DVD & Blu-ray, PC player

[tthurman]

So I bought three versions of Windows 8 Pro early on when MS was making it attractive to do so on the cheap. I figured I would run it for my HTPC, M-ulator, and eventually my gaming rig. Anyway, right around this same time they offered the pro pack with media center, so I grabbed keys for each OS, but only had time to get one box loaded before the 1-31-13 deadline. Fast forward to yesterday, and I'm finishing applying the 8.1 update, and figure I'll plug i the key and see if it works. "The key is good", I'm thinking cool, and let it roll on with the install. Being a prime example of were not searching bit me in the arse, as soon as it reboots I'm greeted with the dreaded windows version in the lower right corner.

$%@ *#@!) MS, couldn't just say something like "invalid key", no let me install the whole enchilada only to find out it just bombed the whole installation. On the other hand, I accept responsibility for trying to use something I knew had passed the offer deadline. For those interested, 8.1 is right at 4 GIG's, do yourself a favor and go to one of the Microsoft partner sites like digital river, and grab a new .iso vs. suffering though step upgrades on a clean install. /end rant

I don't think media center is the be all to end all, but at the same time it just works, and if it makes things easier for my wife, then it makes my life easier.

Anyway short of just dropping $10 on this, is anyone experienced with some of the newer players like potplayer, or SMPlayer? I've used VLC for years, and like it, but I've never used it in a home theater setting. I'm looking for something that takes advantage of hardware acceleration via a HD-6770, and also supports 7.1. Potplayer says I need some Direct X runtime, and links to a rather dated file from 2010/11. Being Microsoft, and DirectX I'm a little concerned installing something that old on their newest OS. In short, I don't need anymore practice installing this OS!

Thanks

[DazzleHP]

Anyway short of just dropping $10 on this, is anyone experienced with some of the newer players like potplayer, or SMPlayer? I've used VLC for years, and like it, but I've never used it in a home theater setting. I'm looking for something that takes advantage of hardware acceleration via a HD-6770, and also supports 7.1. Potplayer says I need some Direct X runtime, and links to a rather dated file from 2010/11. Being Microsoft, and DirectX I'm a little concerned installing something that old on their newest OS. In short, I don't need anymore practice installing this OS!

If you use the recommended Shark007's Codecs you can easily enable the ffdshow hardware acceleration, you can then use pretty much any softplayer you like

[tthurman]

hmmm, what am I missing? I didn't know these were recommended. Nice to see there is a 64bit version too.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

[DazzleHP]

hmmm, what am I missing? I didn't know these were recommended. Nice to see there is a 64bit version too.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Pleasure! Be sure to install them in the correct order - the full 32bit version, then the 64bit addon There are instructions on his website if you like to be thorough.

Here is the page that recommends them. Many if not most of us regulars use them as they just work

[Draco1962]

One thing to keep in mind is that in most cases, the 32-bit vdersion is the only one needed for GameEx proper, however, some external apps written for 64-bit may require them.

[tthurman]

My ignorance will be glaring here, but here goes. This leads me to believe that Game EX has it's own buitl player, and these codecs are recommended as they work on it, as well as others?

[DazzleHP]

My ignorance will be glaring here, but here goes. This leads me to believe that Game EX has it's own buitl player, and these codecs are recommended as they work on it, as well as others?

Whether GameEx has it's own player or it uses WMP i'm not sure (a codey will probably be able to answer that for you) but it wouldn't surprise me - Tom is a bit of a whizz! Just look at all the sweet little proggies he's made But yes i can confirm that Shark's codecs work extremely well with GameEx! In fact i would bet that most of the staff here wished that everyone used them as you wouldn't believe the amount of threads about video issues we get - 99% of the time solved by - yep, you guessed it - installing them codecs. I personally have been using them for around 3 years - after Tom himself recommended them to me.

Also yes, once installed most softplayers will use them too, and if not, in most cases you can manipulate them to do so

Of course you're free to go whatever route you like, but for your own sanity, please, don't install the trainwreck that is k-lite! Also bear in mind that as i said, many of us here are familiar with Shark's Codecs and so can guide you easily if you need any assistance.

[tthurman]

We'll I was just coming back here, as a little reading seems to have answered my question.

"Advanced all formats Video Player with support for different audio and subtitle streams"

Super cool!

Thanks for the input guys!

[Tom Speirs]

Just wanted to say GameEx does not use WMP even though a lot of people seem to think so and it requires 32 bit codecs. It uses the codecs directly using DirectShow (now WMP).

[tthurman]

Cool, thanks for the info!