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Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide - Page 328

post #9811 of 15479
1/21/12 at 6:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post


Some poorly ripped AVI and MKV files aren't liked by LAV.

Run it through Handbrake to convert that AVI file to MKV and it will play just fine.

We were troubleshooting this a few months ago and the problem lies in the way that some audio is ripped into the AVI and MKV container that you obtained from other sources (i.e. didn't rip yourself in makemkv or dvdfab, etc). Just re-rip it in Handbrake and it will play fine.

Thanks. I will check out. Not quite there in guide yet. Wife and I are checking out a movie on our new htpc and so far it is awesome!
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post #9812 of 15479
1/21/12 at 6:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stealthrunner View Post

Thanks. I will check out. Not quite there in guide yet. Wife and I are checking out a movie on our new htpc and so far it is awesome!

Great! Welcome to HTPC! Glad I could help!
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post #9813 of 15479
1/21/12 at 7:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post


Yes you can. Silverstone GD04/05 would be perfect. It can fit two 3.5" drives AND a 2.5" drive natively with no additional adapters. So your two 3TB hard drives and single SSD would fit perfectly. It also has the optical drive on the opposite side of the case.

Thanks for the clarification! I've misunderstood those case specs for a while.
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post #9814 of 15479
1/21/12 at 7:59pm
Thread Starter 
I finished Guide #66 tonight.

Launching and Controlling XBMC with a WMC Remote Control

Enjoy.

LINK
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post #9815 of 15479
1/22/12 at 3:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I finished Guide #66 tonight.

Launching and Controlling XBMC with a WMC Remote Control

Enjoy.

LINK

Any plans for a guide for controlling via Logitech Harmony remote? I couldn't find one on your site.
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post #9816 of 15479
1/22/12 at 5:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tooler40 View Post

Any plans for a guide for controlling via Logitech Harmony remote? I couldn't find one on your site.

The issue with doing a guide like this is that it would be absolute murder on my time. I answer dozens of emails and PMs a week in addition to the time that I help on AVS and in this thread. Universal remotes, like the Harmony One (which I have btw), are fraught with issues in compatibility. Between various IR receivers, remote controls, setting options, HTPC settings, AV Receiver, HDTVs, etc there are tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of different variables and settings options.

So that make it almost impossible for me to write guides that are streamlined enough for everyone to use it. And it makes it even more impossible for me to troubleshoot it without physically being in your living room with the remote control.

On the other hand remote control like WMC remotes that I just did have almost no variability in their settings and thus are much easier to do for me.

There are some great Universal remote control guides out there (use Google to find dozens of them). I just don't have the time to create one that would be up to my high standards in regards to trying to make it work for most if not everyone. And I really don't want to be answering dozens of emails and PMs about why they can't wake up their HTPC from sleep with their Harmony One.
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post #9817 of 15479
1/22/12 at 5:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Some poorly ripped AVI and MKV files aren't liked by LAV.

Run it through Handbrake to convert that AVI file to MKV and it will play just fine.

We were troubleshooting this a few months ago and the problem lies in the way that some audio is ripped into the AVI and MKV container that you obtained from other sources (i.e. didn't rip yourself in makemkv or dvdfab, etc). Just re-rip it in Handbrake and it will play fine.

Will/Can handbrake fix audio sync problems in the process of converting to mkv? a few of my older rips have audio and video out of sync.
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post #9818 of 15479
1/22/12 at 5:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpeisher View Post

Will/Can handbrake fix audio sync problems in the process of converting to mkv? a few of my older rips have audio and video out of sync.

I don't know. Only one way to find out! The only thing you might lose is the few minutes it takes to create a mkv!
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post #9819 of 15479
1/22/12 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 
I am considering doing a VERY BASIC Harmony One remote control guide.

Let me know your interest level.
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post #9820 of 15479
1/22/12 at 7:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I am considering doing a VERY BASIC Harmony One remote control guide.

Let me know your interest level.

+1

I would love this.
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post #9821 of 15479
1/22/12 at 7:42am
I'd be interested as well. I have most of the essentials covered on my harmony, but a guide would be nice to see if i'm missing anything.
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post #9822 of 15479
1/22/12 at 8:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I am considering doing a VERY BASIC Harmony One remote control guide.

Let me know your interest level.

