HOW TO: Get Theater 200 TV/Composite/S-Video inputs working in Vista

[clicknext]

I have spent a lot of hours trying to find a way to make my card work with the AIW features under Vista so I that I wouldn't have to junk it and buy a Hauppauge, and it finally paid off! I thought I would share the solution that worked for me so that hopefully it will help someone else get theirs to work.

Previously, the media chip would always display as ntativrv01, as most of you know. Even when I managed to install the driver for the device, whenever I tried to use any capture program, it would say unable to add capture graph, yada yada yada.

This solution has been done on the following system:
ATI All In Wonder Radeon 9600 Pro
Windows Vista 5840
Catalyst Display Driver 8.31.100
AV Stream (T200) Driver Version 6.14.10.1071
AMCap 9.00 used as capture program

STEP 1: Install the regular Catalyst drivers

• Install the latest Catalyst driver package from the ATI website. At this time, it does not include the capture drivers

STEP 2: Install the AVStream driver

• Find a copy of the old ATI Vista RC0 drivers, filename ati_LH_RC0_32.exe.-Double click on the driver to start the installation.
• It will ask you where you want to install the files; pick a place. Here I picked the default C:\ATI\SUPPORT\ati_LH_RC0
• After it copies the files over, and starts the Catalyst installation screen, cancel the installation
• Go to the device manager, right click the ntativrv01 device, and select "Update Driver Software..."
• Click browse my computer
• Tell it to search in the directory where you put the install files, for me it was C:\ATI\SUPPORT\ati_LH_RC0. Make sure "include subfolders" is checked
• It will install the drivers automatically from there
• Restart your computer

STEP 3: Install AMCap

• Install AMCap. I used a copy of AMCap I had that came with a webcam because the one you can download off the internet only works for 20 minutes. Another capture program might also work, but I havn't tried anything else other than Windows Media Capture 9 (which also works to some degree).
• Create a shortcut to it
• Right click the shortcut and go to properties
• Click on the compatibility tab
• Check "Run this program as an administrator"
• Click OK, and run the program from the shortcut
• Make sure in "Devices" the ATI T200 device is checked
• Make sure in "Options", "Preview" is checked
• Well there, hopefull you're done and it works.

STEP 4: AMCap details

• Most of the features you'll want are in the Options menu
• Video Input lets you select composite/S-video
• Video Capture Pin lets you set the resolution of the signal to display (720x480 is the correct one on mine)
• TV Tuner lets you select TV channels

Well hopefully this solution will also work for someone else. If you need the T200 driver, I can send it to you via e-mail, but it would be nice if someone could host it. The portion you really need is only 400kb; too bad this forum doesn't support file attachments.

[Agustus]

Sounds interesting,…

If the Vista MCE PVR app doesn’t work with such a configuration (auto detect or manual config) then there is likely some very specific incompatibility with the T200 driver (from the ati_LHLRC0_32.exe file for the ntativrv01 device), something missing or possibly an issue with the hardware itself (less and less likely IMO).

I’ll point out one thing though,….

The installation method for supported AIW cards (T200) in MCE 2K5 required the following:

Catalyst Windows XP Media Center Edition Drivers (which include T200 support)

And

Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder

It is logical to assume that the AIW line would still need some kind of Encoder for Vista MCE functionality and unless there is some evidence that one is included in the newly released “Catalyst Beta Vista RTM”, I don’t see how the AIW could possibly work fully.

Also take note that the precursor to the “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” was the Kram MOD Pack which further illustrates the need of software that goes beyond the scope of simple driver support.

Remember that the AIW line does not technically comply with MCE hardware requirements and in all likelihood the same is true of Vista MCE (hence the need for the encoder).

Unfortunately, the “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” may not work properly in Vista. I myself have not tried the “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” in Vista build 5744 or 5840 but I have in Beta 2 and RC1. The “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” seemed to install properly in Beta 2 and RC1 but the only noteworthy effect was the loss of the NEC ND-3520A DVD drive.

So it looks as though ATI needs to come up with both proper driver support for the AIW line and a proper encoder,….

BTW, I have read a similar AIW-Vista setup / install method before and it is good to see confirmation elsewhere that it works even if only in a limited way.

[clicknext]

http://download.yousendit.com/5A01AC0453EAADB5

Here's a copy of the file.

