Newbie question. What software to install?

**Bergetun** · 03-16-2004, 08:08 AM

Hi I was wondering what software and codecs to install in my carputer?

So far I have installed Windows XP Pro, WinDVD, WinAmp, MediaCar and a 15 mb codec pack (Cant remember what codec pack it was). The problem is that the computer is VERY slow, divx movies are lagging and the sound is out of sync

What I am asking for here is basically the best setup to get a fast carputer system . hehe ..

Thanks ..

**Confused** · 03-16-2004, 08:12 AM

Your problem more than likely comes from your "codec pack".

As you've now (basically) trashed your system, i recommend you format/reinstall Windows XP, WinDVD, and MediaCar.

Then, install FFDShow (or 3ivX) and AC3filter. I have not come across any video files (other than QT/Real) that won't play with just those two codecs installed.

And if you need Quicktime/Real, then install RealAlternative and Quicktime Alternative

Garry

**Bergetun** · 03-16-2004, 08:35 AM

Thanks, I will do a reinstall of everything before i put the carputer in the car.

There was one other small thing I was wondering about also.

I am not gona throw out my old car stereo, I am gona use it for radio and I was thinking that I could connect the car stereo to my computer with a phono cable on line-in. This will work wont it ?

But it would be great if I could add another "icon" to mediaCar that unmutes the line-in (so sound can get from my car stereo to my soundcard)
Is this possible ?

When I am for example are playing a DVD the line-in is mutet so that no signal can get in.

This way I can sorta controll my radio from MediaCar?

Do you understand what I am trying to do here ?

For example like this.. I am playing a mp3 in mediacar. I click on the Radio button. MediaCar stop playing the mp3, unmutes line-in and the "sound signal" from the car stereo is playing trough my carputer.
Then if I click on a mp3 again the line-in get muted again so that there is no "sound signal" going in to my soundcard.

Edit: Added another stupid question
When I first asking alot of stupid question why not ask more

Are you guys using standby or shutdown when you are not using the carputer ? How much power would a mini itx use in standby? Is it possible to stop the cpu fan while the mini itx is in standby ?

Sorry for my bad English.

Thanks

**Confused** · 03-16-2004, 09:27 AM

I may as well answer again

Theoretically, this should work

You can use the "Radio" screen in MediaCar, as it controls the line-in volume, even though you won't be using all the features that provides (controlling your FM radio for tuning/presets etc).

There are a couple of people who are having issues with it not muting the line-in when going back to MP3, but that should be fixed by them setting things up properly, or if it is a MediaCar problem, fixed in the next version of MediaCar

I personally am using Standby along with my Opus power supply (in my experience, the best power supply you can have). I haven't left my car for more than 2 days, but it was still sitting in standby after 2 days

Standby uses little power

In standby, everything will be "turned off" (hard drives, cd drives, fans) apart from the memory, which stays powered, but it doesn't need much power to keep the data there

Garry

**Bergetun** · 03-16-2004, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Confused

I may as well answer again

I personally am using Standby along with my Opus power supply (in my experience, the best power supply you can have). I haven't left my car for more than 2 days, but it was still sitting in standby after 2 days

Standby uses little power

In standby, everything will be "turned off" (hard drives, cd drives, fans) apart from the memory, which ss powered, but it doesn't need much power to keep the data there

Garry

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. On my MII 10000 motherboard the cpu fan is running while the computer is in standby? I have been looking aroun in the bios settings to see if there was something there about this but I couldnt find anything about this. hmmm.. The fan doesnt use THAT much power but it is kinda anoying to have the CPU fan "running" all day if its not needed.

**Confused** · 03-16-2004, 09:58 AM

That is odd...i'm sure all my computers have turned the fan off in standby...

I am getting my boss's MII sometime this week, i will test it out in standby and see what happens if you haven't found anything by then

Garry

**UncleGeek** · 03-16-2004, 05:41 PM

Confused,

Your problem more than likely comes from your "codec pack".

As you've now (basically) trashed your system,

Please excuse my ignorance, could you elaborate more on this?

Thanks

**kami333** · 03-16-2004, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by UncleGeek

Confused,

Please excuse my ignorance, could you elaborate more on this?

Thanks

They just add a lot of unneeded clutter and conflicts by adding filters and codecs you don't even need. It's just like installing programs, you shouldn't go around installing every program you come across regardless if they are needed or not.

**Laidback** · 03-16-2004, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by kami333

you shouldn't go around installing every program you come across regardless if they are needed or not.

I thought that was the fun bit!

**telekineticfool** · 03-16-2004, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Laidback

I thought that was the fun bit!

it's not exactly the same...programs aren't all loaded into ram at once, codecs are....more like installing 20,000 fonts and trying to run photoshop...