trs71 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 20, 2018 2:48 am
Is there any advantage to running windows 8.1 vs 7, besides 2023 support?
Honestly, I ran 7 WMC for years with no problems, but starting 2 years ago Problems started IDK why. Even complete reinstalls (or restored images) only fixed errors for a while, freezing or mainly losing the HDHomerun tuners, requiring a reboot of everything, but everything else on the PC ran great. Now with win 8.1 everything else is glitchy except for WMC...... go figure!
I played the hacked windows 10 game since the inception, untill the cable card demise update, all in all nothing but a PITA...
I was one of the big guys asking for Windows 10 WMC and did many tests with it prior to the guys over at MDL hacking it. I followed it step by step till Cablecards died (I have a Ceton so it never worked once they died). WIndows 10 WMC is a novelty now. I cant watch TV with it, so it's just for some apps for testing.
IS 8.1 better than 7 in anyway ? No, not really. Although it MAY be possible to use a store app in WMC (all my experiance and trial no apps can be used with a remote) on 8.1, they actually disable features from Windows 7 (always on top and start WMC with Windows). Also 8.1 is far less popular than 7, so even driver support can be hit or miss on some items.
The 2023 thing, is about security updates, if your using the built in guide (ROVI), you might be good till 2023 or beyond with WIndows 7. Microsoft changed to ROVI, so it works with Winows 7, WIndows 8.1 and all other devices that use gudie data including the TV feature on the Xbox one. So it might even work after WIndows 8.1 is done... BUT, if Microsoft kills off that feature on the Xbox one, it might end sooner. I personally disable Windows update on my HTPC, because Microsoft no longer tests WMC with updates and it can and does break things time to time.
Note: If you DONT have a licence for 8.1 WMC, it's a PIA to get, so your better off sticking with 7. Just so you know, 8.1 WMC is the same exact thing and version, just modfied by Microsoft so it would work on 8.1. The cablecards died on WIndows 10 is because they changed the DRM subsystem and abandoned the old one, this killed other apps like Zune and some other DRM music websites (a lot of ticked off people). It was to go forward with DRM that supports 4K and newer protection.