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[Kate]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

[TheBoy]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Its an extra complexity I wouldn't recommend initially. Possibly later.

I have an 8500GT in the MCE, connected to TV via HDMI and via VGA (as a backup, as HDMI only works once video driver loads).  Since I have a loan set with a lower res (1360x720) than mine (1920x1080), I needed to make some adjustments.  Now I'm not entirely stupid with computers, but getting the hdmi and vga cloned, and at the new res was not as easy as it could or should be, as it kept complaining that the other display was not there.

[Kate]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Its an extra complexity I wouldn't recommend initially. Possibly later.

I have an 8500GT in the MCE, connected to TV via HDMI and via VGA (as a backup, as HDMI only works once video driver loads).  Since I have a loan set with a lower res (1360x720) than mine (1920x1080), I needed to make some adjustments.  Now I'm not entirely stupid with computers, but getting the hdmi and vga cloned, and at the new res was not as easy as it could or should be, as it kept complaining that the other display was not there.

Yes maybe you're right.

I did computer science at university and ran my own IT department so  
I guess I wasn't looking for a simple solution.

Pete sounds like he would prefer a simple solution to his problem!

[Pipsqueak]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Its an extra complexity I wouldn't recommend initially. Possibly later.

I have an 8500GT in the MCE, connected to TV via HDMI and via VGA (as a backup, as HDMI only works once video driver loads).  Since I have a loan set with a lower res (1360x720) than mine (1920x1080), I needed to make some adjustments.  Now I'm not entirely stupid with computers, but getting the hdmi and vga cloned, and at the new res was not as easy as it could or should be, as it kept complaining that the other display was not there.

Does MCE stand for Media Centre Edition.

If so, What are the benrits of using this O/S Also is there any other hardware required.

What are the differences from this to XP Pro?

[CaptainZok]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Its an extra complexity I wouldn't recommend initially. Possibly later.

I have an 8500GT in the MCE, connected to TV via HDMI and via VGA (as a backup, as HDMI only works once video driver loads).  Since I have a loan set with a lower res (1360x720) than mine (1920x1080), I needed to make some adjustments.  Now I'm not entirely stupid with computers, but getting the hdmi and vga cloned, and at the new res was not as easy as it could or should be, as it kept complaining that the other display was not there.

Does MCE stand for Media Centre Edition.

If so, What are the benrits of using this O/S Also is there any other hardware required.

What are the differences from this to XP Pro?

1. Yes
2. It has a built in tv/ media interface letting you watch and record tv if you have a compatible tuner installed. It will also play dvd, rocorded videos and music and can be controlled easily by a tv type remote.
3. It's actually XP Pro with the above added.

[TheBoy]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Its an extra complexity I wouldn't recommend initially. Possibly later.

I have an 8500GT in the MCE, connected to TV via HDMI and via VGA (as a backup, as HDMI only works once video driver loads).  Since I have a loan set with a lower res (1360x720) than mine (1920x1080), I needed to make some adjustments.  Now I'm not entirely stupid with computers, but getting the hdmi and vga cloned, and at the new res was not as easy as it could or should be, as it kept complaining that the other display was not there.

Does MCE stand for Media Centre Edition.

If so, What are the benrits of using this O/S Also is there any other hardware required.

What are the differences from this to XP Pro?

1. Yes
2. It has a built in tv/ media interface letting you watch and record tv if you have a compatible tuner installed. It will also play dvd, rocorded videos and music and can be controlled easily by a tv type remote.
3. It's actually XP Pro with the above added.

Not entirely true...

It was designed to have XP Home type features (from end user Point of View) with Media Center bits bolted on, but is actually built on the XP Pro code (for technical reasons around Extenders).

So its XP Pro, with Media Center parts added, but all support for Active Directory, inc Group Policy, disabled (half heartedly, and can easily be re-enabled, but expect issues if you do)

[Pipsqueak]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Its an extra complexity I wouldn't recommend initially. Possibly later.

I have an 8500GT in the MCE, connected to TV via HDMI and via VGA (as a backup, as HDMI only works once video driver loads).  Since I have a loan set with a lower res (1360x720) than mine (1920x1080), I needed to make some adjustments.  Now I'm not entirely stupid with computers, but getting the hdmi and vga cloned, and at the new res was not as easy as it could or should be, as it kept complaining that the other display was not there.

Does MCE stand for Media Centre Edition.

If so, What are the benrits of using this O/S Also is there any other hardware required.

What are the differences from this to XP Pro?

1. Yes
2. It has a built in tv/ media interface letting you watch and record tv if you have a compatible tuner installed. It will also play dvd, rocorded videos and music and can be controlled easily by a tv type remote.
3. It's actually XP Pro with the above added.

Thankyou.

So all I need then is a tuner card, can anyone recomend one please.

Will it be able to recieve sky channels?

[CaptainZok]

I really think the graphics card would be your best option.  They are cheap and only take 5 minutes to fit.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Its an extra complexity I wouldn't recommend initially. Possibly later.

I have an 8500GT in the MCE, connected to TV via HDMI and via VGA (as a backup, as HDMI only works once video driver loads).  Since I have a loan set with a lower res (1360x720) than mine (1920x1080), I needed to make some adjustments.  Now I'm not entirely stupid with computers, but getting the hdmi and vga cloned, and at the new res was not as easy as it could or should be, as it kept complaining that the other display was not there.

Does MCE stand for Media Centre Edition.

If so, What are the benrits of using this O/S Also is there any other hardware required.

What are the differences from this to XP Pro?

1. Yes
2. It has a built in tv/ media interface letting you watch and record tv if you have a compatible tuner installed. It will also play dvd, rocorded videos and music and can be controlled easily by a tv type remote.
3. It's actually XP Pro with the above added.

Thankyou.

So all I need then is a tuner card, can anyone recomend one please.

Will it be able to recieve sky channels?

An infra red remote kit if you want to use that feature, tuner/s I use a dual freeview card so can watch one channel and record another but I think TB has more on his. Never tried putting sky through it but I think you can. Problem will be it's an either or scenario you can set the guide to work with sky or freeview not both at once, unless TB knows different that is.
To save a lot of fuss ensure tuner cards are labelled MCE compatible so the drivers will allow madia centre to control the tuner.
My tuner card is a pinnacle pci dual digital tuner, reliable enough but the drivers have been a bit flaky in the past.

[TheBoy]

Any tuner needs to have a BDA driver. But it will say compitble with MCE.

You can have Satelite tuners, but, AFAIK, only receive unencrypted channels.

MCE can either do analogue, freeview, or satelite - not a mixture.