USB Speakers (READ ONLY ARCHIVE)

[drkmstr104]

Ive been looking around on the internet, and I cant seem to figure out if the Z cinema works with Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional, the specs listed say that you need Win XP Media Center, but when you go to support to download the drivers it lists Windows XP as an option.  So, has anyone out there purchased a Logitech Z Cinema and made it work with Windows XP Home or Pro?  If so, which service pack? (I'm running SP3.)

[Mike_M]

Hi drk,

It seems as though people don't get it that Media Center is just a multimedia player overlay for XP and Vista. It is NOT an Operating System.

Media Center has its own Sound mixer app which over rides a lot of Windows settings while it is running.

Z-Cinema will use the remote control in Media Center will full functionality. There is a much lessened functionality without Media Center.

[Octaedro7]

Hi,

Have the same doubt. I wonder if the basic functionality will still be there on a XP pro or a home basic vista for example, meaning:

- will they sound the same?

- will basic controls of the remote still be there as power on/off, volume up/down, treble and bass?

- will headphone out and aux in still work?

Some of my questions may sound obvious but I don't want to assume anything.

Thanks

[KrisM · Accepted solution]

Yes, the basic functions will still work.  The requirement of XP with Media Center is because pre XP MCE version the Windows Media Player did not include a 5.1 Channel codec, so there was no way to get surround sound from a DVD without installing a 3rd party codec or media player.  I believe that Vista Home Basic also does not include Media Center, so it will not have that needed codec.

[Octaedro7]

Thanks

[jbrondos]

I like to run my startup .ini file very lean -- and I probably "deleted" the Z Cinema from the startup routine. How can I get it back again?

[jormajoo]

jbrondos: just uninstall and reinstall the software... =)

Others: You can install XBMC (XBOX Media Center for Windows) for example and use eventghost to map remote controller buttons to work a little better. www.xbmc.org and www.eventghost.org ... I got my system working very nicely. If you have two displays (regular and tv) use UltraMon to get XBMC to start in the secondary monitor.

In Eventghost you have to "add plugin > HID > Logitech Z Cinema " and "add plugin > XBMC" Then map all the buttons you need. I set XBMC to start from "full screen" -button. Does anybody know how to map it to the green MCE-button?