|
Post by Oliver on Jan 21, 2015 18:58:34 GMT
To all those with your VGX-XLs running Win7 and above, Windows 10 will be a free upgrade. So, if your still on XP and want to upgrade you don't need to wait for windows 10. Wins10 looks very promising for our systems so this is great news. m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30924022
|
|
|
Post by Woody on Jan 22, 2015 11:15:39 GMT
This is really good news.. ..I just hope they still allow you to download/or they include Media Centre.
|
|
|
Post by IT Troll on Jan 22, 2015 17:09:47 GMT
I guess we have Apple to thank for that.
In December Microsoft also stated that it would be possible to upgrade from the Technical Preview to the final release. This is a change from all previous Windows versions where "beta" installations were blocked from upgrading.
So if you can install Windows 10 Preview and add Media Center now, I can't see them taking it away when you upgrade to the final release.
Not sure I'm brave enough to do it just yet though...
|
|
abh
Junior Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by abh on Jan 24, 2015 1:39:00 GMT
Just installed Tech Preview build 9926 (from ISO) onto a test XL201 which had latest BIOS loaded. Sony drivers load ok with no devices left pending. Raid 0 boot HD's work fine as before. No MCE in this preview. Have yet to try adding product key for win8 MCE. That's a job for later after I resolve missing CD rom drive. Win10 TP does not see the device (so eject definitely not working for now). All other devices appear ok. Interestingly I even see my Sony TV with Miracast - another new feature to try. Overall it seems fast and responsive. Clearly not all the OS components are in this build. MS says more to follow. I asked Cortana where my Hololens glasses were but she declined to tell me when they would turn up ;-)
Next step is to put a fully working build of Win7 back on and upgrade direct to W10. Maybe missing CDROM and MCE will remain functional. Fingers crossed!
kind regards
Andrew
|
|
abh
Junior Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by abh on Jan 30, 2015 22:53:46 GMT
I tried a different approach. First restored a fully working copy of Win7 onto my test 301 then upgraded to 32bit build 9926. Everything started fine. I also fixed my CDROM issue. Hardware failure, so grabbed another drive from a spare 201. At least that works now! Now the bad bit. MCE was removed during the upgrade. In tech preview 1 you could add MCE by using the keys for Win8/8.1 but not now. Same keys aren't valid for this build. For now MCE is dead on Win10! In other news, the eject button doesn't work. But will if you press the off button (pc ejects any discs in the drive and will go into standby/shut down depending on settings). Strange! More tinkering to do as builds arrive. Already on 9933 after just a few days! Will be interesting to see new features added like Spartan and whether the XboxOne app will let you watch live TV through the Xbox tuner. For what worth that will be!! At least 10 will install and all XL MB hardware drivers still work.
I'd be interested in other XL users testing experiences.....
|
|
|
Post by aussiesteve on Feb 24, 2015 14:19:14 GMT
Andrew, I have just updated the two VPC-L11S1E Sony Touch VAIO's from Win 7 to Win8.1 Pro and had the very same problem of the missing CD Drive. After trolling the Web I found a solution which worked instantly at the following website; www.askvg.com/optical-drives-are-not-showing-in-my-computer/I just went straight to no.4 solution and downloaded the file in the link "Download Registry Script to Fix CD/DVD Drive Missing in Windows". Executed the file and rebooted. CD Drive back where it belong. May work in Win 10 if you want to give it a try. Cheers, Steve
|
|
|
Post by Woody on Mar 18, 2015 10:36:16 GMT
It's a real shame that WMC looks as if it is not going to make an appearance in Windows 10.. ..if this is the case I will stick to Win 7 on my VGX-XL.
|
|
|
Post by IT Troll on Mar 18, 2015 17:01:37 GMT
I don't think all hope is lost. The latest leaked Windows 10 build includes a buried reference to ProfessionalWMC in the list of editions. This could of course just be remnant code from previous versions. However just this month a Microsoft Engineer said the following on a Windows 10 forum: To do what the nice Microsoft man said: - Go to windows.uservoice.com
- In the lower right corner click on the category "Windows Media Player"
- In the topic list (hopefully at the top) look for "Include Windows Media Center in Windows 10 standard/home edition"
- Give it a vote.
- You can give it up to 3 votes per email address.
Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by Woody on Mar 19, 2015 8:49:26 GMT
That's really good to hear, they should be listening to what people want, even if it is only a small percentage. At a bear minimum, there is little to no effort in simply keeping WMC present, with little to no changes.
