I have completed a fresh installation of Windows 7 to try another process of enabling Internet TV. This week I will walk through the process of enabling Internet TV from within Windows Media Center WITHOUT using a TV Tuner.
The original article to enable Internet TV using the TV Tuner is at:
Background
I wrote an article last week about using your TV Tuner to get Internet TV up and running. Right after I posted the article a reader named Eric put up a comment that said:
“Actually, you do not need a tv tuner to enable internet tv. Just go to settings>general>Automatic download options>Download now. This will add the internet tv option to the WMC start menu, then follow the same steps to activate it.”
After reading his comment I reposted the article with a note about the process and grabbed another beer form the hotel mini fridge. What’s a boy to do?
Phoenix and Windows Media Center
At the time of the posting I was in Phoenix for an Earned Value class and on my work laptop so I could not check his process. This process put me in the mood for some WMC action but since my work laptop runs XP Pro I was assed-out. Fortunately my hotel was across the street from the Microsoft Store so I went to check it out and get my fix. I had a coworker, named Jillienne, with me and I told her we could get some dinner and see the store. She is a MS fan and her hubby is into WMC too. They use WMC as their DVR so this field trip seemed like a great idea to both of us.
The whole store looked great. The store is inside the mall and kind of hard to find but we eventually found it. We arrived in Phoenix just a few days after the Windows 7 launch so the store was in excellent form.
All of the prices were list so it is not like I was going to buy anything but touching the hardware was great. They had a few of the Surface machines which were fun to play with. Of course they were not as much fun to play with as these people seem to be having:
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Default.aspx
They had two WHS set up. One was an empty demo and one was actually turned on. The PC next to it did not have the WHS Connector on it so I do not know what they had it hooked up to. I was hoping for a sign or something but NO. Just a lonely HP MSS.
The PC next to the WHS was playing Windows Media Center and had the PBS Channel for Internet TV showing some Cousteau footage. I did not see a TV Tuner on the PC so I figured they did the same Internet TV setup that I am about to write about. I played around with WMC for a few minutes while Jillienne looked over my shoulder and apologized for her stomach growling to the Microsoft employees.
I asked an employee about WMC and the functionality of CABLECARD since I was on topic. I really am obsessed with getting HD cable to my PC so this seemed to be the right time to ask. After being referred to three levels of employees in the store, I finally talked with “Chris” who said that YES, Windows 7 will support CABLECARD. Woo hoo. CannonPC, here I come!
As we left the store, Jillienne and I opted for the food court, over the dinner at the nearby Yard House, and got some cheapie food. Directly above us was a big ass Microsoft banner. I wonder if they would ever consider making a bed spread in that pattern. I would buy it. Would that be cool or what?
Get back to the article topic already…
Ok ok. Since writing the first article some readers have had issues with the enable process in WMC so in the interest of science I thought I would do a fresh reinstall Windows 7 on my Dell Studio and document the second process that Eric brought to our attention.
Equipment Needed
- Windows 7 PC with Windows Media Center
- Internet Connection
- 2 Beers (Optional as always)
For those of you playing the home game Windows 7 is fresh and ready to go so lets set this pig on fire!
Internet TV Enable Process – No Tuner Option
Open WMC.
WMC is easy to navigate and set up so far.
I never choose Express but for this article lets choose it and move on.
I do not know if the Set Up was directed to the WHS Connector or the WHS Connector took over but I will click on Ok and continue.
Love the WHS screens. Seriously. Click on Next through this process.
Click on next. Going to get a beer.
I would have a few more shots of the Connector but the system rebooted. I walked away for the second beer and the system rebooted on me! I guess I have never left the final connector screen unchecked long enough. Whatever.
Ok, rebooted and back on track. WMC opens as normal and now I will use the “Eric process” to enable Internet TV. The Internet TV option is NOT enabled at this point. Remember that I did a clean install and do not have my TV Tuner connected.
I click on Tasks and then Settings.
Choose General.
Under General choose Automatic Download Options.
Click on Download Now.
No Internet Connection? Really? You know I have one. Are you going to make me set this up? I agree, install, whatever…lets go!
