Messages

16

Users / How is media stored? Multiple hard drives question

« on: June 16, 2008, 05:39:48 pm »

I'm in the process of setting up a hybrid system that has multiple hard drives.  As much as I'd like to have them raided, I don't want to spend the extra cash for a raid controller (unless someone has an inexpensive suggestion).  I have a 160GB hard drive for the OS, and 2 identical Seagate 7200 250GB drives for media.  Without these drives being raided, if I was just to just throw some media on them, would LMCE be able to pick it up, etc, etc? 

Basically I'm wondering how LMCE handles media files on hard drives, especially in the instance of having multiple drives.

Thanks,

crash

17

Users / Re: Confirmed "out-of-box" graphics cards

« on: June 16, 2008, 05:24:19 pm »

Yeah the Envy package mentioned earlier already does that for me. 

When I installed the nVidia drivers myself and reconfigured the xorg.conf file to match I got the "Transparency" error, but now when I use the Envy package to do it for me I get a blank screen. 

I have to try it again tonight, I just got a new TV so I have to change my A/V anyway.

18

Users / Re: Confirmed "out-of-box" graphics cards

« on: June 16, 2008, 12:25:49 am »

I'm using the Nvidia 8500GT.  While I've seen many others having problems with it, other than loading the driver it works for me.  The issue is the xorg.conf file it seems.  I've not got mine up and running at 1080i perfectly.  It does have overscan pretty bad, my previous ATI card did not.  It is worth it to me to have the alpha-blending..  If you go with this card, load MCE, then when it first boots hit ESC to go to recovery mode, and download the envy package (albertomilone.com).  Load the nvidia driver, and keep going into recovery mode until you get your xwindows environment setup how you want, so you can run startx and get into the GUI.  I did it this way and it worked fine for me.  Once that was working I did the normal bootup, when through the setup process, etc.

Hey how exactly are you configuring youre xwindows enviornement from recovery?  All I'm getting is a black screen after the splash screen.

19

Users / nVidia 8800gts

« on: June 14, 2008, 12:23:57 am »

Can anyone confirm that this works with alpha blending? I'm having troubles getting mine to.  I keep getting the "orbiter failed to setup the transparency" error.  I dled the latest nVidia drivers, and ran the package to install it.  Is there anything else I can try?

20

Users / Re: dcerouter taking over

« on: June 12, 2008, 10:53:29 pm »

Ok, I'll keep playing and post my results.

Thanks,

-crash

21

Users / Re: Confirmed "out-of-box" graphics cards

« on: June 12, 2008, 10:51:37 pm »

I'll be trying it more tonight. Don't be surprised if you get a PM for more details on what you did.  Thanks again!

-crash

22

Users / Re: dcerouter taking over

« on: June 12, 2008, 06:16:25 pm »

Well, I followed the directions and set the device from 'vesa' to 'fgrlx', is there anything else you think I'd need to change?

23

Users / Re: Confirmed "out-of-box" graphics cards

« on: June 12, 2008, 04:57:41 pm »

I may have to try that with my 8600gts.  I've been having all sorts of issues with both my ATI and nVidia cards, so it's good to have some more insight.

24

Users / Confirmed "out-of-box" graphics cards

« on: June 11, 2008, 06:23:52 pm »

I'm looking for a listing of graphics cards (non-onboard) that work directly out of the box with no issues.  I know the wiki has some listed, but there are very few overall; and I've noticed gpu's being used on here that aren't listed on the wiki.  If you have one of these, or can confirm one, please post it here. 

The better comprehensive listing of graphic cards (or any hardware for that matter) that we can compile, the better suited we are to help new builders build better more efficient rigs....and not waste money on graphics cards that don't work...like I did.

25

Users / Re: Switching gpu's after install

« on: June 11, 2008, 06:06:03 pm »

Thanks!

With your 7800gtx, are you able to run UI2 w/a.b. as flawlessly as one might hope? 

At this point I'm having so many issues with my card I'm looking to just buy a nVidia one to replace it.

26

Users / dcerouter taking over

« on: June 11, 2008, 05:59:08 pm »

I've got an issue, and I'm fairly lost on what to do.

I'm using an ATI 2400xt video card, and after first install I followed the instructions in the wiki on how to update the ATI graphics drivers.  After that, I rebooted the router, ran the AV wizard again, bumped to UI2 from 1, and now after mce starts, it drops me back to the dcerouter logon after just a few seconds.  I have "/etc/init.d/kdm start" and it works, but again, only for a few seconds before dropping me back to the dcerouter logon. 

Anyone know what's going on?

Thanks in advance,
-crash

27

Users / Switching gpu's after install

« on: June 09, 2008, 10:34:27 pm »

If I wanted to upgrade my video card, say switch from an ATI 2400xt 256mb to a nVidia 8600gts 512mb, would I have to reinstall lmce?  I've altered my xconf file for the ATI drivers, would I have to manually update them again for the nVidia or if I ran the AV/ setup wizard would it do that automatically? 

Just wondering.  Thanks,

crash

28

Users / Re: New system, fresh install, and a few questions.

« on: June 09, 2008, 09:49:45 pm »

Well I ran through all that was listed on the Display_drivers link you sent me, and it seems like it took.  The problem now though, is that I when lmce boots to the main menu, it only lasts a few seconds before switching to the dcerouter logon.  From there I'm not sure what to do.

I'm still blasting my way though linux, and have dual booted another computer of mine with ubuntu to try to get better equipped.

Thanks again for the help.

29

Users / Re: New system, fresh install, and a few questions.

