This is just a looooong list of things i have figured out, helped others with and gathered thru intense reading :)
This is a "version" 2 of a previous post.
Check out the old post for some of the questions :)
Video, Decoding, audio, spdif:
1)
Divx/Xvid (and about everything else) thumbnails and playing:
http://ffdshow-tryout.sourceforge.net/
This is the only codec you need for ALL media except h.264 and mpeg2 hardware.
During installation don't touch much. During setup it will ask you about mixer settings (speakers). Tell it to leave mixer off for SPDIF(toslink/coax) or select your speaker configuration from the list (do not select mixer if you use SPDIF passthru).
SP-DIF setup:
The final screen - tell it to open Audio configuration.
Select the [Codecs] (to the left - one of the first) - at the items AC3 and DTS - change it to SPDIF for both if you wish to have divx, xvid, mkv, mpg4 etc. to stream HD-Audio it to your receiver thru SPDIF. This is only possible if you have selected your SP-dif interface as your preferred in Vista (in some hardware configurations you need to disable Speakers!)
For HD/SD Digital Audio be sure to:
Start, Control Panel, Sound, Right Click SPIDIF Interface, Properties, Advanced(tab), and then.....
UNCHECK "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device"
This will allow you to Record HD and Watch another channel without audio stuttering
Don't install any codec packs, Gordian, kmedia, ultimate etc....Don't!
Don't install Nero Burning Rom - it's f*** about everything up (march 2007) - including ordinary thumbnails etc.
2)
MKV AND TS With matroska
h.264 codec incl. thumbnails in vista and integration with VMC:
Download Haali Media splitter : http://haali.cs.msu.ru/mkv/MatroskaSplitter.exe
Just leave the defaults on in the installation screen - make sure "explorer integration" is selected - this enables thumbnails.
For TS and PS MPEG files - add the selections in the install dialog
Enabling ts and mkv files in VMC and Mediaplayer do the following:
Open notepad and paste the following in:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mkv]
@="MatroskaVideo"
"PerceivedType"="video"
"Content Type"="video/x-matroska"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ts]
@="MatroskaVideo"
"PerceivedType"="video"
"Content Type"="video/x-matroska"
Save the file as : matroska.reg to the desktop afterwards doubleclick it and say YES to add it to the registry.
You can now see and play TS and MKV files in VMC
MKV AND TS With Matroska and CoreAVC (the best!! but not free)
Use together with ffdshow (with h.264 disabled in Video configuration)
The same as above but add the following instead:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mkv]
@="CoreMedia.MKV"
"PerceivedType"="video"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ts]
@="MatroskaVideo"
"PerceivedType"="video"
"Content Type"="video/x-matroska"
Save the file as : matroskaCore.reg to the desktop afterwards doubleclick it and say YES to add it to the registry.
You can now see and play TS and MKV files in VMC
3)
MPEG2 codec
Use PowerDVD 7.2 og 7.0 - this is the best.
Open PowerDVD and go in to setup/config (the tools button) - select hardware optimized. (it'll work for some and not for others)
Close powerdvd.
Setup MediaCenter with correct mpeg2 codecs with this tool:
http://www.whittakermoore.com/VMCD.exe
Select PowerDVD7 for Video and Microsoft DD for Audio.
If your MPEG2 playback begins to behave strange/stutter etc. It sometimes helps to:
Open VMCD.exe select MS MPEG video and Audio for MediaCenter - close the application.
Open MediaCenter - select LiveTV - Close MediaCenter again.
Open VMCD.exe and select PowerDVD7 as the Video decoder again and MS DD audio.
For ATI users with Catalyst Control Center - Make sure that AVIVO settings is set to BOB (not auto/Weave etc.)
MEDIA in VISTA:
1) Adding videos to VistaMC
Place shortcuts to your content folders (mkv, avi, divx, xvid) - the shortcuts should be placed in Shared Folders -> Videos. You can name the ShortCuts anything you want.
Divx files shouldn't be named MYMOVIE.DIVX - but MYMOVIE.AVI
2) If you have a lot of "Self created" folder.jpg's for you music - make sure they are marked as hidden before adding music/pictures to your WMP library.