The solution definitely does not make Media Center work. I'm guessing as well that it's due to the lack of the encoder. I remember getting the old XP MCE to work with AIW once upon a time, but it didn't work as smoothly as most other media center programs so I just gave up.

[MadRaven]

Originally Posted by Agustus

The “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” seemed to install properly in Beta 2 and RC1 but the only noteworthy effect was the loss of the NEC ND-3520A DVD drive.

I have the same problem, Encoder messed up my TEAC DW-552G and also a virtual cd-rom drive. How did you fix it?

Btw, I managed to get PowerCinema to work on Vista using the RC0 WDMs + Vista Catalyst RTM drivers. I just set the installer in xp sp2 compatibility mode.

Of course this isn't an ideal setup but untill Ati makes WDM drives and encoder available to be used with Vista MCE, I have to live with it.

Regards,

[Agustus]

Honestly, not sure I really remember what I did to get it working,…

Take note that the optical drive is only disabled in the Vista OS. It may work in Safe mode and it should definitely be bootable.

In one case I think I simply booted into the RC1 install disc (Beta 2 was installed) and did a clean install,….(a repair might work too)...

This issue with the “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” installed on Vista resulting in the loss of the optical drive is tenacious,….very very stubborn indeed,…

If I didn’t mention it earlier I really don’t recommend that anyone try this,…

I believe that the error message is that the drivers are not installed for the hardware (optical drive) but when you try and install drivers it wont install,…

Uninstalling the “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” does nothing to help the situation either,….

Anyway,….

Since you got PowerCinema working in Vista then it is more then likely “Catalyst Media Center” will too given their inherent relationship. It also seems to help establish that the AIW T200 family works in Vista with what is readily available (latest RTM Catalyst drivers + RC0 WDM) and that the appropriate Encoder appears to be the missing element.

BTW, I received the RMA replacement for my AIW X1900 and have finally installed the card. Since I already have two Theater 550 Pro cards installed for analog and a HDTV Wonder as well for digital there is little need for the AIW X1900 tuner.

[MadRaven]

Originally Posted by Agustus

Honestly, not sure I really remember what I did to get it working,…

Take note that the optical drive is only disabled in the Vista OS. It may work in Safe mode and it should definitely be bootable.

In one case I think I simply booted into the RC1 install disc (Beta 2 was installed) and did a clean install,….(a repair might work too)...

This issue with the “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” installed on Vista resulting in the loss of the optical drive is tenacious,….very very stubborn indeed,…

If I didn’t mention it earlier I really don’t recommend that anyone try this,…

I believe that the error message is that the drivers are not installed for the hardware (optical drive) but when you try and install drivers it wont install,…

Uninstalling the “Windows XP Media Center Edition Encoder” does nothing to help the situation either,….

I was aware that the drive works "outside" vista, I was just hoping I don't have to do a complete reinstall. Thought you found an easier way out.
Agreed that it is very weird that the encoder has such effect on the drive. Haven't seen anything like it. Error message is that the driver cannot load and indeed uninstalling the encoded doesn't help. So yes encoder on vista (at least the current version) is a big no no.

Actually I'm fed up with this continuous driver problems getting mce and t200 to work together, unfortunately we don't have the 650 in Europe yet so I'll wait a bit till it arrives.
Regards,

[Agustus]

Originally Posted by MadRaven

I was aware that the drive works "outside" vista, I was just hoping I don't have to do a complete reinstall. Thought you found an easier way out.
Agreed that it is very weird that the encoder has such effect on the drive. Haven't seen anything like it. Error message is that the driver cannot load and indeed uninstalling the encoded doesn't help. So yes encoder on vista (at least the current version) is a big no no.

Actually I'm fed up with this continuous driver problems getting mce and t200 to work together, unfortunately we don't have the 650 in Europe yet so I'll wait a bit till it arrives.
Regards,

Well like I said before “a repair might work too” and this was in regards to the Vista OS. Doing a “repair” in Vista is quite easy if you haven’t done so already. Basically, you BOOT from the install DVD and select the “repair” option. I’m not sure if this will fix the issue but its easy enough to try and isn’t too disruptive to the system.

BTW, I have a TV Wonder 650 (Theater 650 NTSC + ATSC) and it works well enough for me IMO. I wasn’t going to install the TV Wonder 650 on a Vista test system (without an official finished release of either the OS or the drivers for said OS) because it wouldn’t be a fair assessment IMO of the card. Therefore I opted instead to install it on one of my Media Center Edition 2005 systems.

