Yes I know, another advice request, and my first post at that. ... and yes I have spent quite a bit of time reading... But anyhow, here goes.

I'm building a new server box this weekend and significantly upgrading RAM (to 2GB) and processor (3.8Ghz intel). Storage for now will be an old hardware raid5 array. Server box once configured will be under the stairs with no monitor. Server will be a windows box maybe even W2K Pro because I know it and it's been running 24/7 for 7 years with no issues, ever.

Need advice specifically for streaming / transcoding software.

Server for now will be all things - file server, print server, ftp server, and will be updating a website hourly via ftp to my web host. This machine also becomes my remote desktop when I'm away from home on my laptop (via logmein or pcanywhere).

At home, I have a laptop and family desktop machine both connected to Linksys musicbridge and soon will be going probably with the D-Link for A/V to the home theater. I have local winamp libraries on laptop and desktop, and server! and ideally would like to get to one library and keep everything off the desktop and laptop.

I've tried TVersity but it was a memory hog and my old machine wasn't fast enough to transcode. Menu structure sucked too. I tried Nero Media Home but could never actually make it work with any media player in windows. I currently am using orb2/winamp for music on the go, but not impressed with the web interface so I rarely use it. I had itunes sharing libraries for a while which was nice, but I'm not a fan of the itunes interface - but sharing libraries over vpn worked pretty well.

I'd like to keep the vpn streaming thing going, but most important is the LAN stuff - connection to PCs and the future d-link... I assume I'll definitely need upnp...

Tversity? Media Home?

Other software solutions?

Yeah I know long post for a really short question.. Thanks in advance!