Yet Another HTPC-advice Thread!

[sam9s]

These days formatting is simple. I do it every 1/2 months anyway. Imaging will just install old apps (if we image it with third party apps). . With a "fresh" install new updates softwares can be installed. It is a PITA sometimes but worth it.

Formatting might be simple and also might be ok for someonw who uses windows "just" browsing. Format reinstall windows, install chrome at the most and yes you are good to go. (assuming the hardware is latest and windows does install all the basic drivers correctly).

But when you use a desktop for gazzllion other activities with truck load of applications and also love to change the desktop appreance with themes, wallpapers and icons etc then formatting/reinstalling is a PITA actually not the other way round.

I do coultless activities on my i7 and my laptop (32GB and 10GB ram respectively) and God knows how many small, big "essential" applicaiton I have on them, that I know I will need everytime I reinstall the OS, so cannt even dream of setting the entire PC again, Hence comes, the all mighty; God send solution, serving me since the late 90s, the awsome DOS version of Norton GHOST. If one ask me to name one application that I am a fan of and literally worship it, that would be Norton Ghost. It just creats a perfect bit by bit image of my C drive (can create for the entide HDD as well), including everything from my all application to every single driver, update or enhancement (wallpaper, icons) I have installed, and since its a DOS version, It doesnt even need to be installed on windows. It runs from a bootable USB stick, The image however is stored on the other drive and a backup (if needed is on my NAS). All I do is to boot from USB stick and show ghost the source and the destination (c: ) path and in like 10-15 min, not only I have the OS back I also have all my applications, drivers and all enhancements, the way it originaly was, the way I like it. Its just freaking AWSOME!!!!. For people who are reading it, dont just take my word for it, try it. Once you start using Ghost, you dont come back to formatting and reinstalling windows. Its as simple as that Period!.

PS: Comng to updates, well that never has been a problem, since almost all my needed essential application are set to auto update, either they are auto updated (at the back), or at the most the moment I run them they display the new version available pop up and all I do is to click "yes" or "install" to get the new one. Much much simpler than to download and re install the new version everytime I decide to format the machine. ...

 

[sam9s]

It shows all DTS and Dolby streams (HD and HD MA, True HD etc) :yahoo:

OK so AM1M-E does support HD Audio bistreaming, hope you did try this and not just took someone else word , as this would go in me as a new information learnt and I do remember all this.

 

[sam9s]

Built HTPC coz I want to have upgrade path. Modular approach always pays off. Was stuck with Android box for last 2 years without any upgrade path. Did not want to repeat same mistake again.

Circle Lil cabinet is HTPC chassis and hardly takes any place. It rather looks good as well !!!

Well what you usually upgrade is HDD and RAM, you hardly change the processor, or the mobo, (well if you change the mobo you almost are changing the entire system), and you can upgrade HDD and RAM in NUC. Plus this is for HTPC I am talking about not using it as a generic windows machine.

But I understand one never argues his own purchase (I might be the only odd one out), so thats ok. I know Circle Lil case is a good one ..

None the less the DN2820FYKH version does not support HD Audio passthrough, but for under 10K what do expect given the egronomics ..

 

[sam9s]

Can you elaborate on that please? (In layman language )

Naturelover, reply to @rockfella might have answered your question as well, if no then please post when ever doubt or help you need and I shall try to address them accordingly ..

 

[Naturelover]

Naturelover, reply to @rockfella might have answered your question as well, if no then please post when ever doubt or help you need and I shall try to address them accordingly ..

I think it does. So I take a complete backup and then format and reinstall. Is that it?
Also I see on Symantec & Norton sites that Ghost is discontinued but then there is a review of Ghost 15 dated Aug 24th on toptenreviews.com. It is also kinda expensive at $145 (Amazon).
There are some alternatives like Macrium, Acronis, EaseUS. Then there is Microsoft's own Windows Backup and Restore. No, I have no knowledge of any of these. Only used EaseUS for partition management.

