Windows 7: Windows Media Center Updates - Enable or Disable Waking Computer

   Information

This will show you how to enable or disable the Windows Media Center (mcupdate) task from waking up the computer from sleep when it checks for Media Center updates in Windows 7 and Vista.

If disabled, the mcupdate task will still check for Media Center updates if the computer is running, but will not wake the computer to do so.

You will need to be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

   Note

The N and KN editions of Windows 7 have all the features that normally come with each individual Windows 7 edition, except for Windows Media Player 12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker.

The N editions of Windows 7 allow you to choose your own media player and software required to manage and play CDs, DVDs, and other digital media files. If you choose to use Windows Media Player 12, downloading it, along with related software, is free.

Download Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N with Service Pack 1 and Windows 7 KN with Service Pack 1 (KB968211) from Official Microsoft Download Center

1. Open the Start Menu, then type taskschd.msc in the search box and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (Windows 7) or Continue (Vista).

3. In the left pane of Task Scheduler, double click on (to expand) Task Scheduler Library, Microsoft, Windows, then select Media Center. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: If the Task Scheduler Library tree (left pane) is not available in the Task Scheduler, then click on View (menu bar), Customize, check the Console Tree box, and click on OK.

4. In the middle pane, double click on mcupdate. (see screenshot above)

5. Click on the Conditions tab, and do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)

6. To Enable Waking the Computer to Run Windows Media Center Updates

A) Check the Wake the computer to run this task box, and click on OK. (see screenshot above)

B) Go to step 8.

7. To Disable Waking the Computer to Run Windows Media Center Updates

A) Uncheck the Wake the computer to run this task box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below step 5)

8. Repeat step 4 above, but double click on mcupdate_scheduled instead.

9. When finished, you can close Task Scheduler if you like.