Will I break Media Portal if I upgrade Vista to Win7? (1 Viewer)

[kenp2600]

I'm running the latest release of Media Portal on Vista Home Premium 32 bit. MP works pretty well but like many people, I don't "love" Vista.

I want to install Win 7 64 bit, although I might be satisfied with an upgrade to 32 bit Win7. I think to go with 64 bit I would have to fully reinstall.

Am I asking for trouble and should I leave well enough alone? I don't want to break Media Portal, but I'd really like to get 7 running on my media computer just to make other things work better.

I'd welcome any advice or tips, especially from those who have done this already.

Thanks!

 

[Mew]

Hi

i have run MediaPortal on a dedicated HTPC using Windows XP, Vista (x86), Vista (x64) and now Windows 7 (x64). I have always completely reinstalled the operating system as this tends to have the benefit of a fresh start which can elimate minor issues that have built up. I have a feeling that x86 - x64 has to be a frsh install, I don't think there is an upgrade option.

The main issue (as always) is hardware drivers. As long as you can get these for Windows x64 there should not be major issues. I have a problem with my ABIT AirMax PCI-E WI-Fi card as there is no x64 driver, you have to use a built in one for the chipset. I think this was OK under Vista x64 but seems to be intermitent under Windows 7 x64.

Because MediaPortal is an x86 application I think you do have to use x86 versions of some utilities (if you use them) I believe (although I may be corrected) that FFDShow is an example where a x86 and x64 version exist but to use it with MediaPortal you need to use the x86 regardless of the version of your OS.

I am also aware of one bug that seems to be specific to Windows 7 x64 (or that seems to be the comon factor). Playback of recorded TV fails with an error unless you have turned on (for however briefly) live TV. I think it is being investigated as there is a thread in the forums.

Saying all that, although Windows 7 is better, I did not find Vista too bad. I think this was because I had regularly updated my hardware so it had no problems running it.

Hope this may be of some help.

Mew

 

[JackTramiel]

AW: Will I break Media Portal if I upgrade Vista to Win7?

What about making an image of your vista installation. If you cant get 7 to run properly you can easily go back to you vista
installation. Maybe there is even a way to get rid of you vista problems without reinstall the system.

 

[bsunders]

Hi Ken,

did you upgrade to Win 7 ? How did it go ?
I am in the same boat as you and wanting to go Win7 - mainly coz people tend to say performance is better on same h/w.

Would be good to get your feedback on this....

Ben