Windows 7: Windows Media Center - Live TV - Create Shortcut

   Information

This will show you how to download or create a shortcut that will start Live TV mode on your last viewed channel in Windows Media Center in Windows 7 or Vista.

   Warning

You will need to have a TV tuner card installed in your computer and setup for this feature to work in Windows Media Center.

   Note

Windows Media Center is not available in Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions.

OPTION ONE

To Download the "Media Center - Live TV" Shortcut

1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Media_Center-Live_TV.zip

2. Save the .zip file to the desktop.

3. Open the .zip file and extract the Media Center - Live TV shortcut to the desktop.

4. Right click on the Media Center - Live TV shortcut, and click on Properties, General tab, and on the Unblock button.
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.

5. You can now Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move it where you like for easy use.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.

OPTION TWO

To Manually Create the "Media Center - Live TV" Shortcut

1. Right click on a empty area on desktop, and click on New and Shortcut.

2. Copy and paste either location below into the location area, and click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

To open to Live TV:

%SystemRoot%\ehome\ehshell.exe /nostartupanimation /homepage:VideoFullscreen.xml /PushStartPage:True

OR

To start the last TV program:

%windir%\ehome\ehshell.exe /mcesuperbar://tv?live=true

3. Type Media Center - Live TV for the name, and click on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.

4. You can now Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu this shortcut, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move it where you like for easy use.