Many Windows 7 Media Center users will have a point where they need to backup important information and settings for their Media Center machine. Information such as custom TV listings, recording schedules and certain plugin and meta data can take a fair amount of time to setup. Certainly no one enjoys missing a favorite show due to a reformat followed by forgetting to reset the schedule for that show. Ian Dixon, of The Digital Lifestyle and Made for Media Center, may just have the solution. mcBackup 3.0 can not only backup your setup but it can even be scheduled to do so regularly and for free.

To get started download mcBackup 3.0 from Made for Media Center and install. Youll need to sign-up as a member of the site before being able to download the program, there is no confirmation email. Once downloaded and installed, run the program from the start menu under TheDigitalLifestyle.com > mcBackup 3.0.

Under the Backup and Restore Now tab you can select the type of data to backup: schedule, lineup, recorded TV, extra. To do an immediate backup just check the boxes for the data to backup and hit the Backup Now button. Once a backup has been created you can restore the latest backup using the Restore Now button. However, the restore option should only be used on fresh started Media Center setups. Running the restore on an already setup Media Center will likely mess up your listings and such requiring a clearing of the data and then restoring once more.

On the next tab, Backup Location, you are able to set the location where backup images should be saved. These are the folders youll need to copy to a safe location if doing a full clean install. For listings and recording schedule backups Id even recommend having the default save location be a USB drive. This keeps your backup separate from the actual Media Centers system drive should it cease operating properly.

Also available is the option to backup another folder, important plugin data or even just large downloaded caches such as MediaBrowsers ImagesByName folder make good candidates.

Coming to the Schedule tab we have one of the more important features of mcBackup. Here we can setup a schedule to regularly backup frequently changing things such as the recording schedule. Being something that typically changes often, its an especially good idea to regularly backup the recording schedule.

Simply enable the scheduler then select the days and the time youd like backups to be created. Either restart the program or enable the service using the link on the Home tab of the program. This home tab will report the status of the backup service whenever needed as well as the option to start or stop the service.

Now as long as youve set the backup to a safe location you should have a recent backup of your scheduling and lineup data whenever you need it.

The program works incredibly well in the background requiring virtually no intervention from the user beyond the initial setup. Simply set it up and forget it, just the way regular backups should be done. Thanks to Ian Dixon for making both the program and Made for Media Center. Stick around Hack7MC for future updates and a review of the Made for Media Center platform for Windows 7 Media Center.

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Are you one of those Media Center enthusiasts who frequently launches programs like Hulu, Boxee or any other program for that matter from Media Center only to have to go through complicated closing processes to get back to Media Center? Sure you could just allow if to run in the background and hit the big green button to return to Media Center, eating up precious resources while watching high def video. Many media center specific apps even support the remote allowing you to navigate the program and find the close option as well. However, what if there was an easier way, say just hitting the big green button to close that app and return to Media Centers start menu?

MCPrioirty gives you an easy way to close any program and return to Media Centers main interface. Created by dbarak on The Green Button forums, the program checks a simple text file each time Windows Media Center is launched and attempts to close each process on the list. To get started download the latest version of the app from the forums or this Hack7MC mirror of version 1.0.

Once downloaded the program is nothing more than a simple executable file and a text file, there is nothing to install per say. However, in order to get the program to launch with Windows you will need to set it up to do so manually. The simplest way to accomplish this is to explore the actual Startup folder and add a short cut. Open the start menu, find Programs > Startup, right-click and select Explore. This will open a folder, create a new shortcut by right-clicking the MCPriority exe file and selecting Create Shortcut then place the shortcut in the Startup folder.

Now the program should launch each time Windows restarts. The next step is to define which programs youd like to keep closed while running Windows Media Center. Open the ProcessList text file and youll notice that both Hulu and Boxee are already on the list. To add more simply create a new line and add the name of the process to the text file. Youll need to obtain the actual process name from the Task Manager (Start > search task manager > view running). Have the program running and find it under the Processes tab, leave out the .exe and list the process name in the text file on a new line.

Without being able to look at the code its hard to say exactly how often the code will execute though. It may run each time the green button is pressed or only when Windows Media Center is brought into focus initially. Hopefully the code is made open source as we love to see with any Windows 7 Media Center plugins and helper apps.

