For most Windows Vista users, Media Center is unknown territory. Unleashing Microsoft® Windows Vista® Media Center shows both newbies and experienced Media Center users how to use Media Center to experience music, photos, videos, movies, TV shows, and games in a whole new way. Windows Vista Media Center takes full advantage of the latest multimedia features: widescreen displays, HDTV, and Media Center Extenders. Mark Edward Soper shows you how to use these and other new and improved features to make the most of your Windows Vista multimedia experience. You won’t find a single book that devotes this much attention to Media Center. Unlock your PC’s hidden multimedia talents and turn your office, living room, and whole home into a multimedia paradise that will leave your friends drooling. Unleashing Microsoft® Windows Vista® Media Center is your indispensable guide to Vista Media Center! Here’s a sample of what you’ll find inside Complete coverage of every feature of Windows Vista Media Center Learn how to import video, photos, and music to enhance your entertainment experience Discover better TV viewing and recording with new support for HDTV signals Share the fun of Windows Vista Media Center with Media Center Extenders Create customized CDs and DVDs of your favorite videos, TV shows, audios, and photos Feature checklists help you design the perfect Media Center PC or upgrade your PC for Media Center Use your Media Center PC with Microsoft Windows Home Server Troubleshoot common problems with Media Center Tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Media Center Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Windows Vista Media Center Chapter 1: Introducing Windows Vista Media Center 9 Chapter 2: Equipping Your PC for Media Center 19 Chapter 3: Setting Up Windows Media Center 53 Part II: Enjoying Media with Windows Media Center Chapter 4: Viewing and Recording Live TV 85 Chapter 5: Watching and Recording Movies 137 Chapter 6: Importing and Playing Audio 165 Chapter 7: Importing and Viewing Photos 189 Part III: Beyond the Basics of Windows Media Center Chapter 8: Enjoying Sports with Windows Media Center 223 Chapter 9: Playing Games and Enjoying Online Resources 251 Chapter 10: Creating CDs and DVDs 289 Part IV: Adding Windows Vista Media Center to Your Home Network Chapter 11: Adding and Using Media Center Extenders 315 Chapter 12: Connecting with Windows Home Server and Other PCs 337 Part V: Enhancing Windows Vista Media Center Chapter 13: Using Windows Media Player with Windows Media Center 375 Chapter 14: Creating Photo and Video Content for Media Center 393 Chapter 15: Extending Media Center with Third-Party Apps 435 Chapter 16: Troubleshooting Media Center 469 Part VI: Appendices Appendix A: Using Windows Anytime Upgrade to Get WMC Features and More 499 Appendix B: Moving from Windows XP Media Center Editions to Windows Vista Media Center 503 Index 509

Journeys inside Windows Vista to explain how to get the most out of the operating system, discussing its key components and features and discusses installation, multimedia applications, networking, Web integration, Internet Explorer 7, and other essential topics.

Covers the newest version of WHS! This is the most comprehensive, practical, and useful guide to the brand-new version of Windows Home Server 2011. Paul McFedries doesn’t just cover all facets of running Windows Home Server: He shows how to use it to simplify everything from file sharing to media streaming, backup to security. With real-world examples, McFedries guides you through using new features ranging from the Dashboard and Launchpad to Remote Web Access and Alert Viewer. You’ll find network configurations and step-by-step solutions you can easily understand and use, even if you have no server experience. Then, when you’re ready, McFedries reveals how Home Server’s hidden business-class features can help you save more time and get even better performance. Packed with exclusive tips and tricks, this go-to guide will help you every step of the way...as you create a home network that does more and runs perfectly! Quickly set up networks, user accounts, devices, and storage Add any computer to your network: Windows 7, Vista, XP, Mac, or Linux Efficiently share folders, files, and digital media Set up passwords and users and protect your sensitive information Reliably automate backups, so you never lose an important file Centrally manage all your storage, so you never have to buy more than you need Stream and share your digital images, audio, and video--even on your Xbox 360 or other devices Use Home Server’s built-in web server to create powerful, flexible websites Use Windows SharePoint Foundation to help everyone coordinate their busy lives Automatically apply up-to-date security fixes to all your Windows computers Remotely access your content from any Internet-connected computer–safely and securely Use Home Server power tools, including Local Group Policy Editor, Computer Management snap-ins, and scripting Efficiently monitor, maintain, tune, and troubleshoot Windows Home Server

This is the most comprehensive, practical, and useful guide to Windows Home Server, including Microsoft’s major updates in PowerPacks 1, 2, and 3. Top Windows expert Paul McFedries brings together tips, techniques, and shortcuts available nowhere else and presents them all in plain English for every Windows Home Server user. McFedries covers all facets of running Windows Home Server: configuration, file/folder sharing, networking, media streaming and sharing, backup/restore, monitoring, Web and SharePoint site deployment, performance optimization, maintenance, and customization. He thoroughly addresses Windows Home Server’s new Windows 7 support, as well as major improvements in areas ranging from remote access to storing TV recordings. This edition presents comprehensive, up-to-the-minute guidance on Windows Home Server security, plus a full section of advanced solutions utilizing Microsoft’s power tools, the command line, and automated scripting. Throughout, McFedries demonstrates key techniques through real-world examples and presents practical configurations you can easily use in your own home. Detailed information on how to… Set up Windows Home Server networks, user accounts, devices, and storage Integrate with Windows 7’s new file libraries, backup/recovery tools, and Windows Search 4.0 Efficiently share folders, files, and digital media Ensure security for both local and remote users Automatically back up and restore all the computers on your home network Quickly set up web and SharePoint sites Tune, maintain, and troubleshoot Windows Home Server Use the new Remote Access Configuration and Repair Wizards

Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed Michael Lisin Jim Joseph Amit Goyal The authoritative, example-rich guide to Microsoft’s powerful reporting platform With Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services you can quickly deliver relevant business intelligence data wherever it’s needed–across the entire enterprise, and through the entire reporting lifecycle. SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed gives you all the authoritative information you’ll need to make the most of Microsoft’s most powerful reporting platform as a database professional, manager, or user. In-depth coverage makes this book an ideal reference, and its extensive set of practical examples help you address virtually any challenge in deployment, configuration, administration, or report building. The authors have extensively expanded this edition with deeper reference information, many more practical examples, and insider perspective into Reporting Services 2008’s powerful new enhancements. You’ll discover how to take full advantage of Reporting Services’ significant architectural changes, its flexible new Tablix control, improved visualization through charts and gauges, deep SharePoint integration through SharePoint Integrated Mode, new output presentation formats, and much more. Understand how to Learn about the new features of Service Pack 1 (SP1) and the SQL Server 2008 R2 release Quickly take advantage of Microsoft’s newest SQL Server Reporting Services enhancements Use Reporting Services to identify trends and solve real business problems Master report authoring–from basic, wizard-driven techniques to the cutting edge Group, sort, and aggregate data, and define the right scope for your information Utilize advanced report formatting techniques Work effectively with multidimensional sources Manage report data sources and models Secure reports against attacks and intrusions Customize Reporting Services with embedded functions, custom assemblies, URL access, Web Services, and other extensions Thoroughly integrate SQL Server reporting into any SharePoint site Michael Lisin, lead author of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services, has years of field experience working with SQL Server Reporting Services at Microsoft and delivering solutions for Microsoft’s enterprise customers. Jim Joseph, co-author of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services Unleashed, is an independent contractor with 10 years experience developing custom software solutions in a variety of industries. He has worked with SQL Server Reporting Services since the first beta release. Amit Goyal, lead program manager for Microsoft’s Reporting Services team, has extensive insider’s knowledge of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services. ON THE WEB: Download all examples and source code presented in this book from informit.com/sams Category: Microsoft Databases Covers: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services User Level: Intermediate—Advanced

Windows Server 2008 R2 Unleashed is the most comprehensive and realistic guide to planning, design, prototyping, implementation, migration, administration, and support. Based on the authors’ unsurpassed experience working with Windows Server 2008 R2 since its earliest alpha releases, it offers indispensable guidance drawn from hundreds of production environments. Microsoft MVP Rand Morimoto and his colleagues systematically introduce Windows Server 2008 R2 to IT professionals, identifying R2’s most crucial enhancements and walking through every step of installation and configuration. Next, they present comprehensive coverage of every area of Windows Server 2008 R2, including Active Directory, networking services, security, R2 migration from Windows Server 2003 and 2008, administration, fault tolerance, optimization and troubleshooting, core application services, and more. The authors thoroughly address major Windows Server 2008 R2 enhancements and present extensive coverage of R2 innovations ranging from Hyper-V virtualization to DirectAccess and the enhancements in Failover Clustering. Every chapter contains tips, tricks, and best practices learned from actual deployments: practical information for using Windows Server 2008 R2 to solve real business problems. Detailed information on how to... Plan and migrate from Windows Server 2003/2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2 and use R2’s new server migration tools Manage Active Directory with Active Directory Administrative Center, Best Practice Analyzer, and PowerShell scripts Use R2’s updated security tools and templates to lock down servers, clients, and networks Maximize availability with Windows Server 2008 R2 clustering, fault tolerance, and replication Streamline client management with new Group Policy ADMX settings and management tools Improve remote access using DirectAccess, Remote Desktop Services (formerly Terminal Services), and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Implement Hyper-V virtualization including the built-in Live Migration technology Leverage add-ons such as Windows SharePoint Services, Windows Media Services, and IIS 7.5

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager’s SQL Server database contains valuable information about your users, computers, hardware, operating systems, applications, compliance status, and much more. Microsoft has provided excellent tools for extracting this information in meaningful ways, including SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SQL Server Data Tools Business Intelligence (SSDT-BI). System Center Configuration Manager Reporting Unleashed shows you how to make the most of these tools. World-renowned System Center reporting guru Garth Jones and his expert coauthors guide you through all facets of custom reporting with System Center. You’ll walk through installing and configuring SSRS, using SQL views to find the data you need, writing SQL queries, creating basic and advanced reports, and using role-based administration to securely deliver those reports to the correct individuals. Jones brings together reliable, comprehensive, and up-to-date System Center reporting techniques you’ll find in no other book or website. Using this guide, you can consistently retrieve the right information to solve immediate problems and quickly respond to management concerns. Detailed information on how to... • Install and configure SQL SSRS for optimal System Center reporting and easier troubleshooting • Understand the data stored in the ConfigMgr site database • Efficiently retrieve ConfigMgr data by writing SQL queries in SQL Server Management Studio • Learn best practices for developing and designing System Center reports • Create report templates, customize content with report parameters, and embed charts • Customize logos, color palettes, and other report elements for your own organization • Construct advanced drillthroughs to provide deeper understanding • Strengthen report security by integrating ConfigMgr role-based administration into SQL queries • Leverage reporting to measure KPIs and gain a better understanding of your environment • Tailor your reports to the needs of end-users or management • Foreword by Wally Mead, Principal Program Manager, Cireson The only book entirely dedicated to Configuration Manager reporting, this guide complements Meyler's System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Unleashed, offering far more in-depth coverage of reporting than the single chapter in that book. Most of the content in this new guide will be equally valuable in both System Center 2016 and 2012 environments.