Vista Media center tweaks
Thanks to Aaron Stebner
Skip Forward Interval – Enter the number of milliseconds you want to skip forward when you press the skip button. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoSettings
Registry value – SkipAheadInterval
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Skip Back Interval – Enter the number of milliseconds you want to skip back when you press the replay button. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoSettings
Registry value – InstantReplayInterval
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Storage Location For Recorded TV – Enter the path for the storage location for recorded TV.
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Recording
Registry value – RecordPath
Registry value data type – REG_SZ
Watched Folders For Recorded TV – If you have recorded TV stored in multiple locations enter the folder path below. You can enter one folder path for each line below. Example: C:\Recorded TV
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Recording
Registry value – WatchedFolders
Registry value data type – REG_MULTI_SZ
Notification Before A Recording Starts – When you are watching TV a notification appears before the channel is changed to start a new recording. Enter the number of milliseconds to show this notification before Media Center changes the channel to begin the recording. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoConstants
Registry value – RecorderStartWarningTimeout
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
More Info Panel Timeout – Enter the number of milliseconds to show the More Info panel while watching TV or DVD. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoConstants
Registry value – InfoBarTimeout
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Seek Bar Timeout – Enter the number of milliseconds to show the paused seek bar while watching TV or DVD. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoConstants
Registry value – SeekBarTimeout
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Seek Bar Rewind and Fast Forward Timeout – While watching TV or DVD pressing REW/FWD displays the seek bar. Enter the number of milliseconds to show the seek bar when transitioning from REW or FWD to normal playback while watching TV or DVD. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoConstants
Registry value – SeekBarBriefTimeout
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Seek Bar Slow Motion Timeout – Enter the number of milliseconds to show the seek bar when video is in slow motion playback while watching TV or DVD. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoConstants
Registry value – SeekBarSloMoTimeout
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Enable Overscan – Some televisions do not display the full Media Center user experience. Do you want Media Center to pull in critical UI elements?
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\MCE.PerUserSettings
Registry value – marginSaved
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = enable overscan; 0 = disable overscan
Bottom Margin – How many units should Media Center pull in critical elements from the bottom of the screen?
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\MCE.PerUserSettings
Registry value – marginBottom
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Top Margin – How many units should Media Center pull in critical elements from the top of the screen?
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\MCE.PerUserSettings
Registry value – marginTop
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Right Margin – How many units should Media Center pull in critical elements from the right side of the screen?
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\MCE.PerUserSettings
Registry value – marginRight
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Left Margin – How many units should Media Center pull in critical elements from the left side of the screen?
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\MCE.PerUserSettings
Registry value – marginLeft
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Enable My DVDs – Media Center has a new DVD gallery with cover art and descriptions called My DVDs. Do you want to enable My DVDs? This setting is only available in Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and later.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
Registry value – ShowGallery
Registry value data type – REG_SZ
Registry value data – Gallery = enable My DVDs; Play = do not enable My DVDs
Autostart Enhanced DVD Content – Some DVDs include bonus content enhanced for Media Center. Do you want to automatically start the content?
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\AutoScan
Registry value – _autoPlayMCLEnabled
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = automatically start; 0 = do not automatically start
DVD Notification Timeout – Enter the number of milliseconds that you want to view the notification that a DVD has been inserted and is about to automatically start playing. (1 second = 1000 milliseconds)
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\VideoConstants
Registry value – DVDNotificationTimeout
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Search Depth – My DVDs Gallery will search all locations that you have added to your My Videos space. How many levels deeps should it search for DVD content? This setting is only available in Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and later.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
Registry value – FolderSearchDepth
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Search Network Locations – My DVDs Gallery will search all locations that you have added to your My Videos space. Should it include network shares and folders in its search? This setting is only available in Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and later.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
Registry value – SearchNetworkFolders
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = search network folders; 0 = do not search network folders
Show DVDs In Drives First – My DVDs Gallery can display DVDs that are loaded in drives as the first items or sorted in with the rest of your DVDs. Should DVDs that are loaded in drives appear first? This setting is only available in Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and later.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
Registry value – ShowDiscsInDrivesAtTop
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = show DVDs in drives first; 0 = show DVDs in drives based on the current sort order
Show Cache File Location – In My DVDs when no metadata can be found for the current disc, the location of the cache file can be displayed on the DVD details page. You can edit this file to include any data that you would like to see displayed on the details page instead. Should the location of the cache file be displayed if there is no metadata? This setting is only available in Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and later.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
Registry value – ShowCacheLocation
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = show cache file location; 0 = do not show cache file location
Suppress Eject Prompt – When a 3rd party application (More Programs or Online Spotlight) tries to eject a disc, do you want a confirmation dialog? This setting is only available in Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and later.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
Registry value – SuppressExtensibilityEjectPrompt
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 0 = show eject prompt; 1 = do not show eject prompt
Display My Music As Last Viewed – Display my music as I last viewed it sorted by artist, albums, playlists, songs or genres.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\Audio
Registry value – fMyCollectionShouldBeSticky
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = remember last music view; 0 = do not remember last music view
Show Add To Queue Notification – Do you want to be notified every time music has been successfully added to the queue?