Very interested as I use a Harmony One. Especially since I am trying to figure out how to deal with the HDMI "handshake" issue in when I come back to watch a movie on the HTPC (always left on) after it has been idle for a few hours. I get that black screen with only the mouse pointer viewable.
I know its not a sleep or hibernate setting cuz that is all configured properly not to. From what I have read its a HDMI issue and currently I use the ALT+F4 command when powering off and back on. Seems to work at this point but if kids or wife are too hasty with the Harmony and not keep it pointed at everything while it is "powering on" or "powering off" (except HTPC) , then it may miss that command and everyones yelling my name to fix it. LOL!

A good well written guide to Harmony One with some other things to do with the lcd buttons would be great. Like I dont use music or any of the pre-configured LCD buttons once I hit the "Play Movies on HTPC" button. So some high level guide with some good things people do with it would be great.
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post #9823 of 15479
1/22/12 at 8:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjinglesusa View Post

+1

I would love this.

Absolutely. Would LOVE this.
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post #9824 of 15479
1/22/12 at 8:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I am considering doing a VERY BASIC Harmony One remote control guide.

Let me know your interest level.


Ya , I really have to give this a ++ 1 as well .

The man never stops !!
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post #9825 of 15479
1/22/12 at 8:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjinglesusa View Post

+1

I would love this.

Quote:
Originally Posted by chad473 View Post

I'd be interested as well. I have most of the essentials covered on my harmony, but a guide would be nice to see if i'm missing anything.

Quote:
Originally Posted by joedeman1969 View Post

Very interested as I use a Harmony One. Especially since I am trying to figure out how to deal with the HDMI "handshake" issue in when I come back to watch a movie on the HTPC (always left on) after it has been idle for a few hours. I get that black screen with only the mouse pointer viewable.
I know its not a sleep or hibernate setting cuz that is all configured properly not to. From what I have read its a HDMI issue and currently I use the ALT+F4 command when powering off and back on. Seems to work at this point but if kids or wife are too hasty with the Harmony and not keep it pointed at everything while it is "powering on" or "powering off" (except HTPC) , then it may miss that command and everyones yelling my name to fix it. LOL!

A good well written guide to Harmony One with some other things to do with the lcd buttons would be great. Like I dont use music or any of the pre-configured LCD buttons once I hit the "Play Movies on HTPC" button. So some high level guide with some good things people do with it would be great.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike10778 View Post

Absolutely. Would LOVE this.

I am working on it.

Like I said it is going to be a BASIC guide. I am not going to get into sleep settings, powering up/down, crazy button logos, etc.

I am reluctant to do this is in the first place. If I start getting bombarded with ridiculous PMs about remote control issues I am going to be disappointed. Honestly you could do about 30 guides on the Harmony One alone.
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post #9826 of 15479
1/22/12 at 8:50am
Just use a disclaimer and say you wont answer any questions based on that guide.
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post #9827 of 15479
1/22/12 at 10:34am
Don't worry about the TV logos - they are all here: http://www.iconharmony.com/icons/home . I also used the same channel icons, suitably re-sized, in the WMC TV Guide.
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post #9828 of 15479
1/22/12 at 10:36am
Thread Starter 
Alright guys I have added about 3 hours of research into my Harmony One as well as what I had already researched and tweaked in the past. Doing this guide required me to delete all my old Harmony settings.

The things I do for you guys.

If I have time today I will put everything together. I tried a few different ways that I have used but I like the finished product.

I think I have about 100 screenshots from the whole process.

Hope to have it up for everyone by the end of the day.
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post #9829 of 15479
1/22/12 at 10:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Alright guys I have added about 3 hours of research into my Harmony One as well as what I had already researched and tweaked in the past. Doing this guide required me to delete all my old Harmony settings.

The things I do for you guys.

If I have time today I will put everything together. I tried a few different ways that I have used but I like the finished product.

I think I have about 100 screenshots from the whole process.

Hope to have it up for everyone by the end of the day.


You're worth ever penny I paid you

Seriously - youre guide continues to be the best money I spent on this endless (yet wonderful) project. Thanks!
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post #9830 of 15479
1/22/12 at 11:58am
Ok for the last three days i've been trying, off and on, to get Netflix to work with WMC. I followed the guide, the setup fails at 55% every time, just like the guide said it would. I restart WMC and go to movies and the icon is not there. I have tried installing it with and without Silverlight, restarted many times, and i have updated WMC by going to Settings/General/Automatic Updates/Update Now to update WMC. I then hover over the icon in the system tray, and the status text for the WMC updates says it's "downloading the sports schedule" etc... then it says it is finished updating. I restart the WMC, restart the PC, all to no avail. Is there some setting i am missing in the update now or other "check here" box that is updating the TV schedules and not the WMC program itself?
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post #9831 of 15479
1/22/12 at 1:56pm
Thread Starter 
After working on this my entire Sunday I have created what I believe is one of the finest Harmony One HTPC guides in existence.

