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==== How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master ====
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==How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master==
[[Main_Page#Media Center Master Reference Guide|Back to Main Page - Contents]]
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[[How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master]]
 
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<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote style="border: solid thin grey;">
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''This guide is written with the intent of the "Folder Structure" to be created on the system hard drive (C:\).''
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</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>
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Media Center Master can be configured for automation in one of three ways to, download video files, and/or fetch meta-data:
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#TV Series Episodes and Movies,
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#TV Series Episodes, only, or
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#Movies, only.
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In either case Media Center Master will need a Separate Folder for TV Series, and/or one for Movies to move downloaded videos to and have a place to save fetched meta-data and images related to the videos.
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Example:
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:My Videos
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::Movies Archive
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::TV Series Archive
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<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote style="border: solid thin grey;">
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*''"My Videos", "TV Series Archive" and "Movies Archive" folders are for illustration purposes of a model "Folder Structure."''
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*''The "My Videos" folder is not necessary and used here only to house the other two folders.''
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*''Although the "Movies Archive" folder is shown in these examples, it will not be used anywhere else in these guides.''
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*''These guides will only use the "TV Series Archive" folder in dealing with TV Series Episode downloading, processing, and parsing.''
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</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>
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Any existing, prior, TV Series Collection, not parsed by Media Center Master will need to follow the folder and file structure, listed below, in order to fetch meta-data.
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The additional information listed below is for a ''basic understanding'' of how Media Center Master works with this folder structure, and for easing through the transition of; the installation and initial set-up, to the actual use of Media Center Master.
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After installation and set-up, a user will add a TV Series manually through Media Center Master.  The user defined TV Series Named Folder (Covert Affairs is used in the example, below) will be created.  At the same time Media Center Master will acquire other files; backdrop.jpg<sup>(1)</sup>, banner.jpg<sup>(2)</sup>, folder.jpg<sup>(3)</sup>, and series.xml<sup>(4)</sup>, associated with the TV Series from an online meta-data source and add them to this folder, if available.
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Example:
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:My Videos
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::Movies Archive
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::TV Series Archive
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:::''' ''Covert Affairs'' '''
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::::''' ''backdrop.jpg'' '''
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::::''' ''banner.jpg'' '''
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::::''' ''folder.jpg'' '''
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::::''' ''series.xml'' '''
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Through the integration feature Media Center Master will notice a completed download file.  Media Center Master will run the file through a cleaning process to remove tags, stop-words (e.g. - the, and, a), replace punctuation with spaces... to obtain a usable TV Series Name, possible beginning year date, season and episode numbers.  Upon finding a site with a match, an episode title is added to the new file name.  A completed torrent file name looking like:
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*Covert Affairs S02E01 720p HDTV x264-IMMERSE.avi
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::will be renamed to (dependent upon user settings):
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*Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi (2x01 format is also available)
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::and be ready for moving into the TV Series Archive.
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A numbered “Season” Folder will be added to the TV Series folder when a new TV Series Episode (Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi is use in the example, below) is being moved from uTorret's "Completed Downloads" folder into the TV Series Archive Folder.  A folder.jpg file will be included if found for the season.  If there is no TV Series Episodes for particular season, no “Season” Folder will be created. 
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Example:
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:My Videos
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::Movies Archive
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::TV Series Archive
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:::Covert Affairs
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::::''' ''Season 2'' '''
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:::::''' ''Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi'' '''
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:::::''' ''folder.jpg'' '''
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::::backdrop.jpg
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::::banner.jpg
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::::folder.jpg
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::::series.xml
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The processing/parsing will continue and fetch meta-data relating to the episode and an image thumbnail from the video file, if available.  These files will be stored in a ''hidden folder named: "metadata."'' 
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Example:
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:My Videos
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::Movies Archive
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::TV Series Archive
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:::Covert Affairs
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::::''' ''metadata'' '''
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:::::''' ''4105011.jpg'' '''
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:::::''' ''Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.xml'' '''
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::::Season 2
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:::::Covert Affairs-S02E01-Begin the Begin.avi
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:::::folder.jpg
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::::backdrop.jpg
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::::banner.jpg
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::::folder.jpg
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::::series.xml
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''backdrop.jpg<sup>(1)</sup> - fanart, snapshot taken from a video, or commercial image taken of main charactor/s - file is used as a full screen background layer image.''<br>
 
