New GB Install What windows should I use.....???

[psycik]

Looking at a new GB-PVR build, trying to figure out which windows to install.

Anyone got any advantages/disadvantages of Windows XP, Windows MCE, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista.

I kind of like the idea of windows 2003 Server as i can get Terminal Services on there to do things in the background (where now I connect via VNC).

[David]

Win XP will do power saving and provide support for dvr-ms recordings without having to install codecs. Win2k3 will have fewer unneeded services running and will be easier to manage network access to your recordings. Win2k3 allows for remote desktop, but so will XP Pro, though not as featured (Win XP only allows one logon at a time). I found that VNC does better when scanning digital channels than remote desktop access, but normally I choose remote desktop for most remote access and configuration. I haven't used MCE and I will probably give Vista a look soon, but not necessarily for my PVR box.

[bgowland]

My personal preference (if I was doing a new build) would be to stick to XP. It's been running my GB-PVR setup now for over two years with little or no issues.

I can see your point WRT W2K3 server and RDC instead of VNC but I personally would think W2K Server is a little heavy duty unless you want much more than the ability to have background RDP sessions. By the time you'd disabled all the unnecessary W2K services etc., you wouldn't have very much more functionality than XP anyway.

I thought there were 3rd part RDP-based products that would run on XP and allowed background or multiple sessions. If that's the case then XP and one of those products would do what you needed.

Cheers,
Brian

PS I wouldn't touch MCE with a barge-pole and I haven't yet got my hands on a release version of Vista so can't comment on that.

[psycik]

Why wouldn't you touch MCE?

I'm making a virtual image of it, but that's more for looking at the Music Library interface (I may get some ideas for my MusicLibrary2).

[bgowland]

MCE is just XP with Microsoft's own ideas of what people want in a 'media centre'. As usual, Microsoft are telling people what they want by giving them their own interpretation of how they think people should be doing things.

If I was given a machine with MCE on it, I'd disable all the MCE features and just use GB-PVR and the other 3rd party AV media software I do now. It'd be no different to using XP.

Cheers,
Brian

[psycik]

Oh, no I was never going near the MCE part of it, but just wondering if it had any multimedia advantages, codecs etc - not really an issue I suppose.

[psycik]

Besides i just had a toodle with MCE and found the interface nice to look at, but couldn't figure out the keyboard commands up down worked but couldn't figure out backwards....and the music library was harder to use than I remember....but I really like their search screen!!!

[Koenie]

psycik, I used win 2003 before. It works perfectly for GBPVR after tweaking the hardware acceleration settings. However it you are only after the ability to run a remote desktop using a second user in the background and not disturb the WAF who is watching something you can get XP to do so by replacing a dll with one from the last RC of XP and a simple registry hack. PM me if you want the file.

[dandus]

Win2k3 allows for remote desktop, but so will XP Pro, though not as featured (Win XP only allows one logon at a time).

This unofficial terminal server patch allows you to have >1 logon at a time.

http://sala.pri.ee/?page_id=11

[psycik]

I think that's the only advantage I can think of, maybe I will just stick with the xp prof. I found an installer for that patch. I have it loaded on my current xp system, but not sure that I've done it properly as it still seems to kick me off when i sign in via rdp.