Media Center Decoder Error...

MatrixEVO

New Member
I am having a problem with Media Center whenever I try to play Live TV or play a DVD (I have a DVD plug-in installed already and DVDs work in Windows Media Player, PowerDVD, etc.).

Here is the error message:

 
MatrixEVO said:
Oh, and Omega: Can I hook my TV Tuner to your PC sometime soon and see if you have the same problem?
sure, so the problem is that when you hook up the tv tuner to your laptop, it displays that message?
 
[-0MEGA-] said:
sure, so the problem is that when you hook up the tv tuner to your laptop, it displays that message?

It's hooked up and recognizes the signal, but then when I go to play friom the signal it gives me the decoder error.
 
I had this problem a few days after I got my machine. Dell support had me reformat and reinstall windows. (Waste of time...) Once I installed the DVD drivers that came on one of the Dell disks everything worked. You should probably try re-installing the DVD software and drivers.


Later on I remember encountering a decoder problem when I installed one the MCE Windows updates. I do not remember if it was an HDTV support update or not.. I removed the update and I was able to watch TV again.
 
SFR said:
I had this problem a few days after I got my machine. Dell support had me reformat and reinstall windows. (Waste of time...) Once I installed the DVD drivers that came on one of the Dell disks everything worked. You should probably try re-installing the DVD software and drivers.


Later on I remember encountering a decoder problem when I installed one the MCE Windows updates. I do not remember if it was an HDTV support update or not.. I removed the update and I was able to watch TV again.

Did you use the Dell Resource CD to reinstall the software and drivers?

And how do I remove and update? Maybe the same thing happened to me. EDIT: Nevermind, I know how to remove updates now.
 
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SFR said:
I do not remember if it was an HDTV support update or not.. I removed the update and I was able to watch TV again.

How do you tell what update it was? Did it have a unique name like "HDTV Support Update"? Or was it an update with a number after it.
 
Yes, I think it was the blue Application Disk for reinstalling Sonic MYDVD 5.3 LE.

When I take a look at add/remove programs I remember the update being an MCE update and not a Windows HotFix or Security Update. I do not know the specifics. I currently have the "Update Rollup 1 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with HDTV support (KB73369)". I do not have the Rollup 2 (KB900325) for Windows XP MCE 2005. It might help if you list the updates you have. (But first just try uninstalling and re-installing your DVD software.
 
SFR said:
Yes, I think it was the blue Application Disk for reinstalling Sonic MYDVD 5.3 LE.

When I take a look at add/remove programs I remember the update being an MCE update and not a Windows HotFix or Security Update. I do not know the specifics. I currently have the "Update Rollup 1 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with HDTV support (KB73369)". I do not have the Rollup 2 (KB900325) for Windows XP MCE 2005. It might help if you list the updates you have. (But first just try uninstalling and re-installing your DVD software.

When you bought the Dell did you pay extra for MyDVD? I thought I remember having it when I used my Dell for the first time (preloaded). I have reformatted since then and now I have no CD that has MyDVD on it. Do you know if there is a trial version of it or another program that would work?
 
MatrixEVO said:
When you bought the Dell did you pay extra for MyDVD? I thought I remember having it when I used my Dell for the first time (preloaded). I have reformatted since then and now I have no CD that has MyDVD on it. Do you know if there is a trial version of it or another program that would work?

I found this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DE1491AC-0AB6-4990-943D-627E6ADE9FCB&displaylang=en


Basically it displays all of the codec's you have on your machine and whether or not they are Media Player 10 and MCE compatible. I have three listed. Two are Sonic MPEG video decoder's that are NOT compatible. And I have a CyberLink Video/SP Decoder DELL 5.3 (6.0.0.818) which is Media Player and MCE compatible and it is set as preferred.
 
SFR said:
I found this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DE1491AC-0AB6-4990-943D-627E6ADE9FCB&displaylang=en


Basically it displays all of the codec's you have on your machine and whether or not they are Media Player 10 and MCE compatible. I have three listed. Two are Sonic MPEG video decoder's that are NOT compatible. And I have a CyberLink Video/SP Decoder DELL 5.3 (6.0.0.818) which is Media Player and MCE compatible and it is set as preferred.

I have 3 also and non are MCE compatible. I have a CyberLink PowerDVD install CD. Maybe that would have the decoder?

These are my decoders as of now:

-ATI MPEG Video Decoder (9.12.0.51204)
-Sonic MPEG Video Decoder (2.5.4.1044)
-ATI CC Multiplexer (9.12.0.51204)
 
I just installed Cyberlink PowerDVD and it installed:

-Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder (5.0.0.1031)

It is MCE compatible and preferred, but I still can't watch Live TV. :(
 
another thing, what kind of TV Tuner do you have? Was is purchased with the machine or seperately? Have all the drivers for the TV Tuner been installed (and if they have, try re-installing those drivers as well)?
 
SFR said:
another thing, what kind of TV Tuner do you have? Was is purchased with the machine or seperately? Have all the drivers for the TV Tuner been installed (and if they have, try re-installing those drivers as well)?

Its an Angel USB TV Tuner: CLICK

I have the latest driver and it came with the laptop (Dell Logo imprinted on it too).
 
MatrixEVO said:
SFR: Do you think it would work if I got MyDVD 8 Premier?

I do not know. All I know is what currently works for me. If you call Dell support they might have more information to help you (when I spoke with them I was the FIRST support call they had ever had with MCE 2005 :rolleyes: )

..anyway, I am not sure what the next course of action should be. If you have the MyDVD codec and the TV Tuner drivers loaded correctly, I do not know what could be the problem. I did notice that your decoder version is 5.0... and mine seems to be more recent.

Maybe calling the "HORRIBLE" Dell support might be the next best step.. or search around the net for someone else who is or was having a similar problem. (Sorry I could not be of more help, but for now, I am out of ideas.)
 
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