Boot straight to MCE 2005

[Brian MacInnes]

Hello all,

I am working on an HTPC (like most) and would like to boot directly to
the MCE interface. I already know that you can set it to start when
windows starts, but it still has to boot to windows first before it
loads. I would like to bypass the windows boot (or just not see it
happening) so that all that I see is the computer boot up to MCE. If
there is a way to hide that Windows is booting, that's fine, I just
don't want to see it happening. I have read about altering the shell
file in the registry so I can boot a drifferent "front end", but Im
pretty sure windows has to be fully booted in order for MCE to
function. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Hello Brian,

I understand that you are trying to avoid the login/welcome screens etc. You
can bypass a login by automatically logging yourself in. To use auto-login,
follow the KB below:

How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

 

[Brian MacInnes]

Anando,

Thanks for your reply. Autologin is not the issue, I would like to
bypass the actual windows boot. For instance, even if you tell Windows
Media Center to open on bootup, it still boots to the desktop first,
and then the MCE program opens. I want to either skip the desktop part,
or hide it somehow (maybe output image?). Basically I want this machine
to appear to never actually boot windows, but boot Media Center, so
that it appears that it booted STRAIGHT to Media Center. I either need
to find a way to make windows boot to Media Center instead of the
desktop, or hide the desktop when it comes up before MCE opens. I know
it's confusing, but it can't be impossible. I want the machine to
appear to be just a MCE machine, hiding windows in its entirety. I will
have no use for the windows portion, just Media Center. Thanks again in
advance for any help/ideas.

-Brian

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Brian,

Windows needs to boot fully in order for the MCE UI to kick off. What you
require seems to be pretty close to impossible. Your best bet would be to
ask the MCE gurus in the media center newsgroups.

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

 

[Brian MacInnes]

Anando,

Is there a way to move MCE up in its priority order for booting? (Just
to make it boot quicker) I understand that windows needs to be fully
booted, since MCE is just a program that runs off of Windows itself. My
problem is that no matter how fast the system, windows hangs at the
desktop screen for approximately 5-10 secs before MCE starts. It's not
a "big" issue persay, but an annoyance. I would like the machine to
appear to be a standalone MCE machine. I know that in truth that isn't
possible, but there's no way to make it appear that way? If so, this
will be the first software issue without a fix (even difficult fix)
I've ever encountered (usually with some scripting or such you can get
around anything). I know that with in-car PC's, people make their
machines boot to different "front end" GUIs. I know this is different,
but not by much. I guess my real question is, when Windows gets to the
desktop screen, everything important has pretty much already loaded,
the only things left are pretty much startup items (to my knowledge).
Why cant MCE boot up quicker in the timeline, so instead of booting to
the desktop, it boots to MCE. If I have a bare Windows OS with no other
programs, there shouldn't be that much loading itself at boot up
anyways. Thanks again, sorry to be a bother!!

-Brian

 

[Rock]

Anando,

Is there a way to move MCE up in its priority order for booting? (Just
to make it boot quicker) I understand that windows needs to be fully
booted, since MCE is just a program that runs off of Windows itself. My
problem is that no matter how fast the system, windows hangs at the
desktop screen for approximately 5-10 secs before MCE starts. It's not
a "big" issue persay, but an annoyance. I would like the machine to
appear to be a standalone MCE machine. I know that in truth that isn't
possible, but there's no way to make it appear that way? If so, this
will be the first software issue without a fix (even difficult fix)
I've ever encountered (usually with some scripting or such you can get
around anything). I know that with in-car PC's, people make their
machines boot to different "front end" GUIs. I know this is different,
but not by much. I guess my real question is, when Windows gets to the
desktop screen, everything important has pretty much already loaded,
the only things left are pretty much startup items (to my knowledge).
Why cant MCE boot up quicker in the timeline, so instead of booting to
the desktop, it boots to MCE. If I have a bare Windows OS with no other
programs, there shouldn't be that much loading itself at boot up
anyways. Thanks again, sorry to be a bother!!

