My HTPC Build Notes

First of all, if you are thinking of building your system with two display devices attached (eg monitor and TV) then stop it! You are going to have all sorts of trouble when you get around to testing whether your digital TV reception is working correctly. If you must have two display devices connected then please get everything up and running on one before adding the second VDU.

At various times throughout these notes restarts are required and the software might not even warn you that it is required. If you come accross something that isn't working, then try a restart, and if it still doesn't work, try another restart.

Bold items are the essential components of my HTPC system.

  1. Upgrade Motherboard BIOS to support HDD sizes above 131070MB

    General

  2. Partition 160GB drive with a 22GB partition for OS Install
  3. Install Windows XP
    Note: XP pre SP1 will not see HDD sizes larger than 131070MB even if your motherboard BIOS supports it. To resolve this issue install the latest Service Pack
    Tip: if things are difficult to read on your TV:
    • Use the Magnifyer (magnify.exe) accessory
    • Set the windows font size to Extra Large
    • Set the windows DPI to Large size 120
  4. Enable the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)
  5. Install network card drivers and configure the network
  6. Apply the latest XP Service Pack and security hotfixes
  7. Install latest system drivers for:
    1. Network
    2. Sound
    3. Video
      1. Set resolution to 1024x768
      2. Enable zoom feature of video driver if available so you can dispense with Magnifyer
      3. Configure other video driver settings to make it look as nice as possible (for the time being)
    4. Other onboard devices
  8. Set Visual Effects to Adjust for Best Performance
  9. Install Antivirus Software
  10. Remove unwanted windows components:
    1. Outlook express
    2. Windows messenger
    3. Windows media player (or upgrade to the newest version if you want to use it)
  11. Install DirectX 9 or whatever the latest version is
  12. Install VisionPlus spectrum BDA Drivers for your DVB receiver PCI card through the Device Manager
    1. Multimedia Controller is the Capture device
    2. Multimedia video controller is the tuner device
  13. Install Fusion Software and patch to latest version

    Live TV

  14. install DigitalWatch 7.01 and the Syspack
  15. upgrade DigitalWatch to 722 by copying the 722 executable over the original 701
  16. use ScanChannelsBDA to produce the contents of the channels.ini for your area.

    Recording TV

  17. Install Java 1.4.2 runtime environment
  18. Install WebScheduler 2.9.5.4
    1. Copy the files to C:\Program Files\WebScheduler\
    2. Copy the cyberlink mpgmux.ax file into the filters directory
    3. regsvr32 both ax files now in the filters directort
    4. create a shortcut to start-server.bat and put it in the startup directory of the username that will run your HTPC
    5. run start-server.bat
  19. Configure WebScheduler:
    1. from a web browser, goto http://localhost:8080
    2. System Setup - Channel Settings - Scan Channels. Select the appropriate location and scan. Then select the channels that you may like to record from.
    3. System Setup - Card Setup, tick the tuner filters to enable WebScheduler to use them and click update
    4. Server Config:
      • Capture.deftype: 0 (ts mux)
      • path.capture: something sensible
      • I recommend allowing overlaps: sch.allowoverlap=1
      • If you trust your home networks boundary firewall then you might also like to change the port that webscheduler uses, to something that is a little easier to configure through the ICF (eg 443) and stop and start the start-server.bat to pick up the new settings
  20. Copy JavaXMLTV into c:\Program Files, configure the prop files and setup a scheduled task to automatically update everynight (say about 4:00am)

    Playback

  21. Install DVRview and associate mpg files with it
  22. Install the OpenSource MPEG2 splitter and decoder

    DVD Playing

  23. Install Media Player Classic by installing the QuickTime Alternative and Real Alternative.

    Integration Software

  24. Install MyHTPC and configure (you might like to use this to manage your music in addition to the main interface)
  25. Install HIP 2.1.4.2 and configure (for mapping your remote control to different keystrokes on the PC)

    Picture Viewing

  26. Install XnView for picture viewing

    Media Creation

  27. Install Nero for DVD burning that came with the DVD burner

    Backup your Config Files now!

    More General Settings

  28. Turn off Welcome screen and disable fast user switching
  29. Disable Use Simple file sharing
  30. Share TV and Music folder for use on your home network. Assign permissions carefully eg Administrators Full Control only
  31. Turn off all Windows' sounds
  32. Set the page file to a static size (about 1.5 times the size of physical RAM) to prevent page file growth and fragmentation)
  33. Power Settings:
    1. Presentation - Important not to allow suspend
    2. Enable hibernation .
    3. Advanced:
      • Prompt for password: no
      • When I press power: Hybernate
      • When I press sleep: Hybernate
  34. Use TweekUI to get the recording account to Autologon
  35. Set the screen saver to your favourite pictures direcroty and activate after 1 minute
  36. Configure ICF to allow port 445 (file sharing) and icmp echo requests (ping) if you trust your boundary firewall and share level security

The Notes I wrote for myself, but I have provided them here becuase I beleive that they may be usefull to other people aswell. If you have problems with these notes then it is probably becuase I have not explained every step in enough detail. Please visit DVB Owners Discussion Forum and post any questions you have about this there and I'll update this docment and attempt to help you with your problem if I can. I am also willing to share my config files with anyone who is interested, visit the forum and strike up a topic or PM me.

Paul (paul_ahb)

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last updated 13 November 2004