This was my first run at a Media Portal walk-through.

In the end, I only shared it with a few friends... I never published it because I wasn't quite happy with the results.

Anyway, I'm rewriting it; but, I'm using XP this time around. There were too many problems, and I'm not sure what to blame on MP and what to blame on Vista. Regardless, once I found out that an MCE keyboard could be run on XP (without MCE), I went back to XP.

For what it's worth, I thought I'd throw this early-effort out to the public before I make it obsolete. If you're running Vista, I can only wish you luck. If you can solve the tearing problem on S-Video out, I'd REALLY like to hear from you.

Hardware

• Case: Antec Fusion
    Display: i-Mon TFT display
• MoBo: Gigabyte GA-965GM-S2
    Sound: on-board Realtek
    CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo e6300
    Cooling: ThermalTake Blue Orb II
    RAM: 1GB A-Data DDR2-800 (PC-6400)
• Video
    Display: Gigabyte GeForce 7100 GS
    Capture: Hauppage WinTV-PVR-500
• Drives
    CD/DVD: Samsung SH-182 SATA
    HDD: - in flux (SATA) -
• User Input:
    Remote: Microsoft MCE
    KB/Mouse: Microsoft MCE Wireless
• External
    Amp: Yamaha HTR-5630 (via non-SPDIF outputs)
    Monitor 1:NEC LT270 Projector (via 15pin VGA)
    Monitor 2: 27 inch Proscan TV (via S-Video)

I have EXCELLENT sound in all aspects, finally. Even my XVids with MP3 sound are up-mixing to some pretty decent 5.1. FFDShow has also allowed me to boost the center and surround speakers a bit, and I can't tell you how much I'm digging it. I've also finally managed to kill the "tearing" I was getting on the S-Video output. (EDIT: no, I NEVER solved the "tearing" problem while running Vista.)

Before finding solutions, I almost ordered a new sound card, and I thought very seriously about trying MythTV again. As it currently stands, I'm getting good 6 channel output (5.1) directly from the on-board RealTek hardware and without resorting to S/PDIF.

Getting it all fixed required learning about GraphEdt and the DirectShow Filter Manager; but, I think I have a much better understanding of the whole codec/filter/rendering thing now. I don't think I even realized how "broken" my previous HTPC attempts have been.

As well, TVEngine 3 seems to be running well, Program Guides are working fine. I'm not even going to guess how many hours I spent tweaking and searching forums in this round.

I guess I'm in the final test phase before killing MCE downstairs.

I'd really like to get some XBMC type buffering in place...

-S

Here's some stuff I found the hard way -- highly recommend for anyone building their own system:

If you follow this codec guide starting with a clean Windows install, you should have no headaches to speak of: http://users.vic.chariot.net.au/~mitreski/mediaportal%20codec%20guide%20...

Be sure to get ffdshow here:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=173941
(icl10 builds by clsid include SSE support)

I got my guide programming from http://www.cttvlistings.com, partly because they make a Media Portal plugin for pulling the guide information.

If stuff goes badly:
Direct Show Filter Manager: http://www.softella.com/dsfm/index.en.htm
GraphEdt: http://www.digital-digest.com/software/download.php?sid=82&ssid=0&did=1

Bypass the Windows Vista Logon Screen

from http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bypass-the-Windows-Vista-Logon-Screen-518... :

You will have to click the Start sphere, then enter "cmd" in the search box. In the Command Prompt window write "control userpasswords2" and hit enter.

Windows Vista will now ask you to elevate the privileges of the process so do it and you will be face to face with a window for User Accounts. Toward the top you will be able to see the option "users must enter a username and password to use this computer." Select the account you wish to alter and then uncheck the option. You will then be prompted with an Automatically Log On window, in which you will have to enter your name and password.