-Brian

There is a lot going on at that time. Windows is initializing a variety of
services and starting programs. There really is no way to tell windows to
prioritize one particular element. What you could try is eliminate startup
programs and those third party services that are not necessary, and see if
that helps. Do a clean boot to see what you can accomplish. What
anti-virus are you using - a suite product such as from Symantec or McAfee?

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316434

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353

 

[Brian MacInnes]

Thanks again for the replies.

Right now, I am not using any anti-virus programs (not on the internet,
not worried about viruses), so my start-up items are at a minimum. I
have also disabled any un-needed start-up items and services as well.
So I understand that there is still much being done, but at the same
time, not too much, because there isn't one single program on the
machine other than Media Center. No games, spyware, nothing. Like I
said before, no matter how fast the machine or what configuration of
services and start-up items, the computer still hangs on the desktop
for a bit before booting MCE. I just wish it could boot like a front
end instead of a physical program that opens. I have read about some
front ends that boot along with explorer.exe and are able to access all
windows functions within the program. If it can't be done, it can't be
done, but then I just have to write something myself.

-Brian

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Brian,

If you are a developer, you could look into coding your own shell which you
could use to replace explorer.exe . You could make your alternate shell
mimic the UI of MCE until MCE took over. As fellow MVP, Rock points out, you
could minimize the number of programs loading at startup etc. Good luck !

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

Anando,

Is there a way to move MCE up in its priority order for booting? (Just
to make it boot quicker) I understand that windows needs to be fully
booted, since MCE is just a program that runs off of Windows itself. My
problem is that no matter how fast the system, windows hangs at the
desktop screen for approximately 5-10 secs before MCE starts. It's not
a "big" issue persay, but an annoyance. I would like the machine to
appear to be a standalone MCE machine. I know that in truth that isn't
possible, but there's no way to make it appear that way? If so, this
will be the first software issue without a fix (even difficult fix)
I've ever encountered (usually with some scripting or such you can get
around anything). I know that with in-car PC's, people make their
machines boot to different "front end" GUIs. I know this is different,
but not by much. I guess my real question is, when Windows gets to the
desktop screen, everything important has pretty much already loaded,
the only things left are pretty much startup items (to my knowledge).
Why cant MCE boot up quicker in the timeline, so instead of booting to
the desktop, it boots to MCE. If I have a bare Windows OS with no other
programs, there shouldn't be that much loading itself at boot up
anyways. Thanks again, sorry to be a bother!!

-Brian

Brian,

Windows needs to boot fully in order for the MCE UI to kick off. What you
require seems to be pretty close to impossible. Your best bet would be to
ask the MCE gurus in the media center newsgroups.

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

Anando,

Thanks for your reply. Autologin is not the issue, I would like to
bypass the actual windows boot. For instance, even if you tell Windows
Media Center to open on bootup, it still boots to the desktop first,
and then the MCE program opens. I want to either skip the desktop part,
or hide it somehow (maybe output image?). Basically I want this machine
to appear to never actually boot windows, but boot Media Center, so
that it appears that it booted STRAIGHT to Media Center. I either need
to find a way to make windows boot to Media Center instead of the
desktop, or hide the desktop when it comes up before MCE opens. I know
it's confusing, but it can't be impossible. I want the machine to
appear to be just a MCE machine, hiding windows in its entirety. I will
have no use for the windows portion, just Media Center. Thanks again in
advance for any help/ideas.

-Brian

Anando [MS-MVP] wrote:
Hello Brian,

I understand that you are trying to avoid the login/welcome screens
etc.
You
can bypass a login by automatically logging yourself in. To use
auto-login,
follow the KB below:

How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder


Hello all,

I am working on an HTPC (like most) and would like to boot directly
to
the MCE interface. I already know that you can set it to start when
windows starts, but it still has to boot to windows first before it
loads. I would like to bypass the windows boot (or just not see it
happening) so that all that I see is the computer boot up to MCE. If
there is a way to hide that Windows is booting, that's fine, I just
don't want to see it happening. I have read about altering the shell
file in the registry so I can boot a drifferent "front end", but Im
pretty sure windows has to be fully booted in order for MCE to
function. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brian MacInnes]

Unfortunately, I am no such thing. Just a college kid with some small
coding experience. That actually doesn't sound like a bad idea. Maybe
I'll investigate. Thanks guys!

