[MAGMAN12]

Hi,

I want to use this APU with either a Gigabyte or Asrock mobo to try to keep it simple and not have to get a seperate graphics card. Will it work properly with XMBC Live or OpenELEC as I have read many conflicting reports.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005I2YL4G/re...B005I2YL4G

If it won't what would be my best options.

I am looking at using micro atx, an ssd to boot into XMBC or OpenELEC, with a possible duel boot (new at all this so still doing research) into Windows 7 for iternet browsing, Blue Ray, Skype etc. I will use 2 or 3TB internal hard drives for storing my media.

Thanks

[TeKo]

Tried XBMCbuntu 2 weeks ago and I didnt work that well.
If you want to dual boot why dont you just use Win7 only?
With a SSD it boots really fast and you have no driver problems.

And if you want to use openelec you dont need a SSD its not even 100mb.

[MAGMAN12]

I was going to start with XBMC/OpenELEC and then add windows later. I wanted the system to boot into XBMC/OpenELEC quickly and without any need to do anything so the rest family did not have to go into windows and start it up.

[TeKo]

You can just set XBMC as Shell so windows boots straight into XBMC and then you can start explorer.exe to get the desktop:
from the wiki

1. Setting up your user account to log in automatically
Log in as administrator.
Open the start menu, and type in the search box: netplwiz <ENTER>.
Uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer and hit Apply.
A window will pop up asking for the user name and password of the user account which should log in automatically. Supply all the information and hit OK.
Next time you restart, the account selected in step 1 will log on automatically. Now you can setup this account to use XBMC as shell instead of Explorer:
If you want to use EventGhost then skip step 2.
2. Set XBMC as shell for a specific user account
Log in as administrator.
Open the start menu, and type in the search box: mmc <ENTER>.
Choose File -> Add/Remove Snap-in....
Select Group Policy Object Editor and hit Add.
In the wizard that pops up, hit Browse..., go to tab Users, select your user account (the one that you set up to log on automatically in step 1) and hit OK.
Make sure that the checkbox in the wizard is Unchecked, and hit Finish.
Hit OK in the Add/Remove Snap-ins window.
In the User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System folder, open Custom User Interface.
Select Enabled and enter the full path (including XBMC.exe and any switches that you may use) in the Interface file name textbox.
Hit OK and reboot your system. It should now log in and start XBMC automatically without showing the start menu and icons first

http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW...as_a_shell)

[MAGMAN12]

Thanks for the info.

What sort of boot time should I get with a ssd going into windows and XBMC, I am getting about 20-25 seconds from a usb with OpenELEC on my laptop.

[Balinus]

You can just set XBMC as Shell so windows boots straight into XBMC and then you can start explorer.exe to get the desktop:
from the wiki


http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW...as_a_shell)

I find using Evenghost to be an easier path to automatically start XBMC.

[TeKo]

Yea Iam using EG too (set as Shell) but if you use XBMC directly you get another 1sec

My HTPC needs about 30sec from OFF to XBMC and its not the fastest SSD.

[bluray]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005I2YL4G/re...B005I2YL4G

into Windows 7 for iternet browsing, Blue Ray, Skype etc. I will use 2 or 3TB internal hard drives for storing my media.

Thanks

I agreed with Teko. If you want to enjoy blu-ray, internet browsing (Youtube, Yahoo, Google, etc), Skype, bitstreaming, streaming (Netflix, Vudu, etc), would as well go for Windows 7 HTPC only. It'll work great with AMD A6-3500, and it'll be very simple too. XBMC+Windows 7 is as good as it get, and you can customize XBMC startup with this guide- Customizing Windows for XBMC.

[Harro]

From the time I press the start bitton on my comp to windows loaded about 50 secs and I do not have a ssd drive for boot. sata 3 g/b 80 gig drive. Fast enough for me but I am sure with some optimalization to windows start up processes, boot time would be lower. If I load XBMC into start up, add another 10 secs I guess.

[MAGMAN12]

Thanks for your suggestions, looks like W7 with the AMD setup is the way to go.

[eskro]

be careful with installing service pack1 standalone installer,

it killed my Master Boot Record

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=125238