Vista x64 Ultimate (upgrade) - Media Center missing??

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I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
better place to come for help:

I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install over
my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be found;
not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come on
new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?

I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:

"Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
administrator."

When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.

I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
help!

It is included in Ultimate. Click on the Start orb, click All Programs, and
select Windows Media Center from the All Programs menu.

"E Weerheim" <EWeerheim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DBB34046-E72B-41FE-8504-0C248678AA06@microsoft.com...
>I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
> better place to come for help:
>
> I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install
> over
> my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
> into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be
> found;
> not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
> that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come on
> new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?
>
> I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
> start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:
>
> "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
> software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
> administrator."
>
> When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.
>
> I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
> watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
> help!
>

Thanks, but, to clarify:

Media Center is not available in my Start Menu. You can't even do an
advanced search for it.

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> It is included in Ultimate. Click on the Start orb, click All Programs, and
> select Windows Media Center from the All Programs menu.
>
> "E Weerheim" <EWeerheim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:DBB34046-E72B-41FE-8504-0C248678AA06@microsoft.com...
> >I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
> > better place to come for help:
> >
> > I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install
> > over
> > my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
> > into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be
> > found;
> > not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
> > that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come on
> > new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?
> >
> > I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
> > start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:
> >
> > "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
> > software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
> > administrator."
> >
> > When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.
> >
> > I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
> > watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
> > help!
> >
>
>

I am having the exact same issue. All I could find was info related to
server 2003 and Xp...

I have windows Home Premium, clean install/upgrade after a format.

I do not have a group policy in effect, and I am showing updates for media
center in event viewer.



"E Weerheim" wrote:

> I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
> better place to come for help:
>
> I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install over
> my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
> into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be found;
> not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
> that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come on
> new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?
>
> I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
> start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:
>
> "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
> software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
> administrator."
>
> When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.
>
> I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
> watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
> help!
>

are you running any "tweaking" utility ??

Most of those have access to "hidden features" .

If not, then please go into group-policies to confirm :

by typing in the searchbox in startmenu the following without quotes :
"gpedit.msc"

- then have a look at the left pane, got to
"Computer Configuration" -> "administrative templates" ->

look for "WindowsComponents" ( still left pane ) - and click that.

Now on the right look for a folder "windows media center" and doubleclick
it - there you find the policy to en- or disable it.

Hope it helps

SJ / germany
A reboot might be a good idea after switching the on / off settings.
"quake chick" <quakechick@discussions.microsoft.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:91D55A00-1C4A-4B35-B845-849610B6A5C6@microsoft.com...
>I am having the exact same issue. All I could find was info related to
> server 2003 and Xp...
>
> I have windows Home Premium, clean install/upgrade after a format.
>
> I do not have a group policy in effect, and I am showing updates for media
> center in event viewer.
>
>
>
> "E Weerheim" wrote:
>
>> I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
>> better place to come for help:
>>
>> I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install
>> over
>> my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
>> into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be
>> found;
>> not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
>> that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come
>> on
>> new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?
>>
>> I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
>> start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:
>>
>> "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
>> software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
>> administrator."
>>
>> When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.
>>
>> I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
>> watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
>> help!
>>

Hi

I had the exact same problem on Vista Home Premium, and I -have- a TV
tuner. The problem is with driver updates I think.

I used system restore to roll back through my driver updates, and came
up with three posisble drivers causing the problem:

Conexant Falcon TV Tuner (you said you had no tv tuner? so I'm guessing
this won't be the cause)
ATI RADEON drivers (Which I've reinstalled with no problem)
and
Logitech webam.

I mention the webcam ecause it has echo cancellation on it, which was
known to conflict with my previous OS (Win XP Media Centre).

SO... I'd suggest a system restore to see if it's an update that's
caused it? I'm going to slowly reinstall my updates and see if I can
figure out the exact cause, but I thought I'd let you know before you
go reformat or reinstall vista that a simple restore should do it....


--
alphamatrix

I do have the same problem, I don't have a logitech webcam and have a geforce
6200SE videocard.
I think I have to do a systemrestore also...

"E Weerheim" wrote:

> I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
> better place to come for help:
>
> I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install over
> my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
> into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be found;
> not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
> that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come on
> new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?
>
> I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
> start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:
>
> "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
> software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
> administrator."
>
> When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.
>
> I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
> watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
> help!
>

Media Center is back and working, I picked up the restorepoint just before
update the javadrivers, maybe this helps you too!

gr Annemiek


"Ramiek" wrote:

> I do have the same problem, I don't have a logitech webcam and have a geforce
> 6200SE videocard.
> I think I have to do a systemrestore also...
>
> "E Weerheim" wrote:
>
> > I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
> > better place to come for help:
> >
> > I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install over
> > my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
> > into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be found;
> > not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
> > that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come on
> > new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?
> >
> > I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
> > start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:
> >
> > "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
> > software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
> > administrator."
> >
> > When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.
> >
> > I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
> > watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
> > help!
> >

Hmmm.. ok, now i'm puzzled.

