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HTPC startup time question...

redtom · 2009-10-17 12:54:55

Howyiz, lookin at the whole HTPC area now v. getting a Popcornhour (whenever its stable) or a WD HD Live media player... What I'd like is to hit a power button and get straight into the content, rather than have to start up and wait for Windows to get to its desktop, and then have to open whatever software I need before I…

17-10-2009 12:54pm

#1

redtom

Closed Accounts Posts: 261 ✭✭

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Posts: 208

Howyiz,
lookin at the whole HTPC area now v. getting a Popcornhour (whenever its stable) or a WD HD Live media player...

What I'd like is to hit a power button and get straight into the content, rather than have to start up and wait for Windows to get to its desktop, and then have to open whatever software I need before I can watch anything. Can Windows Media Centre load first or does it also always need Windows to start up as well?

Ta for any comments...

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Comments

#2 17-10-2009 4:42pm

kaisersose77

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On a pc you just have to set the pc to go to sleep when you press the power button on the remote instead of shutting down. So then when you wake it up it would go straight back to your program. As good as popcorn hour's etc are for playing different files, their interfaces are slow and look crap in most cases. If your not interested in the tv tuner side of things get an nvidia atom pc like the asrock 330 or acer revo and then put xbmc linux on them.

I'm using this skin/interface atm, not finished yet but looks brilliant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJlzCe-pBFs

Popcorn hour and wdtv arent powerful enough for stuff like that

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#3 18-10-2009 12:32pm

redtom

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Thanks for that suggestion - I've had a look at XBMC, very impressed. The only thing is, I turn everything off when I'm done watching, that includes pulling out plug at the wall, so I'd always have to start-up the pc - what's the quickest booting OS out there...

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#4 20-10-2009 5:32pm

kaisersose77

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check out the xbmc forums, theres xbmc live, which should be quick enough but dont know how quick. I have ubuntu installed and the pc booting straight into xbmc so it doesnt even load the ubuntu desktop and its fairly quick. Search xbmc on youtube and you'll probably find some videos of people booting xbmc.

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#5 04-11-2009 12:28pm

MAJJ

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Hi Redtom,

You might consider an SSD for fast startup times.

See post 18 of the thread - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055272822&page=2

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#6 12-11-2009 7:26pm

AlmightyCushion

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There is a tool called v-lite that lets you mess about with a windows installation dvd. It will let you add things to it or even take out windows components from the install dvd so they don't get installed. If you found a good guide you could probably get an install dvd down to a very slim build which will start up very quickly.

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