Basically, IMO, the TV Wonder 650 is an OK card but it isn’t great and it certainly isn’t worth top dollar. Newly released products tend to cost a bit more too. The TV Wonder 650 had an introductory retail price here of about ~$130 US and IMO its worth about ~$90 or ~$80 (preferably ~$80).

For ~$130, US customers could buy a Theater 550 Pro + a HDTV Wonder which would yield dual concurrent analog TV + a digital TV option, whereas, the TV Wonder 650 only offers either 1x analog or 1x digital (non-concurrent),…..

There are also a bunch of other non-ATI analog / digital cards and USB options out there,….

[MadRaven]

One driver assigned to the dvd-rom made me a bit suspicious pfc.sys made by Padus. So started looking arround to find out where it came from. Turns out Intervideo Home Theatre installs it and on a bunch of forums it says DO NOT remove it cause you'll loose all your drives. Found myself in a simmilar situation even though i never removed this.

So I cam to the conclusion that maybe something else is missing.
And it indeed did. I reinstalled intervideo home theatre and BAM my drives cam back. The missing driver was iviaspi.sys made by intervideo.

So general conclusion. DO NOT EVER install Intervideo Home Theatre, if you already did DO NOT remove it (or reinstall your computer).

It clearly alters some of the drive related settings in registry and does not change it back after uninstalling the app, best is to stay away from it.
Regards,

[mmanuzzi]

Hi guys.

I found this drivers.

http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...k-xp-32-64.exe

I found these drivers
I have not managed to make them work correctly

can anyone check it?

[morrmar]

Originally Posted by clicknext

I have spent a lot of hours trying to find a way to make my card work with the AIW features under Vista so I that I wouldn't have to junk it and buy a Hauppauge, and it finally paid off! I thought I would share the solution that worked for me so that hopefully it will help someone else get theirs to work.

Previously, the media chip would always display as ntativrv01, as most of you know. Even when I managed to install the driver for the device, whenever I tried to use any capture program, it would say unable to add capture graph, yada yada yada.

This solution has been done on the following system:
ATI All In Wonder Radeon 9600 Pro
Windows Vista 5840
Catalyst Display Driver 8.31.100
AV Stream (T200) Driver Version 6.14.10.1071
AMCap 9.00 used as capture program

STEP 1: Install the regular Catalyst drivers

• Install the latest Catalyst driver package from the ATI website. At this time, it does not include the capture drivers

STEP 2: Install the AVStream driver

• Find a copy of the old ATI Vista RC0 drivers, filename ati_LH_RC0_32.exe.-Double click on the driver to start the installation.
• It will ask you where you want to install the files; pick a place. Here I picked the default C:\ATI\SUPPORT\ati_LH_RC0
• After it copies the files over, and starts the Catalyst installation screen, cancel the installation
• Go to the device manager, right click the ntativrv01 device, and select "Update Driver Software..."
• Click browse my computer
• Tell it to search in the directory where you put the install files, for me it was C:\ATI\SUPPORT\ati_LH_RC0. Make sure "include subfolders" is checked
• It will install the drivers automatically from there
• Restart your computer

STEP 3: Install AMCap

• Install AMCap. I used a copy of AMCap I had that came with a webcam because the one you can download off the internet only works for 20 minutes. Another capture program might also work, but I havn't tried anything else other than Windows Media Capture 9 (which also works to some degree).
• Create a shortcut to it
• Right click the shortcut and go to properties
• Click on the compatibility tab
• Check "Run this program as an administrator"
• Click OK, and run the program from the shortcut
• Make sure in "Devices" the ATI T200 device is checked
• Make sure in "Options", "Preview" is checked
• Well there, hopefull you're done and it works.

STEP 4: AMCap details

• Most of the features you'll want are in the Options menu
• Video Input lets you select composite/S-video
• Video Capture Pin lets you set the resolution of the signal to display (720x480 is the correct one on mine)
• TV Tuner lets you select TV channels

Well hopefully this solution will also work for someone else. If you need the T200 driver, I can send it to you via e-mail, but it would be nice if someone could host it. The portion you really need is only 400kb; too bad this forum doesn't support file attachments.

