How to Replace TiVo With an Old Computer

With the right software and components, you may be able to replace TiVo with your old computer. As long as your computer can run a stripped-down version of Windows XP, you can hook your old computer up to your TV and toss TiVo out the door.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Windows Media Center
• Computer

1. Check the back panel of your old computer. See if your pre-installed video card can support S-video. If not, get a new video card that does have an S-video connection port and install this on your old computer.
2. Purchase a copy of Windows XP. This is relatively cheap and the software includes pretty much everything you’ll need to replace TiVo, with one exception.
3. Purchase a TV tuner card. This is a mission-critical bit of hardware that allows you to do all the stuff that TiVo does.
4. Wipe the hard drive clean. If you’re not using Windows XP, wipe the hard drive of your old computer and prepare it for a new operating system.
5. Install the TV tuner card. Find the proper expansion slot on your motherboard and slot the card into your old computer.
6. Install Windows XP from the installation CD. If your old computer is so old that it uses humongous floppies only, you’re out of luck. Time to relegate that computer to the silicon graveyard.
7. Connect your old computer to your TV with an S-video cable. After testing the system, let the media madness begin.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don’t want to get a TV tuner card and install it on your old computer, you can purchase a TV tuner that has a USB connector. This lets you plug into the old computer without fussing with card installation.
• Having two TV cards allows you to do more things with your computer and TV, like record two channels at once while watching something else on a third channel. If you have the expansion slots and the cash, go for it.
• Don’t use Windows Vista for this procedure unless you know that your old computer can handle the newest Microsoft operating system.
• If your old computer is a Commodore 64 or something else from the Stone Age of computing, these instructions probably won’t work.

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