Well, here goes nuffin... "Ghetto HTPC" build!
24-03-2007, 06:37 PM
#1
Well, here goes nuffin... "Ghetto HTPC" build!
Been given a PC - only a Compaq D510 "EVO" sff PC - ex office based desktop. I liked it cos it's small - bout the same size as a VCR 
But it's not a great spec - 20gb HDD, 1.8ghz P4 and 128mb of RAM
But, it does have a "DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS XP" sticker on it So I'm gonna give it a go with XP SP2
Whats my chances?
But it's not a great spec - 20gb HDD, 1.8ghz P4 and 128mb of RAM
But, it does have a "DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS XP" sticker on it
So I'm gonna give it a go with XP SP2 Whats my chances?
24-03-2007, 07:21 PM
#5
Got past that, just did a repair on the previous attempted installation, so it's done that and rebooted - got the "installing windows page" where it tells you about a load of windows bollocks, 39mins to go etc, and now got a pop up "system error"
lsass.exe - system error : an invalid parameter was passed to a service or function
Then when you hit okay it just reboots Can't continue now, gott go out in half an hour
24-03-2007, 09:08 PM
#7
Professional Waffler
should run mate, on paper anyhow
Maybe it really was something to do with windows and not the spec, give it a try with a proper cd tomorrow
Oh yeah and by the time xp is installed and you have sp2 and all the updates not much of that 20gb will be left
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24-03-2007, 11:49 PM
#8
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Yeah he will XP SP2 and all windows updates is about 3gb Ghost image, and thats with Office 2003 Std and a load of other gubbins I put on.
Uncompressed its about 5.5, so quarter of disk used.
Will run like a POS with 128b RAM though
Uncompressed its about 5.5, so quarter of disk used.
Will run like a POS with 128b RAM though
25-03-2007, 01:14 AM
#10
Adrian - yeah, I expect it to be a bit "off" shall we say.... But when I find some cheap enough, I'll up the ram to 512 (I don't even know whats in it - I have a couple sticks of 256, but the notches in it are in the wrong place so don't fit 
)
)
25-03-2007, 09:06 AM
#14
Well it's working - but the I need component drivers
The graphics look HORRIBLE - it's on 640x480 and won't let me change it, and is on LOWERST (4bit) settings for colour
But the LAN port is also not working, so I can't get it onto the net to download the relevent drives using Aida32...
Any idea's?
The graphics look HORRIBLE - it's on 640x480 and won't let me change it, and is on LOWERST (4bit) settings for colour
But the LAN port is also not working, so I can't get it onto the net to download the relevent drives using Aida32...
Any idea's?
25-03-2007, 09:16 AM
#16
I get that bit - where do I find the drivers? I usually use Aida32 for things like this, as it goes off and finds the drivers and installs them - but no net connection!
And I don't know where to find them! I need a graphics driver, audio driver and LAN controller driver...
And I don't know where to find them! I need a graphics driver, audio driver and LAN controller driver...
25-03-2007, 11:03 AM
#19
And now the LAN connection is working - connected to internet and typing this on the Compaq D510 SFF
Wicked! Sound, graffix and LAN all working - all I need now is a registration code for XP Pro (feel free to PM
) so I can download and install WMP11... Other than that, the PC seems to be running fine...
Wicked! Sound, graffix and LAN all working - all I need now is a registration code for XP Pro (feel free to PM
) so I can download and install WMP11... Other than that, the PC seems to be running fine...
25-03-2007, 12:28 PM
#20
Well, I *think* it's all pretty much sorted.... Gotta install a couple codec packs for different video codecs and some AC3 and digital audio codecs, but otherwise it appears to be working fine
Can't get it to activate Windows tho... It's a legit copy of XP Pro (Dell OEM disc that came with my PC, but of course it's a different PC, so MS won't accept the keycode... Don't know what this means tho - will it shut down in 30days or something?
Like I said, I doubt it will be net connected, as I download stuff like codecs etc onto a flash drive and install via USB - all this is for is to play music and video....
Which it seems to be doing really well, despite it's tiny RAM!!!! I installed a beta version of WMP11, as I cna't install the full version cos of the Genuine Advantage thing MS impose on you....
Then I connected my external HDD to the rear USB port (that appears to be USB2 judging by the file transfer speed ) and played some music which was faultless. Then tried my "benchmark" video test - Independance Day DVD-Rip (DivX) with included DTS and DD5.1 soundtracks - again, faultless playback, no stuttering or anything....
