Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 for System Builders

1
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005for System
Builders

• John Straumann
• Technology Specialist
• Microsoft Canada
• jstrauma_at_microsoft.com

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Agenda

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Evolves the home PC so the digital entertainment
you want
Music Radio
TV PVR
Pictures Video
DVDs
Movies Content
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Media Center messaging
Audience
Positioning
Messaging
Tenets
Supports
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Media Center PC components

• OS
• Windows XP Media Center Edition
• Hardware
• Advanced Home PC
• Remote Control
• IR Remote Sensor
• TV tuner and HW encoder
• Display
• VGA, LCD
• TV (Optional)

Broadcast TV
Media Center PC
IR Remote Sensor
Remote Control
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Media Center PC configurations
Primary

• PC connected to PC Monitor (VGA, LCD)
• Media Center experiences on PC monitor
• Remote Control Mouse/keyboard

• PC connected to PC Monitor and TV
• Media Center experiences on TV display

Secondary

• PC connected to hi-res display (Plasma, HDTV, )
• Desktop Media Center experiences on hi-res
  display

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How to Demo Windows XP MCE 2005

• Overview Content Tips
• Product demos are crucial part of the
  marketing/selling of MCE 2005
• Introduces a new computer usage scenario for most
  consumers they must see to believe (Can a
  computer do that?)
• Pay attention to the details (equipment,
  necessary hookups/connections)
• After an intro to the product, let the customer
  use the remote

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How to Demo Windows XP MCE 2005

• Overview Content Tips
• Demo Content Tips
• Follow the MCE 2005 demo script (provided) as
  your guide
• Always start on the regular Windows desktop
  show this is a computer that can also do
  entertainment important for the value
  proposition competitive differentiation (can
  other PVR devices also surf the web and do
  email?)
• Focus on the entertainment aspects of MCE that
  most interest the customer photos, videos,
  music, TV, etc theres bound to be something
  that speaks to them
• Try and pitch usage scenarios not features (day
  in the life if you had this in your home)
• Good selling point free TV listing service
• Push the ever-expanding value prop for Media
  Center through 3rd party add-on services apps
  for Media Center (ESPN, Movielink, Napster, etc..)

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How to Demo Windows XP MCE 2005

• Demo Logistics (Important!)
• Media Center PC Demo Equipment Checklist
• Media Center PC unit
• Remote control IR receiver/blaster
• Speakers (preferably loud ones!)
• Keyboard mouse
• Monitor
• Optional blank CDs,DVDs digital camera

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How to Demo Windows XP MCE 2005

• Demo Logistics (Important!)
• Demo Prep
• Confirm you have high-speed Internet access (need
  this for Online Spotlight demo)
• Confirm you have live TV feed
• Prior to demo, sign into 3rd party services (MSN
  TV, Napster, MovieLink) you want to visit during
  demo
• Confirm you have good demo content on the MC PC
  music, photos, videos, recorded TV files
  (preferably at least 1 HD clip)
• Configure your Media Center UI prior to the demo
  (set up wizard is great, but is not good demo
  content)
• Configure your display settings appropriately
  looks great on a big screen!

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Hardware Requirements
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Media Center PC Components

• Key Hardware to Build a Media Center PC
• TV Tuner and Encoder
• Remote Control IR Sensor
• Graphics Card
• Audio Card
• MPEG 2 Decoder
• Faster Processor
• Large Hard Drive

These are optional components for System
Builders, but highly recommended

• Components require specific drivers, software
  testing to work with MCE this is not your
  standard PC
• NEW! Designed for Windows XP MCE logo program

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Processor Minimum and Recommended
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Hard Drive Minimum and Recommended
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Memory Minimum and Recommended
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Graphics Minimum and Recommended
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DVD Drive Minimum and Recommended
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Internet Connection Minimum and Recommended
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Hardware List Tested Graphics Cards

• Important notes
• This is an initial list of cards that have tested
  well with MCE 2005
• Formal logo approval for these cards is pending
  (Due 3 Sept 2004)
• Moving forward supported graphics cards will be
  identified by the logo
• List of logod products will grow over time
  check back with distribution regularly

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Hardware List Tested TV Tuner Cards

• Important notes
• This is an initial list of cards that have tested
  well with MCE 2005
• Formal logo approval for these cards is pending
  (Due 3 Sept 2004)
• Moving forward supported TV tuner cards will be
  identified by the logo
• List of logod products will grow over time
  check back with distribution regularly

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Hardware Compatibility List Suggested DVD
Decoders
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Step By Step Process to Build A Media Center
Edition Computer in an Appliance Form Factor
(Recommended Configuration)

• Motherboard and Processor Installed
• Installing Memory
• Installing Video, Tuner, Sound, Firewire/USB
  Cards
• 7-in-1 Media Reader Installed
• Installing DVD Recorder Drive
• Connecting Front USB
• Connecting Front Firewire
• Connecting Serial Hard Drive cable to motherboard
  and Hard Drive
• Connecting EIDE controller cable to motherboard
  and DVD Recorder Drive
• Connecting Power Supply to Video, Firewire/USB,
  Fan, LCD Display, Hard Drive, DVD Recorder and
  4-Pin 20-Pin connectors to Motherboard

