Keep WMC and install Media Portal? (1 Viewer)

[Ciarraibleu]

I have WMC, which I love, but eventually I will be assimilated into Win 10 and need an alternative. Can I intall Media Portal 1 to try out without causing any problems with WMC?

 

[mm1352000]

Hello and welcome

Can I intall Media Portal 1 to try out without causing any problems with WMC?

Maybe. If you use WMC for TV (live and recordings) it is tricky, because MP and WMC aren't able to use tuners at the same time. That's a standard hardware limitation.

MediaPortal's TV Server enables you to prevent MP from using one or more of your tuners, thus leaving them entirely in WMC's control. If you can do the same in WMC (ie. leave one or more tuners dedicated to MP) then you're good to go. Otherwise you run the risk that MP and WMC will interrupt eachother's recordings etc. when they compete for tuners.

 

[Ciarraibleu]

Thanks for the reply, I'd probably just try it for 1 day, so I can do it on a day I have no recordings planned on WMC and just test out MP to see it it's as easy to use as WMC.

 

[CyberSimian]

Can I intall Media Portal 1 to try out without causing any problems with WMC?

If you are using a WMC remote control, it has the "green button" that can be used to start WMC from the Windows desktop. However, several other buttons on the remote control can also start WMC if it is not already running. So, if you press one of those buttons while using MediaPortal, you might cause WMC to start.

MediaPortal has a facility whereby you can disable the WMC services so that WMC no longer runs. This allows MediaPortal to use the "green button" to start MP instead of WMC, and those other buttons won't start WMC either. You disable the WMC services in "MediaPortal Config"; see here:

http://wiki.team-mediaportal.com/1_..._Configuration/97_Additional_3rd_Party_Checks

Don't forget to re-enable the WMC services after you have finished trying MP!

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[Skywizard]

I have WMC, which I love, but eventually I will be assimilated into Win 10 and need an alternative.

My advice (from a recent MP convert) is to just dump WMC now and upgrade to win 10 and install Media Portal - MP is far superior to WMC!. I wish I had made the change sooner.