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\Audio
Registry value – fShowAddToQueueSuccessPrompt
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = show Add To Queue notification; 0 = do not show notification
Enable Universal Remote Control – If you have a universal remote control you may need to enable it. A reboot is required for this setting to take effect.
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
Registry value – EnableDebounce
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = enable universal remote control; 0 = disable universal remote control
Set Remote Control ID – To enable your Media Center to respond to a specific remote control ID do the following; 1. Press and hold the DVD Menu key on the remote then press a number button (1-8) for 5 seconds. Remotes with visible LED signal indicators will blink twice to confirm the change. 2. Enter that same number below. 3. Save. 4. Restart the Media Center PC. Note: To enable Media Center to respond to all remotes use the number 0. A reboot is required for this setting to take effect.
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
Registry value – CodeSetNum0
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
This setting also requires deleting the following registry values:
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\HidIr\Remotes\745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da
Registry value – CodeSetNum1
Registry value – CodeSetNum2
Registry value – CodeSetNum3
Display Wireless Passwords – When joining a wireless network, do you want to read the password as you enter it or do you want it to be hidden?
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center
Registry value – DontHideWirelessKey
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = display password; 0 = hide password
Optimize For Display Type – By default Media Center Extender is optimized for display on a traditional TV. However, if you have a LCD or plasma TV you may want to disable this optimization in order to improve picture quality.
Registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center
Registry value – TVSkin
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = optimize for traditional TV; 0 = optimize for LCD or plasma screen
Show Network Congestion Notification – Do you want to be notified on your Extender when there is network congestion preventing good performance?
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaCenterPeripheral
Registry value – DisableTransraterDialogs
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 0 = show notification; 1 = do not show notification
Show ‘Not Enough Bandwidth For TV’ Notification – Do you want to be notified on your Extender when there is not enough bandwidth to enable a good TV experience?
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaCenterPeripheral
Registry value – DisableMHN
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = show notification; 0 = do not show notification
Prompt When Navigating Between Secure and Insecure Pages – Should the Extender prompt when navigating between secure and insecure pages within a partner application?
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaCenterPeripheral\Setup\Internet Settings
Registry value – WarnOnZoneCrossing
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 0 = prompt; 1 = do not prompt
Prompt When Submitting Nonencrypted Information – Should the Extender prompt when submitting nonencrypted information in a partner application?
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaCenterPeripheral\Setup\Internet Settings\Zones\3
Registry value – 1601
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = prompt; 0 = do not prompt
Prompt On Mixed Content – Should the Extender prompt when displaying a partner application page that contains both encrypted and nonencrypted content?
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaCenterPeripheral\Setup\Internet Settings\Zones\3
Registry value – 1609
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 1 = prompt; 3 = do not prompt
Adjust Audio and Video Network Priority – Do you want to prioritize a seamless audio experience higher than a seamless video experience when there is network congestion preventing good performance?
Registry key – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaCenterPeripheral
Registry value – DisableTransrater
Registry value data type – REG_DWORD
Registry value data – 0 = prioritize audio higher than video; 1 = prioritize audio and video equally
Published Saturday, April 29, 2006 7:48 PM by astebner
Some more registry hacks
To Hide or show Items on MCE main Startup Page.
Run regedit
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Start Menu]
“HideTV”=”0″
“HideWebSite”=”0″
“HideRadio”=”0″
“HideMusic”=”0″
“HideVideos”=”0″
“HideDVD”=”0″
To hide use “1″ to show use “0″
“My TV” with on TV Tuner
If you have no TV tuner but you would like “MY TV” on the Main Startup page to play the DVR-MS (Recorded TV).
Run RegEdit
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\TVConfig\iVideoSource
set iVideoSource = to “1″
Increase Buffer Size for Pausing Live TV
Run RegEdit
“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media
Center\Service\Video\Tuners”
BackingFileDuration the defalt is 300
Setting BackingFileDuration to “600″ will give you 1 hour
Setting BackingFileDuration to “900″ will give you 1.5 hours
Setting BackingFileDuration to “1200″ will give you 2 hours
