Windows 7 RTM and Vista SP2 Windows Media Center Updates Available

Microsoft has released two updates designed to kick up a notch the Windows Media Center component in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Customers running the latest iteration of the Windows client from Microsoft can download and deploy the Cumulative Update Windows Media Center in Windows 7 (KB981078). As far as Windows 7 is concerned, the Redmond company has introduced fixes for no less than four issues. The refresh is offered through the Microsoft Download Center for customers running Windows 7 editions that come with Windows Media Center, namely the Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate.

The software giant enumerated a list of problems affecting Windows Media Center in Windows 7 that the latest Cumulative Update was designed to resolve:

“- If there is a revoked version of the PlayReady PC Runtime installed when you use Windows Media Center to play protected content, a ‘Copy Prohibited’ overlay message or a black screen is displayed. After you apply this update, the overlay message will direct you to the appropriate PlayReady PC Runtime update on the Microsoft Update website.
- You reference a backup database when the guide database in Windows Media Center is corrupted. If you set a manual recording on a channel that is not listed in the backup database, the Mcupdate.exe process crashes.
- Schedule data may disappear in regions that use in-band guide data. For example, schedule data disappear in Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) regions.
- Windows Media Center crashes when you use an invalid path for a recorded TV location.”

Customers running the predecessor of Windows 7 can download the June 2010 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista (KB982480). According to the Redmond company, the update is set up to integrate seamlessly with both Vista SP1 and Vista SP2. Of course, unlike Windows 7, only two Vista editions actually feature Windows Media Center, Home Premium and Ultimate.

Microsoft revealed that the June 2010 Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista was focused on resolving one issue: “If the program guide database is corrupt, Windows Media Center crashes when you use it. In addition, Mcupdate.exe may crash when it automatically performs daily guide update.”

Here are the download links for:

- All supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

- All supported x64-based versions of Windows 7

- Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista, 32-bit versions

- Cumulative Update for Media Center for Windows Vista, 64-bit versions