with Windows Media Format Runtime 9.5.
• Royale theme: not included in other editions of Windows XP except Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, it is included and enabled by default.
• Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition components: a number of applications not included in previous versions of MCE are now included such as Audio Converter, CD Label Maker, Dancer and Party Mode.
• SoundSpectrum’s G-Force: a special edition is included as one of the music visualizations for Windows Media Player.
• Screensavers and themes from Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP are included (Aquarium, Da Vinci, Nature, Space and My Pictures Premium).
• Media Center Extender Support, dedicated hardware devices that allow users to view the same content that is available on the MCE computer over wired or wireless Ethernet, are introduced in this version for the first time. Linksys and other companies currently sell Media Center Extenders, and Microsoft sells an add-on kit for the Xbox game console that allows it to function as an extender. The Xbox 360 also has Media Center Extender functionality out of the box, including HDTV support (which is notably absent from current extenders). Media Center 2005 currently can support up to 5 Media Center Extenders per household.
• First party hardware: Microsoft has released its own first party remote, receiver and infrared blaster with MCE 2005. A new specially designed wireless computer keyboard for MCE 2005 was released September 2005.

• Joining a Windows Server domain: The ability to join an Active Directory domain is disabled by default. Computers that upgrade to Windows Media Center from a version of Windows that had joined the domain before upgrade will remain joined to the domain. However, if they leave the domain, they may never re-join. The option to join a domain during installation of this version of Windows is still available. Microsoft says that the reason for this discontinuation of feature is to support Media Center Extenders which required Fast User Switching.^[15] It is possible to re-enable joining a domain by modifying the Windows registry.^[16]
• Windows Media Player 6.4, which is shipped with Windows 2000 and can be installed on Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 98, was removed.

Media Center has higher hardware requirements than other editions of Windows XP. MCE 2005 requires at least a 1.6 GHz processor, DirectX 9.0 hardware-accelerated GPU (ATI Radeon 9 series or nVidia GeForce FX Series or higher), and 256 MB of System RAM. Some functionality, such as Media Center Extender support, use of multiple tuners, or HDTV playback/recording carries higher system requirements.

Media Center is much more restricted in the range of hardware that it supports than most other software DVR solutions. Media Center tuners must have a standardized driver interface, and they must have hardware MPEG-2 encoders (this was changed as companies such as ATI wrote drivers to support MCE 2005 with their All-In-Wonder cards and HDTV Wonder cards), closed caption support, and a number of other features. Media Center remote controls are standardized in terms of button labels and functionality, and, to a degree, general layout.

Windows XP Media Center Edition could be directly upgraded to Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate.^[17]

Support for Windows XP Media Center Edition under Microsoft’s consumer product lifecycle policy was planned to end on April 13, 2010,^[3] however, in July 2009,^[18] Microsoft extended the support window to July 12, 2011.^[19] This date would be then extended again on December 31, 2010^[18] to a final end of support date of April 8, 2014,^[20] citing support volumes in emerging markets as the reason for the extension.^[19]

Windows XP Media Center Edition retail availability ended as planned on April 14, 2009.^[3]

• MediaPortal
• SageTV
• Windows Media Connect
• Media PC
• Kodi
• Portable Media Center
• Microsoft codenames

• Windows XP Media Center Edition Website
• Listing of Logo’d Hardware Partners for MCE 2005 —

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Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) is an edition of Windows XP designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub. It has all of the features of Windows XP Home, as well as most of those found in Windows XP Professional. Windows XP Media Center Edition is the first version of Windows to include Windows Media Center, the media hub from which it gets its name.

Versions[]

Windows XP Media Center Edition was released in multiple iterations, separate from Service Packs. The last version, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, was released on October 12, 2004. Four different versions of MCE were released.

• Media Center Edition — The first release based directly on Windows XP Professional, this release was only available from Tier 1 computer manufactures (HP, Dell, Zitech, et al).
• Media Center Edition 2003 — Included support for FM Radio, among other changes.
• Media Center Edition 2004 (codenamed Harmony) — released in September 30, 2003 and was later part of Windows XP Service Pack 2.
• Media Center Edition 2005 (codenamed Symphony) — released in October 12, 2004. The first edition of MCE available to non-Tier 1 system builders, includes support for Media Center Extenders, and CD/DVD-Video burning support. This version also removes the ability for a MCE computer to join an Active Directory domain.
• Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2 (codenamed Emerald) — Released in October 14, 2005, this was a collection of feature updates including support for DVD changers.