-Brian

Brian,

If you are a developer, you could look into coding your own shell which you
could use to replace explorer.exe . You could make your alternate shell
mimic the UI of MCE until MCE took over. As fellow MVP, Rock points out, you
could minimize the number of programs loading at startup etc. Good luck !

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

Anando,

Is there a way to move MCE up in its priority order for booting? (Just
to make it boot quicker) I understand that windows needs to be fully
booted, since MCE is just a program that runs off of Windows itself. My
problem is that no matter how fast the system, windows hangs at the
desktop screen for approximately 5-10 secs before MCE starts. It's not
a "big" issue persay, but an annoyance. I would like the machine to
appear to be a standalone MCE machine. I know that in truth that isn't
possible, but there's no way to make it appear that way? If so, this
will be the first software issue without a fix (even difficult fix)
I've ever encountered (usually with some scripting or such you can get
around anything). I know that with in-car PC's, people make their
machines boot to different "front end" GUIs. I know this is different,
but not by much. I guess my real question is, when Windows gets to the
desktop screen, everything important has pretty much already loaded,
the only things left are pretty much startup items (to my knowledge).
Why cant MCE boot up quicker in the timeline, so instead of booting to
the desktop, it boots to MCE. If I have a bare Windows OS with no other
programs, there shouldn't be that much loading itself at boot up
anyways. Thanks again, sorry to be a bother!!

-Brian

Brian,

Windows needs to boot fully in order for the MCE UI to kick off. What you
require seems to be pretty close to impossible. Your best bet would be to
ask the MCE gurus in the media center newsgroups.

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder


Anando,

Thanks for your reply. Autologin is not the issue, I would like to
bypass the actual windows boot. For instance, even if you tell Windows
Media Center to open on bootup, it still boots to the desktop first,
and then the MCE program opens. I want to either skip the desktop part,
or hide it somehow (maybe output image?). Basically I want this machine
to appear to never actually boot windows, but boot Media Center, so
that it appears that it booted STRAIGHT to Media Center. I either need
to find a way to make windows boot to Media Center instead of the
desktop, or hide the desktop when it comes up before MCE opens. I know
it's confusing, but it can't be impossible. I want the machine to
appear to be just a MCE machine, hiding windows in its entirety. I will
have no use for the windows portion, just Media Center. Thanks again in
advance for any help/ideas.

-Brian

Anando [MS-MVP] wrote:
Hello Brian,

I understand that you are trying to avoid the login/welcome screens
etc.
You
can bypass a login by automatically logging yourself in. To use
auto-login,
follow the KB below:

How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder


Hello all,

I am working on an HTPC (like most) and would like to boot directly
to
the MCE interface. I already know that you can set it to start when
windows starts, but it still has to boot to windows first before it
loads. I would like to bypass the windows boot (or just not see it
happening) so that all that I see is the computer boot up to MCE. If
there is a way to hide that Windows is booting, that's fine, I just
don't want to see it happening. I have read about altering the shell
file in the registry so I can boot a drifferent "front end", but Im
pretty sure windows has to be fully booted in order for MCE to
function. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

[miss-information]

Thanks again for the replies.

Right now, I am not using any anti-virus programs (not on the internet,
not worried about viruses), so my start-up items are at a minimum. I
have also disabled any un-needed start-up items and services as well.
So I understand that there is still much being done, but at the same
time, not too much, because there isn't one single program on the
machine other than Media Center. No games, spyware, nothing. Like I
said before, no matter how fast the machine or what configuration of
services and start-up items, the computer still hangs on the desktop
for a bit before booting MCE. I just wish it could boot like a front
end instead of a physical program that opens. I have read about some
front ends that boot along with explorer.exe and are able to access all
windows functions within the program. If it can't be done, it can't be
done, but then I just have to write something myself.