So I reckon keep the 20gb drive in it for the OS and programmes, and play everything via a USB HDD and it should be fine
Bootvis is great, only about 20secs to boot to full desktop, ready to go
Last thing now is to try a full VTS/VOB dvd rip and see how it handles that.....
Can't get it to activate Windows tho... It's a legit copy of XP Pro (Dell OEM disc that came with my PC, but of course it's a different PC, so MS won't accept the keycode... Don't know what this means tho - will it shut down in 30days or something?
Like I said, I doubt it will be net connected, as I download stuff like codecs etc onto a flash drive and install via USB - all this is for is to play music and video....
Which it seems to be doing really well, despite it's tiny RAM!!!! I installed a beta version of WMP11, as I cna't install the full version cos of the Genuine Advantage thing MS impose on you....
Then I connected my external HDD to the rear USB port (that appears to be USB2 judging by the file transfer speed
) and played some music which was faultless. Then tried my "benchmark" video test - Independance Day DVD-Rip (DivX) with included DTS and DD5.1 soundtracks - again, faultless playback, no stuttering or anything....So I reckon keep the 20gb drive in it for the OS and programmes, and play everything via a USB HDD and it should be fine
Bootvis is great, only about 20secs to boot to full desktop, ready to go
Last thing now is to try a full VTS/VOB dvd rip and see how it handles that.....
25-03-2007, 01:16 PM
#21
Problem no. 2 - the GF4 MX440 graphics card I already had, that has the S-Video port on it - is actually an AGP car, not a PCi card like I thought!
So it won't fit in the PCI slot of the new PC - and the AGP slot is a low profile jobbie - whereas my card is full size!
So I need a low profile bracket for it to fit
So it won't fit in the PCI slot of the new PC - and the AGP slot is a low profile jobbie - whereas my card is full size!
So I need a low profile bracket for it to fit
25-03-2007, 03:33 PM
#23
Right, so I think it's done for now anyway.....
- Wiped HDD and removed the old Win NT intall
- Installed XP Pro
- Found all drivers, everything working
- Modified and installed MX440 s-video card, configured PC to use s-video as primary monitor and fiddled with settings till half decent
- Tested PC's resources/stableness by playing music and video simultainiously from USB HDD into PC - ran stable
So all I really need to do now is;
- buy and fit PCI optical audio card (to pass through DTS and DD5.1)
- get big ass HDD to fit in external case
- get spare PSU for external HDD (to use upstairs for file transfer)
- get optical mouse so as to be able to naviaget PC from sofa
- Wiped HDD and removed the old Win NT intall
- Installed XP Pro
- Found all drivers, everything working
- Modified
and installed MX440 s-video card, configured PC to use s-video as primary monitor and fiddled with settings till half decent- Tested PC's resources/stableness by playing music and video simultainiously from USB HDD into PC - ran stable
So all I really need to do now is;
- buy and fit PCI optical audio card (to pass through DTS and DD5.1)
- get big ass HDD to fit in external case
- get spare PSU for external HDD (to use upstairs for file transfer)
- get optical mouse so as to be able to naviaget PC from sofa
25-03-2007, 04:26 PM
#24
So who wants to see pics of this "Ghetto HTPC" then?
Here's a couple!
Front view
Rear View
"modified" ( ) AGP card to make it low profile
Wicked case design - everything is hinged and lifts out and snaps back into place
This is the RAM thats in it - the top stick is the 128mb thats in there. Aida32 said it is PC2100 DDR (iirc). The second stick is from my other PC, which doesn't fit as the notches are different. If someone can point me in the direction of getting either 2x 256mb sticks or 1x 512 stick of the same spec as the top stick in the picture (with the same notches) I would be gratefull!
Don't wanna pay much (if anything ) for it mind, so second hand is worth a shot!
Here's a couple!
Front view
Rear View
"modified" (
) AGP card to make it low profile Wicked case design - everything is hinged and lifts out and snaps back into place
This is the RAM thats in it - the top stick is the 128mb thats in there. Aida32 said it is PC2100 DDR (iirc). The second stick is from my other PC, which doesn't fit as the notches are different. If someone can point me in the direction of getting either 2x 256mb sticks or 1x 512 stick of the same spec as the top stick in the picture (with the same notches) I would be gratefull!