I also hear that IE's days are finally coming to end.. ..not surprising, I haven't used IE in years. It will be interesting to see what they will replace it with.
|
|
Gee
Junior Member
Dusting off my old XL2
Posts: 21
VGX-XL: VGX-XL2
CPU: Currently stock-Will be a Pentium D SL9QQ 3.40GHZ
RAM: 2Gb (4x512mb 533mhz)
Graphics: Asus Radeon 6450
BIOS: Original
HDD/SSD: Currently 1x750Gb Seagate
Optical Drive: Stock Sony DW-Q78A
TV Tuner 1: Stock
Media Changer: VGP-XL1B
Keyboard: Stock
|
Post by Gee on Mar 19, 2015 22:34:55 GMT
It's a real shame that WMC looks as if it is not going to make an appearance in Windows 10.. ..if this is the case I will stick to Win 7 on my VGX-XL. 7 over 8.1 ? I've just begun bringing my XL2A up from storage and I have 8.1 on it which seems to be running quite well. Right now, I only have 2Gb of RAM and 1 regular plain old HD in there. I'm not crazy about 8's UI, but that can be dealt with with utilies to make it more 7ish. So I'm asking about your preference for 7 over 8 (with WMC). Should I think about reverting ? I don't have any of Sony's original software on it yet and not even sure at this point if I would try to install any of it.
|
|
|
Post by Oliver on Mar 20, 2015 9:17:41 GMT
It's a real shame that WMC looks as if it is not going to make an appearance in Windows 10.. ..if this is the case I will stick to Win 7 on my VGX-XL. 7 over 8.1 ? I've just begun bringing my XL2A up from storage and I have 8.1 on it which seems to be running quite well. Right now, I only have 2Gb of RAM and 1 regular plain old HD in there. I'm not crazy about 8's UI, but that can be dealt with with utilies to make it more 7ish. So I'm asking about your preference for 7 over 8 (with WMC). Should I think about reverting ? I don't have any of Sony's original software on it yet and not even sure at this point if I would try to install any of it. I think its mostly because people just don't like the Wins8/8.1 interface, rather than any real issues. Wins 8/8.1 just hasn't taken of. My wife is becoming an independent financial adviser for SJP but needs a Windows 7 PC as the software needed doesn't work with Wins8/8.1 or so a SJP IT guy told her. SJP didn't even bother making it compatible with Wins8. This shows how little faith companies have in Wins8 and most new PCs come with a Win7 downgrade option. That said, if you like Win8.1 and many people do, then stick with it. If I'm wrong and they is any issues with Wins8/8.1 other than just taste/personal preference please let us know. Oliver
|
|
|
Post by Woody on Mar 20, 2015 10:29:19 GMT
I think you've hit it on the head Oliver, for most it is just the OS.. ...which doesn't do much more than Win 7 and metro can get in the way. I am not a Win 8/8.1 hater (it's certainly fast), I have it on my VAIO FIT*, but for the VGX-XL's I just don't see what it adds.
Win 10 looks far better structured/layout and if they keep a WMC option.. ..great!
*by the way touch screen laptops are a bit of a silly idea as well, in my opinion!
|
|
Gee
Junior Member
Dusting off my old XL2
Posts: 21
VGX-XL: VGX-XL2
CPU: Currently stock-Will be a Pentium D SL9QQ 3.40GHZ
RAM: 2Gb (4x512mb 533mhz)
Graphics: Asus Radeon 6450
BIOS: Original
HDD/SSD: Currently 1x750Gb Seagate
Optical Drive: Stock Sony DW-Q78A
TV Tuner 1: Stock
Media Changer: VGP-XL1B
Keyboard: Stock
|
Post by Gee on Mar 20, 2015 15:24:18 GMT
I figured it was the UI. Everybody hates WIN 8's UI (me too !). But I had to ask. My latest experience with this on my XL2A is surprisingly good so far. I'm not familiar with the technical differences between 7 and 8, but the boot up seems very fast and smooth and (again, so far) everything is very responsive and fluid. I think I'll keep it for now. With regard to the UI, I use "Classic Shell" which is a freebie. It lets you make WIN8 the way YOU want it. I've been using it for quite a while on other machines so I can report that it is trouble free, very flexible (if you care to tinker with the many details available to you), and even very simple and easy if you just want to go with a set of defaults. Here's an article on a few of these "UI Fixers" out there (fyi) "The Five Best Free Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8"
|
|
|
Post by IT Troll on Mar 20, 2015 16:28:23 GMT
From a pure Media Center point of view Windows 8 offers nothing over Windows 7. There are no new features in WMC 8 and so the cost of upgrading and/or purchasing the add-on was hard to justify.
