XBMC reinstalled (Now XBMCbuntu)

I have decided to change my configuration. Instead of base it on a ubuntu desktop I will do a xbmcbuntu installation according to the official guide with the same name. The only reason is that this is what everybody else does. The performance will not be improved.

I will still need a gui but I will add it on top of the xbmc installation instead of the other way around. I think I will stick to gnome for the moment, but am working on a openbox setup as well. The biggest difference in the end will be that I will not run in GDM.

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XBMCbuntu installation on ION 330 (Asrock)

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0) Preparations

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Flash BIOS => 1.50

Set shared memory to 512Mb

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1) XBMCbuntu setup

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Refer to the official wiki this is just my installation log.

http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=XBMCbuntu

*I use a PPA installation for NVIDIA

*I install openbox instead of fluxbox/blackbox EDIT: I will probably switch back to flux)

a) Install minimal ubuntu

-install from 32-bit mini cd (or server CD??)

-don't create the xbmc user in this step (I create xbmcadmin /xbmc)

-Select autoinstall security updates

-optional: Create an extra partition for storage and format it

-add basic server. But Why should Basic Ubuntu Server be added? I didn't select anything at all before.

-add ssh

connect with SSH or type the rest of the commands in terminal.

b) Initial system config (add sources)

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/xbmc.org.list

add these lines:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc/ppa/ubuntu/ jaunty main

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc/ppa/ubuntu/ jaunty main

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/xbmc-addons/ppa/ubuntu/ jaunty main

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/xbmc-addons/ppa/ubuntu/ jaunty main

#deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-svn/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

#deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-svn/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

save file and exit (CTRL-O CTRL-X)

Add keys

sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 318C7509 91E7EE5E 64234534

(addons, live PPA, SVN PPA)

Update apt

sudo apt-get update

c) Install custom boot splash (optional)

sudo apt-get install usplash-theme-xbmc-*

sudo nano /etc/usplash.conf

add

xres=1920

yres=1080

sudo update-alternatives --config usplash-artwork.so

sudo update-initramfs -u

d) Install XBMC

If you want to install SVN directly

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/xbmc.org.list

-and comment out the stable (first 2 lines) and uncomment the svn

sudo apt-get install xbmc xinit x11-xserver-utils

e) Install "restricted drivers" for NVIDIA from 3rd party PPA

*I the nvidia-vdpau PPA. It has more alternatives than the two in the guide. e.g. downgrade => 180

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

add

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/nvidia-vdpau/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

Add key

sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com CEC06767

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-generic nvidia-glx-185

*Version 180 seem to work better for the moment. Less frame drops. I am on 180 right now

sudo nvidia-xconfig -s --no-logo --force-generate

f) Test basic installation of XBMC

add simple window manager

sudo apt-get install fluxbox xterm

type startx in console

right-click select terminal & type xbmc

g) Install xbmc helpers

sudo apt-get install xbmc-live python-apt

enter pwd for xbmc user etc

sudo nano /boot/grub/menu.lst

Add

xbmc=nodiskmount,noredir loglevel=0

or

xbmc=noredir loglevel=0

to the end of the first option kernel line

depending on if you want to automount disks or not.

*I will use the first, manually mount my storage partition and later add gnome-mount to handle USB.

add safe mode by copying the first section and remove "quite splash quite"

and add "(safe mode)" to the title line. Don't enable mount in safe mode. That way you can boot without mounting and manually mount any fixed disks.

f) Updating alsa

installing from rep:

sudo apt-get install linux-sound-base alsa-base alsa-utils

*For the moment I am testing with this, supposed to be some upgrades lately.

installing the latest (1.0.20)

wget http://xbmc.org/wp-content/uploads/alsaup.sh

chmod +x alsaup.sh

sudo ./alsaup.sh -di

g) Additional settings and packages

sudo alsamixer

-Unmute and set volume (MM means muted and OO On)

-Hit "m" to toggle mute on/off.

-Do not forget to unmute HDMI if you are going to use that

sudo alsactl store

-store the settings

h) Optional: Install support for a remote

sudo apt-get install lirc

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This should pretty much be a vanila XBMCbuntu installation

With the exception of openbox and the diskmount.

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2) Upgrade to SVN (optional)

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exit XBMC

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/xbmc.org.list

-uncomment the svn line and comment the stable PPA

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

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3) Config

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a) delete guisettings.xml (will erase all your settings)

sudo rm /home/xbmc/.xbmc/userdata/guisettings.xml

b) Enable 24hz, auto adjust refresh rate

add in screen section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Option "DynamicTwinView" "False"

Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = Native"

sudo sed -i '60i\ Option "DynamicTwinView" "False"' /etc/X11/xorg.conf

sudo sed -i '60i\ Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = Native"' /etc/X11/xorg.conf

check result

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

c) Disable HW curser

Add in section device in /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Option "HWCursor" "False"

sudo sed -i '50i\ Option "HWCursor" "False"' /etc/X11/xorg.conf

check result

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

d) reboot

sudo reboot

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4) Config in XBMC

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a) enable VDPAU and Auto adjust refresh rate

Change render method => VDPAU

Set "Auto adjust refresh rate" on

b) setup sound

Enable digital sound

Settings for SPDIF:

default

iec958

Setting for HDMI:

hdmi

hdmi

If mp3 is playing to fast, try with:

plug:hdmi

hdmi