Yer know what

[SteveR750]

Using a PC as a source is areally dumb idea.

yours

Really, no really hacked off Windows User.

- Ineffecticve customer support (how about losing an hours interaction / session ID notes for starters: you are Mr who again?)

- Spotify doies its own thing anyway

- Really crap customer support when it stops working (and it will)

Contrary to all the advice I have ever given on here, biased as it is given my predicament: don't ever, ever choose a PC as a main source of your music.J RMC can go shove it, what an ultimately pointless exercise: what was I thinking, silly me.

 

[The_Lhc]

I've never understood why people play direct from their pc, any simple streamer (squeezebox rip, sonos...) will make a much better job of it, without any of the faffing around that seems to associated with playing music on a pc.

 

[chebby]

All I ever did when feeding a DAC directly from a PC was to turn off system sounds, ensure PC volume was maximum, ensure the sample rate matched that of the material being played (set to 44.1khz in the sound settings instead of default 48khz in my case) and set it 24 bit instead of the default 16 bits.

(I set Quicktime audio settings accordingly as well.)

Just basic stuff from the Benchmark Media Wiki.

 

[MajorFubar]

You have got all your data backed up haven't you?

As for the computer...I feel your pain. PCs haven't been sold with a proper, physical restore disc for some time now (illegal trading of OEM Windows discs put an end to that) so if your HDD dies completely you're bu**ered unless you've routinely cloned the drive to external storage.

What OS was it running? Maybe you could source a cheap HDD and Windows disc off eBay (I'm assuming that it is the HDD that's failed...)

 

[SteveR750]

You have got all your data backed up haven't you?

As for the computer...I feel your pain. PCs haven't been sold with a proper, physical restore disc for some time now (illegal trading of OEM Windows discs put an end to that) so if your HDD dies completely you're bu**ered unless you've routinely cloned the drive to external storage.

What OS was it running? Maybe you could source a cheap HDD and Windows disc off eBay (I'm assuming that it is the HDD that's failed...)

Yes all important data is backed up. I'm just going to send it away to be fixed. I've never had a major problem with any PC before, sod's law it's happened with the most expensive, powerful, important one that I have owned.

 

[Overdose]

I've said it on the main HiFi forum too, but why don't you try Linux? I used a cheap netbook as a dedicated streamer/music player and was running XBMC. XBMC can also be remotely controlled via an Android or i device and an app is available. Worth looking into and it's free.

 

[shooter]

Vortexbox.

 

[SteveR750]

I've said it on the main HiFi forum too, but why don't you try Linux? I used a cheap netbook as a dedicated streamer/music player and was running XBMC. XBMC can also be remotely controlled via an Android or i device and an app is available. Worth looking into and it's free.

If I answer your question, "what the hell is Linux", then you'll realise why I haven't, and probably won't.

 

[Dave_]

As for the computer...I feel your pain. PCs haven't been sold with a proper, physical restore disc for some time now (illegal trading of OEM Windows discs put an end to that) so if your HDD dies completely you're bu**ered unless you've routinely cloned the drive to external storage.

The last two PCs i've bought came bundled with s/w to create a boot/restore disc/usb drive.

Some manufactures provide ISO downloads on their websites too, so providing physical restore discs is unnecessary, and a bit 20th century...

 

[Overdose]

I've said it on the main HiFi forum too, but why don't you try Linux? I used a cheap netbook as a dedicated streamer/music player and was running XBMC. XBMC can also be remotely controlled via an Android or i device and an app is available. Worth looking into and it's free.

If I answer your question, "what the hell is Linux", then you'll realise why I haven't, and probably won't.

I see.

Do a search for Linux Mint or maybe Ubuntu and also XBMC at xbmc.org and have a look. It is a free operating system and is well worth considering. XBMC is a media player that accepts a wide variety of audio and video formats. Other media players are available.

Don't let the fact that the OS is free put you off, Linux is intuitive and user friendly and highly customisable. In fact, best just have a look on the net for info, as I'm not too sure I'm selling it all that well. It worked for me though and I was using it for a few years before I got my Mac.

 

[MajorFubar]

providing physical restore discs...a bit 20th century...

true but some solutions to problems just worked perfectly well as they were, and didn't need changing just because someone thought they were outdated.

 

[chebby]

As soon as I read 'Linux' I tend to think of people who'd have to order some clothes online if they ever needed to leave their bedrooms and go outdoors.

 

[SteveR750]

As soon as I read 'Linux' I tend to think of people who'd have to order some clothes online if they ever needed to leave their bedrooms and go outdoors.

Quite.

 

[John Duncan]

I've said it on the main HiFi forum too, but why don't you try Linux? I used a cheap netbook as a dedicated streamer/music player and was running XBMC. XBMC can also be remotely controlled via an Android or i device and an app is available. Worth looking into and it's free.

If I answer your question, "what the hell is Linux", then you'll realise why I haven't, and probably won't.

I see.

