Save Media Center recording schedules
Don't miss a recording because of a re-configuration
One of the most frustrating things about Windows Media Centre (or Windows Media Center for those who like to spell things the other way) is that if you have to make any significant change to the tuners, channels or setup you lose your carefully crafted list of scheduled recordings
Well, it doesn't have to be that way any more [Now updated with Vista information]
Fire up the normal Windows interface and on Winxp have a look In C:\Documents And Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\eHome\Recording or in Vista check in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\Recording\ where you should find a file called Recordings.xml.
This file contains your recording history as well as all your series scheduled recordings.
Before you rescan for services, navigate to this folder and create a back up of this file.
When you have rescanned, changed the channel order and allocated guide listings to channels, delete the current Recordings.xml (you may need to stop the Media Center interface first) and replace it with the one you have backed up.
Provided you have put all your channels in the same order as before the rescan and not changed channel names, etc, all your scheduled recordings will be restored.
It can certainly help to maintain harmony in the home, especially between seasons when you might forget and fail to record the first episode of the new drama...
Vista users check the mceBackup utility for a simple backup/restore solution.