
AC3Filter: For those that use SPDIF out on your systems, this is the best-performing audio decoder. Run the installer to install and configure the video and audio decoders. ffdshow: Download the latest and greatest build from here: ffdshow SVN builds, e.g.
Direct download link: Haali Media Splitter.
Haali Media Splitter: The de facto video file parser. Get the latest here: DirectX End-user Runtimeīefore installing MediaPortal itself, it's a good idea to install and set up some of the essential and recommended decoders: Update your DirectX End-user Runtime: Usually the one that comes with Vista is rather outdated. If you don't already have it, then install the latest service pack for your OS (SP2 for Vista, SP3 for XP). Especially the "reliability" or "compatibility" packs. Windows Updates: Run Windows Update and install the essential and recommended updates. To ensure stability of your system, it's a good idea to keep it up to date with the latest drivers and system software. Ideally, that would mean a fresh install of Windows XP or Vista (preferred) with only the absolute necessary drivers and some essential software (e.g. īefore continuing, I would recommend you start with a clean system that has no decoders already installed and especially no decoder "packs". than what is provided below, then please visit: MediaPortal Wiki or MediaPortal Community Forums. If you need more details on configuration, TV tuning, etc. This guide is not intended to replace the wonderful MediaPortal documentation, but rather to introduce the AVS community to MediaPortal and provide a quick and easy set-up guide. Therefore, this guide will help alleviate some of that burden and help get a MediaPortal installation up & running.
And because it provides so much more configuration some find it a daunting task to install and configure. It is far more configurable than Windows Media Center, and it works out-of-the-box with the MCE remote. It has wide community support and thanks to it's excellent plug-in and skinning framework, there are lots of community-developed extensions you can pick and choose to make it your own. It does everything you can ask for in a media center: video playback, music playback, photo viewing, weather, TV tuning and recording, etc. MediaPortal is an open-source and free full-fledged HTPC front-end.