djOS Posted May 20, 2007 Author Posted May 20, 2007 I agree, however I tried Vista64 on my MSI based HTPC. The outcome is interesting. I makes for a very fast machine but lacks full driver support ATM. I have also uped the specs to an AM2 4000, a PICe DNTV Live! Dual Hybrid and MSMC keyboard and remote. Ice and pimp are not functioning correctly. I will remove vista64 and load vista32 in the next few days.On a different note since I was unable to source the optional JTV1 for the MSI K9AGM2-FHI I made one up from an old cut down IDE cable connector soldered to an sVideo jack and 3 RCA jacks. The 3 RCAs are in fact component, despite what the manual says. Frankly I was stunned at the PQ I got from the Svideo and component. Next I will make these connections permanent and add external ports for SPDIF ins and outs. Now with all the IO options, DVD burning, networking blah blah this board gives us, who said the beyonwiz 'shows the way'. Yeah thats why went with Premium 32Bit and Im very very happy with it. Hear, Hear!
djOS Posted May 21, 2007 Author Posted May 21, 2007 Well Lads my Vista MediaPC is now well and truly alive; I bought a 2-way Kingray Splitter from Tandy's and even not powered up, I now have 4 fully functional tuners in VistaMCE! PS. to enable the last 2 tuners I just used MCETunerAppv2.0.exe and restarted my MediaPC and Voila, 4 Tuners!
renura Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 Well Lads my Vista MediaPC is now well and truly alive; I bought a 2-way Kingray Splitter from Tandy's and even not powered up, I now have 4 fully functional tuners in VistaMCE! PS. to enable the last 2 tuners I just used MCETunerAppv2.0.exe and restarted my MediaPC and Voila, 4 Tuners! Great, good to hear
djOS Posted May 21, 2007 Author Posted May 21, 2007 Doh, I just discovered a problem (not related to the DNTV cards) - any HDTV recording or channel I try to watch (720p or 1080i - 576p is fine) results in a green screen + Audio??? The problem doesn't occur playing 1080i/p WMV/AVI files tho?
Mcrackn Posted May 21, 2007 Posted May 21, 2007 I've seen this with certain decoders and dxva on/off etc.
djOS Posted May 21, 2007 Author Posted May 21, 2007 I've seen this with certain decoders and dxva on/off etc. Hmm, Im using FFDShow as part of the Klite Standard Codec/Filters Pack.
djOS Posted May 21, 2007 Author Posted May 21, 2007 Okay Im stumped, I removed the klite pack and I still get a green screen for 720p & 1080i HDTV and previously recorded HDTV (from when I was running MCE2005). I've installed PowerDVD 7 Ultra (legit copy) and it makes no difference; I've re-installed a "Vista Specific" Codec pack and still no joy. Idea's anyone? PS. Im using the Catalyst v7.4 Drivers - I've even tried forcing MCE to use the Cyberlink codecs using both DECCHECK (doesn't seem to do anything in Vista) and VistaMediaCenter Decoder Utility which does force the change but MCE crashes when forced to use any of them and video playack is attempted.
djOS Posted May 21, 2007 Author Posted May 21, 2007 Now for extra weirdness, just as a test I ran my 1080i recording of 7's Demo loop (from last week when living in Melbourne) thru DVRMSToolBox to create a pure MPEG2 ProgramStream version and copied it into my Video collection folder and it plays perfectly!!!! Yet the DVRMS version (which is still MPEG2) gives me a green screen!
djOS Posted June 2, 2007 Author Posted June 2, 2007 WARNING: This post contains User Stupidity!!! Lads, I hate to admit it, but last night I bricked my MSI mobo! If any of you are considering using MSI Live update to upgrade you BIOS in Vista ... DON'T! All appeared to be fine until reboot when I got a BIOS CRC error, now my mobo goes thru the normal bios screen and dies at "checking NVRAM". The weird part is I can still get into the bios and configure it, but cant boot off anything, I can even use the AMI Bios recovery procedure (put bios file on Floppy Disc named AMIBIOS.ROM & press "ctrl + home" on power up), so basically im stuffed till I can get my mobo replaced. I looged an-online call with MSI just in case there is another option, but im not hopefull.
hired goon Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 If any of you are considering using MSI Live update to upgrade you BIOS in Vista ... DON'T! So .. is this a problem in Vista, or in yer mobo? I was thinking of getting Vista Home Premium for my HTPC but between this thread and the other thread on "HTPC for the SXRD" on having major problems with Vista ... maybe I'll stick to XP MCE. --Geoff
djOS Posted June 2, 2007 Author Posted June 2, 2007 So .. is this a problem in Vista, or in yer mobo? I was thinking of getting Vista Home Premium for my HTPC but between this thread and the other thread on "HTPC for the SXRD" on having major problems with Vista ... maybe I'll stick to XP MCE.--Geoff Vista isn't the problem, it was MSI's live update! VistaMCE craps all over mce2005 from a great height.
jel Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 Do you get any beeps when it boots up? Here is a list of beep codes that may help. Have you cleared the CMOS? You could also try the method they suggest for an Award bios, it isn't going to hurt it any further. ie create a bootable floppy and run the flash program AFUD408.exe from the floppy. I assume you have downloaded 7327v13.zip, then extract the contents to your bootable floppy (ignore the path, put everything on the floppy root dir) But definitely try clearing the CMOS first, then seeing changing BIOS settings works again. ps There is hope you're a fair way away from needing a new mobo, as it's still got enough brains to load up the BIOS setup screen. Your only really in trouble when you get a blank screen and no beeps.
