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I think this is a great box for linux users, but if you plan on installing XP and/or expect audio over HDMI to work forget about it.
Installing XP causes the MAG to give you a most welcoming BSOD. Unless you have XP SP3 (I can't vouch for whether or not SP2 will work), you must slipstream an install cd to include the service pack updates...which I had to do.
All that work was for nothing because now I can't get audio over HDMI to work. At the moment I'd like nothing more than to drop kick this machine into oblivion since it was supposed to be a gift for my parents.
Seems like it would be a really nice machine if you can get it to work.
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2010-01-07, 08:34
hello all
this is my first post here
i wanted some info and help around getting wireless to work on the zotac mag
i have installed xbmc live to hdd and it works flawlessly except for wireless
( i am using the lifehacker linked xbmc live with ion drivers built in )
my zotac is far away from a wired ethernet and i need wireless to work
any help in this regard would be awesome
ps : lspci shows the atheros wifi card
i just need to set the card up and download the drivers
thanks in advance........
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2010-01-13, 17:25
(This post was last modified: 2010-01-13, 17:33 by banerjees.)
thanks for the superfast response
i tried this - i didn't disable the auto eth0 previously
will give this another shot right now.... will also check out the links.
EDIT : no go - i am using xbmc live.. installed to pendrive as a hdd install. could this be because i downloaded the live distribution modded for the acer revo (ion optimised) which does not have wireless?
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any of you try the minimal install on Zotac MAG?
I tried using it but I am stuck with the gettting the script and setting up the devices.
I was able to do a full ubuntu 9.10 but not sure if minimal install is better
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live install works smoothly .... i tried it and except wireless everything is perfect!!
in my research i came across xbmcfreak distro a breakaway distro and i will be trying that before a full or a minimal ubuntu install - i do understand xbmcfreak is a taboo topic here.
go for the live cd and install it to hdd - works a charm...
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Hi all!
I've got the Zotac Mag too..
I did the minimal install, ran the script.
Weird this is... by default, can play .avi, but can't play mkv/mp4. When I start then, the background image changes, but the menu stays up.
I changed from "automatic" to VDPAU, xbmc reboots each time I start one. If I use the other acceleration method (dont remember the name) everything is fine. Tried the old video drivers, the current one and the beta, no difference. weird.
but so far, im satisfied.
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Had a ZOTAC MAG for a while now 2GB 330.
Tried just about every variation on XBMC. Started with live, installed to a 4GB SD card. I do not use internal HDD which has windows 7 enterprise build on it and XBMC.
Linux xbmc-live works ish can only get it to talk to my Sony AMP and 55" Bravia at 1080I very annoying. No navigation sounds. Plays most things, not quite powerful enough for full BD rip at 1080P.
Music sound a bit weird, if I set it to cross fade songs in party mode, it plays the first song fine then I get audio initialisation error. Turning crossfade off it works and it plays through the playlist fine.
Just rebuilt this using the XCI script on top of minimal ubuntu build using 190 NV driver and standard ubuntu 9.10 ALSA driver. Get navigation sounds but crossfade error still there. Might install again and choose beta ALSA driver to see if that helps.
Also when it scans my music library I get no Fanart, settings same as the initial live build which pulled all album and fanart no problem.
If I boot into windows 7 and run XBMC I get full dolby (blue light) and 1080P video....but of course I have to put up with windows overhead. Slower video performance (much worse on full BD rip than linux).
Still working on getting this to work properly without the niggles, it needs to be wife and kid proof really. Once I find a build then every room in the house with a tv will get one of these. USE windows MCE remote to operate it. 12 quid off ebay.
Just my findings to date that I thought would be worth sharing. Ping me if you want any info on what I have tried, probably upto 60 hours plus of tinkering.
Cheers
Spart
6 x Raspberry Pi Model B & B+ Pi2 & 3 Zotac Mag Ubuntu 14.04.1 - Ubuntu 14.04.1 Test Machine Kodi Nightly -
RocketNAS 8TB Usable Raid 6 Ubuntu 14.04.1 RocketNAS Build