What software required for a HTPC?

Furton

Furton

Furton

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I'll be using Vista HP 64bit on my HTPC when the parts arrive, however I thought it would be a good idea to start downloading the necessary software now.

I think I'm going to go with Media Portal instead of Vista MCE as I have a lot of ripped TV series & films (legal off my DVD's) and I can't see a good way to orgonise them in Vista MCE.

It will be used for playing music, playing HD-DVD & Blue-Ray films, playing .avi files and recording/watching TV.

I usually just install DivX and AC97 codec, will I be okay with them two or need any others?
 
Yeah go Media Portal..

Remember Codecs: FDDShow (+configure it), Realtime alternative, Quicktime Alternative, AC3 Filter.

Will play anything you throw at it then.
 
As much as I like MP it never seems to work right for me and just seems buggy. Vista HP MC just works.

If you are looking for an amazing addon for vista, try My Movies Collection Management. Never in my life have I been so impressed.
 
what do you mean, don't know how to organise videos?

My Videos\'Show name'\Series#\episode# & name.avi
 
skanky said:
is that limited to avi's or does it take mkv/ts into account?
Click to expand...

I think he means organise it yourself. I do and it works a treat. I ripped my Superman TAS dvd's and have it organised into Videos/Superman TAS/Season1/episodes, then the same for season 2 and so on.
 
*slaps self for a badly worded question* let me try again:

i assume media portal has a frontend of some kind, is its interface able to open/play/thumbnail mkv/ts files or is it mainly list based?
 
Just got an HTPC myself.

I firstly tried Media Portal on XP, and while it does play everything I throw at it (with the right codecs installed of course) it seems quite buggy.

Tried Vista (:eek:) Media Centre last night - It looks swish, but doesn't pick up and of my .mkvs :confused:
 
Last edited:
Dingleberry88 said:
Just got an HTPC myself.

I firstly tried Media Portal on XP, and while it does play everything I throw at it (with the right codecs installed of course) it seems quite buggy.

Tried Vista (:eek:) Media Centre last night - It looks swish, but doesn't pick up and of my .mkvs :confused:
Click to expand...

Dunno if there is a codec out there for that, I just tend to use vlc player for .mkv's
 
skanky said:
*slaps self for a badly worded question* let me try again:

i assume media portal has a frontend of some kind, is its interface able to open/play/thumbnail mkv/ts files or is it mainly list based?
Click to expand...

Yeah its a full HTPC application. With Server and Client (but able to install them on the same machine too)

Play pretty much anything you can throw at it.
 
does mymovies work in 64bit vista now?

edit - it seems that it does! right i'm installing that tonight! :)
 
dingleberry

install vista codec package, and vista codec package 64 bit components

ALL will play in 64media centre then
 
bledd. said:
what do you mean, don't know how to organise videos?

My Videos\'Show name'\Series#\episode# & name.avi
Click to expand...

That's how my tv series are orgonised i.e.

TV Series\My Name is Earl\Season 1\1-Pilot.avi

My movies are sorted as

\Movies\Movie Name\Movie name.avi

People have mentioned My Movies (http://www.mymovies.dk/) is this what your referring to?
 
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