Help me get my Media Center Version back.

AndyRichardson · Post by **AndyRichardson** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:42 am

Ok, heres what I did, I have a new HP Pavilion m7463w media center TV PC. G Force Media Center Edition was my favorite visualization. It said for the latest version go to soundsprectrum.com. Well, I downloaded the free version, thinking it was newer, but instead I ended up with a less eyecandy, and ads saying upgrade to gold or platinum. It replaced my factory version and when I uninstalled the free version, it didn't go back to the original.

Now, I don't know what to do, I figured microsoft would like me download it after it validated my copy of windows. But they just provide a link to the free version.

G Force is the best visualizations around, I am using twistedpixel for now, but it isn't near as good.

I don't want to buy the gold or platium either, I've done research and it is more for people who want to have control, but I like randomness.

Thanks for any help.

Aussie_M2010 · Post by **Aussie_M2010** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:02 pm

I doubt you can get the "as shipped" version back on your machine without a lot of mucking around. Not worth reinstalling the OS for really, so unless you can find the specific files on your install CD/DVD I think you may be stuck with the choice of living with the ads or upgrading.

Part of having control is that you have as much randomness as you like!

I did the same thing as you on my machine, but I was planning to buy the Gold version anyway, so I did. I think it is worth it - US$20 hardly breaks the bank and those ads are gone! Plus you can get rid of the letterbox (if that is a problem on your screen), and set up your own moods, which is good. You can do other things like increase the responsiveness of the visuals to the music and increase the framerate and so on (assuming your CPU will handle it).

For $20 I think it is well worth it.

rd_taylor · Post by **rd_taylor** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:28 pm

You sure you don't have a restore point etc. to go back to?

Also, have you tried looking through the Media Center CD/DVD to see if you can locate the files needed for re-install?

Aussie_M2010 · Post by **Aussie_M2010** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:40 pm

Good point about the restore point - having a senior citizen moment here obviously!

I had another thought too - would uninstalling WMP and redownloading it from Microsoft possibly work? If he doesn't have a restore point.

And you shouldn't let that child smoke!

rd_taylor · Post by **rd_taylor** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:51 pm

I doubt that G-Force (whatever version) would be bundled with WMP. I've been scouting around, and I can't really find anywhere to snaffle the MC version of G-Force from. Best bet might be browsing the CD/DVD contents.

BTW In this day and age, I think even babies should be able to vote and smoke if they choose. Isn't it the way things are going? The baby reminds me that I've been off the dang things for just over one year...

rd_taylor · Post by **rd_taylor** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:55 pm

On an un-related topic Aussie_M2010, If you're a new user of G-Force, are you familiar with the best music management tool (particularly for large collections) in the cosmos? It's called J-River Media Center, and it is certainly the best tool I've come across for MP3 management. It handles HUGE numbers of files with ease, something most of the other media players don't do at all well (even WMP 11 doesn't work very well with my ~40000 file library)

http://www.jrmediacenter.com

Just thought you might be interested...

Aussie_M2010 · Post by **Aussie_M2010** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:56 pm

Well, you learn something new everyday, because there IS a version of G-Force bundled with WMP - I got it - three times (had to reinstall the OS, later upgraded WMP). That is how I found out about it in the first place.

That is what he is talking about - he wants THAT version back, for although it is also a trial version, it doesn't have the ads to upgrade in it.

Wish I could get off them - LOL - I'm still a victim of the darn things.

40,000?? 40,000???????

Actially, at the moment, I'l stick with what I've got - I'm just learning this entertainment use of computers (20 + years in IT, just not this branch!) so I'm taking baby steps! And I don't have THAT many to worry about.

How many do you actually listen to, may I ask?

rd_taylor · Post by **rd_taylor** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:12 pm

So, they do bundle it eh? Well, that's interesting.

I don't use WMP at all, but I did recently install it to see if it would handle my collection, and guess what - it crashed after importing only a few thousand tracks. It was one of the recent BETAs though, so I will try it again now I think it has been officially released. I will never stop using JR Media Center though, it's just too cool - I have a machine in my computer room, and it streams the library to all other PCs (lounge, other half's room, laptop), and Pocket PC handheld. I can even use my PocketPC as a remote control to select tracks to play, and adjust volume etc. from anywhere in the house wirelessly.

You will have a ball getting to grips with using your PC for music and stuff...gimme a yell if I can help out...

I don't listen to all of them, but certainly most of them...I've been a mad music collector since my mid-teens...have heaps of late 70's and 80's stuff (in my opinion one of the happening eras in modern music - unlike the dross around today) - basically everything from classical to punk, everything except country and western really, but a few things sorta sneak in under the radar which are kinda countrified...60's..psychedelia...etc etc. I tend to avoid top40 stuff unless it is actually interesting...

I've been a smoker since I was in my late teens (started smoking when I started drinking)..it is SOOOOO good to be free of the blasted things..they rule your life...and cost a bomb...we got off them using Zyban...

Ooops...sorry feller...we kinda hijacked your post...hope it helps anyway...

Aussie_M2010 · Post by **Aussie_M2010** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:20 pm

Yes, we should move off his post - go see if you can answer my post question about Themes! LOL

I'm bit like a fish out of water on the Dell XPS forums - they are 90% gamers and think the rest of us don't really use computers - LOL.

I'm trying to find a way to use the full 100% of the CPU with music, just to prove this can be a "serious" use of the technology too!

Thanks for your offer of help - I'll be sure to take you up on it. Sounds like we are similar eras.

AndyRichardson · Post by **AndyRichardson** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:40 pm

The one that came factory isn't just a trial. Microsoft and Soundspectrum made a deal, and Windows Media Center comes with a special version of G Force. When it starts in media center the splash screen says G Force Media Center Edition, instead of Trial or Gold. HP told me to reinstall my video card drivers that it had additional plug ins, but that didn't work.

I could do a system restore, but I have done a lot of changes to my machine since I deleted it. Installed software, partitioned my drive and other things.

This isn't a real big deal, I plan on getter a bigger HD, 300gb isn't enough for me. I plan on getting 2 500gb drives, so I am going to do a complete system restore. But that is going to be a couple of months.

Aussie_M2010 · Post by **Aussie_M2010** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:49 pm

I never noticed it said Media Center version. Given it couldn't be downloaded from Microsoft, I just assumed it was a trial - I didn't look that closely. Figured it was a bit of marketing material - marketing material I was happy to have, as it turns out.

I think your HP guy was clutching at straws suggesting it was with the video card driver. The things some of these support people come up with at times.

I guess you can live with the ads for 2 months!