Just thinking - I have an old family PC tower, that I am pretty sure is working. It's REALLY basic (ie, 10gb HDD, Intel Celeron (old) processor, 256mb RAM (I think) and a CD-ROM.....

Anyway, I was thinking, if I can get this booted up on XP and working, would this work as a VERY basic HTPC - basically just to play mp3's (via Windows Media Player) and DivX/XviD, mpeg, wmv video files?

It would be connected to a CRT TV, so I am guessing S-Video is about the best connection I can get (don't have a spare YPrPb on the TV, DVD player occupies that). I have a (basic) PCI graphics card somewhere (64mb I think) that has S-Vid output on it. When connecting to a CRT, what aspect ratio and resolution would this be? Could I specify it to be widescreen (since the TV is widescreen, so I don't have to stretch/zoom the TV to make everything fullscreen)

Next, the audio. The PC is old so only has a stereo 3.5mm audio output, but what I am really after is a TOSlink optical output so I can pass through multichannel audio to my AV amp (a lot of my DivX rips I have done contain the 5.1 AC3 and a few have DTS) Can I get a simple PCI card to allow me to do this pass through?

Lastly, I would need the PC to be able to be controlled by remote - so I guess I could need a remote control that has an IR reciever to plug into a USB port? Whats best for this? Mainly to navigate folders and control WMP and VLC player...

Lastly, a wireless keyboard and mouse - best go for a bluetooth one that has a USB dongle?

I was thinking if all the above was possible and the PC could handle it (it would only be used literally for playing MP3 and video/films, but would have to be able to run the gfx card, audio card, usb remote and keyboard/mouse) I could fit a bigger HDD, fill it with my music and video collection, and would be able to update it by just transferring content from my main PC to the basic HTPC via one of my external HDD's (plug in via USB) - tho it might be possible to transfer via ethernet cable - would this be faster than usb 1.1 (pretty sure this old pc only has usb 1.1)

Thoughts? Advice? Idea's? Suggestions? I want it all