Is XP viable for HTPC ?

threedee

threedee

threedee

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Not sure if this should be in Small Form Factor, or HTPC or ... ??? So posting in software...

I'm getting Zotac ZBox AD04 and probably an SSD to go with it.
My question is: is Windows XP viable in case i run XBMC on top, plus some windowsey players like mplayerc...

Anyone run XP on this or similar box ? (AD02, Revo RL70 ?)...

I'm considering it purely on grounds of Win7's (relatively) huuuuge footprint...

(No, no linux for me :D )
 
I have more XP licenses than i could ever use, no need buying.
As for footprint, SSDs are still too expensive to let 20gb of pretty much unused stuff sit about doing nothing. XP is, what, 1gb ?

What i want to know if its viable and supported as far as HTPC functionality goes. Also, i'm talking about x64... Will it run XBMC ? Will it run SSD in AHCI mode ? Etc, questions like these...
 
threedee said:
Read my original post, mate :D (i totally expected this to happen)
Click to expand...

What's the problem with Linux anyway? Seriously, it's simple to use. It's not like you have to use convoluted terminal commands.

IMHO I'd take a Linux build over Windows XP, it's a 10 year old OS for goodness sake! It's the equivalent of running Windows 98 in 2008.
 
Well, major issue is familiarity. I've been using (assembling/selling/fixing) wintel machines since 286 were in vogue, so familliar with ins and outs of the systems hardware AND software. Linux i've only came across when it was all CLI, and later, much later in a form of my 3 android devices... So, no, i'm planning on using windows because i'm a lazy ******* and dont care relearning to ride my bicycle... :D And because i will be occasionally using software that is not available on penguin...

IF xp is not viable, i'll just have to use W7 instead, by wasting gobs of space. This is preferable to relearning other OS and finding software for it...

Also, some functions wont be available on E450 because its not windows (usb3 for instance only works in win 7/xp, no drivers for other platforms.). Some writeups indicate hardware encoding/decoding, problems with HDCP...blah blah...

#Edit# i WILL be trying linux as a secondary os just for ***** and giggles, to see if i can handle it, but mostly out of academic curiosity, than usefulness...
 
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If you are going to be using an SSD I wouldn't use XP because it doesn't support TRIM and will become sluggish. (requiring you to take it out and connect it to a Win7 PC to run it on)
You can get Win7 install down to around 10GB by turning off the page file and hibernation mode.

Linux is good to have knowledge of, it does support TRIM and is a small install. and for a HTPC is relatively simple to use normally because most htpc software make linux built installers openELEC etc.

Personally I would say goodbye to XP. let it RIP.
 
scrlk said:
What's the problem with Linux anyway? Seriously, it's simple to use. It's not like you have to use convoluted terminal commands.

IMHO I'd take a Linux build over Windows XP, it's a 10 year old OS for goodness sake! It's the equivalent of running Windows 98 in 2008.
Click to expand...

Best laugh I've had all day :D
 
I used to use XP on my HTPC but a couple of the things that encouraged me to upgrade to Win7 were:

Better network support with other Win7 PCs (sometimes they couldn't see the XP machines without a reboot)
Screen tearing in flash video (eg iPlayer) - not a problem in Win7 as they can use Vsync built into the Aero interface
 
scrlk said:
:p

You know, Linux has a GUI now. :D
Click to expand...

You know, words "linux" and "simple" should never be used in the same sentence. Otherwise divide by zero will occur, black hole in the core of the earth will form and we'll all die...... :D

Windows is GUI for dos, btw... :D
 
Presumably you're not storing any media on the SSD so why does it matter if W7 takes 20GB? XP is very dated and will need a lot of work to get it up and running and support is poor compared to W7 for media playback and acceleration features.
 
threedee said:
You know, words "linux" and "simple" should never be used in the same sentence. Otherwise divide by zero will occur, black hole in the core of the earth will form and we'll all die...... :D

Windows is GUI for dos, btw... :D
Click to expand...

Oh the fail is strong in this post. 0/10 for trolling, see me after class. ;) :D
 
AbsenceJam said:
Presumably you're not storing any media on the SSD so why does it matter if W7 takes 20GB? XP is very dated and will need a lot of work to get it up and running and support is poor compared to W7 for media playback and acceleration features.
Click to expand...

All valid points, and note is taken of. However, i will use software on it besides windows and media player.
Mame will be used, some small games as well. So big footprint will become an issue. I already run a 120gb ssd and i need constantly move things around to whirry drives to keep some free space.

scrlk said:
Oh the fail is strong in this post. 0/10 for trolling, see me after class. ;) :D
Click to expand...

How so ? I didn't know that internet started calling a little jest a "fail".
I will be trying penguin of some sort at some point, but so far i cant see it being used as viable desktop OS replacement for an old wintel user...
 
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threedee said:
All valid points, and note is taken of. However, i will use software on it besides windows and media player.
Mame will be used, some small games as well. So big footprint will become an issue. I already run a 120gb ssd and i need constantly move things around to whirry drives to keep some free space.



How so ? I didn't know that internet started calling a little jest a "fail".
I will be trying penguin of some sort at some point, but so far i cant see it being used as viable desktop OS replacement for an old wintel user...
Click to expand...

Oh, it's only a little bit of banter. Windows might have started off as a GUI for DOS but this died a the end of the 9x era.
 
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