-Brian

Locate the .jpeg (or other file type) for the MCE screen and set that as
your XP desktop background. You could use TweakUI and remove the desktop
icons for a cleaner look.

mi

 

[Anando [MS-MVP]]

Brian,

A small idea here. You can use various tools that are available there to
hack the bootscreen (the one with the scolling bars) so that it is totally
black in color. Then you could change from the welcome screen to the classic
logon prompt and use autologin as mentioned by me in a previous post. You
could also hide all the desktop icons and change the desktop wallpaper to a
totally black color or something. And eventually MCE will load up. This way,
you will just see a black screen until MCE loads up. Does that help you at
all ?

NOTE: Playing around with the bootscreen involves modifying system files
which might render your system unstable. Do it at your own risk.

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

Unfortunately, I am no such thing. Just a college kid with some small
coding experience. That actually doesn't sound like a bad idea. Maybe
I'll investigate. Thanks guys!

-Brian

Brian,

If you are a developer, you could look into coding your own shell which
you
could use to replace explorer.exe . You could make your alternate shell
mimic the UI of MCE until MCE took over. As fellow MVP, Rock points out,
you
could minimize the number of programs loading at startup etc. Good luck !

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder

Anando,

Is there a way to move MCE up in its priority order for booting? (Just
to make it boot quicker) I understand that windows needs to be fully
booted, since MCE is just a program that runs off of Windows itself. My
problem is that no matter how fast the system, windows hangs at the
desktop screen for approximately 5-10 secs before MCE starts. It's not
a "big" issue persay, but an annoyance. I would like the machine to
appear to be a standalone MCE machine. I know that in truth that isn't
possible, but there's no way to make it appear that way? If so, this
will be the first software issue without a fix (even difficult fix)
I've ever encountered (usually with some scripting or such you can get
around anything). I know that with in-car PC's, people make their
machines boot to different "front end" GUIs. I know this is different,
but not by much. I guess my real question is, when Windows gets to the
desktop screen, everything important has pretty much already loaded,
the only things left are pretty much startup items (to my knowledge).
Why cant MCE boot up quicker in the timeline, so instead of booting to
the desktop, it boots to MCE. If I have a bare Windows OS with no other
programs, there shouldn't be that much loading itself at boot up
anyways. Thanks again, sorry to be a bother!!

-Brian

Anando [MS-MVP] wrote:
Brian,

Windows needs to boot fully in order for the MCE UI to kick off. What
you
require seems to be pretty close to impossible. Your best bet would be
to
ask the MCE gurus in the media center newsgroups.

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder


Anando,

Thanks for your reply. Autologin is not the issue, I would like to
bypass the actual windows boot. For instance, even if you tell
Windows
Media Center to open on bootup, it still boots to the desktop first,
and then the MCE program opens. I want to either skip the desktop
part,
or hide it somehow (maybe output image?). Basically I want this
machine
to appear to never actually boot windows, but boot Media Center, so
that it appears that it booted STRAIGHT to Media Center. I either
need
to find a way to make windows boot to Media Center instead of the
desktop, or hide the desktop when it comes up before MCE opens. I
know
it's confusing, but it can't be impossible. I want the machine to
appear to be just a MCE machine, hiding windows in its entirety. I
will
have no use for the windows portion, just Media Center. Thanks again
in
advance for any help/ideas.

-Brian

Anando [MS-MVP] wrote:
Hello Brian,

I understand that you are trying to avoid the login/welcome screens
etc.
You
can bypass a login by automatically logging yourself in. To use
auto-login,
follow the KB below:

How to turn on automatic logon in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315231

--
Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
Microsoft Certified Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://www.anando.org/folder


Hello all,

I am working on an HTPC (like most) and would like to boot
directly
to
the MCE interface. I already know that you can set it to start
when
windows starts, but it still has to boot to windows first before
it
loads. I would like to bypass the windows boot (or just not see
it
happening) so that all that I see is the computer boot up to MCE.
If
there is a way to hide that Windows is booting, that's fine, I
just
don't want to see it happening. I have read about altering the
shell
file in the registry so I can boot a drifferent "front end", but
Im
pretty sure windows has to be fully booted in order for MCE to
function. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.