Windows 7 image for Foxconn a3700

[panteragstk]

I offered to create an image for the Foxconn a3700 and would like to know what you guys would want included.

For my current install I have the hardware in my sig. The crystal HD is for HD flash (hulu, you tube) and only 10.3 works properly so that's what's installed.

Silverlight 5 has gpu decoding so I have a batch file set to load the WMC netflix plugin and it works flawlessly with this unit.

Sage will play everything without issue. I had to update the NIC driver to the latest and it now has no WIRED network issues.

I can't really comment on wifi performance until I get a new router. I have a motorola cable modem/router that is a POS.

I have ffdshow, LAV filters, and the TMT 5 decoders installed and all videos play back perfectly in sage. I also use MPC-HC for blu-ray blayback and it works as well.

I use EventGhost for helping my remote control the above aplications and have it configured it for a MCE remote.

I have the CCC configured to play video smoothly (you can't turn on many features or playback will be choppy) and deinterlacing is set to vector adaptive and works very well.

Video quality from this little unit is very good considering the low end hardware. If you just need it to act as a client for an extra TV then it is great. I'm REALLY picky about video quality so it wouldn't work in my HT on the big screen just because of the weak cpu/gpu. My HT pc is WAY faster and much better video quality. Just wanted to throw that out there to let you know of what to expect.

Out of all that, what else would you guys like to be included? I'm going to create the image as a w7 64bit that isn't activated (obviously) with sage v7 updated and no plugins installed. Sage will be in trial mode so you'll need a key.

EDIT:

I've attached the .torrent file below.

EDIT 2: I've attached the generic image torrent as well. This one has been generalized so it's not tied to one specific machine type. You can use this image on any computer without issue. All you need to do is install drivers for your particular hardware. Sage and everything else in the a3700 image is present so no matter what GPU you have (amd, intel, nvidia) there should be an installed decoder that should work.

[ckewinjones]

I have an A3700 on order and I v. much appreciate your offer to post a Win7 image.

The configuration you describe in your post would meet my needs quite nicely.

Thanks.

[Skybolt]

Sounds like a pretty cool config. I like your use of the Netflix plugin. I never thought of that. If I ever get a box like this, I would take advantage of this build just the way it is. Sounds, mighty nice!

[cupp]

Just bought one would love to have an image preconfigured. It would save me a lot of time. Thanks

[ChaOConnor]

Dude... this would be... AMAZING! Thank you!

[panteragstk]

I'll try to post it tomorrow. Got a lot of stuff to do today.

[panteragstk]

Ok, everything has been installed and configured for the image.

EventGhost has been set up so you can use Hulu Desktop for hulu (obviously) and WMC has the Netflix plugin installed. Silverlight 5 is installed so gpu decoding works. Flash 10.3 is installed for the broadcom crystal HD card (if you choose to use it.

Eventgost is setup to use MPC-HC or TMT 3-5 as an external player if you wish to use Fuzzy's plugin. All you have to do is configure the commands to work with your remote. There is also a WMC Netflix folder that I have included all of the commands necessary to control the netflix interface with any remote. Hulu, mpc-hc, and sageTV are also included so any remote can be used. TMT will require some additional configuration as I don't use TMT any more. A macro is also set so you can assign a "home" button that will always get you back to sagetv if you are in any of the previously mention applications. Volume controls have also been provided with an OSD if you choose to use it. For users with knowledge of EG this will be nothing new, but for people that have little or no experience it will require a little research. I can help with all of the macros I created. Once you figure it out it is really simple.

SageTV will play anything I've thrown at it. MPC-HC has also been configured and is working. You will have to configure LAV or ffdshow (both are installed) for your speaker setup. AC3filter is present as well.

The only trouble I see anyone running into is the flash acceleration. I was unable to get it to work properly without the broadcom Crystal HD card. Being only $20 it was a cheap fix. I hadn't used 10.3 without the card so I'll test and report back for those that don't want to get a crystal HD.

All drivers are installed and I recommend leaving them alone (unless you have additional hardware you want to use of course).

