Question Windows 7 just for Media Center

spdfreak

Senior member
Mar 6, 2000
906
55
91
Is there a final slipstream version of win 7 I can use just for media center and old tuners on an older machine? Not going to be on the internet just used for dvr purposes recording OTA. The current system I use for dvr is getting very glitchy and I want to use more modern hardware.
 

spdfreak

Senior member
Mar 6, 2000
906
55
91
Just use linux instead. Free and easy. More secure for those EPG updates.
LInux with what media center app? I really like the simplicity of WMC and I've been using it forever, it seems. If there is something out there that works just as well, I'm certainly open to it.
 

Tech Junky

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2022
3,189
1,055
96
I use Plex but there's also Kodi. With Plex you can pair it with a ton of tuners and with the lifetime subscription option it's a single payment. I paired it with a quad atsc3 tuner. There's a pcie tuner available as well that works well.

I never ventured into wmc though to manage things so I can't compare the two.
 

mindless1

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
7,912
1,403
126
Sure there is a final slipstreamed Win7, as current as whatever date it was made. It's going to come from a dubious source (arguably, if you're not familiar with where to get it), but if you get the right version for the win7 license you have, then you're not pirating it. These have been released for so long now, that any that is popular (not a new popup source) has been vetted.

There is no special risk letting a Win7 box on the internet, assuming typical things like the app itself is secure, and using a router.

However you may face a limitation in how modern the hardware can be, and have Win7 drivers.

Backing up a bit, why do you need a final slipstreamed version? If whatever you install, works for your purposes, you should be fine. If you feel like reading through the vulnerabilities list to see if any of them would impact your particular use.... have at it, but it is very unlikely. If anything, too many updates after the driver or software was produced, is more likely to break something than help.

Regardless, I'd shoot for at least a SP1 distro, then if you really want to wade through the updates list, you can find those individually, no need to apply tons of updates that don't benefit you, and just eat up some storage space. Granted, not much space in the context of running a DVR.

Lastly, there's the convenience rollup package to get there, if still available for download, but you don't need to do all the things on this link, just install win7sp1 then install the rollup:

 
Last edited:

spdfreak

Senior member
Mar 6, 2000
906
55
91
Sure there is a final slipstreamed Win7, as current as whatever date it was made. It's going to come from a dubious source (arguably, if you're not familiar with where to get it), but if you get the right version for the win7 license you have, then you're not pirating it. These have been released for so long now, that any that is popular (not a new popup source) has been vetted.

There is no special risk letting a Win7 box on the internet, assuming typical things like the app itself is secure, and using a router.

However you may face a limitation in how modern the hardware can be, and have Win7 drivers.

Backing up a bit, why do you need a final slipstreamed version? If whatever you install, works for your purposes, you should be fine. If you feel like reading through the vulnerabilities list to see if any of them would impact your particular use.... have at it, but it is very unlikely. If anything, too many updates after the driver or software was produced, is more likely to break something than help.

Regardless, I'd shoot for at least a SP1 distro, then if you really want to wade through the updates list, you can find those individually, no need to apply tons of updates that don't benefit you, and just eat up some storage space. Granted, not much space in the context of running a DVR.

Lastly, there's the convenience rollup package to get there, if still available for download, but you don't need to do all the things on this link, just install win7sp1 then install the rollup:

I have a bunch of SP1 discs so I may just do that. My tuners are all old and have no driver support for newer versions of windows so this may be the best solution. I may put Firefox on it so I can pull up TV listings but other than that it won't get used for internet, etc.
 

mindless1

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
7,912
1,403
126
I use an old Win7SP1 box for internet all the time, never a problem, though I do have browser scripting off by default, allowed on an as-needed basis. I'd do the same on any other OS.

However it's worth mentioning that Chrome support (new versions) for Win7 & 8.1 stopped just a few days ago, leaving it at version 108.something.

Firefox had planned to stop support at the beginning of next year but it looks like they may extend that. Certain versions and above require certain MS updates, for example ver. 100+:


It appears my win7 box already had that update for a few years or more. I don't do banking/other critical things with that system, and have a partition image backup so can nuke it from orbit if any problems arise, but none ever have that were related to online threats.
 
Last edited:

Tech Junky

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2022
3,189
1,055
96
Can someone explain why they hold onto W7 forever? Sure it was an improvement of those before it and better than dealing with the hot mess known as 8.
 

mxnerd

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
6,799
1,098
126
@Tech Junky Don't like the frequent forced update & terrible UI of Win10/11 I think. Also the non stop background running tasks that absolutely needs an SSD. OTA tuner owners also don't want to upgrade their Win7 tuners that absolutely have no Win10 drivers.

Personally I always install Open Shell Menu on Win10/11 machines.
 
Last edited:

Tech Junky

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2022
3,189
1,055
96
@mxnerd I use a silicon dust tuner and it worked fine with W10/11 until I upgraded the mobo for ADL. Then I switched to an external tuner setup because the new board only pulled half of the channels. I even tested with a new card and had the same results before upgrading to atsc3.

As for the update issue I block them with GP entries and selectively install updates manually.

You don't need an SSD to run 10/11 but, it speeds things up.
 

mxnerd

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2007
6,799
1,098
126
Used to have TV tuners too : ATI PCI-> AverMedia PCIE > HDHomerun ATSC network.

I don't watch TV anymore so I sold 1st gen HDHomerun tuner long time ago.

Win10/11 don't need SSD, but it's fxxking slow.
 

Tech Junky

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2022
3,189
1,055
96
fxxking slow.
Windows in general is slow. I run my media on Linux because it's lightweight and takes full advantage of the HW.

The only downside to atsc3 though is the audio codec doesn't have an open source decoder at this point. I cut the cord ~5 years ago and haven't looked back since. I tried all of the streaming options and couldn't find the right mix of channels at the lowest price so, tuners plus downloads works for me. I was able to automate things a bit with duckietv though instead of manually tracking things which makes it easy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mxnerd