3) Stuck with Folders that keep appearing:
Open your Media Player - navigate to Library - select Folders (little triangle pointing down) and remove those that annoy you.
Before deleting - make sure only to delete from library not from the filesystem (Functions -> Settings -> Library -> Do not delete from filesystem when deleting).
4) Adding DVD's
Enable DVD library with this key:
HKEY_Current_user->Software->Microsoft->Windows>CurrentVersion->MediaCenter->Settings->DVDSettings->ShowGallery
Set it to Gallery (with capital G) instead of Play
Remember - one folder with folders within for each movie. Within a movie folder the folders VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS is placed.
Or make a .reg file as mentioned above with this:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings]
"ShowGallery"="Gallery"
Add DVD's like you add music - from within WMP.
Do not blindly add folders. Make a good hierarchy with a folder structure like:
d:\DVDs\Mymovie\Video_TS
d:\DVDs\MyMovie2\Video_ts
The DVD files within the Video_ts folder should match the content of the original DVD (video_ts.bup, video_ts.vob, video_ts.ifo etc.)
If you RIP and SHRINK DVDs then make sure to rip all files not just streams.
5)
Adding media to Media Center:
Don't just add everything, folders, music etc.
Use the correct tools.
Use Media Player's library function to tell where to look for music, pictures and DVD's
6)
DVD library "more info" function.
DVD's can be looked up in a central Database if the Correct ID is placed
For correct ID's - look them up on www.dvdxml.com and save the XML file like this:
the_faculty.dvdid.xml placed within the movie folder - not in the VIDEO_TS folder.
LIVE TV Quality Trouble:
1)
Change BitRate:
First of all check the key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Video\Tuners\DVR] and find the KEY DefAvgBitRate
Change it to somewhere between: 20000000 and 90000000
Select DECIMAL VALUE when changing.
REMOTE DESKTOP (multi users and blank password)
1)
(THANK YOU SCUFFS!!!!)
Download this: http://mjwii.com/prog/termsrv.zip
Unzip to c:\termserv go into this folder and make a shortcut to termhack.bat (right click drag to a place and select create shortcut here)
Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties - in the "Destination" add the following:
C:\termserv\termhack.bat MULTI BLANK
Only set BLANK if on a local-private network. BLANK enables passwordless connections.
If you use a non english version of Vista:
You need to know what the Administrators group is called in your language. Edit the termhack.bat file and go to the line that says:
icacls %SystemRoot%\System32\termsrv.dll /Grant Administrators:F
And change [Administrators] to your language.
NOW:
Right-click and select "run as administrator" on the shortcut
Now create users on your VMC and connect with these - Do not connect with the one you use as the default for TV/Video in your livingroom.
Various:
1)
For editing and backup of ones channels and order they come
The file:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\ehome\EPG\prefs\prefs.xml
Open it with notepad.
This file holds everything about your channel, frequency, name, Virtual name etc.
It's a good thing to back this up - if you ever reinstall Vista
2)
Recording configuration is stored here:
C:\ProgramData\MicroSoft\ehome\Recording\Recordings.xml
There is a backup there - but it's nice to copy it to another place :)
3)
Some of the following items require you to enable visibility of hidden folders and OS folders
This is done thru Control Panel -> Folder settings
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If any of the above things doesn't work for you - you probably misspelled something - or you went ahead and started installing things - without cleansing your Vista.
Vista x64 is unknown and explored - try some of the stuff.
Vista 32bit all of the above works.
Remove every program you have installed, that has to do with:
Codecpacks
Nero burning.
Several MPEG2 codecs you have tried.
Make sure your Media Center works before you start - i.e. Media Center, TV, tuning etc. must work with standard Vista Codecs before you start out.
Get ALL updates from Microsoft!
I hope it helps some of you guys/girls :)
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Vista PC: Quadcore, 8GB RAM, Geforce8800ultra, WD Raptor raid0 array, VistaOS-64.
Vista MC: DualCore, 2GB RAM, ATIx1650pro, Seagate 400GBES, VistaOS-32
Vista Laptop: HP6715B, DualCore T60, 160GB, 2GB RAM, VistaOS-64