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Lesson 2: Using Windows Media Features 177 Performing the Initial Setup You can launch Windows Media Center by searching for it in the Start menu or by finding the application icon in the All Programs group. When a user starts Windows Media Center for the first time, the user must perform some initial configuration steps. The Windows Media Center user interface is optimized to run within a window on a computer and for use while attached to a television set. A keyboard can be used to perform all functions, and a mouse is also sup- ported. The standard graphical display of Windows Media Center uses large fonts to improve readability on standard-definition televisions. Figure 4-48 shows the initial setup page when running Windows Media Center for the first time. The Express Setup option uses the most common settings and is the quickest and easiest way for users to get up and running. Users are able to make settings changes later if the defaults are not what they want to use. Figure 4-48 Performing the initial configuration of Windows Media Center 178 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features The Custom Setup option walks users through the entire process, step by step. The entire pro- cess is spread across numerous steps (to limit the amount of information shown on each screen). The Enhanced Playback step allows users to specify whether Windows Media Center should be allowed to connect to the Internet to download additional content and information, including music information (such as album cover art) as well as links to additional content such as online TV programs. The Optional Setup section enables users to configure Windows Media Center based on their speaker options. This is particularly useful if the computer is connected directly to a home the- ater receiver or to specific speaker types. The other optional setting is to specify which folders are monitored for music, pictures, and video content. Figure 4-49 shows the options. Figure 4-49 Adding folders to watch in Windows Media Center Configuring a TV Tuner After you install a TV tuner device in the computer, users need to perform an initial configu- ration process. The first step enables users to select whether the configuration process should be performed manually or automatically. Lesson 2: Using Windows Media Features 179 If you choose the manual option, the following steps must be completed: 1. Choosing whether to use the Program Guide. 2. Agreeing to the terms of service for the Program Guide (if enabled). 3. Entering the ZIP code (which is used for determining which program guide options are available). 4. Downloading the TV Program Guide over the Internet. 5. Testing the signal strength of the antenna (see Figure 4-50). This is helpful for determin- ing which TV stations are available and the strength of each signal. Users can also attempt to reorient or relocate their antenna to get better reception. Figure 4-50 Testing the signal strength of a digital TV tuner After the TV tuner setup process is complete, users are able to record TV programs and access the Program Guide to view TV listings automatically. Working with Windows Media Center The main Windows Media Center user interface is shown in Figure 4-51. You can access the various options by moving up or down (using the keyboard, a mouse wheel, or another con- troller). You can select the options for a particular type of media by moving left or right. The user interface is designed to organize all of the many available functions intuitively. Figure 4-52 shows an example of the Music Library view, which includes album art and additional details. 180 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features Figure 4-51 The main Windows Media Center screen Figure 4-52 Using the Windows Media Center Music Library Lesson 2: Using Windows Media Features 181 Many different options and settings are available in the Settings section. Figure 4-53 shows the different categories that you can access after the initial setup process completes. Figure 4-53 Accessing general setup and configuration options Adding a Windows Media Center Extender One of the most useful features for Windows Media Center home users is the ability to add compatible extender devices. An extender device is able to connect to Windows Media Center using a network and to display content on a television or other device. One example of an extender is the Microsoft Xbox 360 console. Other compatible devices are available from third-party hardware vendors. The primary benefit is that the computer running Windows Media Center does not have to be located in the same room as the TV device. For security reasons, the process of setting up an extender requires obtaining an eight-digit setup key from the extender device and providing it within Windows Media Center. Figure 4-54 provides an example of this setup step. 182 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features Figure 4-54 Configuring an extender device in Windows Media Center Managing and Troubleshooting File Associations Due to the popularity of working with media files on home computers, there are dozens of vendors that provide programs for viewing, managing, and creating audio and video content. File associations are used to determine the default application that is launched when a pro- gram is executed. For example, when a user clicks a Microsoft Word document (which is iden- tified