Making Sure You Have the Latest Version of Media Center

If you bought your Media Center PC before September 30, 2003, it came with the initial version of the Media Center software. That date marked the introduction of the first major upgrade to the Windows XP Media Center Edition operation system. Even if you bought your PC in the months following that introduction, remember that it can take several weeks for PCs built before that time to filter down through the retail sales channels of stores and mail-order distributors , and so on.

caution

If you were one of the thousands involved in testing interim, or "beta," versions of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 (aka Harmony)or somehow obtained a beta version of the OS to run on your PC through unofficial channelsyou cannot immediately upgrade to the final RTM (release to manufacturing) version of the operating system. Before you can upgrade, you will need to revert to the previous official RTM version of the softwarethe original Windows XP Media Center Edition (aka Freestyle)before you can complete the upgrade successfully.

If you're not sure whether you have the latest version, called Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004, you can check by following these steps:

1. Launch Media Center, and choose Settings.

2. Select General, and scroll down to the bottom of the list.

3. Choose About Media Center. The following screen (see Figure 24.1) should indicate that you are running the 2004 edition.

   Figure 24.1. This About Media Center information page provides details on your installed version of Media Center.

   

How to Upgrade

If you don't have the latest version of Media Center, the best way to get it is by contacting the company that manufactured your Media Center PC and asking them to provide you with an update disc.

How to Update

In addition to making sure you have the most current version of your operating system, you need to stay on top of updates that seem to be trickling out from Microsoft with increasing frequency. The best and easiest way is to put Windows XP in charge of keeping itself updated by using the Automatic Update features described in the section "Check For and Install Software Updates," in Chapter 3, "Getting Started and Taking the Tour."

If at any time you want to manually update your Microsoft OS software, you can do so by launching Internet Explorer and visiting www.windowsupdate.com. When the page comes up, click on the Scan for Updates button, as shown in the center of Figure 24.2.

Figure 24.2. The Windows Update Web site will automatically analyze your system software and recommend upgrades.