 

[regeHA]

I think it does. So I take a complete backup and then format and reinstall. Is that it?
Also I see on Symantec & Norton sites that Ghost is discontinued but then there is a review of Ghost 15 dated Aug 24th on toptenreviews.com. It is also kinda expensive at $145 (Amazon).
There are some alternatives like Macrium, Acronis, EaseUS. Then there is Microsoft's own Windows Backup and Restore. No, I have no knowledge of any of these. Only used EaseUS for partition management.

Most images will need an external network drive. Won't fit on a USB. Windows 10 ISO OTOH will... so that's an easier solution and takes all of 15 mins to do a fresh install.

You can also use Windows 10 File History feature to backup to a network drive and restore from it.

Either way you are looking at a NAS and with a gigabit connection. Most of us have stopped using DVDs and DVD drives, but that's a good option to use with Norton Ghost.

The only advantage with tools like Norton Ghost is having an exact copy of your system right now and deploying it on another PC or the same in the event of a crash. Most of us don't use PCs to that extent with 100s of programs configured. Most of us don't even hoard data, movies, music on the PC anymore... its all on an external HDD or NAS.

 

[sam9s]

Most images will need an external network drive. Won't fit on a USB. Windows 10 ISO OTOH will... so that's an easier solution and takes all of 15 mins to do a fresh install.

You can also use Windows 10 File History feature to backup to a network drive and restore from it.

Either way you are looking at a NAS and with a gigabit connection. Most of us have stopped using DVDs and DVD drives, but that's a good option to use with Norton Ghost.

The only advantage with tools like Norton Ghost is having an exact copy of your system right now and deploying it on another PC or the same in the event of a crash. Most of us don't use PCs to that extent with 100s of programs configured. Most of us don't even hoard data, movies, music on the PC anymore... its all on an external HDD or NAS.

Thats not true, all imaging application gives you an option to store on the same HDD on a different partition, even the old dos version that I use gives me the option to store the image created on the same disk albeit on a different partition, you DO NOT need NAS or a Gigabite connection.
And I am NOT talking about data here, who saves data on C drive????. Data should be on a different partition all together, or external HDD or on your NAS, even documents and files. I am just talking about the OS, Drivers, supporting drivers and files, enhancements and all softwares and application that go on C: drive.

Reinstalling windows is neither a sane nor a viable option, in any scenario even if you are not installing 100 of application, there are other lots of supporting driver files one has to install, in order to use supporting apps, few examples include .NET framework, QuickTime, iTunes etc etc.Then comes basic softwares like MS Office. Other necessary app might include Adode Acrobat for PDFs, MPC-HC, VLC, and its codes, Zipping apps like winzip, or winrar etc etc etc. Not to forget drives for Bluetooth, touchpad, chipset, that might not be installed by windows by default. And these are just the basic apps I am talking about, you might install multiple browsers, media players, and finally not to forget all the settings and tweaks and configurations one does in all these apps and software according to their need....., like another small example installing fonts and plugins for MS Office, or extra audio/video codes, adding Network Drives, shortcuts etc etc etc ..... and I have not even started on enhancements, assuming not all do enhancements on their windows... .............shall I continue ???? , I think I made my point. Enough examples. and these are just examples, you actually do install much more than these to make a complete desktop windows environment.

All this goes to Zero/NADA!!! the moment you format and reinstall windows and then you sit and install all these all over again .... no sense at all.

With Ghost it takes 15-20 min, yes 15-20 minutes (Well typically on an i3 second gen, 4GB ram and a C: partition data of <15GB) and every single application/software and drivers are back with all enhancements you did. You might just need few click to get the updates of the applications you have installed, but thats just peanuts in front of formatting and reinstalling the entire OS.

 

[sam9s]

I think it does. So I take a complete backup and then format and reinstall. Is that it?
Also I see on Symantec & Norton sites that Ghost is discontinued but then there is a review of Ghost 15 dated Aug 24th on toptenreviews.com. It is also kinda expensive at $145 (Amazon).
There are some alternatives like Macrium, Acronis, EaseUS. Then there is Microsoft's own Windows Backup and Restore. No, I have no knowledge of any of these. Only used EaseUS for partition management.

nature lover let me explain, Imaging is NOT backup, it has less to do with data, read my reply to @regeHA, and you will understand what I mean, Ghost create a bit by bit image of C drive, so your OS and all your apps are imaged and stored in series of files, that can be stored on just any other drive like D, or E you might have on your HDD.

