Alternatives to Windows Media Center?

Iconic

I am getting fed up with WMC mainly because it will not play some of my videos saying codecs are missing...it plays them sometimes but not all the time! DVD playback is also below par.

A quick google appears to throw up Media Portal,GBPVR and NPVR.

I know VLC is good but it doesn't cover all my options and I need remote control.

I would be grateful for some advice.

debitcardmayhem

Iconic wrote: »

I am getting fed up with WMC mainly because it will not play some of my videos saying codecs are missing...it plays them sometimes but not all the time! DVD playback is also below par.

A quick google appears to throw up Media Portal,GBPVR and NPVR.

I know VLC is good but it doesn't cover all my options and I need remote control.

I would be grateful for some advice.

VLC is excellent and I think (cos I can't my old bookmark) this might help http://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=52904

Iconic

Thanks for the replies....I will try VLC with the remote.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Iconic wrote: »

I am getting fed up with WMC mainly because it will not play some of my videos saying codecs are missing...it plays them sometimes but not all the time! DVD playback is also below par.

A quick google appears to throw up Media Portal,GBPVR and NPVR.

I know VLC is good but it doesn't cover all my options and I need remote control.

I would be grateful for some advice.

Use WMC, just give it the codecs it needs to do its job.

Get the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack Version 6.5.0 for your particular O/S and x64 x86 etc, when installing tell it to make WMC the default player and it'll play anything you throw at it.

You might want to uninstall any other carp you've messed with first.

Iconic

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Use WMC, just give it the codecs it needs to do its job.

Get the K-Lite Mega Codec Pack Version 6.5.0 for your particular O/S and x64 x86 etc, when installing tell it to make WMC the default player and it'll play anything you throw at it.

You might want to uninstall any other carp you've messed with first.

Thanks for your help. When you say 'carp' do you mean other programs such as VLC and Splash Lite or do you mean other Codes Pack's than the one you recommend?

Splash Lite plays my DVD's better than WMC ever did and VLC plays all my videos. I prefer WMC because I use a remote control with it so I will give your recommendation a go.

No matter how much I try I cannot get the DVD playback settings right in WMC. The picture is squashed and grainy compared to Splash Lite which is full screen with a crystal clear picture. I know it's almost a idiots guide walk through to set up the best settings in WMC ...... I must be an idiot or I am missing something obvious.

scottishblondie

Have you tried XBMC? It makes a nice front end for a media centre, and it's played everything I've chucked at it so far. It's compatible with a lot of remote controls AFAIK, although I haven't tried any.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Iconic wrote: »

Thanks for your help. When you say 'carp' do you mean other programs such as VLC and Splash Lite or do you mean other Codes Pack's than the one you recommend?

Splash Lite plays my DVD's better than WMC ever did and VLC plays all my videos. I prefer WMC because I use a remote control with it so I will give your recommendation a go.

No matter how much I try I cannot get the DVD playback settings right in WMC. The picture is squashed and grainy compared to Splash Lite which is full screen with a crystal clear picture. I know it's almost a idiots guide walk through to set up the best settings in WMC ...... I must be an idiot or I am missing something obvious.

You may have other issues also. But its a fact that 99% of the problems can be solved by :

- giving WMC the [ tools to do its job ] codecs it needs

- - this un-does the crippled state that Microsoft default ships it as its default
- - the k-lite full ships with its own mini media player that works faultlessly as an alternative to Windows
- - in which case you will need to make [ Media Player Classic ] the default instead of WMC

As for the ' squashed and grainy ' issue, my experience suggests that people including yourself install / try / experiment with all sorts of carp to get it working and as any tech here will tell you when you think you've uninitialised these installs there are legacy bits linked all over the registry that cause problems and are near impossible to get rid of even with Revo Pro.

All you can do .. .. is try my suggestion and report back, or ;
decide to go with anyone else's suggestion.
__

For anyone else reading this missive if [ before you start to have problems ] [ when the machine is newish ] you put the appropriate k-lite megga pack in and keep it updated you will always be able to play 99% of anything you throw at it.

N.B. The Media Player Classic that ships free with the codecs has a tiny footprint / is specifically designed to work with the codecs and uses minuscule resource's when compared to WMC / WMP.

stevenhp1987

I use XBMC... very good at giving a front end GUI that VLC lacks and it allows the usage of remote controls!

Iconic

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

You may have other issues also. But its a fact that 99% of the problems can be solved by :

- giving WMC the [ tools to do its job ] codecs it needs

- - this un-does the crippled state that Microsoft default ships it as its default
- - the k-lite full ships with its own mini media player that works faultlessly as an alternative to Windows
- - in which case you will need to make [ Media Player Classic ] the default instead of WMC

As for the ' squashed and grainy ' issue, my experience suggests that people including yourself install / try / experiment with all sorts of carp to get it working and as any tech here will tell you when you think you've uninitialised these installs there are legacy bits linked all over the registry that cause problems and are near impossible to get rid of even with Revo Pro.

All you can do .. .. is try my suggestion and report back, or ;
decide to go with anyone else's suggestion.

I have just downloaded k-lite and it has made a big difference. All my video files now play ok and even the dvd playback is much improved.
Thank you very much for your advice.
I am now thinking of upgrading my graphics card card for HD playback. I currently have a Connect 3D Radeon X300 card. Could you recommend a not to expensive upgrade for HD....I will not need it for gaming.
Thanks again.