Do a search for Linux Mint or maybe Ubuntu and also XBMC at xbmc.org and have a look. It is a free operating system and is well worth considering. XBMC is a media player that accepts a wide variety of audio and video formats. Other media players are available.

Don't let the fact that the OS is free put you off, Linux is intuitive and user friendly and highly customisable. In fact, best just have a look on the net for info, as I'm not too sure I'm selling it all that well. It worked for me though and I was using it for a few years before I got my Mac.

The trouble I have with Linux (and open source in general, since it's now my living) is the different flavours. If I want the answer to a problem, the internet might provide it and then I find out that only works with Mint or Ubuntu or RedHat or Centos (6, but not 5). There's a reason Windows (and to a lesser extent OSX) is popular, and that's that the answer is usually there on Microsoft's (Apple's) web site...

 

[Dave_]

All the distros have help forums, and some have IRC channels where you can get all the distro-centric help you need.

 

[chebby]

All the distros have help forums, and some have IRC channels where you can get all the distro-centric help you need.

Just that one sentence alone tells me I am never going to use Linux.

 

[Dave_]

Don't knock it... There are plenty of user friendly/intuitive distros that 'just work' out the box.

And you use Linux everyday, whether you realise it or not.

 

[chebby]

And you use Linux everyday, whether you realise it or not.

I know. Even my iMac has some UNIX gubbins under the hood. (I think.)

I'd just rather not have to talk about it or get involved on those 'distro IRCs' of which you speak. (Like i'd rather not talk about plumbing or paintbrushes or self assembly furniture.)

 

[Overdose]

Linux Mint and Ubuntu are the most widely used and accessible 'distros' or distributions and install similarly to other OS's. Download the ISO burn to DVD and install, or create a bootable USB stick. It's really quite simple.

I can understand that it might be beyond some people to install an unfamiliar OS, but trying wouldn't cost anything other than time. It is also possible to run a 'live' installation CD/DVD, where the OS runs from the CD or DVD, with no installation needed to try it.

 

[chebby]

Linux Mint and Ubuntu are the most widely used and accessible 'distros' or distributions and install similarly to other OS's. Download the ISO burn to DVD and install, or create a bootable USB stick. It's really quite simple.

I can understand that it might be beyond some people to install an unfamiliar OS, but trying wouldn't cost anything other than time. It is also possible to run a 'live' installation CD/DVD, where the OS runs from the CD or DVD, with no installation needed to try it.

I've worked with operating sytems that would give most PC/Mac home users nightmares. (IBM's DOS/VSE, VM, MVS/JES2, OS/400 and SNA, VTAM - for networks - on large mainframe installations.) It earnt me a good living for a couple of decades but do it as a hobby? No way.

 

[Overdose]

So you haven't looked at a modern Linux distro then?

 

[chebby]

So you haven't looked at a modern Linux distro then?

A couple of sites (IRCs) after you mentioned it yesterday. One started with a load of rules and 'do nots' that I got bored with after the first page.

Not entirely sure why I would ever want to tbh. I was happy with XP Pro and I am happy with Win 7 Pro (gave the whole Vista episode a miss) and I am happy with Snow Leopard on the iMac.

It all works fine. The family are all happy with Windows and OS-X. (They have always used one or other or both at school/college/Uni/work/home and are comfortable with them.)

I've only ever had two machines fail and both were hardware problems and not OS faults. (HDD on the iMac and graphics card on a Dell). Both were fixed promptly and free under manufacturers cover.

Never had a virus, have always backed everything up, have always kept them up-to-date. I have never failed to find the correct advice on either Apple or Microsoft support sites if there was something I needed to know.

That's how I like it. Other people may have problems with Microsoft or Apple (technical, ethical, 'political' or whatever) and be happy to try out lots of different alternatives.

I like things easy thanks.

 

[Overdose]

It's not about or for you though. It was for the benefit of the OP. You already have a solution that works, the OP had a solution and it let him down.

 

[John Duncan]

It's not about or for you though. It was for the benefit of the OP. You already have a solution that works, the OP had a solution and it let him down.

... and from his description, I have no clear idea of whether it was a hardware or software problem, nor any suggestion that his problem might have been avoided by running, for example, Ubuntu. In fact, I find that highly unlikely.

TBH, I can't imagine any scenario where something going horribly wrong would be - say - Microsoft or Apple's fault.

 

[Overdose]

Using a PC as a source is areally dumb idea.

yours

Really, no really hacked off Windows User.

- Ineffecticve customer support (how about losing an hours interaction / session ID notes for starters: you are Mr who again?)

- Spotify doies its own thing anyway

- Really crap customer support when it stops working (and it will)

Contrary to all the advice I have ever given on here, biased as it is given my predicament: don't ever, ever choose a PC as a main source of your music.J RMC can go shove it, what an ultimately pointless exercise: what was I thinking, silly me.

I think this pretty much sums up the reason for my reply, such as it was.