[xbs08]

XBMC + Secondary Display + MCE Remote

After reading several tutorials, found here at the forum, i've decided to combine some of them into one and make it as simple as possible to start XBMC on a Secondary Display using only the MCE's start button.


Members that provided very important info: Andye26, Cam73, mitul03 and idioteque.
Thanks you!


Let get started...

Applications Needed:
1. XBMC for Windows (duh!)
2. UltraMon
3. IR Server Suite

Install XBMC & make sure your MCE remote is connected and installed properlly

After installing Ultramon:
(first configure your primary display and secondary display settings)
1. Create a XBMC shorcut
2. Right Click and select properties
3. Select UltraMon - Display tab
3. Select secondary display and tick primary
4. Click Shortcut tab
5. In Target select everything after ...UltraMonShortcuts.exe"
6. Right Click on the selected text and select copy (this will be needed later on)

After installing IR Server Suit:
1. Start > All Programs > IR Server Suit > Input Service Configuration
2. Find Microsoft MCE in the list and press Configure
3. In Basic tab tick Disable Windows Media Center services
4. In Remote tab tick all except use system keyboard rate settings
5. In Keyboard tab tick all except Use QWERTZ layout
6. In Mouse tab tick all
7. OK > OK

8. Start > All Programs > IR Server Suit > Translator
9. Tick Start Translator with Windows
10. In Programs tab press New
11. Follow instrutions
12. In Description tab write something like XBMC TV
13. In Application point to the shortcut you created before
14. Start Folder should appear automatacally
15. In Parameters paste the text you copied before
16. Set > OK
17. Press System Wide > New
18. In Application Display name write XBMC
19. In Application point to your XBMC.exe
20. In Application start folder point to your XBMC folder
21. Tick Ignore System-Wide mappings and press OK > OK

Uff, you'r all set

PS:
1. Pressing the green button on the MCE Remote will make XBMC
run on your secondary display as if it was the primary display.
2. Pressing the TV button on the MCE Remote will quit XBMC
and set your displays to their original settings.

[furrycushion]

40 dollars seems a lot to pay just to be able to move a window

[Hitcher]

Obviously it can be used with other remotes.

[furrycushion]

I think you misunderstand. The solution proposed here - which I've no doubt works is for people with 2 monitors and want to start XBMC on their secondary monitor. Currently XBMC only starts full screen on the first monitor. But I guess Ultramon changes some registry setting so that it thinks the 2nd monitor is the primary and starts fullscreen.

Ultramon costs 40 dollars if you want to use it for more than 30 days.

[Hitcher]

Ah sorry, I thought you meant the MCE Remote.

[amerdul]

Can I have a TFT screen (VGA --> VGA) as primary screen and a Plasma TV
(DVI --> HDMI) as secondary screen using the method described?

What happens with the primary screen when pressing the green button on the MCE remote?

[xbs08]

Can I have a TFT screen (VGA --> VGA) as primary screen and a Plasma TV
(DVI --> HDMI) as secondary screen using the method described?

What happens with the primary screen when pressing the green button on the MCE remote?

The primary becomes the secondary and returns to primary when xbmc exits.

[nekrosoft13]

The primary becomes the secondary and returns to primary when xbmc exits.

wouldn't that screw with your other fullscreen apps? what if you want to run a game at the same time?

[xbs08]

wouldn't that screw with your other fullscreen apps? what if you want to run a game at the same time?

Yes, it would.
If you want to run a game or other app in the primary display and xbmc on the secondary, independently from each other (display and keyboard/mouse wise) you should use "xbmcLaunch" instead.

xbmcLaunch is a little app that will launch xbmc windowed, maximixed and without borders (same as fullscreen basicly) on the secondary display. You can find xbmcLaunch in the forum for download.

[Dan1el]

i followed the tutorial, and worked well but, now i get a funny refresh rate hitch, is a vertical line that comes from the top to the bottom of the screen every 30 seconds or so. It looks like a frame sync problem.