windows xp media center 2005??????

[budz]

since reading that support will end for windows 2000 next year. i'd like to know what is windows xp media center 2005? is it a fully functional like xp pro? i know sooner or later i will have to upgrade to xp but i'm resistant to it because i hate change and have xp pro at work which i hate cuz it's slow. but then again it could be slow cuz there is only 256 mb of ram on the cheap ass IBM pc's.

is windows xp media center 2005 better than XP PRO? i'd appreciate any comments. thanks in advance.

[rallynavvie]

I already posted my experiences with XP MCE 2005 a while back. I'm running it on my old workstation as a file server and HTPC. Other than the TV tuner card not working with the system the OS runs fine. It is basically XP Pro with the Media Center app and extensions built into the OS. The only thing I'm not sure of is how display adapter drivers are different between the XP and MCE versions. There may not be support for workstation cards like Quadros and Fires but if you're looking at mainstream you should be fine. I do get some BSODs from within the Media Center app when trying to playback XviD videos though. However if you aren't planning on doubling your PC as an HTPC then you don't even need to use the MCE app. Nice thing is someday down the line you could retire it to being an HTPC if you wanted.

[ViRaL1]

Is there a separate HCL for MCE2005?

[rallynavvie]

Hardware compatability list? Sort of. I know the NVTV tuner I bought doesn't work in anything other than MCE 2005 so far. There is some hardware made specifically for MCE, however since it's based on the XP Pro core I'd guess it should handle all the other XP-compatable hardware. There were some saying that driver support is more specialized for MCE, but I think they were referring to video card compatability with the actual Media Center application.

[ViRaL1]

I guess I'll find out soon. My copy of MCE2005 just came yesterday. Can't wait, but I still have 2 new PCs to finish building first.

[DragonSlayer]

Here is the link to Designed for MCE 2005 Logo list:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/partners/dfw/partnerlisting.mspx

[ViRaL1]

I tried my first install last night and came across some issues. For anyone who's alreasy installed it, were you able to add to a domain after the OS was fully installed, or is setup your only opportunity? My NIC isn't supported out of the box so I couldn't setup my network until after the install was complete and MCE wouldn't let me join a domain after that.

[rallynavvie]

Domain or workgroup? Domain you have to set up on installation or open up the network properties and run the network setup wizard to enable it.

[ViRaL1]

I hadn't run the network setup wizard. I ended up reinstalling with a supported NIC and joined a domain. Once it was all setup, I could choose to go back to a Workgroup but it wouldn't let me choose another domain. Are YOU able to choose another domain?

[rallynavvie]

Joining a domain would mess up my network so I haven't tried it. Why are you setting up a domain? You have DNS pointing at your LAN or VPN? Just curious..

[ViRaL1]

DNS is pointing at both of my DCs (both running DNS). When I was running 2000, I was only able to join the domain after I pointed DNS to the DCs (at least one), so I did that up front. Not asking you to change anything, but does it even give you the option? I'm actually a member of the domain at the moment and I don't have the option of changing the domain, only joining a workgroup. The first time I set it up and didn't have a supported NIC, it asked if I wanted to join a domain, since it detected my '1394 network adapters' (which I couldn't do). Once the OS was completely installed workgroup was the only option I could select.

Also, I appreciate the link up there for the Designed for MCE hardware. It seems a bit sparse. Has anyone come across a broader list?

[rallynavvie]

The option is greyed out in the "Computer Name" tab in the system properties dialog so you can't change it there. Check the forums over at www.thegreenbutton.com for more answers.

As for the HCL that list is meant for hardware that works in conjunction with the Media Center app. In fact the NVTV card ONLY works on MCE. Everything else that works with XP Pro should work with MCE. What are looking at specifically?

[ViRaL1]

Well, I know I'm going to have to upgrade my old RADEON 9000 PRO and probably my TV Wonder. Not a huge deal, my PC could use some upgrading anyway, but I was hoping not to be so limited as far as those components are concerned.

EDIT: Thanks for the link, that should keep me busy for a bit.

[ninja_pimp]

i have mce 2005. but i find it won't play any video formats, like divx or mpeg.
is there a way to make the xp media center to play any video format. the idea is to turn my pc into a HTPC. i used to have xp pro and basically installed a codecs pack, installed power dvd and viola, it would play any video format. however if i do that, by the way i already installed the codecs pack, getting xp media center to play any video file is daunting as ti won't recognize it, it does not like divx or mpeg. its a same to have to scrap xp media center for power dvd because you loose the menu system that xp media center provides.
this si my main goal, to use the xp media center's functionality of video to play video.