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OPK Preinstallationof Windows MediaCenter
Edition 2005
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Where to get Bits, Drivers and More

• To download the files from Microsoft
• Using your browser, go to ftp//transfer.microsof
  t.com/Psmgptr1_gen
• You will be challenged for a login. Enter the
  following
• User Name Psmgptr1
• Password P69Be44

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OEM Preinstallation Kit Benefits
Flexiblemethodology
Enables you to choose compact disc-based,
network-based, or peer-to-peer preinstallation
methods
Customization
Enables you to add shortcuts and branding
information to the operating system
Hardware flexibility
Enables you to preinstall drivers for devices
that do not have built-in support in the
operating system
Applicationpreinstallation
Allows you to preinstall software programs during
the preinstallation of Windows Media Center
Edition.
Audit capability
Enables you to test preinstalled computers
without interrupting the preinstallation process
Easy to use and saves build time
Wizard-like interface makes the OPK easy to setup
and use and will save time compared to manual
installations and adding apps/drivers.
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Common OPK Terms and Definitions
Technician computer
The computer on which you install the OEM Setup
Manager tool
Configuration Set
A set of instructions and answer files that
contains the preinstallation configuration
settings
Destination Computer
The computer on which you preinstall Media Center
Edition using the Windows Preinstallation
Environment
Image
A picture or an exact duplicate of the original
file and folder structure of a preinstalled
Windows MCE machine
Master computer
The computer that contains a master installation
Master installation
A customized installation of Windows XP Media
Center Edition
Preinstallation
The process of loading Windows Media Center
Edition onto new computers
End User
The recipient of the computer that is
manufactured by the OEM System Builder
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The Preinstallation Process

• Install OPK Tools
• Add MCE Product Files and Cmpnents Folder
• Prepare applications
• Build a Configuration Set
• Add Drivers to Config Set and Unattend.txt
• Add OptionalSourcesYes to Winbom.ini
• Copy Winbom.ini to floppy disk, custom CD or USB
  flash disk

TechnicianComputer

• Boot the computer with the Windows OPK CD
• Insert Winbom.ini floppy disk at startup

MasterComputer
Reseal the computer, or run Audit and/or Factory
mode of Sysprep and then run reseal
Build an image of the installation and store it
on the technician computer, if desired
Destination Computers
Deploy image from the technician computer onto
the destination computers
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Step 1 Installing the OPK Tools
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Setup Manager
To Open the Setup Manager tool, click Start All
Programs Windows Preinstallation Kit Setup
Manager
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Adding Product Files to the OPKTools Share
Navigate to Tools Manage Products to add
Operating System files to be deployed
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Adding Product Files to the OPKTools Share
Add Product Files by Clicking on the Add Product
Button
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Adding Product Files to the OPKTools Share
Navigate to the CD-ROM drive where the Operating
System Files are located
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Adding Product Files to the OPKTools Share
STOP! You cannot add the Product Files for Media
Center in this manner.
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Adding the Product Files to Deploy Windows Media
Center Edition
Navigate to the \OPKTools\Lang\Here\sku Folder
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Adding the Product Files to Deploy Windows Media
Center Edition
Manually Create a Folder Called MCE2005
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Adding the Product Files to Deploy Windows Media
Center Edition

• Navigate into the MCE2005 folder
• Manually Create a folder within MCE2005 called x86

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Adding the Product Files to Deploy Windows Media
Center Edition

• Navigate into the x86 folder
• Manually Copy the i386 folder and all of its
  contents from the Media Center Edition CD1 into
  the x86 folder

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Adding the Product Files to Deploy Windows Media
Center Edition
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Add Cmpnents Folder from Media Center Edition CD2
to Automate the Preinstallation
This shows the top-level contents of the Media
Center Edition CD2
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Add Cmpnents Folder from Media Center Edition CD2
to Automate Installation
Copy the Cmpnents folder and all of its contents
from the Media Center Edition CD2 into the
OPKTools\Lang\Here\sku\MCE2005\x86 folder
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Media Center Edition 2005 -- Separate Deployable
Product via OPKTools
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Adding Applications into the Preinstall Process
to Automate Installation
Add Applications by Clicking on the Add Button
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Adding Applications into the Preinstall Process
to Automate Installation
Add Required Information in the Display Name,
Setup Command and Command Line Arguments Boxes
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Complete the Media Center 2005 Configuration Set
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Contents of the Media Center 2005 Configuration
Set
Navigate to the OPKTools\CfgSets\Media Center
2005 folder The Winbom.ini Unattend.txt answer
files reside in this folder
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Add Drivers into the Media Center 2005
Configuration Set

• Navigate to the OEM folder in the Config set
• Create the 1 subfolder within OEM
• Create the Drivers subfolder within 1
• Create other subfolders to contain 3rd party
  drivers
• Copy the contents of driver packages into
  subfolders

