How to Create a Shortcut that Opens Directly to "Live TV" in Windows Media Center

   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.

   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.

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

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Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise will not have Add features to Windows 8/8.1 available since there are not any features available to add in that edition.

Windows Media Center is available as an economical “media pack” add-on to your installed and activated Windows 8/8.1 Pro.

If you have Windows 8 Pro installed, then you can add Windows Media Center by buying the Windows 8 Media Center Pack.

If you have Windows 8.1 Pro installed, then you can add Windows Media Center by buying the Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack.

If you have Windows 8 installed, then you will need to buy the Windows 8 Pro Pack to have Media Center added and all the features of Windows 8 Pro.

If you have Windows 8.1 installed, then you will need to buy the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack to have Media Center added and all the features of Windows 8.1 Pro.

See: How to Add "Windows Media Center" to Windows 8 and 8.1

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

Download

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. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

6. In Windows 8 and 8.1, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

7. 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:

Code:

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

OR

To start the last TV program:

Code:

%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. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

5. In Windows 8 and 8.1, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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