I'm trying to work it out by a process of elimination, but with my
Logitech webcam and new RADEON drivers, I'm having no issues.

I've got two more programs to install, so I'll see how it goes. Maybe
it's just a random glitch?

Ramiek - I can't see a java drivers update in my list of updates (new
or installed). Strange....


--
alphamatrix

Sorry, I'm struggling with the English language, ofcourse not the javadrivers
but Java, I downloaded en installed it together with OpenOffice, right now I
have Open Office without Java installed and everything still works ;)
All the other installed stuf is installed again also and al the windows
updates are done.

gr Annemiek

"alphamatrix" wrote:

>
> Hmmm.. ok, now i'm puzzled.
>
> I'm trying to work it out by a process of elimination, but with my
> Logitech webcam and new RADEON drivers, I'm having no issues.
>
> I've got two more programs to install, so I'll see how it goes. Maybe
> it's just a random glitch?
>
> Ramiek - I can't see a java drivers update in my list of updates (new
> or installed). Strange....
>
>
> --
> alphamatrix
>

I dont have a web cam, or a tv tuner card. But I do have a radeon video
card. I was thinking maybe the catalyst. The puzzling thing is that it was
there, and then out of nowhere, it was gone.

I had checked for any group policies, and as a precaution, reset them all
with a DOS command. Said it was successful, but it wasnt.

I will rollback my drivers today and see where that gets me.

Thanks everyone for your input, I could have tried a startup repair, but
that would not provide the answer to this puzzle.

"alphamatrix" wrote:

>
> Hi
>
> I had the exact same problem on Vista Home Premium, and I -have- a TV
> tuner. The problem is with driver updates I think.
>
> I used system restore to roll back through my driver updates, and came
> up with three posisble drivers causing the problem:
>
> Conexant Falcon TV Tuner (you said you had no tv tuner? so I'm guessing
> this won't be the cause)
> ATI RADEON drivers (Which I've reinstalled with no problem)
> and
> Logitech webam.
>
> I mention the webcam ecause it has echo cancellation on it, which was
> known to conflict with my previous OS (Win XP Media Centre).
>
> SO... I'd suggest a system restore to see if it's an update that's
> caused it? I'm going to slowly reinstall my updates and see if I can
> figure out the exact cause, but I thought I'd let you know before you
> go reformat or reinstall vista that a simple restore should do it....
>
>
> --
> alphamatrix
>

I fixed my media center issue with it being missing and getting the group
policy error. In "set program access and defaults, i selected media player
as the default and enabled access to media center" and Voila its
working!!!!!!

Hope this helps for you, though maybe you have found a solution already.

Quakechick

"E Weerheim" wrote:

> I posted this in the Media Center PC discussion group, but this may be a
> better place to come for help:
>
> I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 (Upgrade), doing a clean install over
> my previously existing Windows XP Pro installation (format). Several days
> into playing with it, I've noticed that Media Center is nowhere to be found;
> not through a search, nowhere in the start menu... nothing. I had assumed
> that Media Center came with the Ultimate edition, but does it only come on
> new PCs with TV tuning equipment....?
>
> I tracked down the C:\windows\ehome directory and attempted to manually
> start the ehshell.exe file, to which I receive this error:
>
> "Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a
> software restriction policy. For more information contact your system
> administrator."
>
> When I ran the file, I was logged in as administrator.
>
> I don't have a TV-tuner card.. I just wanted to run Media Center for
> watching DVDs on my LCD. Let me know what further information you need to
> help!
>

[roba]

Have had same problems, whereby could not find a way to run WMC.

Easiest way to get a shortcut on the desktop is:

Launch control panel in vista.

Run Welcome Centre

Click on show all items.

Click on WMC icon, then right click and select "create shortcut"

Voila!! the shortcut will be on your desktop.

You can then move the shortcut anywhere you want.

Did you check under C:\Program Files\Windows Media Center?
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"roba" <roba.30e5nc@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
news:roba.30e5nc@DoNotSpam.com...
>
> Have had same problems, whereby could not find a way to run WMC.
>
> Easiest way to get a shortcut on the desktop is:
>
> Launch control panel in vista.
>
> Run Welcome Centre
>
> Click on show all items.
>
> Click on WMC icon, then right click and select "create shortcut"
>
> Voila!! the shortcut will be on your desktop.
>
> You can then move the shortcut anywhere you want.
>
>
> --
> roba
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> roba's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/35580.htm
> View this thread: Vista x64 Ultimate (upgrade) - Media Center missing??
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>

[roba]

Yeah, i did check everywhere including the forlder you mentioned, its simply not there.

but i knew that the program was lurking somewhere as i ran a video file that came with WMC and WMC opened and played it.

the extension of the file was for WMC only.

So i knew that WMC was still on my Vista Ultimate 64bit.

Did you find the link to WMC by clicking the welcome icon of the control panel?