Windows 7: Scheduled Recording of Tv

Hello all
This may sound a dumb question, but I have only just started using Media Centre to watch & record TV. I want to record something starting at 3 a.m. Can I put my PC into "sleep" mode, or do I have to leave it switched on? If "on", does it have to have Media Centre showing, or can I leave it on Desktop?

Sorry if this sounds obvious to everyone else! I can access and use Media Centre TV via mouse or the genuine MC Remote.



EDIT: I have just tried to open & view a recorded Programme, I get this message concerning it:

"Your media usage rights have become corrupted or are no longer valid. This might happen if you have replaced hardware components in your computer."

I have NOT Replaced any hardware components since installing & setting up my TV card, which is A Hauppauge Nova - TD - 500a DVB-t Tuner.

Now I am really baffled! Help please?

Well I guess it was a dumb Question, to judge from the non-existent responses!

Anyway, I set it to record, set the PC to "Sleep" and it has recorded OK. Worried about nothing, I suppose.

Yes, as you've apparently discovered by your own experimentation.

You can put your computer into either "sleep" or even "hibernation", and it WILL wake up at the proper time to perform a scheduled recording. Just don't require a password to be entered at wake-up, as that would probably prevent things from restarting promptly and automatically as required.


I'm not familiar with this tuner.

But you can probably overcome whatever might be responsible for this simply by re-running the Windows Experience Index. That's where all of your current hardware (and WMC's DRM capabilities) are based, to ensure you have HDCP-compliant hardware... for viewing copy-protected content. Running WEI should straighten out any current confusion or issues.