by a .doc or .docx file extension), Windows Vista launches Microsoft Word, and the document is loaded and displayed. Users can change the default application that is associated with various file types by managing file associations. One method of choosing the appropriate application for a file is to right-click the file and select Open With. The resulting menu shows the registered programs that are able to open or work with that file. For example, when you right-click an MP3 file, you can choose which media player application should open the file. When you install new applications, users might find that their file associations have been modified. For example, a new music player application that is installed along with a portable MP3 player might become the default program for playing back MP3 files. In previous versions Lesson 2: Using Windows Media Features 183 of Windows, the process of selecting default applications was tedious and involved searching through long lists of file types. Windows Vista includes a new method of changing file associ- ations. To access these settings, open Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Default Programs. Figure 4-55 shows the available options. In this section, you’ll learn two ways of associating file types with programs. Figure 4-55 Viewing default program options in Control Panel Setting Default Programs A typical operation for fixing file associations is to reset all of the supported file type associa- tions for a specific program. For example, if several different types of media files are no longer automatically opening in Windows Media Player, you can quickly resolve the problem with just a few mouse clicks. To access this feature, click Set Your Default Programs in the Default Programs Control Panel window (see Figure 4-56). Windows Vista automatically lists all of the current programs that are registered with the sys- tem and that are manageable using the Set Default Programs dialog box. To change file asso- ciations, select one of the programs on the left side of the user interface. The right side shows some basic information about the program. It also shows how many of the default file types that are supported by the application are currently assigned to it. There are two main commands. The first, Set This Program As Default, automatically determines which types of files are supported by the application and then associates those files with the pro- gram. For example, when you select Windows Photo Gallery, all of the different image file for- mats (such as .jpg, .bmp, and .png) are automatically associated with Windows Photo Gallery. 184 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features Figure 4-56 Setting default program settings The second option, Choose Defaults For This Program, enables users to specify which of the program’s default associations should be set. Figure 4-57 shows an example for the Windows Media Player application. Note that, in addition to setting file associations, protocols can also be configured. These settings usually apply to accessing a certain type of media (such as an audio file), using a URL in a Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer. Figure 4-57 Setting associations for a specific program Lesson 2: Using Windows Media Features 185 You can add or remove associations from the program by using the associated check boxes. The method of changing program defaults can be the quickest way of getting the desired file association configuration. Associating File Types with Specific Programs In addition to setting default programs based on installed programs’ capabilities, it is also pos- sible to set file associations manually for each specific file type. Although the process is gener- ally more time-consuming, it does allow for fine-grained configuration. To access these settings, click the Associate A File Type Or Protocol With This Program link in the Default Pro- grams dialog box. As shown in Figure 4-58, the system displays a list of all of the known file types that are registered on the local computer. Figure 4-58 Manually associating a file type with a specific program The complete list includes hundreds of items. The list can be sorted based on the name, description, or the current default program. To change the association, select a file, and then click Change Program. A list of known compatible programs is provided. You can choose one of the listed programs, or you can click Browse to locate the program file that should be associated with the extension. Using Set Program Access and Computer Defaults Windows Vista provides default shortcuts and settings that pertain to commonly used types of programs. For example, in the Start menu, users might see items labeled Internet and E-mail. 186 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features These links are designed to load the system’s default applications for these functions. When multiple programs that support the same functionality are installed, however, users might want to change the default setting. A common example is when multiple Web browsers are available, and users want to change the default browser that is opened by the Internet link. You can modify the associated program defaults by clicking the Set Program Access And Com- puter Defaults link in the Default Programs Control Panel window. Figure 4-59 shows an example of the settings. Figure 4-59 Setting program access and computer defaults options The user