(MCE) is a version of
Windows XP designed to serve as a
Home-entertainment Hub . The last version, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, was released on
October 12 ,
2004 .
There are four versions of Windows XP Media Center Edition. All editions of MCE are based on Windows XP Professional with all features enabled (with exception to Active Directory in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (see paragraph "Features removed in the last release") and Terminal Services in the original release.
- (codenamed 'eHome') The first release based directly on Windows XP Professional, this release was only available from Tier 1 computer manufacturers (HP, Dell, Zitech, et al).
- (codenamed 'Freestyle') added a number of features, including FM radio tuning.
- (codenamed 'Harmony') released in 2003 and was later part of Windows XP Service Pack 2.
- (codenamed 'Symphony') The first edition of MCE available to non-Tier 1 system builders, amongst the other things includes support for Media Center Extenders, and CD/DVD-Video burning support.
See Also: Microsoft codenames
To determine the underlying edition of XP on which a particular revision of MCE is based, the System Properties
Control Panel 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 from other editions of Windows XP by an exclusive preinstalled application,
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 Builder s in certain countries. Consumers generally purchase Media Center preinstalled on a new computer, or from a reseller that sells
OEM versions of Microsoft software.
- , upgraded to version 2.5 with new effects and transitions and support for DVD burning.
- , upgraded to version 10.
- : not included in other editions of Windows XP, it is included and enabled by default.
- : a number of applications not included in previous versions of MCE are now included.
- : a special edition is included as one of the music visualizations.
- , 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.
- : 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.
- is no longer included, but it can be unofficially replaced back if needed (see paragraph "Hacks").
- : in MCE 2005, Microsoft has disabled its ability to join an and the Encrypting File System , but that limitation effectively precludes its use in a corporate environment. 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, as said before.
Core 2 Duo computer.]]
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.
There are a number of hacks that change the intended features of Windows XP Media Center Edition.
- . Despite WMP 6.4 being removed from MCE 2005, it can be replaced by copying the executable from a Windows XP Home Edition or Professional installation. It may be useful to note for non-English Windows users that this workaround has the drawback that the WMP 6.4 application won't be localised, as it will still retain the English GUI even if the executable is taken from, and placed on, non-English versions of MCE.
- , which can later be burned onto a DVD .
