I currently use windows xp mce but I hate the fact that I can't join my domain with it. It also will not reconnect to a network drive at startup. MCE is unable to even record to a networked drive.

What I want to know is can get linux to work with AD. The linux pvr system will rarly be logged in localy it pretty much will just sit there and record tv/streem tv my pc in the living room and my laptop.

Would it be hard to get the linux pc to join the domain and have write access to shared folders on the domain even when no user is logged in?

Also another none networking question maybe someone reading this would know. Can mythtv run as a windows service type thing? forget what its called in linux deamond? so it can still record/streem tv shows while no user is logged on.

I think you are stuck in a Windows mentality here, which is why you are having some problems conceptualizing this.

Unix machines do not require anyone to be logged in; or any human interaction at all, for that matter. They can run anything and do anything via scripting and daemons, and in fact that is how they are supposed to run for the most part. You will never need to directly log into the machine, but that doesn't mean it won't be working without you there.

From what you are describing, I don't see any problems.