Either way the handy little program gets the job done closing unwanted apps with the push of a big green button and returning you to Windows Media Center. If youre looking for an extremely simple way to close pesky background apps be sure to give this one a try. Thanks to dbarak for creating the app and hopefully many continued revisions in the future (and open source code) as well.

Looking for a way to launch commands or programs to run in the background from the Extras Library menu? When you may be in luck, CW-Kid and Andrew Cherry have come up with a .dll and a set of direction for doing just that. The process can be a little daunting for novices but if youre looking for a way to run cmd files in the background youre likely able to tackle the task. This can be especially useful for those looking to run mc2xml or that have setup batch files to process WTV to DVR-MS conversion. After following this guide youll have a handy little icon to launch the command from right inside Windows 7 Media Center.

To get started youll need to download the .dll file created by Andrew Cherry and extract it to the C:Windowsehome folder. This will handle the launching of the cmd file in the background. These cmd files are simple text files with the .cmd extension that can be written to do anything you can do from a standard command line interface, also known as a batch file.

Once youve got the .dll file extracted to the ehome directory and a batch file ready to run create a new xml file. Again this is a simple text file which can be created in any notepad application, simply save the file with the .xml extension and its an xml file. Copy the following into the new XML file:

The title text that appears below the icon in Media Center”

Now that weve covered a handful of great plugins to improve your Windows 7 media Center, here and here, its time to go through a few programs and background plugins that can greatly improve your experience. These programs and plugins will improve on the Media Center interface as well as adding some missing options and features that are lacking in the basic Media Center installation. Add logos to the TV guide listings, create your own Media Center themes, put Caller ID on your TV and more.

Programs

My Channel Logos

My Channel Logos allows you to quickly and easily add channel logos to your Windows 7 Media Centers TV guide listings improving both the appearance and usability of the guide. The newest versions of this program even include sets of downloadable channel logos including color versions. Using the program is quite easy as well, once youve setup your TV guide listings inside Media Center just open the program and select your region then apply channel logos. My Channel Logos will search through your guide files and make the appropriate changes to add logos, just relaunch Media Center.

Media Center Studio

Media Center Studio, the successor to Menu Mender, is the ultimate in Windows 7 Media Center customization apps. Allowing you to design, create and distribute your own Media Center themes as well as customize and create your own start menu strips. Change the Media Center background, add a games strip and more all with ease using this handy program. This program makes it simple to create and rearrange your Media Center interface until youve got it just the way you like it. Make changes to the graphic interface by using your own images and fonts then just drag and drop start strip tiles to make your Media Center truly unique.

More Plugins

MC7 Sleep Timer

Though a sleep timer likely isnt one of the firs things to cross your mind as a missing feature, if youre used to having one on your television it can be a sorely missed feature. MC7 Sleep Timer is exceptionally easy to use as well. Simply install the plugin then use the plugin interface in the Extra Programs listing to set a sleep timer for any number of intervals. Quick buttons are available for 30 and 60 minutes as well as teh ability to create a custom timer button and even just turn off your monitor. This handy little tool is sure to make at least a few Media Center enthusiasts setups complete.

Refresh Rate Changer

There are plenty of movie and media enthusiasts that prefer to watch their content the way is was originally intended, which includes in the original refresh rate. By default Windows 7 Media Center runs in the default resolution of your monitor, typically 60hz, however much of todays HD media is intended to be played back at 24hz. Refresh Rate Changer will let you do just that. Just setup the resolutions and refresh rates for your monitor and media in the options file then access the plugin inside Media Center to change the refresh rate. Though not automatic and requiring an automatic restart of Media Center its a solution to the problem.

Vista Caller ID

Not just for Vista any longer, Vista Caller IDs developers have even create a plugin to allow you to harness the programs functions to get Caller ID right inside your Windows 7 Media Center. A feature commonly included in modern cable and satellite DVR boxes and sorely missed by many making the switch. As long as youve got a compatible analog modem, install the basic program and the Media Center plugin to get started. Then be sure to setup your preferences and youll be all set.

Finally, dont forget to subscribe to Hack7MC as we bring you the latest and greatest news from the Windows 7 Media Center community including plugins, hacks and programs to complete your dream Media Center setup. Hopefully youve found most of the plugins you need already in this guide, including the previous parts 1 and 2. Stay tuned to Hack7MC as we bring you even more!