Possible to boot into media center?

[coriolis]

As titled, is there such an OS that allows one to turn on the HTPC and pretty much boots into the media center? No Windows/Ubuntu, just straight into a media center OS?

For example, one would turn on the HTPC via remote(some HTPCs have built in IR, does it also allow tuning on via a remote?), and it would boot into, say XMBC, and the person can just start watching their videos, streamed off a NAS.


I know one can install Windows, then install XMBC and have it run on startup.....but well, could it be bypassed?

Thanks!

[Shadowmeph]

Hmm that is what I would like to know also. I guess that would be call a dedicated OS/media Center that works entirely off the remote?

[grinder]

there is a trick but i dont have a link to the guide. Myth TV Front end and Back End server.

The front end is the machine that connects to your TV, it does not need a hard drive and can boot direct off the network (mythTV back end). Your back end server is the NAS for all recorded shows, etc. It's possible with Myth but i don't have the guide

[CMetaphor]

Try this:
Run -> Regedit.exe

Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\currentVersion\Winlogon
Find the key called "shell" and replace "explorer.exe" with "ehshell.exe" ( OR C:\windows\ehome\ehshell.exe, might have to try both.

See if it works

[Shadowmeph]

Originally Posted by CMetaphor

Try this:
Run -> Regedit.exe

Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\currentVersion\Winlogon
Find the key called "shell" and replace "explorer.exe" with "ehshell.exe" ( OR C:\windows\ehome\ehshell.exe, might have to try both.

See if it works

oh and of course backup the reg first lol

[CMetaphor]

Probably a good idea to backup the Reg. yeah. But then again, even from Media Center, Ctrl+alt+del should still work, and from there you can choose "run" then "explorer.exe" to get your normal windows desktop back.

[coriolis]

Thanks for the replies! I think I'm going to end up grabbing a Popcorn Hour!