Hi,

Not necessarily looking for full instructions here (although if someone wants to provide them I would be very grateful) but more so just want to know if the following is possible and maybe some key words to type in to Google so I can find in-depth instructions.

I have a desktop PC in the study with a monitor connected. I have an HDMI cable running from the PC through to the TV in the lounge room. This cable goes in to an HDMI splitter and from there inputs to the TV.

The HDMI splitter has a remote control with which I can select the source. The computer HDMI cable is connected to “source 2”, so I press 2 on the remote and the TV displays my computer desktop.

I also have a program called XBMC installed on the computer. It is a media center, used to organize movies, music, tv shows etc that are saved on my hard disk.

What I would like is to have it all set up such that I can be watching normal free to air TV, then by selecting source 2 on the HDMI splitter (which I am guessing is equivalent to physically turning on a second monitor as far as the computer is concerned) automatically have the computer switch the (now) two monitors to extended mode, keeping the proper monitor as main screen, and then automatically loading XBMC to the secondary screen (ie the TV). I would prefer not to have XMBC running all the time, so if it could automatically close the program when I turn the TV off for example, that would be good too.

TLDR: I want my computer to load my media centre to appear on my TV whenever I turn it on.

So, can anyone tell me if this is possible, and how I might go about finding out how to do it?

• I also have a program called XBMC installed on the computer.

Did you know that XBMC is now Kodi?

Also, should have asked, what is the OS on the PC that runs XBMC/Kodi?

Yep, know it’s Kodi now, but I don’t like doing upgrades without spending some time reading about whether there are any pitfalls or traps to look out for and I haven’t found the time to do that reading yet.

Pooter is running Windows 8.1 with the Classic Shell thingy going on. I will likely be taking the free upgrade to Windows 10 when it becomes available.

• Yep, know it’s Kodi now, but I don’t like doing upgrades without spending some time reading about whether there are any pitfalls or traps to look out for and I haven’t found the time to do that reading yet.

I only found out because it updated on my Ubuntu HTPC and the icon disappeared from my launcher and I couldn’t find it in my program list. Running XBMC from terminal launched it but it also told me that I should run Kodi instead. Kodi is now in my Launcher.

Doesn’t appear to be any problems with the upgrade but I haven’t used it a lot lately as I have been having some dramas with my NAS which I am working my way through…

How do you drive XBMC once it is open on your TV?

Currently I either use an xbox 360 controller or a remote control app on the iPhone to control XBMC from the lounge room.

I will be looking in to getting a proper remote control if such a thing is available.

My main problem is that when I try to research this myself, all the relevant words I can think of to put in to the search engine result in pages and pages of links describing how to connect a TV or a monitor to a PC. I already have it connected, so these are no use to me.

Hence why I also asked for “key words” that I should use in the OP.

• I will be looking in to getting a proper remote control if such a thing is available.

I believe that there are plenty of windows media centre remotes that can work and they might even give you a workaround where a button press will open the application. Only problem would be how it talks to the PC…

Was this you?

Launching an application when switching HDMI displays

I have other cables running alongside the HDMI cable from Study to Lounge, including a USB cable. It’s my expectation I will be able to get a remote with a receiver which will plug in to this USB cable.

furious said:

Was this you?

Launching an application when switching HDMI displays

Not me, but that person certainly managed to ask the question much more succinctly than I did! :)

• It’s my expectation I will be able to get a remote with a receiver which will plug in to this USB cable

That’ll probably do the trick…