Migrating Windows Media Center Scheduled Recordings

This is really tricky.  I've successfully done this twice though, and I didn't write it down the first time so I'm writing it down now.

I started with this as a guide: http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=119&sid=a81fc0052c8d1f074600a52dfe5dbe21&start=20

It's a starting point, complete with unresolved issues, wrong file paths and more!

What you really have to do is this:


Old system:

Save off this folder: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\

You need the files that are in mcepg2-0 or mcepg2-1, whichever that has the newest files in \backup\recordings.  mcepg2-0 had the newest for me, so that's what I'll refer to from this point on.

New system:

Setup Windows Media Center from scratch including live TV, but don't worry about the details too much.

Then, after setup is complete, copy these two directories from the saved-off old system to the new computer (same location):

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg2-0\backup\recordings
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg2-0\backup\subscriptions

Personally, I recommend renaming the existing folders so they aren't blown away, just in case something blows up and you need to revert to your freshly setup setup.

Then, at a command prompt run:
C:\Windows\eHome\loadmxf.exe -i C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg2-0\backup\recordings\FileName

!!Where FileName is the name of the newest file in \backup\recordings and \backup\subscriptions!!!

That crucial piece of information is omitted from the green button forum post.

So do that for both recordings and subscriptions, reload your program data and you should be in business!  Don't reload the listings, or you'll get double the channels and it'll be all messed up.