Asrock VisionX 321B + Windows 8.1
fgarcor
Donor
Posts: 29
#1
2014-01-10, 01:02
I got the following Setup working and I love having everything integrated. I went through several common issues that I try to gather here for the sake of unification.
Finally I managed to get Bluray and DVD Playing working and integrated with Windows Apps like Netflix, Spotify, TuneIn, etc.
Enjoy it.

A) SOFTWARE
B) HARDWARE
C) STEPS TO SET EVERYTHING UP
  1. Install the OS on the SSD as UEFI (for faster Bootup). You require windows 8 installed on a Pendrive. Bootup from the pendrive by selecting it as UEFI. The whole OS will be installed as UEFI.
  2. Update the OS from windows 8 to 8.1
  3. Re-install some of the drivers, as after installing 8.1 some of the software may stop working. E.g. Catalyst for Radeon, or Remote Control.
    -- Nuvoton Software
    -- CEC Pulse-eight adapter drivers (http://www.pulse-eight.com/store/product...#downloads)
  4. Install XBMC 12.3. Or you could install also XBMC+Spotify version, but you will need to compile it on Windows and have a premium spotify account:
    http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=67012
  5. Make sure you get the licdio-12.dll and rename it to libcdio-13.dll on the installation directory of XBMC.
    You can extract the DLL from this file:http://www.findthatzip-file.com/search-3...32.zip.htm
  6. Make sure in XBMC you set your Audio to SPDIF. In XBMC 12.3 when reproducing a DVD or Blu Ray, if it is set to HDMI the FPS goes down to 4 FPS. Even, many errors with Audio can be found on the logs if not enabled. Yes, unfortunately, I had to use SPDIF. But it was an advantage as I can use it by switching the screen to the projector.
  7. Make sure your BD unit (Slimtype DB e DL4ETS) has been set to a DVD Region. I tried to lock the region using LtnRPC software in the past (http://dhc014.rpc1.org/LtnRPC/index.htm). However it was not a good idea. I had to start the system with a Windows XP (Hiren's Recovery CD) and run LtnRPC again to Enable the Region again.
  8. Install AnyDVD. AnyDVD HD. 9.3.8 was good for me. I had a problem here with CyberLink Power DVD 12 every time XBMC tried to read a DVD or BluRay. I had to disable the automatic Startup of the DRMEngine and other CyberLink Software related on the Startup Tab on the Task Manager. CyberLink was stopping XBMC from reading properly my Discs.
  9. Install Skin and Other AddOns.
  10. Run MCE Remote Registry. After installation of my drivers, many keys on my MCE AsRock remote were not detected. You can test it with ShowKey.exe. For that purpose you have to run MCE Remote Registry as Administrator (so you can write the settings on your registry). Do not forget to backup your current ones. I have associated CLEAR Key as ALT+F4 so I can close the current running Window. And ENTER as ALT+TAB so I can switch to the previous Task easily. I have program the Windows Button to WIN+1 as I have pinned XBMC on my taskbar after the Windows Start Icon. Not perfect yet, but I will find some other solution later.
  11. Associate the functions on XBMC by using Keymap Editor addon, very easy to use.
  12. Program the Remote control RiiTek by learning the MCE AsRock remote control keys.
  13. Make sure on Windows you set your current country as United States so you can install Netflix. You will obviously need a Netflix account and if you live outside of USA a proxy or solution to get access to it.
  14. Install the desired Windows Applications(e.g. Netflix, Spotilite, TuneIn)
  15. Copy the MetroLauncher.exe Type 1 and rename it to Netflix. Same with Spotilite. Copy them to a folder called APPS.
  16. Copy the MetroLauncher.exe Type 2 and rename it to TuneIn Radio. Copy it to the same folder called APPS.
  17. Configure XBMC Addon Advanced Launcher to launch each of the EXEs on the APPS folder as a standalon Launcher. You can get the thumb and fanart icons from google. You can add also Chrome and Google TV as URLs.
  18. You can create a new Menu on the Home of your XBMC and associate it to the APPS launched by Advanced Launcher. That way you got direct access to the apps you have previously selected, like in Android.
  19. Configure XBMC to go to sleep when switched off.
  20. Set up XBMC to Autolaunch on the bootup from Windows. For that you need to auto login user, And set a link to XBMC on the "shellConfusedtartup" and configure Taskbar to go directly to Desktop after login: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=174086
  21. Create 2 Links to displaySwitch one with the option /external and the other with /internal. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/376...reate.html. Option 2.
  22. Configure LiveStreams. In my case I got the channels from Spain using the MOD LiveStreams.
    http://pluginsxbmc.blogspot.de/2013/03/l...sxbmc.html
  23. Yatse. There was a problem. Everytime I used Yatse on my phone it automatically awakes XBMC from Sleep. To avoid that, you can Configure the Ethernet Card to not switch On unless it is a Magic Packet.
    http://yatse.leetzone.org/redmine/boards/2/topics/160
    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IvXRn...mputer.png

D) OPERATION
  • XBMC will start and switch ON the TV and AVR.
  • On the main MENU you have APPS folder, that go directly to Advanced Launcher Default and you can launch all the configured Metro Apps.
  • You can always go back to XBMC either by pressing CLEAR (ALT+F4) or Green Button (WIN+1).
  • When you switch off XBMC it should send TV and AVR to sleep as well.
  • Bootup from sleep takes 1 second. If you prefer to save power, you can use the Hybrid Shutdown mode from Windows 8. That should take 30 secs to boot up on a SSD. Hard drive takes longer.
Hopefully it helps some people with same or similar hardware to integrate the whole experience with XBMC.

E) TODO:
I receive my projector cable tomorrow. I will have to figure out how to switch comfortably the screen from TV to Projector.

Any other suggestion to add to this machine?
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stiwi
Member
Posts: 72
#2
2014-04-04, 12:53
Great write up, thanks.

Does Ultra Fast setup in BIOS work for you? When I change from FAST to Ultra Fast I get error upon restart stating something about incompatibility of this mode with graphic card.
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fgarcor
Donor
Posts: 29
#3
2014-04-04, 13:23
Let me check it at home, but my feeling is that I don't have the ultra fast option. Are you sure it is the same model? Because I remember seeing that feature in a video in youtube and searching for it, and not finding it. You may have also the newer vision x.

However what I do, is to set it to standby when switching off, so it takes no time to switch on.

If you want to really switch it off then yes, you need the fast or ultra fast from bios. Be careful with the hybrid mode on Windows and those settings.
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stiwi
Member
Posts: 72
#4
2014-04-11, 09:49
Fast works fine for me, however ultra fast doesn't work. It shows some message regarding GPU not supported and BIOS settings are reverted to FAST option. Yes, I have the same model VisionX 321B.

I also run into "constant reading loop" issue with DVD/BD once XBMC is launched, despite replacing libcdio-13.dll any ideas why?
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fgarcor
Donor
Posts: 29
#5
2014-04-11, 11:02
I have 2 questions about reading Blu-ray.
- what version of xbmc are you using? I am on 12.3
- do you have powerdvd installed on your system? In that case you have to disable from the startup.
- in case you are testing blurays, it depends on the blu Ray and anydvd whether it can be read. A DVD should work fine.
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Asrock VisionX 321B + Windows 8.10