''banner.jpg<sup>(2)</sup> - wide, narrow image relating to the Series, depicting main charactor/s - file is used several different ways to represent the Series in a layout, usually on top of a backdrop image.''<br>
 
''folder.jpg<sup>(3)</sup> - poster, or DVD cover relating to the Series, depicting main charactor/s - file is used several different ways to represent the Series in a layout, usually on top of a backdrop image.''<br>
 
''series.xml<sup>(4)</sup> - meta-data file containing all text relating to the Series, such as, but not just limited to: actors names, content rating, first aired date, genre, overview, run time... - file is used for: automation processing for Media Center Master, processing for Media Center programs and products, and displaying information about the Series on screen, usually on top of a backdrop, in the forms of list and icons.''<br>
 
  
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==How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for uTorrent==
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[[How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for uTorrent]]
  
[[Main_Page#How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master|Back to top]]
 
  
==== How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for uTorrent ====
 
 
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==== How to Install uTorrent ====
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==How to Install uTorrent==
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[[How to Install uTorrent]]
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==== How to Customize uTorrent for Media Center Master ====
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==How to Customize uTorrent for Media Center Master==
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[[How to Customize uTorrent for Media Center Master]]
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==== How to Check Your System for the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 Update ====
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==How to Check Your System for the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 Update==
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[[How to Check Your System for the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 Update]]
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[[Main_Page#Media Center Master Reference Guide|Back to Main Page - Contents]]
  

Revision as of 14:50, 6 August 2011

Back to Main Page - Contents


The intended purpose of this section is for it to be used as a complete manual for a first time installation of Media Center Master. Starting with the "Installation Notes" and finishing with a successful first run.

  • Screen shot examples are taken from a Windows XP Operating System.
  • Where major differences between operating systems occur; examples from a Windows 7 Operating System are included.


How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master

How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for Media Center Master


How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for uTorrent

How to Set-Up a Folder Structure for uTorrent


Back to Main Page - Contents


This guide is written with the intent of the "Folder Structure" to be created on the system hard drive (C:\).

The Folder Structure for uTorrent is where the .torrent files, and the actual TV Series Episode files to be downloaded will be processed. There are three (3) folders required with the use of these guides for customizing the uTorrent program.

Example:

My Downloads
uTorrent
Completed Downloads
New Downloads
torrent files

The additional information listed below is for a basic understanding of how uTorrent works with this folder structure, and for easing through the transition of; the installation and initial set-up, to the actual use of Media Center Master with uTorrent.

The “uTorrent” folder is created to group the three (3) required folders together. The “torrent files” Folder is for a .torrent file used for downloading a TV Series episode. Putting it simple, it is a control file uTorrent needs to gather all the pieces of a file to reassemble it back together. After the .torrent file has been read, it will be deleted. The “New Downloads” folder is where uTorrent will store New TV Series Episode files while they are being downloaded. After a download is complete, uTorrent will move the completed download to the “Completed Downloads” folder. It is at this location where Media Center Master will pick it up and process the completed TV Series Episode for archiving.

The folders created here are just temporary storage areas. They are used just for the processing of downloads. After processing is complete there is no data left in these folders. They should be empty when there is no download activity.


Back to top

How to Install uTorrent

How to Install uTorrent


Back to Main Page - Contents


***** Disclaimer -- read this before using Torrent Downloader *****

For users who have a current instance of uTorrent installed, and intends to use the Preliminary Installation Guides with the existing uTorrent Program, there will not be any trouble shooting information for errors in these guides, should they occur. The instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master is for automation, it is therefore suggested that the user uninstall uTorrent, through the Control Panel, remembering to tick the optional check box to, also, remove the user settings during the uninstall process, then reinstall uTorrent using the Preliminary Installation Guides. If the option, in the example below, is missed during an uninstall, simply reinstall uTorrent, then uninstall it again. There is no need to reboot the system.

14.utorrent.remove.settings.png


This does not mean: "uTorrent can not also be used for manual downloads of TV Series/Movies and other items, at the same time with Media Center Master." It is a suggestion that the automation process should come as a priority over manual downloading. If a user intends to use this instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master along with manual downloads of TV Series/Movies, other items, the user should make additional changes after Media Center Master is installed, set-up, configured, and has completed a first run of Media Center Master with satisfactory results.