Mental note: I wonder if the enabling of the program guide during TV Tuner setup forces the download option behind the scenes.
Click on Next. I agree, install, whatever…lets go!
Trust me, I am Always On. I agree, install, whatever…lets go!
Test this!
Connection working. Uh, yeah. Thanks for the update there sporto…I agree, install, whatever…lets go!
Was this set up really necessary? Could this have been done automatically? Click on Finish.
Ok, so I am seeing some download action going on.
While I am waiting for the download notification I will move the Recorded TV videos from the Windows.old folder to the new Public folder on my PC. Yes, Windows 7 moved all of the documents and folders to another folder during the clean installation so all of that file and video backup I did ahead of time was not really necessary. Windows 7 did not delete it. Better safe than sorry I guess. My previously recorded TV shows up like it was always there. No file transfer from WHS. Sweet.
Download complete and the Internet TV option is WORKING as planned.
Download away. I agree, install, whatever…lets go!
All of the channels are there. This process worked well and Internet TV is good to go!
Conclusion
A big thanks to Eric for showing us the process. Also, as some of the postings have shown, Internet TV only seems to be for US based connections. I do not have a way for checking internationally so I am hoping that Andrew can kick down with some additional data if needed.
I found the Cousteau program that I saw in the Microsoft Store. Sweet.
See you next Friday night,
Tim
Tim
As of right now we poor people in the UK still don't have the Internet TV option, but we do have the coming soon icon for Sky!
Andrew
Tim, nice to see you have the old Star Trek series on your PC. Trekkie.
Tim
No internet TV up here in Canada either.
Does anyone know when this is going to be available for users in the UK?
I'm curious, have you tried this with an x64 version of Windows 7? I have both x86 and x64 Windows 7 Ultimate release candidates.
In the 32-bit x86 version the WMC software version is 6.1.7100.14 (winmain_win7rc_gdr090502-0032) and everything works fine.
For the 64-bit x64 it reports 6.1.7100.00 (winmain_win7rc_gdr090421-1700) and won't handle guide updates automatically or manually. Commonly it fails to find SMTiles-2 on the server.
I've copied files from x86 into the x64 and gotten it to work once, but it breaks again at the next update attempt. I've reinstalled the x64 (upgrade option) and restored from WHS, but neither fixed it. I'm doubtful at wipe and fresh install would fix it at this point.
Anyone got success stories on ITV (and Netflix support) on an 64-bit Windows 7 WMC?
There are different versions of WMC and I am trying to compile a list of the numbers and features. I have one 64 machine that works great and one 64 laptop that does not get the Internet TV at all. I need some more time to figure out the issues.
Tim
Ok, so here I am a few weeks later with some version data:
6.1.7600.16385 (090713-1255) for a one year old 32-bit Dell Studio
6.1.7600.16385 (090713-1255) for a new 64-bit Dell Inspiron 15 laptop
6.1.7600.16385 (090713-1255) for a new 64-bit Dell 537
All the same version now, and they all have Internet TV working great.
Tim
So would this option work if you DO have the TV tuner installed? Sounds like it would be a good on-demand alternative to recording.
WMC Internet TV will work in the US with or without a TV tuner. Internet TV is a great extra but is not as robust as a regular tuner recording. The Internet TV extra utilizes Adobe Flash so the quality is not quite there. Think of it more as an
I did all the above and got the icon and can see programming but nothing will play internet connect passed as well
I need more information than you provided. Did Adobe install? Do you see show icons or just the internet TV icon?
Did the WMC data download? Have you done a restart?
My question is: why I can't see a 'Internet TV' on my WMC TV menu?
I have the latest updates of Windows 7 Ultimate & WMC is also updated (version 6.1.7600.16385 (090713-1255)). Maybe because my home region is Ukraine?
Internet TV seems to be only available to the US.
I’m in NZ and my old [32-bit] computer seems to get Internet TV. On my new [64-bit] PC (the one I’m using), it doesn’t work. I reformatted the old one with a probably non-genuine Windows 7 installation. The old one did have a TV tuner but I can’t get the drivers on. They’re both the same build 6.1.7601