Introduction
PC users might have momentary confusion about how to open and use the Windows Media Center application. Microsoft has actually included another application called the Windows Media Player on past and present versions of the operating system, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.
If users don't pay careful attention when clicking on the icon to open the Windows Media Center application, they could inadvertently open the Windows Media Player application or a similarly named program. If you follow a few simple steps then you can eliminate most of the confusion for getting to the Windows Media Center application.
Step 1
Click on the Start button in the bottom left hand corner of the desktop. This shows the Start Menu, which is where you will start to look for the Windows Media Center application.
Step 2
Type the following words in the search box at the bottom of the Start menu: "Windows Media Center." Wait for the Start menu to search for the Windows Media Center application on the PC. You will see the Windows Media Center icon at the top of the menu after the application has been located.
Step 3
Right click on the Windows Media Center icon to reveal a menu of options. Be careful not to left click just yet because that will prematurely open the Windows Media Center application before you are ready.
Instead, select both of the following options on the right-click menu: "Pin to Start Menu" and "Pin to Taskbar." This action permanently places an icon for the Windows Media Center application so that it is easily accessible from these areas of the operating system. The taskbar is always there at the bottom of the computer screen and it is convenient to have the icon in that location.
Step 4
Double-click on the Windows Media Center icon, either from the taskbar or the Start menu. Wait for the application to start up, as this process may take several seconds to a minute. Be patient.
Step 5
Press the up or down arrows on your keyboard to scroll through the media playback options, such as music or TV. Follow the intuitive instructions on the screen to begin playback.
Tips
Although Windows Media Center is a free application, it is possible that Microsoft did not include this program in your version or edition of the Windows operating system.