Don't wanna pay much (if anything
) for it mind, so second hand is worth a shot!
25-03-2007, 06:49 PM
#25
The bottom stick looks like generic PC133 SDRAM to me... you should be able to get 2100 cheap from anywhere as its no longer used due to chips being available which offer greater bandwidth now
25-03-2007, 09:38 PM
#26
Well, looks like I have to go through this all over again now - as Windows WPA will not let me activet this (genuine OEM) copy of XP Pro on this machine
So I need to get hold of another copy of Windows to install on it and a liscence key code for it
So I need to get hold of another copy of Windows to install on it and a liscence key code for it
26-03-2007, 07:51 AM
#27
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Thrush,
If it is a genuine version of Windows XP, with a key and it does not activate, then you simply ring them up
It'll take about 5 mins talking to the indian call centre
If it is a genuine version of Windows XP, with a key and it does not activate, then you simply ring them up
It'll take about 5 mins talking to the indian call centre
26-03-2007, 01:11 PM
#28
Professional Waffler
But i thought it was one install per machine? like you cant use the same disc on two different pc's? or is that balls and you just need a different code? but then is it possible to purchase just a code from MS if required?
You got me thinking now thrush
You got me thinking now thrush
26-03-2007, 07:10 PM
#30
Thing is - I don't want to "purchase" anything and according to MS, the CD's are single use for single PC - although you can physically install the CD on any machine, you are only supposed to install it on one machine - but really that is one KEYCODE per machine as the contents of the actually CD are the same...
I doubt if I ring up MS they will just GIVE me a code tho... And I ain't fooking paying for one!!!!
Downloaded a "corporate" version of it, which apparently has volume liscence so no need for a code - we shall see!
I might just run this PC on Win2k which I already have anyway - tho I doubt WMP11 works on Win2k...
and according to MS, the CD's are single use for single PC - although you can physically install the CD on any machine, you are only supposed to install it on one machine - but really that is one KEYCODE per machine as the contents of the actually CD are the same...I doubt if I ring up MS they will just GIVE me a code tho... And I ain't fooking paying for one!!!!
Downloaded a "corporate" version of it, which apparently has volume liscence so no need for a code - we shall see!
I might just run this PC on Win2k which I already have anyway - tho I doubt WMP11 works on Win2k...
But yeah, no good for me - I need to top memory (the bottom one I have 2x sticks of 256mb - shame they don't fit 
28-03-2007, 03:34 PM
#34
Expensive enough to not warrent buying it right now This is a "ghetto" HTPC build remember - spend only what I have to
Right, well after fucking up the display with Powerstrip this morning I had to reinstall, so I used a "special" version of XP Home I procured from the internet Which was the one I initially tried to install which kept failing. Worked perfect this time, and now, after a "tweak" I don't have the 30-day pop up anymore So we shall see if it continues to work after 30-days
So other than a bigger HDD (for the USB attached drive) and an optical soundcard (for passing DD5.1 and DTS to my AVR) and an optical mouse that works over a couple metre's I think I am sorted
This is a "ghetto" HTPC build remember - spend only what I have to Right, well after fucking up the display with Powerstrip this morning
I had to reinstall, so I used a "special" version of XP Home I procured from the internet Which was the one I initially tried to install which kept failing. Worked perfect this time, and now, after a "tweak" I don't have the 30-day pop up anymore So we shall see if it continues to work after 30-days So other than a bigger HDD (for the USB attached drive) and an optical soundcard (for passing DD5.1 and DTS to my AVR) and an optical mouse that works over a couple metre's I think I am sorted
01-04-2007, 01:40 PM
#37
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My xp disc has been reinstalled on this machine soo many times I can't activate it over the net no more, I have to ring them up. They ask if it came with the pc "course it did" and is this the only machine it's been installed on "course it is" and then they give you the activation code
I'll have to do it again when I get a SATA drive for windows to be installed on, and when my "new" machine arrives
I'll have to do it again when I get a SATA drive for windows to be installed on, and when my "new" machine arrives
08-04-2007, 12:07 PM
#38
Well it's working fine so far! Had it hooked up to the TV an AV amp since last week, and yesterday installed the £7 budget optical soundcard, and after 10 mins fooking around it now ouputs bitstream DD5.1 and DTS to the AVR so movies play in full surround
