Oi – where’s my dvd library Dude?


I installed a Dell Studio Hybrid (you can walk in and pick them up in PC World or off Dells web site) as as replacement for a Shuttle based TV media centre (the Shuttle has been moved to home automation duties – so more about that later). The form factor is perfect for something that sits under your TV and it has even been accepted as “tidy” by her indoors 🙂

However when I fired up Media Centre (ready with a Maplins supplied Vista remote control (nice) ) – I noticed that the DVD Library which was there in XP MCE was missing. Whats going on ?

Checking with Microsoft explained

In Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, DVD content that is stored on the hard disk appears in the My Videos folder. Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer displays DVD content in a DVD gallery. However, the DVD Gallery is not automatically enabled in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer.

Okay – so how do you get it back

Run regedit

Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionMedia CenterSettingsDvdSettings

In the results pane, right-click ShowGallery, and then click Modify.

Delete the contents that appear in the Value data box (probably “Play”), type Gallery in the Value data box, and then click OK.

Exit Registry Editor.

Start Media Center – and there is your Gallery back and ready for filling.