Windows is on the first day of the 30 day activation. Sage is on the first day of the trial period. All updates to sage have been installed. No plugins. Nothing else but video playback has been configured. Windows updates have not been configured and no antivirus software is installed. All of those things will be based on preference.

So, you guys have a month to download and play with the image. After that I'll have to figure something else out so I don't have to do this over and over to get a good image with everything in trial mode. I'd really hate to have someone download this and have to immediately activate windows and have to put in a client key to even test it. Any suggestions in this area are welcome. I could generalize the install and include directions for installing the drivers, but that might be too difficult for certain users. Let me know.

Now, what image format do you guys want, and does anyone have somewhere they are willing to host so everyone can download the image?

[cupp]

I use acronis true image. It is a free download for western digital, maxtor or seagate hard drives. It will reduce the image down to one file. I haven't had any problems cloning at all. The also offer a free 30 trial.

I would not worry about redoing the image. They can activate windows then change what they want or reinstall if they want to.

[drewg]

What are you using for a remote control? Will it wake the system from suspend (S3)?

EDIT: I see you said an "MCE Remote" -- which one, exactly? I've tried before to get an MCE IR receiver, and wound up with all kinds of crazy stuff that was not really an MCE IR receiver. I have something in my junk drawer that tries to be a keyboard, etc..


Thanks,

Drew

[darcilicious]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

and does anyone have somewhere they are willing to host so everyone can download the image?

How large is the image size? (Dropbox might suffice, for example)

[panteragstk]

~8gb with max compression.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by drewg

What are you using for a remote control? Will it wake the system from suspend (S3)?

EDIT: I see you said an "MCE Remote" -- which one, exactly? I've tried before to get an MCE IR receiver, and wound up with all kinds of crazy stuff that was not really an MCE IR receiver. I have something in my junk drawer that tries to be a keyboard, etc..


Thanks,

Drew

Any remote with an ehome ir adapter. They are all basically the same.

[drewg]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Any remote with an ehome ir adapter. They are all basically the same.

Thanks.. ehome might have been the keyword I'm missing.

But.. will it wake the machine from sleep? Or do you leave it running all the time?

Drew

[darcilicious]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

~8gb with max compression.

I have 50GB available on box.com (similar to dropbox) -- let me know if you're interested.

[MattHelm]

You might use Macrium Reflect Free. It'll run on any machine, and the few restores I've run, have worked perfect. They also make a WPE rescue disk with either OEM drivers (works with most basic hardware) or a Linux one (slightly less hardware).

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

I do not work for them, but use their backup software on all my machines. (have 2 "full" copies, too)

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by darcilicious

I have 50GB available on box.com (similar to dropbox) -- let me know if you're interested.

I have the option of an ftp as well from another user. I think I'll make two images. One that is specifically for the foxconn, and another that is generalized to work on any hardware. The decoders I have installed will work with any hardware, but it's something that will have to be tested. I'll let you know if I need the space. I only have 5mb up so that may take a bit no matter what size the image is.

[Dargason]

I wish I had a need for a client... I will someday when my extenders start to pass away, but I just can't bring myself to spend the money until they do.

How does performance compare to an HD300?

[panteragstk]

I've never owned an extender, sorry. I do know that it is pretty fast considering it's price.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by drewg

What are you using for a remote control? Will it wake the system from suspend (S3)?

EDIT: I see you said an "MCE Remote" -- which one, exactly? I've tried before to get an MCE IR receiver, and wound up with all kinds of crazy stuff that was not really an MCE IR receiver. I have something in my junk drawer that tries to be a keyboard, etc..


Thanks,

Drew

MCE remotes ARE basically keyboards.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Dargason

I wish I had a need for a client... I will someday when my extenders start to pass away, but I just can't bring myself to spend the money until they do.

How does performance compare to an HD300?

I think it is faster potentially MUCH faster(2x) then my HD200. Probably the biggest advantage is that it is more versatile since you can execute other programs for playback like TMT.