Also in Windows 8 it was not possible to boot straight into Media Center. Thankfully, in Windows 8.1 this became possible again but it is still not as simple to achieve as it is in Windows 7.
I use Windows 8 on other machines and with a Start Menu replacement, it is a good O/S. Hopefully Windows 10 will be great O/S and hopefully it will still support Media Center. Get clicking them votes!
|
|
|
Post by IT Troll on Jun 3, 2015 10:18:41 GMT
Microsoft have stated that the upgrade is free for the first year and then remains valid and free for the "lifetime of the device". They haven't however explained what that means.
What happens if you get the free upgrade within the year but then need to perform a clean install after a year? Will you have to purchase a new upgrade for your previous version?
What happens if you change your motherboard or other key component? Is that classed as a new device much like how it works with OEM licences?
|
|
|
Post by IT Troll on Jun 3, 2015 23:17:16 GMT
Today Microsoft confirmed that once you take the upgrade offer you can perform a clean install on the same device anytime.
|
|
Buckwheat
Junior Member
"Lost in the digital wilderness!"
Posts: 39
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (64-bit)
VGX-XL: VGX-XL3
HTPC: Windows 7 Media Center
Case: OEM
PSU: 500W Athena Power AP-MFATX50P8 (Conv. to 18-pin)
Motherboard: Sony/ASUStek P5BW-MB Rev.2.00 (OEM)
CPU: Intel Xeon X3230 Quad Core 2.67 GHz 8 MB L2 Cache
RAM: 8 GB (4x 2 GB) DDR2-800 PC2-6400
Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 2-slot Superclocked 4GB GDDR5
BIOS: Mod V1.2 (Advanced)
HDD/SSD: 2x 240 GB OCZ AMD RADEON R7 SSD 'RAID-0'
Optical Drive: Matshita/Panasonic UJ-265 Blu-ray
TV Tuner 1: Ceton InfiniTV 6 ETH - 5504-DCT06EX-ETH
TV Tuner 2: SiliconDust HDTC-2US HDHomeRun EXTEND
Media Changer: VGP-XL1B2
Keyboard: VAIO VGP-WKB4US (OEM)
|
Post by Buckwheat on Jun 4, 2015 17:33:49 GMT
|
|
|
Post by IT Troll on Jun 4, 2015 20:26:32 GMT
That article shows you how to remove it but with Automatic Updates it will just get re-installed. After removing it you need to go into the list of available updates, right click and choose to Hide Update. This will also block the install until you unhide it.
Media Center users may wish to do this as they will have no intention of upgrading to Windows 10.
|
|
Buckwheat
Junior Member
"Lost in the digital wilderness!"
Posts: 39
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (64-bit)
VGX-XL: VGX-XL3
HTPC: Windows 7 Media Center
Case: OEM
PSU: 500W Athena Power AP-MFATX50P8 (Conv. to 18-pin)
Motherboard: Sony/ASUStek P5BW-MB Rev.2.00 (OEM)
CPU: Intel Xeon X3230 Quad Core 2.67 GHz 8 MB L2 Cache
RAM: 8 GB (4x 2 GB) DDR2-800 PC2-6400
Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 2-slot Superclocked 4GB GDDR5
BIOS: Mod V1.2 (Advanced)
HDD/SSD: 2x 240 GB OCZ AMD RADEON R7 SSD 'RAID-0'
Optical Drive: Matshita/Panasonic UJ-265 Blu-ray
TV Tuner 1: Ceton InfiniTV 6 ETH - 5504-DCT06EX-ETH
TV Tuner 2: SiliconDust HDTC-2US HDHomeRun EXTEND
Media Changer: VGP-XL1B2
Keyboard: VAIO VGP-WKB4US (OEM)
|
Post by Buckwheat on Jun 5, 2015 4:30:28 GMT
|
|
|
Post by IT Troll on Jun 5, 2015 19:51:59 GMT
More important is the list of features not coming in Windows 10.
Media Center Native DVD playback Desktop Gadgets Support for USB floppy drives Legacy Games: Solitare Minesweeper Hearts
It is a real shame given that Windows 10 does have native support for MKV, FLAC and HEVC. Great codec support, but no 10-foot interface.
|
|