My manual on how to install a Mediaportal client on Vista using the tvserverplugin

[limpwhizkid]

To make it somewhat easier for some people .. here is how I setup my TVclient on Vista(Home/Business/Ultimate/Enterprise)
There is not really a manual for a tvclient setup..
I would actually recommend running vista with SP1, it runs very smooth, maybe the new included directx 10.1 has something to do with that

1) Install windows Vista with or without integrated SP1 (english x32 version)
I have installed with and without SP1, both work, i have tested this setup on Business/Ultimate and Enterprise.
I do not have a home(Premium) edition , but dont think it will be any different.
If you encounter anything weird, dont hesitate to ask.

(optional) Remove your networkcable , as Internet access during install is unwanted.

2) (optional)When finished and need to enter a username you have a choice to enter a password for this user ,if you do, you need to enter it everytime when booting, thats a choice you have to make.

3) (optional)go to control panel , choose on the left for classic view and go to option Useraccounts then choose "turn user accounts control on/off" and remove the choice for "Use user account control (UAC)".
Windows actually needs a restart to change this ! Do it when asked to.
If you do this you wont be bothered anymore with verifying messages that you are going to perform a dangerous task and windows needs confirmation everytime you enter the control panel, or change a driver
More importantly if you do not do this, you MUST manually select to run mediaportal and/or mediaportal configuration as an administrator. This can be done by choosing properties on the icons and selecting "Run this program as administator".
If you did it correctly there will be some colourfull shield present on the icon, indicating that it will run as admininistrator
If you want to do it temporarly you need to right click and choose " run as administator" from the pull down menu everytime you want to run it

4) Now update your videodrivers, audiodrivers, storage controller drivers, i.e. bring the system up to date.

5) (optional) Right click mouse on " my computer" and choose Properties
5a) go to the SYSTEM restore option on the left side, and disable monitoring of drives that are NOT your system drive! its useless anyway for drives not containing the system or program files and take up lots of space (and irri background stuff)

5b) go to the remote settings option on the left and remove "allow remote assistance invitations to be sent from this computer" and click ok

NOT for Home(premium) users, there is no gpedit.msc -> goto 6c
6a) Now click on start and type gpedit.msc in the run box and hit enter
under computer configuration click administrative templates then windows components.
Find the option called Windows Error reporting doubleclick this so it unfolds
now set the following features to ENABLED
"Disable Windows Error Reporting"
"Do not send additional data" (just to be absolutely sure )

6b) ONLY FOR Vista Ultimate
Also with gpedit.msc like (6a) go to
computer configuration/administrative templates/windows components
Find the option Windows Media Center
Set the option "Do not allow Windows media Center to run" to ENABLED
Do the same under User configuration/administrative templates/windows components

6c) Home Premium users do this:
Rightclick "my computer" icon and choose MANAGE
Under the option "Services and applications" doubleclick Services
A whole list of services will pop up , find all 4 "Windows Media Center" services and set startup type to disabled.
On the same page where you set the startup type to disabled you can stop the services so you can continue right away.

Not for Home (Premium) users
6d) Only for people having their own WSUS server (if not handled by domain policy already).
Also with gpedit.msc like (6a) go to
computer configuration/administrative templates/windows components
Find the option Windows Update
Configure the option:
"Specify intranet Microsoft update service location"
and any other option you might find usefull

7) Plug in your networkcable and use access with internet (usually nothing needs to be changed if you have a router supporting DHCP)

8) If needed ACTIVATE your windows Vista license

9) Now its time to update windows
click start and in the Runbox .. type CMD and hit enter.
in the dosbox.. enter
wuauclt /detectnow and hit enter
9a) go get some coffee and wait for a vague greenish icon to pop up next to the clock ..
you need to doubleclick the greenish icon..
and the first run will bring up around 22(home) to 30(ultimate with dreamscene) patches so it could take a while
If you have installed Vista with integrated SP1 .. you will get not very much updates

10) after installing this batch of patches you need to reboot..
make it so ..

11) when the system has rebooted..
install framework 2 .NET Framework 2.0 SDKs, Redistributables & Service Packs

12) when the system has rebooted (if needed on step 12)..
start CMD again ..
and use
wuauclt /detectnow again!
now there will be some servicepacks for xml dot.net etc. etc..
around 6 of them .. go for a coffeerefill
when done.. there is usually no reboot needed! if in your case it does.. just reboot..

13) (optional) If everything went as planned rightclick mouse on my computer and choose properties.. go to system restore settings (on the left)..
and disable monitoring and click apply.. (all restore settings will be deleted, cleaning up your disk).. then enable it again for only your system drive..

14) (optional)If you want to make it perfect.. defrag your disk ..

15) (optional) NOW is the time to make a Ghost(v10.1 or higher for vista) image(or other vendor) from your system.. which you could easily load up incase you want to try out a new tvclient version and new Mediaportal SVN and dont want to reinstall Vista again

16) Now install RC1 from 'Mediaportal RC1 release
Choose advanced installation , and select client install

When you have installed it , and configured Mediaportal and the ip adress for the tvserver.
Go to control panel, and to the firewall icon.
Now choose ADD PROGRAM, and select MEDIAPORTAL to be allowed true the firewall.

