Chapter 24. Downloads and Enhancements

In This Chapter

• Upgrading to the latest version of Windows XP Media Center Edition

• Downloading and installing Media Center updates and support files

• Downloading special Media Center screensavers and backgrounds and the like

• Third-party software enhancements and add-ons for Media Center

Operating systems used to be something that you simply installed and then ignored. In fact, most people bought ”and still buy ”PCs with an operating system already built in. You might have thought about upgrading to the latest version of Windows when the OS was refreshed every few years , or you might just as likely have decided to forget about it until you upgraded to a new PC, which would again come with the latest and greatest version of the OS already onboard.

Things change. The onslaught of viral computer worms and security hacks targeting the Windows platform have turned the OS into a swiftly moving target. To keep ahead of the hackers and "script kiddies" who cut and paste together new viral variants every day, it has become necessary to regularly update your operating system.

In addition, although your Media Center PC has been configured to work perfectly right out of the box (granted, this sometimes works better in principle than in practice), Microsoft is constantly writing and revising its code to fix bugs and add new features.

As a result of these driving forces in operating-system development ”the security, quality control, and continuing innovation ”it's necessary to have a strategy for keeping your OS up-to-date.