  • uTorrent v1.8 - v3.0.0 have been tested and working correctly with these guides.
  • Downloads for these versions may be found at either of these sites: uTorrent Site      Old Apps Site
  • New users not familiar with "BitTorrents," may wish to watch the short video, titled, "BitTorrent, Explained", found through the "See how it works" link, located just below the "Free Download for Windows" link, at the uTorrent Site.
  • uTorrent v2.2.1 is used for the examples in these guides.

These guides are written with the intent of uTorrent to be installed on the system hard drive (C:\) in the same computer Media Center Master is installed on.

  • The set-ups and installations of the different versions of uTorrent, as a whole, are much the same in each version.
  • All of the default ticks, options, can be used with Media Center Master.
  • There are however two possible exceptions, depending on which version is chosen for installation.
  • The user should make an informed choice regarding extra downloads of files/software to the system by accidentally missing the options (shown below), by systematically clicking on "Next."

During the uTorrent install watch for the following two (2) options:

1st Option - uTorrent’s Featured Spotlight Release Download, shown below. After choosing, click next.

1utorrent.spotlight.png


2nd Option - uTorrent’s Browser Bar Optional Installations, shown below. Make appropriate choices, then click Install.

2utorrent.browser.bar.png


Back to top

How to Customize uTorrent for Media Center Master

How to Customize uTorrent for Media Center Master


Back to Main Page - Contents


***** Disclaimer -- read this before using Torrent Downloader *****


For users who have a current instance of uTorrent installed, and intends to use the Preliminary Installation Guides with the existing uTorrent Program, there will not be any trouble shooting information for errors in these guides, should they occur. The instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master is for automation, it is therefore suggested that the user uninstall uTorrent, through the Control Panel, remembering to tick the optional check box to, also, remove the user settings during the uninstall process, then reinstall uTorrent using the Preliminary Installation Guides. If the option, in the example below, is missed during an uninstall, simply reinstall uTorrent, then uninstall it again. There is no need to reboot the system.

14.utorrent.remove.settings.png


This does not mean: "uTorrent can not also be used for manual downloads of TV Series/Movies and other items, at the same time with Media Center Master." It is a suggestion that the automation process should come as a priority over manual downloading. If a user intends to use this instance of uTorrent for Media Center Master along with manual downloads of TV Series/Movies, other items, the user should make additional changes after Media Center Master is installed, set-up, configured, and has completed a first run of Media Center Master with satisfactory results.

The customized settings shown will not provide any “tweaks” - change the download/upload speeds, caps, queuing, scheduling …

Open the preferences window thru the "Options" menu.

3utorrent.options.menu.png


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How to Specify Locations to the uTorrent Folder Structure

Back to Main Page - Contents


The “New Downloads” folder is where uTorrent will store New TV Series Episode files while they are being downloaded.

Step 1 - Click on “Directories” in the left menu,

  • Tick the check box for “Put new downloads in:,” then
  • Click the browse button “…”

5utorrent.new.downloads.a.png


Step 2 - Browse to your Dedicated Folder Structure you created for uTorrent.

  • Click on the “New Downloads Folder”, then
  • Click the “OK” Button.

6utorrent.new.downloads.b.png


After a new download is complete, uTorrent will move the completed download to the “Completed Downloads” folder. It is at this location where Media Center Master will pick it up and process the completed TV Series Episode for archiving.

Step 3 - Tick the check box for “Move completed downloads to:,” then

  • Click the browse button “…”

7utorrent.completed.downloads.a.png


Step 4 - Browse to your Dedicated Folder Structure you created for uTorrent.

  • Click on the “Completed Downloads Folder”, then
  • Click the “OK” Button.

8utorrent.completed.downloads.b.png


The “torrent files” Folder is for a .torrent file used for downloading a TV Series episode. It is a control file uTorrent needs to gather all the pieces of a file to reassemble it back together. This is the location Media Center Master will save fetched .torrent files to. After the .torrent file has been read, it will be deleted.

Step 5 - There are two (2) boxes to tick here,

  • “Automatically load .torrent from:,” and
  • “Delete loaded .torrents,” then
  • Click the browse button “…”

9utorrent.torrent.files.a.png


Step 6 - Browse to your Dedicated Folder Structure you created for uTorrent.

  • Click on the “torrent Files Folder”, then
  • Click the “OK” Button.

10utorrent.torrent.files.b.png


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How to Configure Settings for Transparent Effect

Back to Main Page - Contents


These settings, provide the transparent effect that allows uTorrent to seamlessly work with Media Center Master.