Known problems:
Bug 1) If you still do not get a TVPicture with mediaportal , that can happen , there is a problem registering tsreader.ax sometimes on Vista which can be solved easily..
Click start and in the runbox type CMD and hit enter
Change directory to the mediaportal installation folder where tsreader.ax is located
and type
regsvr32 tsreader.ax and hit enter
You should see a notification that tsreader.ax is registered..
Now start mediaportal again and go watch tv

Bug 2) If you have set a higher fontsize then the default 96dpi in Windows, you MUST disable VMR EXLUSIVE MODE in the mediaportal settings otherwise mediaportal wont work.

Tips and tricks: all optional ofcourse
Note: Do NOT disable Aero if you are using the EVR experimental option! which is actually a PREFFERED setting to get a tearfree playback, if your Videocard is not that powerfull you can consider disabling Aero
1a) As Vista's Aero interface eats away the capabilities of your videocard, which we do need in Mediaportal , and since certainly not everyone is running with expensive SLI cards !
Here is a smart way of disabling Aero interface but only when Mediaportal runs
Right click the Mediaportal icon , select properties and then select the tab called Compatibility
Now select Disable Desktop composition
Congrats you have gained at least 15% back from you GPU power to use in Mediaportal

Note: Do NOT disable Aero if you are using the EVR experimental option! which is actually a PREFFERED setting to get a tearfree playback, if your Videocard is not that powerfull you can consider disabling Aero
1b) If you dont care about this gpu eating feature or you are using the "Start MP automatically when windows starts" option .. you can disable it completely .. do the following:
Right click mouse on your desktop .. choose personalize.. click on Window Color and Appearance item
In the next screen, click the link near the bottom for Open classic appearance properties for more color options . You are now in the Appearance settings screen, choose Windows Vista Basic as Color scheme in this screen and Aero interface will be disabled!

To be continued and updated

[almartin]

Hello,
It seems gpedit.msc is not available in Vista Home editions: not found on my Vista Home Premium PC, and also read somehow from MS online help site. But still thanks for the disabling of user accounts control, quite an annoying feature :-)

[limpwhizkid]

Originally Posted by almartin

Hello,
It seems gpedit.msc is not available in Vista Home editions: not found on my Vista Home Premium PC, and also read somehow from MS online help site. But still thanks for the disabling of user accounts control, quite an annoying feature :-)

indeed.. you are right.. and I should have known that..
It is the same for Windows XP home edition, also No group policy editor..

I will update the install instruction with another way for home premium users to disable Windows Media Center. *done*

Can someone with home edition please try and disable the service called "windows error reporting" and reboot ?
And tell me if you get errors when starting up again (it wont halt your system).. just want to make sure I have instructions that dont generate annoying messages

[limpwhizkid]

Added first tips to new Tips and tricks section:
1) As Vista's Aero interface eats away the capabilities of your videocard, which we do need in Mediaportal.
Here is a smart way of disabling Aero interface but only when Mediaportal runs
Right click the Mediaportal icon select Properties and select the tab called Compatibility
Now select Disable Desktop composition
Congrats you have gained 15% back from you GPU power

[charli181]

Originally Posted by limpwhizkid

Added first tips to new Tips and tricks section:
1) As Vista's Aero interface eats away the capabilities of your videocard, which we do need in Mediaportal.
Here is a smart way of disabling Aero interface but only when Mediaportal runs
Right click the Mediaportal icon select Properties and select the tab called Compatibility
Now select Disable Desktop composition
Congrats you have gained 15% back from you GPU power

will this option also work if you tick the option "Start MP automatically when windows starts" in the configuration general section or is it only for the shortcut on desktop/start menu?

[limpwhizkid]

Originally Posted by charli181

will this option also work if you tick the option "Start MP automatically when windows starts" in the configuration general section or is it only for the shortcut on desktop/start menu?

No , since the shortcut where the properties are modified is not used , it wont do that..

But.. this one should ..

1b) If you dont care about this gpu eating feature or dont like to show off to your friends what vista can do .. you can disable it also .. do the following:
Right click mouse on your desktop .. choose personalize.. click the Window Color and Appearance
In the next screen(does it ever stop), click the link near the bottom for Open classic appearance properties for more color options . You are now in the Appearance settings screen, choose Windows Vista Basic in this screen and Aero interface will be disabled!

[charli181]

Thanks. I don't run Vista myself but thought it would help for clarification.

[tourettes]

1) As Vista's Aero interface eats away the capabilities of your videocard, which we do need in Mediaportal.
Here is a smart way of disabling Aero interface but only when Mediaportal runs

Please don't do that. Disabling Aero will have an big and ugly effect on the EVR. EVR uses Aero to get tear free video playback.

[limpwhizkid]

Originally Posted by tourettes

Please don't do that. Disabling Aero will have an big and ugly effect on the EVR. EVR uses Aero to get tear free video playback.

EVR is the experimental option is it not ? Which default is off ?

Edit:
warning added to instruction if EVR is used!

[tourettes]

It's experimental indeed, but recommended for all Vista users.