interface includes three main options. The first option, Microsoft Windows, specifies that all of the default program associations are set back to their initial configuration when you installed Windows Vista. The text specifies which associations are removed and which are added (if applicable). The second option, Non-Microsoft, automatically attempts to use a non- Microsoft program when other default options are available. For example, if the Mozilla Fire- fox browser is installed, it becomes the default Web browser for the system. The final option, Custom, enables you to select default applications individually (see Figure 4-60). This section of the dialog box includes a list of all of the registered applications for each type of program. You use the options to determine which file associations should be changed. [...]... his computer? A Generate a setup key on the Xbox 360 console B Generate a setup key on the computer running Windows Vista C Add a TV tuner card to the computer running Windows Vista D Set Windows Media Center as the default player for video files on the computer running Windows Vista 192 Chapter 4 Review Chapter Review To further practice and reinforce the skills you learned in this chapter, you can... for Windows Vista, what additional hardware is required to meet these goals? 2 What is the process for enabling the Xbox 360 to access Windows Media Center over the network? 3 How can the customer copy analog content into Windows Media Center? 1 94 Chapter 4 Review Suggested Practices To help you successfully master the exam objectives presented in this chapter, complete the following tasks Using Windows. .. shared network location On another computer running Windows Vista, subscribe to the published Windows Calendar Make a change on the initial computer and verify that the appointments automatically appear on the second computer n Practice 1: Working with Windows Mail Using Windows Media Center n Practice 1: Working with Windows Media Center Launch Windows Media Center and walk through the initial setup... using the star icons located next to a track name 9 When finished, close Windows Media Player Practice 2: Using Windows Movie Maker In this practice exercise, you create a new movie, using Windows Movie Maker The steps assume that you have not deleted any of the sample audio or video files that were included with Windows Vista 1 Open Windows Movie Maker from the Start menu or by clicking its icon from... photos, and video files that are included with Windows Vista Lesson 2: Using Windows Media Features 189 Practice 1: Working with Windows Media Player In this practice exercise, you walk through some ways in which you can use Windows Media Player to organize and play back audio files The steps assume that you have performed the initial configuration steps for Windows Media Player and that you have not... the Windows Vista operating system Exam objectives in this chapter: n Evaluate user’s system and recommend appropriate settings to optimize performance n Configure Windows Defender Lessons in this chapter: n Lesson 1: Using the Windows Vista Performance Tools 199 n Lesson 2: Improving System Performance 221 197 198 Chapter 5 Optimizing Windows. .. Gadgets for Windows Sidebar The Windows Sidebar provides a great way to keep useful performance-related information available on the desktop Windows Vista includes the CPU Meter gadget, which is available as part of the operating system (see Figure 5 -4) This gadget displays two gauges that show the current amount of CPU use and the percentage of system memory that is currently in use Figure 5 -4 Using the... Chapter 4 Review n Post Office Protocol (POP3) n Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) n TV tuner n 193 Windows Media Center Extender Case Scenarios In the following case scenarios, you apply what you’ve learned about configuring the media and communications features of Windows Vista You can find answers to these questions in the “Answers” section at the end of this book Case Scenario 1: Configuring Windows. .. should the customer have before setting up Windows Mail to access her account? 2 What are some of the Junk E-mail filter settings that can help reduce the number of unwanted messages? 3 How can the user automatically categorize messages? Case Scenario 2: Working with Windows Media Center You are assisting a new Windows Vista Home Premium user with configuring Windows Media Center in his home He would... you can drag and drop files into the Windows Photo Gallery interface 3 Windows Movie Maker enables you to import video files, video data from a digital video camera, pictures, and audio Practice: Working with Windows Media Features In these practice exercises, you apply the information you’ve learned about working with the media-related applications of Windows Vista Wherever possible, the steps rely . providing it within Windows Media Center. Figure 4- 54 provides an example of this setup step. 182 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features Figure 4- 54 Configuring an extender device in Windows Media. running Windows Vista. C. Add a TV tuner card to the computer running Windows Vista. D. Set Windows Media Center as the default player for video files on the computer running Windows Vista. 192. the defaults are not what they want to use. Figure 4- 48 Performing the initial configuration of Windows Media Center 178 Chapter 4 Configuring Windows Vista Features The Custom Setup option walks users