Windows XP Media Centre

DJMK4 · 17 Jul 2006 at 16:41

Im looking to build a HTPC and install XP Media Edition on there, i would also like to use this as a download box so i can remotely connect to the machine from work and download.

A few questions,

Do you switch between the normal Xp desktop and the media centre software? (I.E the menu that displays My Video's, my media etc)

Obviously i would need a network connection, so i need XP Media centre to be enabled for network browsing..

If i accessed the machine from the work computer by remote admin, what screen will i be faced with when i connect?

Can i run normal programmes on there E.G Bit torrent etc..

Slam62 · 17 Jul 2006 at 16:44

media center is efectively xp pro with an mce application thrown in, the app only runs if you tell it to and it can be full screen or windowed.

So you can do everything you can do on xp.

DJMK4 · 17 Jul 2006 at 19:07

ok so effectivly, on boot up, keeping in mind this will just be the box, connected to the tv, i would have to log into windows, then run the application? so in effect i would need a keyboard hooked upto it? and would have to log in, start the application everytime i needed to watch the tv?

There is no way of just turning on the pc and it loading into the media center

FrankJH · 17 Jul 2006 at 19:23

[Sniper][Wolf] said:
ok so effectivly, on boot up, keeping in mind this will just be the box, connected to the tv, i would have to log into windows, then run the application? so in effect i would need a keyboard hooked upto it? and would have to log in, start the application everytime i needed to watch the tv?

There is no way of just turning on the pc and it loading into the media center

No its a seperate front end which loads individually

Not sure if you could add the shortcut to the mce front end into StartUp folder?

Wireless keyboard and or mouse is easiest yes, but you could always control it thru a home network if necessary

Well if its not on a network you can auto log in to your desktop and if the shortcut tip above works then its certainly possible to get straight into the mce front end from switch on

Myabe someone with MCE installed can tell ya - I never have installed the front end as it was a cheap way to get XP Pro disk lol

Mujja · 17 Jul 2006 at 19:29

You can configure the Media Centre to load automatically at startup.
If it's not running just pressing the green MCE button on the remote will load it up. You can shut down Media Centre, the PC, or put it into Stanby using the remote.

About logging in automatically, I use TweakUI to auto log me into WinXP/MCE.