windows media center replacement

[nicegirl05]

hey guys i finally got fully moved into my new apartment i have my laptop next to my tv so when i want a desktop i just plugin my pc monitor and when i want a home theater i just have to plug in my tv my 5.1 surround sound system gowes thru usb to optical so we dont have to worry about that it transcodes anythang to ieee float or pcm 32bit dts dolby dosent matter im looking for a application to make my pc feel like a smart tv when i plug my tv in then can just close the application and get my pc back like windows media center iv tryed kodi and plex both are kinda janky with many problems i want somethang easy to use a interface that feels like a smart tv with all my music and shows on it and somethang that can see my streaming services and one last thang i really want to be able to record shows off my pc like a dvr iv been useing mpc-be and its a lovely media player but i want more if anyone can help that would be awesome thank you if not how would i go about useing windows media center once again and is it safe to still do so in 2024

i have a roku but not a remote for my tv so i cant change my tv settings to see the optical connection so im stuck useing my laptop for my home theater till i can get a hdmi audio extractor

 

[evernessince]

Kodi and MediaPortal are the big two in the PC space with Kodi leading by a good margin. Kodi does everything you listed and more. It also has a ton of skins and extensions and it dead easy to use. I think you should give it another shot, once you get it setup it takes care of everything automatically. If you need help I recommend watching a YouTube setup tutorial.

 

[nicegirl05]

Kodi and MediaPortal are the big two in the PC space with Kodi leading by a good margin. Kodi does everything you listed and more. It also has a ton of skins and extensions and it dead easy to use. I think you should give it another shot, once you get it setup it takes care of everything automatically. If you need help I recommend watching a YouTube setup tutorial.

my biggest issue was lag i have a decent pc (spec in my profile) but i noticed it was running at like 27 fps even with a 100hz monitor

 

[evernessince]

my biggest issue was lag i have a decent pc (spec in my profile) but i noticed it was running at like 27 fps even with a 100hz monitor

You might want to try a different build / interface / look at your debug logs. Kodi has extremely low system requirements, hence why it works on cheap $30 TV Sticks.

 

[remixedcat]

I used emby back when I didn't have a pc connected to my tv and I would just use the media server of it... not sure about the UI of it tho... since I used the rokutv app.

havent used any of these since 2016 tho

 

[rockit00]

From what I've googled, Windows Media Center Edition will work on Windows 10 and 11 with a few little tweak tricks in 2024. I used to use MCE on XP, Vista, Win 7, and Windows 8/8.1. I gave up MCE after so much BS getting it to run with different ISP's. I used to run MCE on the Adaptec AVC-3610 Dual TV Tuner. It was a Dual DVR so you could record one program while watching TV at the same time. HP had the identical HP Capri AVC-3610 which worked great with several of their entertainment laptops of the day. I haven't tried to run MCE in years. I see the Dual TV Tuners are still available on ebay. I hope this helps.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yeah not sure what you use it for but most tv series you can record online
Movies as well with no commercials.
Recording wise OBS studio is good.

 

[nicegirl05]

Hi,
Yeah not sure what you use it for but most tv series you can record online
Movies as well with no commercials.
Recording wise OBS studio is good.

not looking for a dvr looking for a tv home front for my laptop somethang i can launch that looks like a tv interface one that lets me use remotes and use tv tuners i already have media player classic BE its not bad but i want somethang for when i plug my tv into my laptop

how i have my system setup is my tv is right next to my laptop i have my sound system going thru usb to optical and i have my tv connected thru hdmi when i want my dual monitor desktop i simply unplug my tv plug in my computer monitor and bam dual monitor desktop fhd 169hz curved display with dolby atmos headphones when i want my home theater i simply plug in my tv thru hdmi change my audio device in windows and bam home theater with a full flat screen 1080p fhd 60hz and a full dolby atmos 5.1 surround speaker system with true rear speakers with custom apo drivers

 

[ThrashZone]

I have no idea what you're talking about
If you're not recording movies/ tv series you're wasting time watching crapload of commercials.

That is what people used WMC for recording like dvr.
Bad thing is it recorded commercials to.

