Windows XP Media Center Edition - Recent Threads

XP Professional SP2

Nevering — Mon, 13 May 2013 03:22:36 GMT

As most of you know, the original 2005 Edition required the Windows XP Professional SP2 cd as part of the install. I'm having to reinstall and can't find a XP Pro SP2 anywhere, but on torrents. Then I get tons of junk downloaded when trying to get one of those.

I've tried SP3, but it doesn't work,

Can someone help or offer suggestions ?

Thanks

New install of Windows XP MCE 2005: Media Center doesn't work after applying updates...

jimnms — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:41:41 GMT

I'll try to make a long story short. I dug out what was left of my old media center PC to fix up for a computer for my niece to play on. All it needed was a HD and CD drive. It originally had WinXP MCE 2005 on it when I built it, but I decided to try Win7 on it since I have a spare. I didn't activate it, instead let it run in the "demo" mode until it expired. Win7 worked OK, but there were a few minor issues on the 8+ year old machine, so I decided to wipe it and put WinXP MCE 2005 back on it. Here's the order I did things:

1) Perform clean install of WinXP MCE2005

2) Install .NET 1.1 + .NET 1.1 SP1

3) Install the Update Rollup 2 for WinXP MCE 2005

4) Install SP3

5) Install drivers (chipset, sound, GPU, TV Tuner)

At this point I tested everything to make sure it was working, and it was. I then went to Windows Update and installed all high priority updates. Rebooted, checked Windows Update again, installed more high priority updates. I think there were three or four total rounds of updates from Windows Update before there were no more.

Now when I tried to run Media Center, I get an "ehshell.exe Common Language Runtime Debugging Services error." I searched for a solution, and I found this MS KB which says it is caused by performing repetitive tasks, but I'm getting the error when I just start Media Center. I tried to re-install the update rollup 2, but I get an error that simply says it was unsuccessful. I thought maybe it was because the update was already installed, so I uninstalled and tried again. I still get the same error though. After more searching I was lead to a MS KB article that had me download a .NET cleanup utility. When I ran that, all it did was remove every instance of .NET from the system. I've re-installed .NET 1.1 and .NET 1.1 SP1, but I still get an error when trying to install the update rollup 2.

Searching for the update error I find this MS KB which tells me to uninstall Security Update for Windows XP KB904706, install the update rollup 2, then run Windows Update to re-install the security update. However, there is no Security Update for Windows XP KB904706 installed on the system. I'm assuming by now it has been replaced by another update which causes the same issue.

Now I'm stuck without any ideas. I know it's an old OS, and MS will be dropping support for it next year, but it's just a temporary setup until I build myself a new gaming system later this year, then she will get my current system with Win7 on it. I suppose I could do without Media Center, but I thought since it has a tuner card in it, she could also use it to watch TV on it too, and the OCDness in me of something not working is going to drive me crazy.

xp media center edition: not receiving all channels

ohstevie — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:15:31 GMT

Until 3 weeks ago I was able to receive channels 2 - 78 from my cable company on my sony vaio VGC-RB64G.

Now I only get 2 - 22. From 23 - 78 it will list the channel number, the program name and a little bit of information

about the show, and the length of the show. As for the picture all I get is a grey screen and no sound.

I re-installed everything with the recovery disc but it didn't help. Any help would be appreciated.

Scratched MCE CD's

KLund1 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:39:37 GMT

Hi all

My original MCE 2005 cd are sratched, and have become unreadable. My key is still valid, as i was the original buyer of this oem cd set. Anyone have a clean iso of cd 1 & 2 I could download?

Windows Media center 2005

dave59 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:38:59 GMT

I am trying to stream content from my media center PC to my xbox. Build is Windows media Center edition 2005 version 5.1.2715.3011(xpsp(wmbla).061009-1511) update rollup 2.

The media center start page menus have no option to connect to an xbox. it has no 'tasks' option. If i navigate to start>programs>accessories>media center> media center programs. This shows "empty"

The xbox is picked up and I get the prompt to "double click to connect" but this simply directs to a web page with instructions for vista and windows 7. There are no instructions for XP and I have had to google what I already know. The reason I got media center was to enable a zune software type experience on my xbox rather than the music player which is very basic.

Help please!

David

Eject button linkage for HP Z540 media center

nlshipp — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 06:31:22 GMT

Does anyone have a high resolution picture of the eject button linkage for an HP Z series digital entertainment computer? The Z540 I picked up years back is missing the linkage that links the eject button on the front panel to the eject button on the DVD drive. I'd like to restore the functionality rather than manually opening the dvd door and sticking a butter knife down it to press the eject button on the DVD drive.

Thanks

Neil

Media Center Unresponsive

snjmc — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:23:12 GMT

If I open Media Center and select My TV, typically Media Center does not respond. I have found that if I stop ehRec.exe processing Media Center regains responsiveness. But I find that I need to continue stopping process on ehRec.exe if Media Center continues to function. To record a program from the Guide, or to use fast forward, pause, skip, ect. I need to continue stopping process on ehRec.exe. For example, if I am watching a recorded program I will find after a few minutes that I have lost functionality, as described, and I will need to stop process on ehRec.exe. It is difficult, but sometimes possible, to get a recording program displayed in Recently Recorded with the red record Icon. If I'm able to achieve this, I can then watch a second program and it is likely that the first program will continue to record. Otherwise it is quite easy to lose recording functionality on a program. Sometimes, when I enter End Process (control/alt /delete), ehRec.exe is using 0% of CPU and sometimes around 50%.