This worked for me as well. Only problem is I have A/V synch issues with captured files.

[Agustus]

I just ordered a VBOX Cat’s Eye 164e yesterday so I don’t have the card yet but I read the manual off the VBOX info web page.

VBOX Cat's Eye 164e Dual ATSC Terrestrial HDTV Receiver, PCI Express

http://www.vboxcomm.com/product3.htm

The included trail “Encoder” is made by MainConcept:

www.mainconcept.com/site/index.php?id=17915

According to the manual, for smooth operation with this Encoder, 1GB of RAM or more is recommended for XP MCE and 2GB of RAM is recommended for Vista systems.

Therefore, this Encoder is apparently Vista capable and a FREE trial is available for download. The VBOX 164e can do dual digital or dual analog. The analog component of the VBOX 164e, much like the AIW (T200) family, requires the use of a software Encoder in order to function in MCE,…

Since this Encoder is apparently Vista capable I was wondering if someone wanted to try it with an AIW card in Vista,…assuming their system met the system requirements.

After all, a Vista capable Encoder is supposedly the missing link for AIW support in Vista MCE.

***edit***

The MainConcept MCE Encoder enables users of analog TV cards to capture high quality MPEG-2 using the MainConcept software only encoder inside Windows® XP Media Center Edition or Windows® Vista.

http://www.mainconcept.com/site/index.php?id=17756

http://www.mainconcept.com/site/index.php?id=17915

[mmanuzzi]

no way

I just tried, "No TV card detected"

[Agustus]

Originally Posted by mmanuzzi

no way

I just tried, "No TV card detected"

Too bad,….

Did you have the Vista RC0 WDM installed with it? Were there any install errors with this encoder?

[mmanuzzi]

Vista RC0 WDM installed
there aren't any install errors with The MainConcept MCE Encoder (DEMO version)

[Agustus]

Dang it!

Not too surprising though,….

Oh well,…

[rouge]

I hate myself right now. But, I hate ATI's drivers more. I've spent the last two days trying to get this garbage to work. This card--the ATI All-in-Wonder 9600--worked with no problems when I first installed it, with all functionality.

However, every subsequent configuration attempt since then has been more and more difficult, becoming impossible in the last year or so.

I have no idea what the hell ATI is doing to their drivers anymore. Earlier today, I wondered if the problem with the more recent XP capture drivers was that they had old DOS 8.2.2 naming conventions in some registry strings, like my loathed Remote Wonder II. But that wasn't it. I have discovered two options I can try though, the one specified in this thread, and one from another thread using Kram drivers.

The funny thing is, that I had my TV tuner working fine yesterday in Windows Media Center, but I think it blew up when I rebooted.

[Agustus]

Originally Posted by rouge

I hate myself right now. But, I hate ATI's drivers more. I've spent the last two days trying to get this garbage to work. This card--the ATI All-in-Wonder 9600--worked with no problems when I first installed it, with all functionality.

However, every subsequent configuration attempt since then has been more and more difficult, becoming impossible in the last year or so.

I have no idea what the hell ATI is doing to their drivers anymore. Earlier today, I wondered if the problem with the more recent XP capture drivers was that they had old DOS 8.2.2 naming conventions in some registry strings, like my loathed Remote Wonder II. But that wasn't it. I have discovered two options I can try though, the one specified in this thread, and one from another thread using Kram drivers.

The funny thing is, that I had my TV tuner working fine yesterday in Windows Media Center, but I think it blew up when I rebooted.

OK roug I hear you, you hate ATI,…got it.

But this thread is titled “HOW TO: Get Theater 200 TV/Composite/S-Video inputs working in Vista”. Vista being the key word referring to the Windows Vista operating system not Windows XP Media Center Edition or any other OS. There is a noteworthy difference between Vista MCE and MCE 2K5 and as such we are actually talking about apples and oranges here.

As for getting a compliant (Theater 200) AIW working in MCE 2K5 I have found the installation typically very easy:

Assuming the MCE OS has been properly installed (configured and decoder installed) and the AIW card physically installed.

Install the latest Media Center Edition Catalyst drivers (not the XP drivers)

Install the ATI “Media Center Edition Encoder”

Reboot when necessary and proceed to configuring the tuner in the MCE PVR application.

That’s about it!