If things go wrong like for example maybe virus comes or maybe your system is blogged with all junk files and you want to reformat, then yes do it by all means but instead of reinstalling windows just boot from USB, run Ghost and point the files stored in your D, E drive. The ghost will not only install your OS but all the applications and drives you installed when you did a fresh OS install.

I was able to find GhostEXE file. Its free as far as I know. Try and see if that works ...
Download GHOST.EXE - Software Ghost ghost

There is one small caveat in using this old dos version, (There might be new version, but frankly I never bothered to look) the images can't be saved on NTFS partition, mind you, it can read and create image yes, but to save it on disk it needs a FAT32 partition, so what I do is, I create a small 30 GB dedicated FAT32 partition just for saving my Image files, on the same Disk (and if needed backup on my NAS) and then run ghost. Create the image of my NTFS C: drive and save it on that dedicated partition. These are the steps I follow in case if anyone is interested.

1. Format your C drive as usual and install windows as usual
2. Install all your drivers, supporting drives and files
3. Install all your applications and software that you feel you would always need when ever system goes for a reinstall, like MS Office, browsers, media players (VLC), zipping tools etc etc. Basically install as much as you feel you might need, plus do all settings and configurations on all applications you have installed.
4. Make sure you have at least one FAT32 partition on your HDD
5. Create DOS bootable thumb drive and copy the Ghost.exe on that bootable drive.
6. Boot from that USB Stick, execute Ghost.exe and then follow the below video to create the Ghost Image of your C Drive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IQpij3oqxc

Another video that explains how DOS Ghost works is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEQ-SDCYyl0

If the ghost.exe I shared does not work and you "really" are interested, PM me and I shall share my Ghost.EXE file and you can use that for the same.

 

[Naturelover]

nature lover let me explain,........
......If the ghost.exe I shared does not work and you "really" are interested, PM me and I shall share my Ghost.EXE file and you can use that for the same.

Thanks a ton, Sam. I am away from home and will be back only in October. Will be able check this out only then. Your computer and networking knowledge is awesome :clapping:.

 

[sam9s]

The only advantage with tools like Norton Ghost is having an exact copy of your system right now and deploying it on another PC or the same in the event of a crash.

You should not ..... infact you cannot create Ghoat Image of one system's C: drive and deploy it on an another PC, simply because Ghost creates a bit by bit copy of everything on C: including all the drivers and supporting driver/files that are very hardware specific to that system, so unless you have another system with an absolute identical hardware as your first, your Ghost image will give you errors and compatibility issues. So Ghost is not recommended be deployed on a different hardware than what it was created on.

 

[neoonwheels]

OK so AM1M-E does support HD Audio bistreaming, hope you did try this and not just took someone else word , as this would go in me as a new information learnt and I do remember all this.

Well what you usually upgrade is HDD and RAM, you hardly change the processor, or the mobo, (well if you change the mobo you almost are changing the entire system), and you can upgrade HDD and RAM in NUC. Plus this is for HTPC I am talking about not using it as a generic windows machine.

But I understand one never argues his own purchase (I might be the only odd one out), so thats ok. I know Circle Lil case is a good one ..

None the less the DN2820FYKH version does not support HD Audio passthrough, but for under 10K what do expect given the egronomics ..

Well, here is the list of formats supported by this motherboard which are also pass-through. I use Kodi and I can see different streams displayed on the AVR depending on the encoding used. Below is the screenshot of the formats:

 

[superczar]

This is a 21 page thread so I haven';t gone through all the posts.
I am surprised though that no one seems to have recommended an Intel NUC

 

[sam9s]

I already did, incase you missed my posts.

