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Chapter 7, Build a Windows-Based Home Theater PC

3. Install .NET Framework, Windows Media Player 9,

and DirectX 9

Although not absolutely required by the HTPC we’re building, you’ll want

to download a few things from Microsoft. They’re all free and are signifi-

cantly better than the previous versions. You can use Windows Update to

make installation easy.

1. Use your web browser and go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.

Click Yes if you’re prompted for permission to install components.

2. Click Scan For Updates. Windows Update will examine your computer

for installed updates and report them back to the web site to determine

which updates are still required.

3. Select Windows XP from the navigation tree on the left.

You’ll find all three of the components you’re looking for in this section.

Unfortunately, DirectX and Media Player must be installed individually, so

you have to do all three separately.

1. Find Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1 (or a newer version, if

available) and click Add.

2. Click “Review and install updates.” Any critical updates that you’ve

missed will automatically be added.

3. Click Install Now and then click Accept to accept the license agreement

and begin the installation.

When the installation is complete, click Windows XP in the tree on the left

to go back in and repeat the process for DirectX 9.0a End-User Runtime.

Restart the computer when the installation is finished.

Windows Media Player 9 is not essential to the success to this project; Version 8,

which ships with Windows XP, will also work. However, Version 9 is a significant

update, and it’s free.

When the machine is finished booting, go back to the Windows Update site

and add Windows Media Player 9 Series. Go to Review And Install Updates

and click Install Now.

The User Interface

In this phase you’ll be introducing the user interface to the home theater

PC. You’ll begin by installing the software that provides the frontend, and

configure it to accommodate new components that you’ll be adding in the

Services Layer.

Enabling Automatic

Update for Windows

XP

You can configure your PC to check

with the Microsoft Windows Update

web site and automatically install

critical updates at a scheduled time.

To enable this behavior:

1. Go to Start → Control Panel.

2. Select Performance and

Maintenance.

3. Click the System Control Panel

icon.

4. Select the Automatic Updates tab

and ensure there is a checkmark

next to “Keep my computer up to

date.”

5. Select “Automatically download

the updates, and install them on a

schedule I specify” and click OK.

6. Your computer will keep itself well

maintained, and you can just keep

watching TV.

One more thing: some updates

require a reboot. Windows will auto-

matically reboot when necessary.

If you want your HTPC to behave

like an appliance, then create a user

account for using the HTPC and con-

figure it to log on automatically. (See

the sidebar on the next page.)

The User Interface

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