If the ATI “Media Center Edition Encoder” has previously been installed uninstalled and reinstalled that can be a problem. In such a case, make sure to uninstall the “Encoder” then go to the registry and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / MICROSOFT/WINDOWS / Media Center / Service / Video / Tuners

Then delete the “Tuners” key or use a MCE utility to achieve the same effect. Once that’s done install the “Encoder” and proceed to configuring the tuner in the MCE PVR application.

[rouge]

Thanks for the volumnous reply, but I actually am using Vista Ultimate edition. I should've been more specific when I mention Windows Media Center that I didn't mean XP MCE.

Sill trying to get this to work.

Seems like I'm close, since the capture device is properly installed and recognized by Media Center and SageTV, but when I try to load TV on either one, I get an error--saying that WMC is missing a component (doesn't say which) or no signal in Sage.

Let me add some technical info.

This setup worked until I rebooted (or I might've broken it by trying to upgrade to Vista beta drivers):
Catalyst 6.5 DD WDM and CCC
Catalyst 6.14 components

This is what I have now:
Vista RTM beta DD and CCC
ATI LH package capture drivers
Catalyst 6.14 components

[Agustus]

Right as you pointed out there was really no indication whatsoever that you were referring to Vista (Vista MCE).

Originally Posted by rouge

This card--the ATI All-in-Wonder 9600--worked with no problems when I first installed it, with all functionality.

This is something of a remarkable statement if you are referring to Vista since no one else seems to have been able to do it. If you could outline your methods for installation step by step it would help others who are interested in regaining “all functionality” with their AIW cards in Vista.

Originally Posted by rouge

However, every subsequent configuration attempt since then has been more and more difficult, becoming impossible in the last year or so.

This sounds like you have had a number of success but each has become more difficult to achieve. Again disclosing this methodology step by step would go a long way. They should be repeatable and a fresh pair of eyes could be helpful to say nothing of the corroboration.

Originally Posted by rouge

I have no idea what the hell ATI is doing to their drivers anymore. Earlier today, I wondered if the problem with the more recent XP capture drivers was that they had old DOS 8.2.2 naming conventions in some registry strings, like my loathed Remote Wonder II. But that wasn't it. I have discovered two options I can try though, the one specified in this thread, and one from another thread using Kram drivers.

Here you mention XP capture drivers so again it is little wonder that one would think you were referring to XP or XP MCE. Are we to understan that you used XP / XP MCE drivers in Vista? The Kram method sounds interesting though got linkage?

Originally Posted by rouge

The funny thing is, that I had my TV tuner working fine yesterday in Windows Media Center, but I think it blew up when I rebooted.

Again, really would like to know how you did this and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

BTW, if you could export your registry configuration for the AIW to a text file and then cut and paste here it may also be helpful in understanding the setup. The key for the AIW should be under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / MICROSOFT/WINDOWS / Media Center / Service / Video / Tuners

I was able to get the AIW seen here but the entries were obviously incomplete.

[rouge]

Originally Posted by Agustus

Right as you pointed out there was really no indication whatsoever that you were referring to Vista (Vista MCE).

This is something of a remarkable statement if you are referring to Vista since no one else seems to have been able to do it. If you could outline your methods for installation step by step it would help others who are interested in regaining “all functionality” with their AIW cards in Vista.

Well, in the first instance, I was referring to when I first installed it under XP, but I will explain the functionality under Vista.

Originally Posted by Agustus

This sounds like you have had a number of success but each has become more difficult to achieve. Again disclosing this methodology step by step would go a long way. They should be repeatable and a fresh pair of eyes could be helpful to say nothing of the corroboration.

Again, this was regarding XP.

Originally Posted by Agustus

Here you mention XP capture drivers so again it is little wonder that one would think you were referring to XP or XP MCE. Are we to understan that you used XP / XP MCE drivers in Vista? The Kram method sounds interesting though got linkage?

I'd have to double-check, but I'm fairly certain that everything worked when I installed the Catalyst DD WDM CCC pack for XP in Vista, using the XP SP 2 compatability mode and run as administrator. That is, the display driver worked, the old version of the CCC was accessible, but there were no entries visible for configuration. I think this only failed when I attempted to update the DD and CCC to the Vista RTM beta drivers to get access to the CCC settings.