« on: June 09, 2008, 05:30:52 pm »

The AVWizard isn't very good at dealing with ATI chipsets (or rather anything outside of a small range of nvidia chipsets).  So your system is probably using the VESA driver at the moment, which (as you have noticed) doesn't perform very well under the UI2 alpha blending you chose.  In a nutshell, switch to UI1 until you have installed the latests ATI drivers manually, then chose UI2 masked.  See: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Display_Drivers for more info.

Thanks Zaerc, I'll check it out.

Hello Crash,

 I am using a 7.1 X-plosion, pci sound card that sets up great, I had it around so I installed as the new Asus ADI 1988B codec was causing some issues I dropped in the 7.1 and it worked great, I only had t enable to IEC outut in KDE's mixer and then it was fine, it offers a coax and toslink output on board. The only issue i have is it take up a PCI slot which I would like to use for another pvr card later. When I move all this stuff to the rack in the basement. Auzentech also make a cheaper version of this card which I think is still based on the C-media chipset which I think should work fine, but I can only comment on what I have above.

 Regards,
 
 Dave

Much appreciated Dave.  Luckily I've got a good handful of PCI expansion slots, so I'll check out the X-Plosion.

30

Users / New system, fresh install, and a few questions.

« on: June 09, 2008, 08:35:04 am »

***This is a re-post, I apologize.  I originally posted in the wrong thread***

Hello everyone!

First off I'd like to thank in advance any help I'm hoping to receive from this thread.  It never ceases to amaze me how friendly and supportive the open-source community is. 

That being said, shall we get to the point?  I purchased a new system, dell pre-packaged. This isn't my first choice, but I got an amazing deal on the hardware in the desktop (I went through my account manager from work so I knew exactly the components going into the rig), and I couldn't pass up a pre-built system that cost less than what I could have built myself.  Specs are as follows:

*Dell GM819/DR845 Mobo  **standard mobo w/intel integrated graphics-which I don't plan on utilizing. **
*Intel E8300 Core 2 duo 2.83GHz proc
*2GB 800 RAM
*2x250GB Seagate 7200 sata's.  **These came in a raid, which I promptly removed. I then added the hard drive below..**
*1x160GB Seagate 7200 sata. **This is my install drive, the others are both media drives. 2x250 was cheaper than one 500**
*256MB ATI RADEON HD 2400 XT  **This I know is causing me issues.  More mentioned below**
*16XDVD+/- sata optical
*Minus the 160GB hd I had previously, this whole machine cost me $300 w/tax&shipping.

After looking at the setup, I like it all.  Although I seem to be the ying to the majority of user's yang.  I use intel processors while most on the boards here use AMD, but I use ATI cards while nVidia seems to be the favored in this ring.  More about below...

I'd want to setup a hybrid with it.  I started this process yesterday and had some issues.  **At this point, after struggling on some sort of comprehensive format with which to present my questions, I figure it's just easier to explain my step-to-step from yesterday, and present the questions in that timeline as they were presented to me.**  So here we go.

• At this point I'm dealing with analog sound until I get a sound card in this puppy.  **Q#1:  Any recommendations for a 5.1-7.1 sound card that works?? **
• I start this process knowing full well that I may have issues with that ATI card. I also assume that I may have to change the setup many times if not install again where I'm building my media center part by part.
• I install the OS, and everything works fine until I get to the first GUI.
• As I'm choosing my DVI out, and OpenGL w/alpha blending I notice that the OS seems to be running clunky, slow and choppy. I'm even getting lag on my cursor.
• Sarah's walkthrough starts and I don't see video, and the OS is choppy, unresponsive, and is behaving buggy.  I had seen the "equipment used in the video" demo and figured that if his on-board nVidia 6150 worked, that if my ATI card worked at all, being a more powerful gpu, it would work great.  At this point I'm doubting my figures. 
  **Q#2:  Does anyone actually have an idea of what graphics model minimum runs everything smoothly with alpha blending/etc?
• The walkthrough finished, and the OS starts...painfully slow and unworkable.  I can't get any sort of response from it.  I know how to get back to the video setup to change it, but it is SO slow that it proves to be quicker just to reinstall the whole thing.  I'm also doubting my hard drive setup (when dell says they are sending you a raid, it's a pain to take apart), so I triple check my BIOS to make sure I disabled the raid correctly.
• I reinstall.  This time I choose OpenGL w/o alpha blending.  Everything runs smoother.  Still far from great, but manageable.  I figured at this point that my ATI card is either A) just behaving badly, or B) not registering at all and I'll need to manually install it.
• It actually starts running.  Mind you no media is displayed because I have none on these hard drives yet.  (I have a 1TB external nearly filled with media, much of which will be moved to my lmce box.)
• As soon as I try to access any media, or advanced features, it switches to a command line asking for a logon ID
  **Q#3: ...wtf? All I was trying to see was the menu, I know I don't have media installed...and even moreso that there is no password on my hard drives.  External isn't plugged in at this point.  Anyone recognize what I'm talking about?**

That's about where I left it yesterday.  I figure the ATI card is just a small waste of power right now, but I have a friend who's going to let me borrow his extra nVidia 8600GT 512mb to see if that does the trick.  I had originally planned on upgrading my main desktops video card in the next few months and moving one of the ATI 1950xtx's in there now over to this machine, but if it's not going to take any ATI card I'll just have to purchase a nVidia.  Q#4:  Does Lmce automatically find/mount other hard drives, or would I have to do that manually?  I never got that far.

Q#5: I also have a logitech diNovo mini http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=us,en, bluetooth keyboard built to work with windows mce, anyone know if this will work as anything more than a keyboard with lmce?

As of now that's where I am.  Any questions? Comments?

Thanks in advance!

-crash