Windows Vista Media Centre

[RsC]

Suddenly after starting today my Windows media centre had disappeared!
Any suggestions?

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Suddenly after starting today my Windows media centre had disappeared!
Any suggestions?

I have only one suggestion about Windows Media Centre: stop using it,
and convert your music collection to all-MP3, so you may import it
into iTunes + Quicktime, which you may, if you wish, install.

No need to spend a lot of cash, and purchase an Apple computer. Just
add your MP3s to your iTunes library. Suddenly, you will find no more
problems with a media centre, and additionally, will have access to a
much larger and more variant media collection.

Sorry if I offend anyone, but I speak truth, not what folks want to
hear.


Donald L McDaniel

 

[Drew]

RsC,



Yes, I suggest you give us a little more information about your computer and
if you made any changes from the last time you used the Media Center. Try
'System Restore' for starters though.



Drew

 

[Mike Brannigan]

I have only one suggestion about Windows Media Centre: stop using it,
and convert your music collection to all-MP3, so you may import it
into iTunes + Quicktime, which you may, if you wish, install.

No need to spend a lot of cash, and purchase an Apple computer. Just
add your MP3s to your iTunes library. Suddenly, you will find no more
problems with a media centre, and additionally, will have access to a
much larger and more variant media collection.

Sorry if I offend anyone, but I speak truth, not what folks want to
hear.


Donald L McDaniel

Well Donald - maybe you should read the original post in more detail - this
is about Microsoft Media Center not Media Player.
You offering of iTunes and QuickTime does not come close to the
functionality provided by Media Center.
Maybe you would like to see more of what Media Center can do ? see
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/mediacenter.mspx

As an additional note - Media Player can easily rip and play MP3 (and can be
configured to have this as the default setting) so many of use that
extensively use Media Player and Media Center already have our entire
collection in MP3 but enjoy significantly greater functionality then
iTunes/QuickTime

Regards.

Mike

 

[David B.]

Maybe the truth in your strange little world. What makes you think the OP is
using Media Center to play MP3 only?
You do realize it also provides DVR and many other services? Or are you just
doing you Mac fanboy daily duties by bashing Microsoft?
"No need to spend a lot of cash, and purchase an Apple computer" What a
ridiculous statement, any new Mac other than the low end Mini's requires
spending allot of cash.

 

[Mike Brannigan]

Suddenly after starting today my Windows media centre had disappeared!
Any suggestions?

Try and start it directly.

Start ... Run ... %SystemRoot%\ehome\ehshell.exe

or create a shortcut on your desktop (right click on the desktop and select
New... Shortcut) and enter
%SystemRoot%\ehome\ehshell.exe in the type the location box then
press
Next and enter a name for the shortcut like Media Center.

Mike

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Well Donald - maybe you should read the original post in more detail - this
is about Microsoft Media Center not Media Player.
You offering of iTunes and QuickTime does not come close to the
functionality provided by Media Center.

This is just not so, Mike. I appreciate your loyalty to Microsoft and
all, but here you are just flapping your gums.

I read his post fully, and completely understood. This is EXACTLY why
I suggested iTunes+Quicktime.

WMC has a beautiful GUI, but what can I say? A beautiful GUI without
the media to place within it is rather useless, wouldn't you say?

Maybe you would like to see more of what Media Center can do ? see
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/mediacenter.mspx

I've been using Microsoft products since the late '80s, Mike, so I
know exactly what WMC can or cannot do.

As an additional note - Media Player can easily rip and play MP3 (and can be
configured to have this as the default setting) so many of use that
extensively use Media Player and Media Center already have our entire
collection in MP3 but enjoy significantly greater functionality then
iTunes/QuickTime

Let's face it, Mike, I brought up MP3 for one reason: accessibility to
either WMC or iTunes+Quicktime.

I prefer, (along with many others) the AAC format for audio, and the
h.264 format for video.

Additionally, Microsoft does not have the media contracts Apple has.
ANY videos I've purchased from within WMC (in many cases they are NOT
AVAILABLE in wmv format, nor do the stores available to WMC even sell
music videos and other popular media) were all (in my opinion)
inferior, shadowy flickers on the screen, rather than videos
containing music.

I do appreciate your response, Mike, but similar functionality does
not mean the SAME functionality.

I like Windows Media Center, don't get me wrong.
But one cannot import ANY of his iTunes-purchased videos or much of
his iTunes audio files into WMC without expensive, time-consuming
conversion from Apple formats to Windows Media formats. And in many
cases, this is not even legally possible at the present time. Let's
face it, both Apple and Microsoft load their OSes down with Media
licensing features. While this is ok, from my point of view, it makes
using your media in either platform a felony. This is not Microsoft
nor is it Apple's faullt. It is the fault of the MDMCPA and the
RIAA's fault. They are attempting to force a physical media model on
a digital industry. They will never succeed.

Now, if this were possible without spending beaucoup bucks for
conversion technology (or turning oneself into a criminal), I would
use Windows Media Center, since I like its library facilities much
more than the iTunes library.

Sadly, either Apple refuses to license its technology to Microsoft, or
Microsoft refuses to let go of its WMV technology, or refuses to
license Apple's technology, or both. OR there is too much acrimony
between Apple and MIcrosoft devotees for it ever to be resolved.

Additionally, Apple pretty much has contracts with all the major
players in the audio/video markets. But Microsoft does not.