As for the Kram mod, feel free to take a look: http://www.hdtvtunerinfo.com/vistahdtvinstall.html . I don't really know what it has to do with anything, but anyway...

Originally Posted by Agustus

Again, really would like to know how you did this and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

There's still a lot of work to do, but I'll start keeping better documentation as I continue working on to get more certainty on the driver sets I'm using. I took a break today, but I will probably try again today.

Originally Posted by Agustus

BTW, if you could export your registry configuration for the AIW to a text file and then cut and paste here it may also be helpful in understanding the setup. The key for the AIW should be under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / MICROSOFT/WINDOWS / Media Center / Service / Video / Tuners

I was able to get the AIW seen here but the entries were obviously incomplete.

I'll do that once I can get more funtionality again. But it's still hosed at the moment. Though, earlier indications suggest that it should be possible to have all the features of the ATI packages working under Vista, with the possible exception of Hydravision.

It's still difficult to find a conclusive guide (some seem to work, while failing for others) to getting full support under XP, but I hope we can one for Vista. Will inform.

[Agustus]

OK, well, you have totally confused me now!

Originally Posted by rouge

Thanks for the volumnous reply, but I actually am using Vista Ultimate edition. I should've been more specific when I mention Windows Media Center that I didn't mean XP MCE.

Originally Posted by rouge

Well, in the first instance, I was referring to when I first installed it under XP, but I will explain the functionality under Vista.

I don’t think I would be the only one confused after reading your posts either.

Again for the sake of simplicity, this thread is about Vista MCE and AIW functionality so if you could keep “Media Center Edition 2005” or any other pre-Vista version out of the discussion it would be much easier to follow.

As for the http://www.hdtvtunerinfo.com/vistahdtvinstall.html link you provided I have seen it before and it’s a good read but not really applicable AFAIK to anything other then the hardware mentioned (ATI HDTV Wonder, ATI Wonder 650 & Fusion HDTV3&5).

And finally functionality can be lost without the registry being changed in any significant way so there is no reason to hold off posting it unless you went in and modified it.

And again with all the confusion it is hard to understand what if any functionality you have or ever had in Vista.

***edit***

One more thing:

By all rights the AIW line requires a software “Encoder” for proper functionality within specific programs (with all likelihood every version of MCE up to and including Vista MCE). If the AIW line had a hardware “Encoder” this wouldn’t be necessary but it doesn’t so it is.

Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate edition (and beta / RC / RTM versions) come with a default “Decoder” but there is no mention thus far of an included complementary “Encoder” that is in all likelihood very necessary for the AIW line. Therefore, ATI will have to provide a Vista compliant “Encoder” or another third party will before one could logically expect to gain full functionality of the AIW line (T200) in Vista MCE.

This all assumes that the current Vista RC0 WDM is fully functional within Vista MCE.

[yukit]

Now that I have a bit of spare time to poke around my newly setup Vista system, I discovered something interesting today. It seems svideo input does work in Vista MCE, but I cannot tune to the channel.

Here is some important specs:
o Vista Ultimate RTM
o ATI HDTV Wonder
o Nvidia video card
o kram driver to get analog cable working
o Tivo output connected to svideo input of HDTV Wonder

I usually use WinXP MCE 2005 (dual boot with Vista) to use ATI MMC to watch Tivo recorded programs on my PC. I want to be able to do the same with Vista MCE (WinXP MCE 2005 would be a bonus)

What I discovered is that Vista MCE can indeed tune to the svideo input feed. I found this out by going to TV setup configuration. I can see both the analog feed as well as the svideo with audio:
http://home.comcast.net/~yukit5/MCE/VistaMCE-analog.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~yukit5/MCE/VistaMCE-svideo.jpg

I could not actually keep this configuration since I don't have an IR blaster, but I would like to figure out a way to select the svideo feed as one of channel selection.

Maybe this was obvious to everyone here, but it was a discovery for me. I feel like re-reading all MCE & HDTV Wonder related threads to see someone already figured this out.

[yukit]

I realize that the thread started with AIW (T200) & Vista MCE, but I figure I should put the info here instead of starting another Vista thread.

So now that I have both analog cable & digital OTA working with the KRAM driver for the HDTV Wonder, I just wanted to enable SVideo input (composite is hooked up to my old S-VHS VCR but I don't even remember that last time I used it)

I am sure there is a trick to fool MCE to accept the SVideo input without an IR blaster to control an external box, but I just went to look for an app that will work in Vista.