How to Disable Pop-up Windows

Back to Main Page - Contents


  • This is the first step of three part outlined process to configuring settings for the transparent effect.
  • By disabling these options, the torrent will start downloading automatically and no pop-up windows will appear requiring user acknowledgements.

Click on “UI Settings” in the left menu,

  • The default set-up settings for the section, “When Adding Torrents”
  • Should have two (2) check marks in the check boxes for:
  • "Activate the program window", and
  • "Show a window that displays the files inside the torrent"
  • Tick both check boxes to remove the check marks.
  • If there is a check mark in the check box for:
  • "Don't start the download automatically"
  • Tick the check box to remove it.
  • All three (3) check boxes should be empty.

4utorrent.ui.settings.png


Back to top

How to Disable Seeding of Completed Downloads

Back to Main Page - Contents


  • This is the second step of three part outlined process to configuring settings for the transparent effect.
  • A completed download can not be renamed and moved into the TV Series Archive by Media Center Master, if it is in use by uTorrent for seeding.

This step will only stop torrents from seeding after a download has completed, and will not affect the torrent download speed.

Click on “Queueing” in the left menu.

  • Change the “Minimum ratio (%) value to
  • "0" (do not enter quotes).
  • Tick the check box for “When uTorrent reaches the Seeding Goal”, then
  • Change the value to
  • "0" (do not enter quotes).

11utorrent.queueing.png


Back to top

How to Enable the Web User Interface of uTorrent

Back to Main Page - Contents


***** Disclaimer -- read this before using Torrent Downloader *****

  • The username will remain visible, if it is forgotten.
  • The password will be hidden at the time of typing it in, and will remain hidden.
  • Be sure to write the password down and save it in a safe location.
  • This password will be required to configure Media Center Master in another guide.

For uTorrent v1.8 - v2.2.1 users, continue with Step 1a.
For uTorrent v3.0.0 users, continue with Step 1b.


Step 1a - For uTorrent v1.8 - v2.2.1 users, click on “Web UI” in the left menu.

  • Tick the check box for “Enable Web UI,”
  • Enter a Username and
  • Password

12.utorrent.web.ui.png


Step 1b - For uTorrent v3.0.0 users, expand the "Advanced" listing in the list to the left,

  • Select "Web UI", then do the following:
  • Tick the check box for “Enable Web UI,”
  • Enter a Username and
  • Password

36.utorrent.3.0.0.webui.png


Step 2 - Applies to all uTorrent versions, click on “Advanced” in the left menu.

  • Scroll down to the bottom of the list on the right side and
  • Click on “webui.token_auth,”
  • Tick the radio button for “False,” then
  • Click the “OK” Button to complete the custom settings for uTorrent.

13.utorrent.advanced.png


Exit the uTorrent Program to save your settings.

Step 3 - Close out the uTorrent Application Window.

  • Click on red “X” at the top right of your screen,
  • Exit the uTorrent Program
  • Right click on the uTorrent Icon 51.utorrent.icon.png
  • Bottom right of your screen, then
  • Click on “exit” in the pop-up menu.


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How to Check Your System for the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 Update

How to Check Your System for the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 Update


Back to Main Page - Contents


Step 1 - The easiest way to find out if the Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 with SP1 update is required:

  • The download link is located at the bottom of their page.
  • Some key features of the ASoft .NET Version Detector are:
  • It is a lightweight tool.
  • Non-installing - no need to remove it through the control panel.
  • Just delete the file, if saved, for clean-up.
  • With a Zip Utility installed, it is not necessary to save the file.
  • Just open the file link, and double click the "dotnet.exe" file in the Zip Utility Application, when it pops up.


Step 2 - Look for the ".NET FW 3.5 SP1" in the list at the bottom of the detector application's "blue" window.

  • If the ".NET FW 3.5 SP1" is in the list, continue to the next guide, "How to Install Media Center Master.
  • If the ".NET FW 3.5 SP1" is not in the list, locate and click the green download button to the left of Microsoft .Net 3.5 Service Pack 1.
  • Follow the link and instructions to download and install the Microsoft .Net 3.5 Framework with Service Pack 1.

15.asoft.net.ver.detector.png


Step 3 - To verify it installed correctly:

  • Bookmark this page, so you may return to it after rebooting.
  • Reboot the system.
  • Return to this page.
  • Repeat Steps 1 and 2.


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