Here’s a checklist I came up with while reinstalling my HTPC:
- Install Vista (I use x64 and manually sliced the disk in a 40GB boot partition, and left the rest for a data/recordings partition).
- Allow automatic weekly updates (on Wednesday at 03:00).
- Install your network.
- Upgrade to latest BIOS (you might wanna skip this).
- Uncheck all components in “Control Panel, Programs, Turn Windows Features On or Off”.
- Install your chipset driver (I installed the Intel package).
- Download and install SP1 (choose x86 or x64 and your installed language).
- When finished, run vsp1cln.exe to clean up after SP1 installation.
- Start Windows Update and install all important updates.
- If you have a 2GB 150x USB stick or better, plug it in and configure 512MB for ReadyBoost, and use the rest for timeshifting in your Media Center application.
- Right click Computer, then “Manage, Configuration, Services”. Set to disabled startup and stop the following services, that is useless on an HTPC:
- DFS Replication
- Diagnostic Policy Service (change to manual)
- Distributed Link Tracking Client
- IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
- IPsec Policy Agent
- KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator
- Offline Files
- Remote Registry
- Tablet PC Input Service
- Windows Error Reporting Service
- Windows Search
- Download and install graphics drivers (I installed ATI’s Driver Only option)
- Download and install TV tuner drivers (I installed Hauppauge’s Driver Only option).
- Configure your sound card and select your speaker setup. Note Vista comes with a cool room correction feature you can take advantage of if you have a surround sound setup and a microphone.
- Download and install Haali’s MetroskaSplitter to support .mkv files (free).
- Download and install AC3Filter to support surround sound streams (free).
- Open” Programs, AC3Filter, Configuration” and select your speaker setup.
- Download and install Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra 8 to support HD content (commercial app, trial).
- Click “Control Panel, Add or Remove User Accounts”. Create a standard user with a password, and allow auto logon. Supply the user/password you just created.
- Restart.
- In the bottom of the Welcome page, uncheck the “Always show…”
- Right click desktop then “Properties, Display Settings”, then adjust the resolution to match you flat panel screen, typically 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080.
- Update Windows Experience Index by right click Computer, then “Properties, Windows Experience Index”,
- Vista Home does not include Terminal Services. But you can install Mesh and connect the box to your mesh, to enable it.
- If you have DVB-C (cable) or DVB-S (satellite), you cannot use Windows Media Center as it only supports DVB-T (terrestrial):
- Download and install DVBViewer Pro (commercial app, no trial available).
- Launch DVBViewer’s options and check fullscreen, always on top and configure your hardware devices and directx filters. Choose the EVR renderer to enable DXVA2.
- Download and install EventGhost to support remote control, and this eventghost configuration.
- Add EventGhost to Startup folder.
- Launch EventGhost and load the configuration.
- Add an action to the Autostart event of type “System, Start Application”, executable: “taskkill”, parameters: “/f /im ehtray.exe” to prevent Windows Media Center from stealing the remote control commands. If you have no keyboard connected and you are an absolute purist, you could also add “taskkill”, “/f /im explorer.exe” to shut down the Windows Explorer and free up extra resources.
- Activate Windows.
- Enjoy!