I sort of got DScaler working with HDTV Wonder. It does not recognize HDTV Wonder, but S-Video input can be enabled with philips 1236 tuner. However, I could not get sound to work no matter what I did with the digital audio. I suppose I could have fed the line-out of HDTV Wonder to line-in of my motherboard, but I wanted to figure out another way.

At least this allowed me to tune to my Tivo to schedule & delete programs, but I also discovered that sometimes launching DScaler or MCE caused BSOD. I have not had a time to have a look at the kernel crash dump (probably won't help me anyways) so I needed to figure out something else.

So I put my old ATI Wonder Pro card in the system (had to pull my firewire card out) since DScaler recognizes it. I now have sound with DScaler (cable is connected internally). MCE is still working with both analog & digital tuner of HDTV Wonder.

DScaler is not really written to work in Vista, so it disables Aero. It hogs CPU.
The stability of the system is still wait to be seen, but it is the best alternative for me so far.

So the new specs:
o Vista Ultimate build 6000
o ATI HDTV Wonder (kram driver to get both analog & digital working) with MCE
o ATI Wonder Pro PCI with DScaler to get S-Video input working

[Agustus]

Did anyone try a Vista supported PVR program in a Vista build along with a Vista supported “Encoder” to test an AIW,…..?

I know the latest PowerCinema 5 trail is supposed to be fully Vista compliant so then a compliant Vista “Encoder” might be able to get the AIW functional.

“Catalyst Media Center” will likely be based on Cyberlink PowerCinema 5 and it is has been suggested that this version of CMC will be made available to the general ATI public.

Perhaps this “Encoder” will be bundled with the new version of CMC,…?

[Sachs]

Originally Posted by Agustus

Did anyone try a Vista supported PVR program in a Vista build along with a Vista supported “Encoder” to test an AIW,…..?

I know the latest PowerCinema 5 trail is supposed to be fully Vista compliant so then a compliant Vista “Encoder” might be able to get the AIW functional.

“Catalyst Media Center” will likely be based on Cyberlink PowerCinema 5 and it is has been suggested that this version of CMC will be made available to the general ATI public.

Perhaps this “Encoder” will be bundled with the new version of CMC,…?

No way, no hardware detect, blá, blá....
BUT,
http://www.ulimit.com/tb.php?host=ww...on-drivers.com
new 7.2 beta...t200 AV present, but again no WMC :-(((((((

[Agustus]

Yeah, its looking like the RC0 release which had the only Vista WDM known isn’t as good or as functional as we had once hoped.

http://forums.hexus.net/showpost.php...48&postcount=2

Hi Octavean,
The current Vista driver we have up should work fine with getting the actual hardware to work in Vista. However, currently there is an issue with the actual built-in Media Center and so that won't work. But if you actually try AMCAP or GraphEdit, it should work. By the time Vista comes out though, it should all be working fine.

Did anyone try AMCAP or GraphEdit?

[Agustus]

Are you saying that there is a beta Vista 7.2 (8.34) driver that gets Video on the AIW (T200),…..with a new WDM,….?

If so sweet,…..!!!

I don’t think I can mess with it though since I have other tuners and I don’t want to mess with my Vista systems functionality.

Do let us know how it works out though.

[Sachs]

Originally Posted by Agustus

Are you saying that there is a beta Vista 7.2 (8.34) driver that gets Video on the AIW (T200),…..with a new WDM,….?

If so sweet,…..!!!

I don’t think I can mess with it though since I have other tuners and I don’t want to mess with my Vista systems functionality.

Do let us know how it works out though.

Yes, new WDM, no more (?) in system devices. In sound controller
I see now ATI T200 Unified AVStream Driver.

[Gandalfthewhite]

bah yup WMC doesnt work still. hmm *goes to dig out amcap*

[Agustus]

Originally Posted by Sachs

Yes, new WDM, no more (?) in system devices. In sound controller
I see now ATI T200 Unified AVStream Driver.

Any progress is good thanks for the linkage and info. I’ll link any of my old AIW + Vista threads here and reference your post directly.

I think I’ll still try and wait for the official 7.2 Catalyst drivers but maybe I’ll donwload the bate drivers just in case the official 7.2 drivers omit the WDMs. Better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it.