 

[TheSeeker]

let me add some 2 paise from my side - if fresh OS install is the only or best option for you, and you had installed a plethora of wares and in carefully selected/created locations, then use this teeny-weeny but nifty tool named 'Cathy' to create a record of what all softwares (or even dispensable data like movies-music-games etc.) you had & in what locations/folder hierarchies or 'tree structure', with/down to ALL the contents! needless to say, its very useful and handy. registering 'unlocks' more functionality, but i havent tried.

 

[sam9s]

^^ this opens a wierd page, Robert Vasicek is this the intended link?

 

[TheSeeker]

^^ this opens a wierd page, Robert Vasicek is this the intended link?

yes. scroll down in the softwares listed therein, and you'll spot it.

 

[regeHA]

Hey Sammy,

We are talking at cross purposes I guess. Anyways I've already mentioned I've used Ghost in the past and loved it.

Takes me back to the time I was using the Ghost. Good s/w, never failed once. OTOH the first time I tried Acronis it was a disaster.

Formatting might be simple and also might be ok for someonw who uses windows "just" browsing. Format reinstall windows, install chrome at the most and yes you are good to go. (assuming the hardware is latest and windows does install all the basic drivers correctly).

Snip...

Thats not true, all imaging application gives you an option to store on the same HDD on a different partition, even the old dos version that I use gives me the option to store the image created on the same disk albeit on a different partition, you DO NOT need NAS or a Gigabite connection.

Snip...

nature lover let me explain, Imaging is NOT backup, it has less to do with data, read my reply to @regeHA, and you will understand what I mean, Ghost create a bit by bit image of C drive, so your OS and all your apps are imaged and stored in series of files, that can be stored on just any other drive like D, or E you might have on your HDD.

Snip...

I still maintain that this is an audiophile/videophile forum and 99% of the folks need a simple solution or a HTPC/media player like Kodi that will play all content and stream everything. Other than that the PC may not even get used for browsing... its hard indeed to browse on a 65" TV screen.

For your need and the 100s of apps and s/w you've installed Ghost is a must. For the rest a fresh install and simply backing up and restoring the settings of PotPlayer, madVR, Kodi, etc. is all you need. Most of us don't even bother much with audio drivers... we only want audio bitstreaming to the AVR.

You should not ..... infact you cannot create Ghoat Image of one system's C: drive and deploy it on an another PC, simply because Ghost creates a bit by bit copy of everything on C: including all the drivers and supporting driver/files that are very hardware specific to that system, so unless you have another system with an absolute identical hardware as your first, your Ghost image will give you errors and compatibility issues. So Ghost is not recommended be deployed on a different hardware than what it was created on.

Back in 2003, 64-bit was nonexistent and in our office setting Ghost was deployed on all stations... over 50 and via the network. Never had any issues. Sure different today with so many configs... but in an office setting and for network deployment I'd think the h/w remains the same for all work stations.

 

[TheSeeker]

yes, browsing on an HTPC is a little tough. i have a 50" TV and have to sit closer to it to do so, even after enlarging the text & zooming.

 

[sam9s]

I still maintain that this is an audiophile/videophile forum and 99% of the folks need a simple solution or a HTPC/media player like Kodi that will play all content and stream everything. Other than that the PC may not even get used for browsing... its hard indeed to browse on a 65" TV screen.

For your need and the 100s of apps and s/w you've installed Ghost is a must. For the rest a fresh install and simply backing up and restoring the settings of PotPlayer, madVR, Kodi, etc. is all you need. Most of us don't even bother much with audio drivers... we only want audio bitstreaming to the AVR..

I was not talking Ghost for HTPCs and Media PCs (even though it wont hurt to use it there as well). I was talking imaging for desktop PC that people use for regular purpose, where even a basic user installs quite a few apps, software and drives to get his basic windows environment set up.

 

[sam9s]

yes, browsing on an HTPC is a little tough. i have a 50" TV and have to sit closer to it to do so, even after enlarging the text & zooming.

Seeker nobody browses on HTPC, on HDTV....., if anyone does, then its not recommended, HTPC as the name suggests is Home Theater PC and should be assembled and used in that regard only, barring few exceptions like using it as a torrent box and also as a file server, but never as a regular desktop PC.