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Add Drivers into the Media Center 2005
Configuration Set OEMPnPDriversPath
Add the OEMPnPDriversPath parameter into the
Unattended section of the Unattend.txt File to
preinstall 3rd party drivers during the
Preinstallation Process Unattended Unattendmode
FullUnattended OemPreinstall
Yes OEMPnPDriversPathdrivers\video\nvidiadrivers
\audio\realtekdrivers\tuner\maui (additional
drivers must be separated by semicolons)
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Add Drivers into the Media Center 2005
Configuration Set DriverSigningPolicy
Some hardware manufacturers have not yet had
their Media Center Edition-specific drivers
(i.e., TV Tuner card and Video card) signed by
the Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). To
preinstall unsigned drivers you must include
DriverSigningPolicyIgnore in the
unattend.txt Unattended Unattendmode
FullUnattended OemPreinstall Yes DriverSigningPo
licyIgnore
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Winbom.ini Parameter to automate the installation
of the Cmpnents folder
To preinstall the components from the Media
Center Edition Cmpnents folder you will need to
include the OptionalSources parameter into the
Winbom.ini Answer File WinPE LangENG SkuMCE2
005 ConfigSetMedia Center 2005 OptionalSourcesYe
s
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Boot Master Computer with OPK CD and Winbom.ini
file
Save the Winbom.ini answer file to a floppy,
Customized OPK CD or USB flash disk Boot the
Master Computer with the OPK CD (Windows
Preinstallation Environment) Insert Winbom.ini at
Boot up
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System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe)
Factory Mode processes Winbom.ini, Installs
driver and applications and adds customer
data Audit Mode provides an easy method to verify
customizations, adds drivers and applications
manually and reboots the machine Reseal Mode
removes the Product Key used in installation,
resets the EULA and prepares the machine for
shipment
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Creating An Image (Optional)
Master computer preinstalled with Windows Media
Center Edition fully configured including 3rd
party drivers and applications

• An image is based on the master computer
  preinstalled with Media Center Edition
• Use a third-party disk imaging application or
  hard drive disk duplicator to create and restore
  an image of Windows Media Center Edition
• Destination Computers must have the same hardware
  abstraction layer (HAL) as the master computer

Run Sysprep Reseal and Image Using 3rd Party
Imaging Tool and store the image on Technician
Computer
Deploy images to new destination computers
Ship Media Center Edition machines to End Users
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CD-based OEM Preinstallation of Windows Media
Center Edition Using Winnt.sif

• Are System Builders required to use a
  Network-based preinstallation? NO!!!
• System Builders can preinstall from a CD using an
  answer file called WINNT.SIF
• System Builders should use the Corporate Version
  of Setup Manager extracted from DEPLOY.CAB in
  the Support\Tools directory on the Windows MCE
  Operating System CD

BUT...
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Downfalls to Using the CD-based Preinstallation
for Media Center Edition

• You have to manually swap Media Center Edition
  CD1 and CD2 when prompted
• You lose the ability to preinstall applications
  (like DVD software), hot fixes and security fixes
  from your technician computer
• You lose the ability to preinstall 3rd party
  drivers necessary for the functionality included
  in Windows Media Center Edition (i.e., TV Tuner
  Cards and Video Cards)

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The Media Center Opportunity forSystem Builders
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Why You Should Care

• Media Center provides an opportunity for you to
• Increase Sales
• Expand your current product line to include MCE
  PCs
• Attract new customers with existing demand
• Increase Margins
• MCE PCs require high-performance hardware
  components which often sell with higher margins
• MCE PCs drive demand for high margin peripheral
  devices (Remote Controls, Extenders, Speakers,
  Wireless Mice Keyboards, etc.)
• Differentiate yourself from your competition
• Many more customization opportunities including
  form factor
• Customers are already demanding Media Center PCs
• Media Center PCs are Cool, but are not a trend
• This is the direction of the future
• Dont be left behind

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What you can bring to market

• An entirely new PC experience!
• Build Full Powered Media Center Edition PCs
• High performance hardware
• Cross-Sell Peripheral Devices
• Speakers
• Remotes
• Extenders
• Wireless Mice Keyboards
• Important note Do not advertise or promote
  Windows XP Media Center Edition until Oct. 12

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How Microsoft can Help

• Training Readiness
• Events
• Readiness Center on Microsoft OEM System Builder
  Website
• Live Launch Event webcast Oct. 12
• Marketing
• Media Center customer facing marketing is a big
  bet for Microsoft this year
• Big Spend, to generate customers of these PCs
• Materials you can use with your customers
• Available on the MCE Readiness Center on MOSB
• Support
• Newsgroups also available on MCE Readiness Center
  on MOSB

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Seize the Opportunity

• Visit Media Center Edition Readiness Center on
  the Microsoft OEM System Builder Website
  www.microsoft.com/oem
• Review materials on how to build an MCE PC
• Familiarize yourself with recommended hardware
• Contact your Microsoft Authorized Distributor
• Order Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
  Microsoft Remote Control
• Consider Speakers, Chassis Extender options
• Leverage the marketing materials created for you
  to customize on MOSB
• Upsell MCE to your home customers