Should I move to Windows 10?

[spiinnaker]

I started using NextPVR because the free upgrade of Windows 10 that ends end of the month and when I upgrade WMC goes away. Yeah I know I can still install it but I like the idea of a supported product.

Frankly I am glad I am being forced over to NextPVR. I really like what I see. Yeah a couple of rough spots here and there but I am confident I will eventfully get a solution. But over all I am really liking NextPVR over WMC.


So my question. Should go go through with the Windows upgrade? Should I anticipate any issues with NextPVR? Maybe some codecs not getting installed?

[johnsonx42]

the #1 big issue is that you will lose the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder. For me that's the only decoder that's ever been reliable; every other one I've ever tried has caused me problems big or small. Other people do seem to find a way with some other decoder, or perhaps put up with whatever problems, but I'd consider loss of that decoder to be fatal. I'd upgrade if there were some way to keep that decoder, otherwise forget it.

[pcostanza]

Personally, I moved all my boxes but 1 laptop to W10 and haven't looked back. But saying that, there's no real reason to move unless you want the 'free' upgrade.
Things have worked just fine for me with NPVR as well as HDHomreRun, WinTV and others that I dabble with.

[lchiu7]

I held off for ages using Windows XP on GBPVR :-) That's because I was worried about how to blast IR signals to my cable box when that functionality is not available natively in NextPVR. However I bit the bullet, put 8.1 on the machine (a Brix UMPC) after adding 4G of SDRAM and then got the upgrade to 10. Had a few teething problems with NextPVR but it's working fine. I had to give up using my Hauppauge USB2 capture device and moved to a Hauppauge HD PVR box which captures via s-video (it can do component also). And got around the IR side because I had actually learnt the IR codes for the STB (Pronto Codes) for my home automation system (iRule) and iRule saves them in its database. Then using uuxt.exe and a USB-UIRT I can blast the IR codes to the STB and change channels when required. So it's been relatively easy, the hardest part being getting the IR codes to work. It works fine with a DVB-T tuner since NextPVR changes channel automatically as well as grabbing the EPG from the transmission.

[peejay]

It depends on what you use NPVR for.
I only use NPVR to record and never use it to watch TV or watch recorded shows so i don't have the decoder problems that others have.
I have used Win 10 since the day it was released. It is now a lot better than it was a year ago. I used to dual boot but have now deleted all my other operating systems so it is Win 10 or nothing.

Paul

[lchiu7]

Me too. I only have used GBPVR and now NextPVR for recording so have never faced codec issues. I record to a Share and then playback on a Popcorn hour which can handle pretty much all codecs (apart from H.265 which NextPVR doesn't use anyway), both audio and video.

[Graham]

the #1 big issue is that you will lose the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder. For me that's the only decoder that's ever been reliable; every other one I've ever tried has caused me problems big or small. Other people do seem to find a way with some other decoder, or perhaps put up with whatever problems, but I'd consider loss of that decoder to be fatal. I'd upgrade if there were some way to keep that decoder, otherwise forget it.

On the other hand ... I have used the C/link video decoders and the LAV audio decoders that are in "unlocked" SAF with NextPVR on XP and 7 and 10 and for UK SD & HD broadcasts since God was a boy. I have tried a gazillion other decoders and always come back to he C/link & LAV combo. But .. I only use broadcasts from OTA terrestrial TV and using a single source probably makes things easier.

[spiinnaker]

It depends on what you use NPVR for.
I only use NPVR to record and never use it to watch TV or watch recorded shows so i don't have the decoder problems that others have.
I have used Win 10 since the day it was released. It is now a lot better than it was a year ago. I used to dual boot but have now deleted all my other operating systems so it is Win 10 or nothing.

Paul

I just use for recording too with the exception I also watch some live TV. Morning news and also for some reason I got into the habit of watching MeTV on Saturday afternoons live.

I have switched to the Lav decoders and so far no issues.

[spiinnaker]

I think I might stick. I read the free upgrade policy and the free upgrade is only good for the life of that device. Security updates will keep coming to 2020. By that time I will probably have a new media center PC anyway. Plus I believe I get one or two free Windows downloads from work anyway.

I kind of don't want to fix something that ain't really broke. Plus if I stick I could always role back to WMC in case there are issues with NPVR.

Thoughts?

[scJohn]

You can do the free upgrade to Win 10, this will register your device on the Microsoft servers for Win 10. You can then take a disk image of your Win 10 system and store it. Then if you do not like Win 10 you can roll back, within 30 days, to your previous Win system. Or if you made a disk image prior to the update to Win 10, just restore that image. IF you decide to go back to Win 10, just restore your Win 10 system image.

The main reason to stay with Win 7 or 8.1 is if you have cable and you need the DRM that comes with WMC. At this time WMC is the only software that has DRM for cablecard that works on a Windows system. SilconDust is trying to get DRM working on Windows systems with their DVR software but after about 1 year of effort they have so far failed.

For Video/audio codec support, go with SAF, the unlocked version, that can be found in this forum.