How to Watch Unprotected Recorded TV Files on a Media Center PC

By eHow Computers Editor

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The filtering technique used by Windows MCE (Media Center Edition) 2005 blocks copyright content from being recorded or distributed. You may only be able to watch files on the PC that recorded them initially. It is not possible to transfer, record or copy such content. However, the unprotected files can be viewed as well as recorded using the Media Center PC.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Explore if your Media Center PC is capable of playing DVR-MS files. If this is not possible, then download and install the updated version Microsoft DirectShow player, such as Windows Media Player 10. Using this player, you can watch and record unprotected recorded files.

Step2

Learn how to record and copy TV programs using Media Center PC. To watch previously recorded files, go ahead in a systematic way. Push the green "Start" button on your remote and navigate the menu.

Step3

Select "My TV"’ on the menu screen. Select "Recorded TV."

Step4

Browse through the recorded file in the "Recorded TV" section. Ideally, you can use the "Sort by date" feature if you remember the date on which you recorded the show. If not, use the "Sort by title"’ to locate the show.

Step5

Select or highlight the show you intend to watch. Press the "Play" button on your remote. Your Media Center PC will now play the selected show.

Step6

Use the "Stop" button on your remote to control the playback. By pressing "Stop," you can choose "Resume" to continue playing the show. With Restart, you may begin the playback again, through "Delete," you would remove the recording and with "Keep" try to maintain the recording in the Media Center PC memory.

Step7

Get regular updates on your Media Player to enhance the viewing of your recordings. Whenever an update is available, download it using the Internet.

Tips & Warnings

It is a good practice to delete shows after you view them to free up memory to record new shows. Learn how to burn CDs and DVDs using Media Center PC to store your favorite shows in the "Removable media."
Use the "‘Keep up to" option on the "‘Stop" button menu when viewing a recorded TV series. It enables you to specify how many episodes of the content you would need to keep for a particular series recording.