Features[]

Windows XP Media Center Edition is distinguished from other editions of Windows XP by an exclusive preinstalled application, Windows Media Center, which provides a large-font («10-foot»), remotely accessible interface for TV viewing on the computer as well as recording and playback, DVD playback, video playback, photo viewing, and music playback.

Unlike competing commercial DVR products, Microsoft does not charge a monthly subscription fee for its Media Center TV guide service.

Due to strict hardware requirements, Microsoft has opted not to supply Media Center as an independent retail version. Microsoft only distributes it to MSDN subscribers and OEM System Builders in certain countries. Consumers generally purchase Media Center preinstalled on a new computer, or from a reseller that sells OEM versions of Microsoft software.

Features added in the last release[]

• Windows Movie Maker, upgraded to version 2.5 with new effects and transitions and support for DVD burning.
• Windows Media Player, upgraded to version 10.
• Royale theme: not included in other editions of Windows XP, it is included and enabled by default.
• Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition: a number of applications not included in previous versions of MCE are now included.
• SoundSpectrum’s G-Force: a special edition is included as one of the music visualizations.
• Media Center Extenders, dedicated hardware devices that allow users to view the same content that is available on the MCE computer over wired or wireless Ethernet, are introduced in this version for the first time. Linksys and other companies currently sell Media Center Extenders, and Microsoft sells an add-on kit for the Xbox game console that allows it to function as an extender. The Xbox 360 also has Media Center Extender functionality out of the box, including HDTV support (which is notably absent from current extenders). Media Center 2005 currently can support up to 5 Media Center Extenders per household.
• First party hardware: Microsoft has released its own first party remote, receiver and infrared blaster with MCE 2005. A new specially designed wireless computer keyboard for MCE 2005 was released September 2005.

Features removed in the last release[]

• Joining a domain: in MCE 2005, Microsoft disabled its ability to join an Active Directory domain after installation. Instead, if the installation of MCE 2005 is an in-place upgrade from a previous version already joined to a domain, this ability is retained, unless a user uses a Windows Media Center Extender: in this case, the ability is lost and cannot be recovered. It is presumed that Microsoft introduced this limit because Media Center Extender devices, introduced in this version, rely on the Fast User Switching component, but this component must be disabled in order to join a domain; using an extender and joining a domain on the same computer is not possible (although, according to an unconfirmed source, it seems that the Linksys MCE Extender works fine when installed on a computer joined to a domain). Since MCE is targeted for home entertainment, Microsoft chose to completely disable the feature, while leaving it enabled for those who already used it in previous versions. An unofficial method has been found to reenable the ability to join a domain in MCE 2005, but doing so will likely disable the Extenders installed on that computer.

Hacks[]

There are a number of hacks that change the intended features of Windows XP Media Center Edition.

• The viewing of Pay-Per-View using Media Center without an IR transmitter allows the recording of videos, which can later be burned onto a DVD.

Hardware requirements[]

Media Center has higher hardware requirements than other editions of Windows XP. MCE 2005 requires at least a 1.6 GHz (or equivalent) processor, DirectX 9.0 hardware-accelerated GPU (ATI Radeon 9 series or nVidia GeForce 5 series or higher), and 256 MB of System RAM. Some functionality, such as Media Center Extender support, use of multiple tuners, or HDTV playback/recording carries higher system requirements.

Media Center is much more restricted in the range of hardware that it supports than most other software DVR solutions. Media Center tuners must have a standardized driver interface, and they must have hardware MPEG-2 encoders, closed caption support, and a number of other features. Media Center remote controls are standardized in terms of button labels and functionality, and, to a degree, general layout.

In June 2007, the Media Center Components Database was set up as a resource for Media Center self builders to pool knowledge of which components play well with each other.

See also[]

• Xbox 360
  • XBMC

References[]

External links[]

• Official Windows XP Media Center Edition at Microsoft (archived 2007-11-14, 2002-08-02)
  • Designed for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Logo Partner List (archived 2005-11-25)
• Australian Media Center Community: Vista MCE & MCE 2005 Community Website
• Xbox Media Center Extender Page
• xpmce.com Everthing About Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Windows Vista Media Center Edition Talk
• Media Center Add-ons List at Ben’s House
• MediaCenter Central helping new users into using Windows XP Media Center
• The Green Button: The Main MCE Community Website
• KnowledgeBase about Media Center PC Build or customize your Media Center!

Blogs for MCE 2005[]

• Addicted to Digital Media
• Matt Goyer’s Media Center Weblog
• David Fleischman’s Tales of MCE Project Management
• Ian Dixon’s Media Center Show
• Windows Media Center Platform Team Blog
• Charlie Owen (Program Manager on Media Center Team)