Take a look and see if you agree.

Guide #44 (the 67th guide in total): The Harmony One for the HTPC
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post #9832 of 15479
1/22/12 at 2:07pm
Thank You Thank you, You are the man!!! I second mike10778, this is the best use of my money by far! Can't wait to see the finished guide.
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post #9833 of 15479
1/22/12 at 4:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

After working on this my entire Sunday I have created what I believe is one of the finest Harmony One HTPC guides in existence.

Take a look and see if you agree.

Guide #44 (the 67th guide in total): The Harmony One for the HTPC

Another awesome guide Assassin!!! Best money I ever spent on this HTPC hobby.
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post #9834 of 15479
1/22/12 at 4:04pm
Awesome guide!
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post #9835 of 15479
1/22/12 at 4:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjinglesusa View Post

Another awesome guide Assassin!!! Best money I ever spent on this HTPC hobby.

I am finished up cropping the pictures I took. It wasn't quite up to my standards.

Now it is.

Thanks. Looking forward to other comments on this guide.
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post #9836 of 15479
1/22/12 at 4:45pm
This may be more than "BASIC" but......

Some may want this function which helps with any hdmi handshake issue. I select "adjust power settings". Select "I use different buttons for power on and off", then select I "dont have the remote but I know the command", (for Power on) then I select WIN+1 where MediaBrowser shortcut sits, then I do the same for power off except I use the ALT+F4 command. I now never get black screen anymore as long as the remote is used properly by the wife and kids.

But your created guide is wonderful, continues to be best 20 i ever spent.
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post #9837 of 15479
1/22/12 at 4:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by joedeman1969 View Post

This may be more than "BASIC" but......

Some may want this function which helps with any hdmi handshake issue. I select "adjust power settings". Select "I use different buttons for power on and off", then select I "dont have the remote but I know the command", (for Power on) then I select WIN+1 where MediaBrowser shortcut sits, then I do the same for power off except I use the ALT+F4 command. I now never get black screen anymore as long as the remote is used properly by the wife and kids.

But your created guide is wonderful, continues to be best 20 i ever spent.

Yeah thats anything but basic and exactly the hornets nest I want to stay away from.

Edit: BTW thanks for the support and glad you like the new guide otherwise!
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post #9838 of 15479
1/22/12 at 5:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Yeah thats anything but basic and exactly the hornets nest I want to stay away from.

Edit: BTW thanks for the support and glad you like the new guide otherwise!

Totally understand!
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post #9839 of 15479
1/22/12 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 
So I just a little more testing.

If perform everything that I posted in Guide #44, Paid Guides 5 (the Harmony One guide) and then perform the steps in Guide #18, Paid Guides 10 (the WMC/XBMC remote guide) you can launch and control XBMC with the Harmony One.

Awesome.
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post #9840 of 15479
1/22/12 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Some poorly ripped AVI and MKV files aren't liked by LAV.

Run it through Handbrake to convert that AVI file to MKV and it will play just fine.

We were troubleshooting this a few months ago and the problem lies in the way that some audio is ripped into the AVI and MKV container that you obtained from other sources (i.e. didn't rip yourself in makemkv or dvdfab, etc). Just re-rip it in Handbrake and it will play fine.

I tried handbrake on a couple of my older rips that were having problems in Media Center. The two i have done so far converted them to mkv files, and then also fixed the out of sync audio i would get when i was able to actually play the files on another PC. Thanks for the help.


I am still unable to get netflix working. See post #9830

Quote:


Ok for the last three days i've been trying, off and on, to get Netflix to work with WMC. I followed the guide, the setup fails at 55% every time, just like the guide said it would. I restart WMC and go to movies and the icon is not there. I have tried installing it with and without Silverlight, restarted many times, and i have updated WMC by going to Settings/General/Automatic Updates/Update Now to update WMC. I then hover over the icon in the system tray, and the status text for the WMC updates says it's "downloading the sports schedule" etc... then it says it is finished updating. I restart the WMC, restart the PC, all to no avail. Is there some setting i am missing in the update now or other "check here" box that is updating the TV schedules and not the WMC program itself?

This is very important for me as my kids watch a LOT of Diego and i am going to be in the dog house with my wife if i can't get Netflix running


What else can i do to get Netflix to work in Media Center?
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