About the same time as my Media Center problem I lost responsiveness to System Restore. That issue has been resolved and it may have been as a result of malware. I have no other known issues. Due to lack of space I'm unable to give you a complete system description. Briefly, I'm running

XPMCE 2002, SP3, Intel duo core E6600, 2.4 Ghz, 1066 Mhz, 2 GB RAM, 1 GB hard drive.

I would appreciate any suggestions that anyone might give in getting out of this mess.

I will be happy to supply a lot more detail to the problem.

Asus GT520 Graphics card causing PC to BSOD on boot up

Atomic245 — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:24:39 GMT

I have a friend that has installed an Asus GT520 Graphics card because his old card died, now he can't boot up his PC he has been told that his card isn't supported by win xp media center edition, any ideas guys please ?

No TV Signal

katfordham — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:36:21 GMT

After weeks of troubleshooting, I am at a loss. I had to reimage my desktop and reload everything. After that, my tuner is not working. The tuner is found but it keeps giving me "No TV signal." Not sure if when I reinstalled everything and did the Windows updates it loaded a different configuration than I had previously?

I use an OTA antenna.

Windows XP SP 3

MCE 2005 Rollup 2

Hauppauge HVR1600 tuner with driver 1.62.28243.0 dated 8/31/2010

Heavy user of XBOX Media Center Extender

Now we can't see/record TV shows and it is driving us bonkers.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

eHome Infrared Transceiver Drivers ?

Steevo88 — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:42:50 GMT

Well, I have a feeling of Deja Vu here. I think I went through this all before. Maybe 2 or more years ago.

Today I plugged an eHome USB receiver in this aging HP MCE system and it dinged. Wanted to load it's drivers, so I said fine!

It didn't load them, nor did it get them from windows update. Failed. I do have a folder called eHome and I pointed it there but it didn't like anything it found.

I have XP MCE 2002 with SP3. I remember going through this exact thing before with another similar system and as I recall I found the solution and posted it here to help others.

Something about downloading the Update Rollup 2 for MCE (which would not install because of service pack levels). Same problem with this system today.

Then as I recall I used a third party tool, 7-ZIP to unzip the archive and in it was the needed eHome driver which I was then able to install to get the RC6 remote working.

I did all that just now but it's still not working.

For the life of me I can't find where I posted all that years ago. Step by step. Sheesh.

Does anyone know? What does eHome need?

Can not set up a TV signal on Windows Xp Media Center Edition.

Katharosb — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:52:29 GMT

When I try too set up a TV signal - it will not change channels when I ask it too. Does anyone have any solutions? Thanks.

MediaCenter can't find Messenger or connect to my wireless network

Marshall — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:20:04 GMT

Had to reinstall XP after harddrive crash. Everything works again except MC.

When I start it it goes into the wizard setup and I get a message that it can't open Messenger. If I go past that it gets to the Wireless Network Setup. It finds my network and asks for the security password. When I enter the password (which is correct) it says the password is incorrect.

I've searched on the web for a solution

1. Said to unload Messenger and use Messenger Live - Same Results

2. Saw another that said it had something todo with KB946648 and to remove it tweak a setting and then reload it. - According to CP Add/Remove that update can't be removed.

Can someone please tell me how to get MC working properly?

Thanks

Help plsss

mihai55 — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:30:45 GMT

Help pls i change my windows vista in windows xp pro sp3 last year and today when i start my computer is open a window and ask me : 25 digi key Certificate SOP ...

My windows today is xp pro sp3

I can enter into my pc all my dates is there ( pls anyone have a trial key for me :(( , all my credit card pass,acount number is in my pc :(( .Help me pls

Media Center Extender software for Xbox 360

mko — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:17:43 GMT

Hoping someone can assist with my Xbox 360 extender dilemna:

I'm trying to connect a Xbox 360s ( 4gb with an internal 320 gb) as an extender to a MCE 2005 XP rollup 2 machine. The MCE2005 machine has the 'Media Center Extender manager' installed; however it was from a CD for the 'Media Center Extender for Xbox'. I've followed the steps outlined here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916179/h#2 to connect a Xbox360 to a XP media center machine and it references a download link at http://www.xbox.com/pcsetup to get the 'Media Center Extender Software'. Unfortuantely this link no longer provides the software and searching/googling Microsoft's many varied webistes, including xbox.com, provides no useful results. Therefore, I'm hoping some one can provide either the 'Media Center Extender software' specific for adding a Xbox 360 or a link which provides the software through download. Thanks.

Can the Media Remote for Xbox 360 control a Media Center PC?

myangeldust — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:19:22 GMT

Best Buy is selling the Microsoft Media Remote for Xbox, model no. 6CK-00005. It looks like a Media Center remote except the silver "X" button instead of a MCE Green Button. (Here's the Best Buy page.) I like this model because it has a customizable TV power and Volume buttons.