 

[nicegirl05]

I have no idea what you're talking about
If you're not recording movies/ tv series you're wasting time watching crapload of commercials.

That is what people used WMC for recording like dvr.
Bad thing is it recorded commercials to.

no no many used it so they could use thare pc like a media center with a tv remote and everythang please look into it i want a tv interface built inside of my pc

i dont actually mind comercals reminds me of my childhood i like theme for me tho my thang is i want to just use a tv remote with my pc to control everythang instead of haveing to use a wireless keyboard and mouse i use my pc as my home theater system due to haveing my pc games retro emulators music movies and shows all on my laptop working with full 5.1 surround sound

no no many used it so they could use thare pc like a media center with a tv remote and everythang please look into it i want a tv interface built inside of my pc

i dont actually mind comercals reminds me of my childhood i like theme for me tho my thang is i want to just use a tv remote with my pc to control everythang instead of haveing to use a wireless keyboard and mouse i use my pc as my home theater system due to haveing my pc games retro emulators music movies and shows all on my laptop working with full 5.1 surround sound

not to mention im forceing my optical connection to decode dolby/dts anythang to thare uncompressed forms (pcm / ieee float) both 32bit fully supported so i also have high fidelity speakers all around me with my pc

 

[AusWolf]

Interesting question. I kind of miss Media Centre. I also miss how nice Windows Vista and 7 looked compared to the blank squares we have these days.

I don't miss how much computer resources it used, though.

I wish I could answer your questions. I've been using VLC with a wireless keyboard and mouse lately. This seems to be the most compatibility- and resource-friendly option.

 

[nicegirl05]

Interesting question. I kind of miss Media Centre. I also miss how nice Windows Vista and 7 looked compared to the blank squares we have these days.

I don't miss how much computer resources it used, though.

I wish I could answer your questions. I've been using VLC with a wireless keyboard and mouse lately. This seems to be the most compatibility- and resource-friendly option.

and that sucks media center was perfect for ppl who wanted a pc and media center in 1

 

[DemonicRyzen666]

I've got Hauppauge winTV7 CD/DVD that works with windows 10 about the only TV tuner program that still works with windows 10 normally. I don't have a remote control connected either as the windows media Ceneter remote doesn't work with Windows 10 at all. I've got to look for the sensor for the Hauppauge Tuner's remote. No idea if it will work or not on windows 10.

 

[cvaldes]

I am using a mini PC, a Beelink Mini S (Intel N95, Alder Lake N, 4 efficiency cores, 4 threads, integrated Xe graphics), 8GB RAM as a HTPC in my bedroom. It sips power: the SoC probably draws 2 watts during video playback. Intel Quicksync has a distinguished track record of good video playback performance.

This $150 Beelink replaced a Raspberry Pi 4. RPi fans frown when people bring this up but the Achilles heel of the Raspberry Pi is video playback performance.

The Beelink will output 4K@60Hz fine although my bedroom TV is an older 1080p unit. It's also nearly silent. There's a tiny fan but it runs so quietly I can't even hear it unless I'm about 20 centimeters away.

I run Kodi mostly but sometimes I'll just fire up a web browser for streaming content.

 

[nicegirl05]

I am using a mini PC, a Beelink Mini S (Intel N95, Alder Lake N, 4 efficiency cores, 4 threads, integrated Xe graphics), 8GB RAM as a HTPC in my bedroom. It sips power: the SoC probably draws 2 watts during video playback. Intel Quicksync has a distinguished track record of good video playback performance.

This $150 Beelink replaced a Raspberry Pi 4. RPi fans frown when people bring this up but the Achilles heel of the Raspberry Pi is video playback performance.

The Beelink will output 4K@60Hz fine although my bedroom TV is an older 1080p unit. It's also nearly silent. There's a tiny fan but it runs so quietly I can't even hear it unless I'm about 20 centimeters away.

I run Kodi mostly but sometimes I'll just fire up a web browser for streaming content.

i dont want two pcs and dont need it with my desktop layout next to my home theater layout i can change to both just by changeing 1 hdmi cord @DemonicRyzen666 that was def helpful thank you