Until this is resolved in such a way that BOTH sided win, I will
continue to recommend iTunes+Quicktime, for a very simple reason:

The HUGE library of video as well as audio files accessible from
within the iTunes Store at very reasonable prices.

Sorry, Mike, but that's the way it must be, until all the players can
reach an equitable solution.

Windows Media Center is great, but without the media, it is nothing
but a pretty face on my desktop.

My suggestion? Lobby HEAVILY to get the RIAA and other industry
mobsters branded as the evil men they truly are. They represent
neither the Industry, nor the artists, as far as I am concerned. And
I am certainly not alone in this. I don't mind paying for my media,
and intentionaly stay away from theft of this media. I do not use P2P
technology to obtain my media, and do my best to let others know that
it is mostly a way of stealing the artists' work.

Note, Mike, that I have no acrimony against Microsoft or their
devotees (I am one of them). It is no one's fault, really. It is
just the way things have turned out. No one but the People are losing
in this struggle. If you've ever read a post from me, you would know
I am for the People, always.


Donald L McDaniel

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Maybe the truth in your strange little world. What makes you think the OP is
using Media Center to play MP3 only?
You do realize it also provides DVR and many other services? Or are you just
doing you Mac fanboy daily duties by bashing Microsoft?

David B, I am in no way a "Mac fanboi", as you accuse me of being. The
only Apple products I own are an 8GB Gen1 iPhone, and a license to
Quicktime 7 Pro. Otherwise, all I own is geared toward Microsoft and
Windows. I don't even own an Apple computer. Read a few more of my
posts, friend. You will quickly find that I lean more toward being a
Microsoftie, but try to maintain an even balance between likeing what
is good about BOTH platforms, and disliking what is bad about BOTH
platforms.

I did own an Apple Intel PC for about 2 years. But I quickly found
that the OS X desktop was certainly not to my likeing, and I sold it,
bought a Dell, and have been happy ever since.

Before that, I have an unbroken history of using Microsoft products
since the late '80s.

The way I see it, Apple makes the best machines, but Microsoft makes
the best OS. Too bad they can't combine the products they each do
best into a new one, which would certainly wind up being a superior
Computer platform.

Too bad there is so much water under the bridge.

"No need to spend a lot of cash, and purchase an Apple computer" What a
ridiculous statement, any new Mac other than the low end Mini's requires
spending allot of cash.

David, if you had read my post with an open mind, you would have seen
that I was doing the OPPOSITE of what you accuse of doing. I was
ACTUALLY telling the OP that there is NO NEED to purchase an Apple to
have access to their superior library of media. IN fact, that is
exactly what I said: "No need to spend a lot of cash and purchase an
Apple computer..." Note that "There is" is IMPLIED by the statement.
Probably, I should have put it in at the start of that sentence, to
stop irrational reponses like yours dead in their tracks, but I have
written what I have written.

Also, "David B": I suggest you learn a little more about the English
language. It is very expressive and is easily put to use by a man
acting as a "Devil's Advocate".

And by the way, a decent Apple Intel-based iMac may be had for around
$1100, and will be a GREAT hardware platform for Vista as the
exclusive OS. Yes, it IS easy to totally remove any APPLE OS from
such a computer,a nd replace it with Vista. If you want want to find
out how to do it, I will gladly help. I am one of the very first who
did it after the Apple Intel-based machines were released. The REAL
Apple fanbois didn't very much appreciate that I gave specific
instructions on how to do it in more than one forum or Usenet
newsgroup.

Investigate before you accuse, friend. I've found that it's a great
way of not ending up sounding or looking like a fool.

Additionally, pointing out the best qualities of a competing product
is NOT referred to as "bashing Windows". It is referred to as
"fearlessly speakiing the truth". Hopefully, age will add a little
wisdom to your soul.

Donald L McDaniel

 

[The poster formerly known as 'The Poster Formerly]

I have only one suggestion about Windows Media Centre: stop using it,
and convert your music collection to all-MP3, so you may import it
into iTunes + Quicktime, which you may, if you wish, install.

No need to spend a lot of cash, and purchase an Apple computer. Just
add your MP3s to your iTunes library. Suddenly, you will find no more
problems with a media centre, and additionally, will have access to a
much larger and more variant media collection.

Sorry if I offend anyone, but I speak truth, not what folks want to
hear.


Donald L McDaniel

Since when does your holier than thou opinion = the truth?!

--
"Fair use is not merely a nice concept--it is a federal law based on
free speech rights under the First Amendment and is a cornerstone of the
creativity and innovation that is a hallmark of this country. Consumer
rights in the digital age are not frivolous."
- Maura Corbett

DRM and unintended consequences:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=435&tag=nl.e101

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

1. Right-click on your Desktop and select New > Shortcut.
2. Type: %SystemRoot%\ehome\ehshell.exe in the box.
3. Click on Next.
4. Type: Windows Media Center in the box.
5. The start icon for Windows Media Center will appear on your desktop.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

:

Suddenly after starting today my Windows media centre had disappeared!
Any suggestions?

 

[Alias]

Since when does your holier than thou opinion = the truth?!

Since gay marriage became legal in California and he married Frank.

Alias

 

[Retired Bill]

I fixed it. start, Default Programs, "Set Program Access and Computer
Defaults".
You will see Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center. Choose Media
Center. Close out. Now you will see Windows Media Center in your "programs"
list.

 

[Retired Bill]

I fixed it. start, Default Programs, "Set Program Access and Computer
Defaults".
You will see Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center. Choose Media
Center. Close out. Now you will see Windows Media Center in your "programs"
list.