If anyone has this particular remote control unit I'd like to know if it works with Windows Media Center. Thanks!

Program guide stopped updating

kwguy01 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:13:47 GMT

I noticed over the last couple of days my MCE 2005 program guide isn't pulling down new data. My listings expire on December 27th. When I get the Latest Guide Listings manually, I get a message that says Guide listings update completed, no errors to speak of come up.

I've done some searches and saw on the Windows 7 Forum here that someone there is having the same issues.

Not sure if the problem is specific to my PC or if the problem is widespread. Anyone else having this same issue and if so, what do you think the problem is?

Using USB ATSC tuner with XP MCE ?

alfonoso — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:53:29 GMT

I tried installing the EZCAP Hybrid ATSC Digital + QAM USB 2.0 HDTV/TV Tuner/Receiver (aka EZTV 306) in my desktop with MS XP MCE 2005.

The tuner powers-up, the driver and the included ArcSoft TotalMedia 3.5 software seem to install OK, but, after scanning, it acquires no channels, so no TV.

I then installed all of the above on a laptop with Windows 7- everything works fine, and channels are acquired.

Then, I went back to desk-top and uninstalled the ArcSoft software and attempted to use the tuner with Media Centre, but MC doesn't recognize the tuner or it's driver, even though they appear on the Device Manager as USB 2875 Device. I have no other analogue or digital TV tuners installed.

Any suggestions on how I can make this tuner work in XP?

Thanks, Al (novice) - Toronto, Canada

How to a do a search on just this forum?

perryg114 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:04:23 GMT

How to a do a search on just this forum. I don't want to do a bing search of the whole planet just this forum. Also I have found posts from the old green button forum but it won't let me search those or post there. I think it was experts forums.

Perry

No TV picture on my HP media edition 2006 Roll up using my antenna coax

BeezerBob — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:49:05 GMT

I am in a rural part of the U.S. and have a antenna connected to a digital converter box with a signal strength of 73% to my regular TV, on which I get 16 channels. The radio in the Media Center works fine , however I can't get any TV stations. I split the coax antenna feed and have it connected to the "Video In" coax on the back of the CPU. I have a HP AMD Athalon{tm} 64x2 dual core processor 4200+. When I get to the media center "TV setup" screen of auto configure set up, it scans and says no TV signal detected. If I manually configure using antenna then get to the "digital terrestrial" screen and hit next, the program stops working and although it shows it running in the task manager it will not proceed. I assume this is because it detects no signal from the antenna. I'm stumped and would appreciate any advice on this. Ultimately I would like to be able to stream live TV to my regular TV from the CPU, but will cross that bridge after getting a TV signal to the CPU.

Black screen media center xp

geminiking01 — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:29:21 GMT

I can't open media center. The screen is black and white cursor shows up. I have to use task manger to exit the program.

How Do I Get Xbox Media Center Extender Software Ver. 1.01

bob31411 — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:16:12 GMT

Hi, I know this is an anitque box now - and I am speaking of the Xbox, NOT the Xbox 360.

Microsoft no longer has this available in any form, it appears. Can someone help me out, or maybe I am incorrect?

The version 1.01 takes care of the "restricted content" error on the the extender when viewing shows from stations that have restricted content.

This is an extender issue. Version 1.00 has this known issue. There is no other solution to my problem.

Any help would be appreciated.

Bobby

Streaming windows media as if it were live

idlefan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:57:37 GMT

I have a user who wants everyone to connect to a given windows media file--prerecorded--as if it were live and esp. to insure that all viewers see the same content at the same time, rather than each one picking up his own unicast. I know how to push or pull a stream from an encoder but in this case the content is already encoded. Is there a simple technique using an asx file that would do that same thing?

thanks

UK: Missing guide data for Really

mipper — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:05:37 GMT

MCE 2005 (XP)
Country: UK
Transmitter: Crystal Palace
DVB-T via Freeview arial
Channel: 20 - Really

I've got an issue with the guide listing in the UK which I can't find any advice for anywhere. I have no listing data a newish channel on freeview. I've tried everything I can think of to find it:

retune
delete all channels and retune
try to find wrongly named channels in the guide data

Nothing doing. Has anybody else had/is having this problem? How do I find the data? I believe Really replaced Dave javu which does still appear in the listings data; has the guide not been updated? Has it ceased to be supported? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mipper

STB shows black and white in Media Centre

sabrewulfie — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:46:51 GMT

I have only just got round to sorting out a digital signal for my old faithful HP Media PC (XP MCE 2005)

I have cheap STB connected by scart to s-video and 2 audio. Everything works, even with the blaster sellotaped to the stb, but the picture is in black and white.

As I'm a bit slow getting round to this, I fear I've missed something that everyone else sorted out a couple of years since.

My system is original except for a replacement hard drive.

Suggestions will be gratefully received.

With a DTA... no sound on recording

ryeandcoke — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:14:37 GMT

I've just installed a DTA and I can watch Live TV via MCE without a problem. But when I record a program, I get no sound. Any ideas?