djOS Posted June 2, 2007 Author Posted June 2, 2007 Do you get any beeps when it boots up?Here is a list of beep codes that may help. Have you cleared the CMOS? You could also try the method they suggest for an Award bios, it isn't going to hurt it any further. ie create a bootable floppy and run the flash program AFUD408.exe from the floppy. I assume you have downloaded 7327v13.zip, then extract the contents to your bootable floppy (ignore the path, put everything on the floppy root dir) But definitely try clearing the CMOS first, then seeing changing BIOS settings works again. Thanks but I've tried all that, I think the corrupt part of the bios directly relates to the boot-loader as booting anything is a no go.
hired goon Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 G'day, VistaMCE craps all over mce2005 from a great height. In what ways? I haven't played with Vista MCE yet, but I'd like to know why you think it's better than XP MCE. --Geoff
djOS Posted June 2, 2007 Author Posted June 2, 2007 G'day,In what ways? I haven't played with Vista MCE yet, but I'd like to know why you think it's better than XP MCE. --Geoff Everything actually works properly for DVB-T, eg AC3 sound etc.
drsmith Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 Well Lads my Vista MediaPC is now well and truly alive; I bought a 2-way Kingray Splitter from Tandy's and even not powered up, I now have 4 fully functional tuners in VistaMCE! I too needed some signal amplification to the PC tuner cards and have purchased the 2-way Kingray splitter. Unfortunately, one of the sockets broke when I attempted to screw one of the coax connectors on, rendering the device inoperable. It will be going back to DSE for a replacement. I have not purchased a lottery ticket this week. I can see the potential of the Vista MC interface once on top of all the issues. My limited experience is that nothing comes easy in this game.
techo Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 Vista isn't the problem, it was MSI's live update! VistaMCE craps all over mce2005 from a great height. I'll second both those assertions. I was not happy with MSIs live update procedure, even when I was running XP, so I updated the old fashioned way. About VistaMCE, now that I am running Vista 32bit in my MSI based HTPC, it seems very stable with a better MC interface.
byte-me Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 WARNING: This post contains User Stupidity!!! Lads, I hate to admit it, but last night I bricked my MSI mobo! If any of you are considering using MSI Live update to upgrade you BIOS in Vista ... DON'T! All appeared to be fine until reboot when I got a BIOS CRC error, now my mobo goes thru the normal bios screen and dies at "checking NVRAM". The weird part is I can still get into the bios and configure it, but cant boot off anything, I can even use the AMI Bios recovery procedure (put bios file on Floppy Disc named AMIBIOS.ROM & press "ctrl + home" on power up), so basically im stuffed till I can get my mobo replaced. I looged an-online call with MSI just in case there is another option, but im not hopefull. 1: Ok first thing to do is go to MSI and download the previous BIOS version from the one you have and create a bootable floppy or flash disk. 2: Unplug all unnecessary devices, hard drives, CD or DVD drives etc. 3: Remove the battery off the motherboard and leave it off for at least 5 minutes then put it back. 4: restart the computer and go into BIOS setup and make sure first boot device is set to your desired option. 5: restart the computer again and reflash the BIOS with the previous version you just downloaded. 6: restart the computer and set BIOS to factory defaults and restart again. 7: If that seems to go OK turn it off and reconnect all the drives etc and reboot and you should be a goer. Then you can go through steps 4 - 7 again only this time use the latest BIOs and then you can go in and tweak it and all should be good. I hope!
sold Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 So .. is this a problem in Vista, or in yer mobo? It's a problem with doing BIOS updates through Windows (many BIOS die this way). IMO, you should only do a BIOS update if you need a feature that the new one offers (don't update just for the sake of it) and if you do need to update it do it via a bootdisk/CD/USB.
jel Posted June 2, 2007 Posted June 2, 2007 Thanks but I've tried all that, I think the corrupt part of the bios directly relates to the boot-loader as booting anything is a no go. While this may be the case, it would be unusual if the bootblock was corupted, as this doesn't get overwritten in a BIOS update. This should still allow the PC to boot off the floppy if the BIOS is totally nerfed. You could also go into the BIOS and select the 'Fail-Safe' option. Other than than, byte-me's suggestion would be the next step
djOS Posted June 3, 2007 Author Posted June 3, 2007 Ok chaps, thanks for the suggestion's I'll have another go. PS. I used to be a HW Tech so im feeling mighty silly right now!
djOS Posted June 3, 2007 Author Posted June 3, 2007 Byte-Me, If I was female, right now I'd be offering to have your children! My Media Center is back up and running! PS, stay away from v1.3 of this bios, I couldn't get it to work with my add-in cards even after recovering my bios and had to revert to v1.2 a second time.
djOS Posted June 9, 2007 Author Posted June 9, 2007 Well Chaps I've now solved the "Green Screen" 720p/1080i problem! I installed the ATI AVIVO Codec pack* and used DECheck & VMCD to force MCE to use the ATI MPEG2 Codec and now I have 720p & 1080i TV. *You can get this by finding a driver for a "Radeon" x1??? series card - for some reason if you select "integrated mobo" & x1250 it's not listed.
regis169 Posted June 11, 2007 Posted June 11, 2007 djOS, Please excuse my ignorance, but why do you need 4 tuners? I might think of running my future HTPC as a PVR. Do I also need at least 2 tuners to make this possible?
djOS Posted June 11, 2007 Author Posted June 11, 2007 djOS,Please excuse my ignorance, but why do you need 4 tuners? I might think of running my future HTPC as a PVR. Do I also need at least 2 tuners to make this possible? Hi Regis, I went for 4 because a/ it allows me to easily have multiple overlapping timers* and still watch live TV (eg a footy match or V8's) and b/ because it was cheap to do so ($170 per dual tuner card). *the TV networks being the ar$eholes that they are, run all of their shows late so this way I can add 15mins padding to each show without impeding my ability to record other shows on different networks.
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