How to load Microsoft Media Center TV from inside of Touchsmart application

[JimT]

Hello,

I would like to be able to launch Microsoft Windows Media Center from within Touchsmart software, however I seem not to be able to add the Windows Media Center application to the list of "Targets" in Touchsmart, actually I would have thought this would be already listed as a Target - but it's not....

In anycase, I tried to manually add it to my Target field but I get an error message in pink bouncing stupidly at me saying

"The target entered is not valid. Please check the spelling and enter the target again." 

Here is what I did and would expect it to work, but doesn't - mind you if I enter this from the start->run command or from within a shortcut, the command works, it loads up and runs the TV bypassing the Media Center startup menus....

In Touchsmart application,...

1. Click Personalize

2. Click Add a Tile...

3. Click on Program type and then Next button

4. In Target field type in:

C:\Windows\EHOME\EHSHELL.EXE /HOMEPAGE:VideoFullscreen.XML /PUSHSTARTPAGE:TRUE

5. In Title Name enter "TV"

6. Choose an icon from the Icon list

7. Click on OK

(Here is where I get the error mentioned)

Thanks in advance,...

[JimT · Accepted solution]

Actually, I think I resolved the problem!!!

I created a shortcut link on my desktop with the command line and then instead of entering the command line for the target in step 4 I entered the shortcut link instead, for example I created the shortcut first and placed it on my desktop with the following command line:

C:\Windows\EHOME\EHSHELL.EXE /HOMEPAGE:VideoFullscreen.XML /PUSHSTARTPAGE:TRUE

I named the shortcut "TV"

In step 4, i entered the Target manually as:

C:\Users\Jim\Desktop\TV.lnk

And followed the rest of the steps, now I see the Tile in Touchsmart and I am able to run the TV within Media Center direct!!!

But still I do not understand why Microsoft Media Center is not listed in the Target list by default...

cheers... ( Kudos to myself lol )

[ShawnaW]

Thanks for sharing your solution. =)

[JimT]

no problems, even so i believe this is a bug though, and we really should expect a proper solution. what i provided here is more a workaround solution.  I'd like to see the s/w more consistant...

[CMS]

It worked fine for me but you have to use the Advanced configuration in order to provide the target and the command line arguments separately.

C.

[JimT]

I think I see what you mean,...

When adding a new Tile, there is no Advanced option available - right? "Now don't go telling me that there is and advanced option there" I'll kill myself if there is lol

So what you are saying is that you need to add only the command in the target without the parameters when adding a tile - only then you'll be able to save the tile right?

Once the TV tile is saved, you can then go back and Edit the Tile and in the Edit Screen you now should see there is an Advanced options where you can add the Parameters separately from the target.

Logically thinking though they should have the parameter field in the add tile option, or provide an advanced option as they do in the edit tile - you shouldn't have to go back to edit the tile you just added to add the parameters...

Anyway thank you for that - this now works better as I can choose the programs icon instead of the default range...

However for the sake of the interface the add tile really should include the parameters so that it makes it a lot more intuitive to the user when adding a new tile...

Message Edited by JimT on 12-11-2008 03:23 PM

[FrutzMan]

hey good stuff, work great thanks!

[JimT]

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FrutzMan wrote:
hey good stuff, work great thanks!

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[RasterBlaster]

Here's a support document from HP on this subject:

Adding Media Center to the TouchSmart Software

[JimT]

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RasterBlaster wrote:

Here's a support document from HP on this subject:

Adding Media Center to the TouchSmart Software

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hmmm, more like how to add Media Center (MC) to a touchsmart tile using a shortcut, seems to be more of a workaround rather than a solution me thinks.  In anycase the subject here is how to load MC TV direct from touchsmart tile.

Best way to add Media Center WITHOUT using a lnk (or a shortcut) is to go back and edit the tile just added and click on the advanced options, for example, click on Personalize button and select the tile you just added and then edit (click on the pencil next to the tile)

You'll see the following screen, to change the target click on advanced (see below)...

Then if you want to load the TV direct to by-pass all the MC menus then you can add the following in the parameters field....

Oh and you can also use the program icon properly this way to - so here you can see the tile is actually using the WMC icon instead of the defaul ones from the shortcut...

Message Edited by JimT on 02-04-2009 12:03 PM