Vista - Black screen in Media Center

I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in Media
Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart Media
Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one, I
get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV. Watch
it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video. Any ideas?

My system is:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
1022 MB RAM
32-bit Operating system
Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.

Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work with
the other one plugged in)
External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner

Same here! The problem specifically happens when I try to watch a DVD in
Media Center (I have Vista Ultimate).

I can hear the audio of the DVD, but no video....just a blank screen. And,
if I try to go back and watch any other recorded tv, live tv, videos, I get
the audio, but no video.

Restart Vista Media center, and I can watch live, recorded and videos, with
both the audio and video fine.....accidentally say watch DVD, video is now
gone till I close media center and restart is....

Sony MCE PC
Vista Ultimate
Nvidia 6 series video

"Lynne" wrote:

> I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in Media
> Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart Media
> Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one, I
> get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV. Watch
> it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video. Any ideas?
>
> My system is:
>
> AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
> 1022 MB RAM
> 32-bit Operating system
> Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
>
> Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work with
> the other one plugged in)
> External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
>
>

That sounds like a video card driver issue - is there an update available
for your driver?

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--

"Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in Media
>Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart Media
>Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one, I
>get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV.
>Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video. Any
>ideas?
>
> My system is:
>
> AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
> 1022 MB RAM
> 32-bit Operating system
> Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
>
> Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work with
> the other one plugged in)
> External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
>

Lynne,

Keep this thread going if your problem persists. I have sent this link to
Microsoft tech support who is working on the very same problem my system is
having. This link will prove I am not alone with this weirdness.

My issue is video goes black in a series pulsing on off on off, audio
continues, video just pulses black and back to a still or slow motion video,
then black, et et...


Have reinstalled dozens of times, default settings, no windows updates.
reinstalled with windows updates and drivers from hardware vendors.

Tried content protection updates, tried codec updates, 3rd party codecs and
utilities, you name it, doesn't solve the problem

This is an open ticket with Microsoft tech support.


- Rich

"zachd [MSFT]" wrote:

>
> That sounds like a video card driver issue - is there an update available
> for your driver?
>
> --
> Speaking for myself only.
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> --
>
> "Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> >I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in Media
> >Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart Media
> >Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one, I
> >get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV.
> >Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video. Any
> >ideas?
> >
> > My system is:
> >
> > AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
> > 1022 MB RAM
> > 32-bit Operating system
> > Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
> >
> > Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work with
> > the other one plugged in)
> > External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
> >
>
>
>

FYI they asked me to try this link
http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/...it.asp?force=1
See if that works for you, didn't for me...


"zachd [MSFT]" wrote:

>
> That sounds like a video card driver issue - is there an update available
> for your driver?
>
> --
> Speaking for myself only.
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> --
>
> "Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> >I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in Media
> >Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart Media
> >Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one, I
> >get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV.
> >Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video. Any
> >ideas?
> >
> > My system is:
> >
> > AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
> > 1022 MB RAM
> > 32-bit Operating system
> > Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
> >
> > Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work with
> > the other one plugged in)
> > External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
> >
>
>
>

Who told you to try that? That is the individualization URL. Going there
only updates your DRM subsystem. If you can already play the content, it
makes little to no sense to go there. You should only need that if content
playback completely fails. =)

My bit about checking for video card driver updates is probably more
pertinent here. =)

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--

"Rich" <Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2F9027AA-8BD3-4536-9B87-F2E4A906C3C3@microsoft.com...
> FYI they asked me to try this link
> http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/...it.asp?force=1
> See if that works for you, didn't for me...
>
>
> "zachd [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>>
>> That sounds like a video card driver issue - is there an update available
>> for your driver?
>>
>> --
>> Speaking for myself only.
>> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> --
>>
>> "Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
>> news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> >I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in
>> >Media
>> >Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart
>> >Media
>> >Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one,
>> >I
>> >get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV.
>> >Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video.
>> >Any
>> >ideas?
>> >
>> > My system is:
>> >
>> > AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
>> > 1022 MB RAM
>> > 32-bit Operating system
>> > Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
>> >
>> > Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work
>> > with
>> > the other one plugged in)
>> > External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
>> >
>>
>>
>>

Zach. video card drivers, tv tuner drivers have NOTHING to do with this.

My issue is Friggen DRM related. Look at the topic (my post) in this section
on "Vista MCE Video Blacks out Audio Okay" for more information including the
SRX # which you should be able to look up on internal PSS systems.

If you're near the Redmond campus, read the notes in my SRX, I invite you to
come over to my house and attempt any resolution.

The PSS Research guys working on this are stumped...


"zachd [MSFT]" wrote:

>
> Who told you to try that? That is the individualization URL. Going there
> only updates your DRM subsystem. If you can already play the content, it
> makes little to no sense to go there. You should only need that if content
> playback completely fails. =)
>
> My bit about checking for video card driver updates is probably more
> pertinent here. =)
>
> --
> Speaking for myself only.
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> --
>
> "Rich" <Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2F9027AA-8BD3-4536-9B87-F2E4A906C3C3@microsoft.com...
> > FYI they asked me to try this link
> > http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/...it.asp?force=1
> > See if that works for you, didn't for me...
> >
> >
> > "zachd [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> That sounds like a video card driver issue - is there an update available
> >> for your driver?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Speaking for myself only.
> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >> --
> >>
> >> "Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
> >> news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> >> >I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in
> >> >Media
> >> >Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart
> >> >Media
> >> >Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one,
> >> >I
> >> >get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV.
> >> >Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video.
> >> >Any
> >> >ideas?
> >> >
> >> > My system is:
> >> >
> >> > AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
> >> > 1022 MB RAM
> >> > 32-bit Operating system
> >> > Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
> >> >
> >> > Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work
> >> > with
> >> > the other one plugged in)
> >> > External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

I don't see SRX1032866166 right now - is that the right SRX number?

What's your Indiv version level according to WMP's Help:About:Technical
Support Information ?

We're actually on the same page here. The first 'key' you need is the
individualization. Once you've got that and you can access the content,
it's time to move on to the next step in the issue. Since you're getting
audio, I find it dubious in my relatively expert technical opinion that
individualization is involved here.

However, since the video card driver is indeed involved in the DRM playback
system -- that immediately should pop out in flashing lights to anyone
looking at this issue. Hence my questions are directly based upon the
information you've provided. Anyone looking to alternate solutions or
questions -- I don't know if I understand their thought process here based
upon the specific information that you've provided.

Who specifically are you dealing with in PSS here? They can hit me up as
'zachd' inside Microsoft.

-Zach
--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--
"Rich" <Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BC567892-A20B-43D3-A4AE-CBC32905D0ED@microsoft.com...
> Zach. video card drivers, tv tuner drivers have NOTHING to do with this.
>
> My issue is Friggen DRM related. Look at the topic (my post) in this
> section
> on "Vista MCE Video Blacks out Audio Okay" for more information including
> the
> SRX # which you should be able to look up on internal PSS systems.
>
> If you're near the Redmond campus, read the notes in my SRX, I invite you
> to
> come over to my house and attempt any resolution.
>
> The PSS Research guys working on this are stumped...
>
>
> "zachd [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>>
>> Who told you to try that? That is the individualization URL. Going
>> there
>> only updates your DRM subsystem. If you can already play the content, it
>> makes little to no sense to go there. You should only need that if
>> content
>> playback completely fails. =)
>>
>> My bit about checking for video card driver updates is probably more
>> pertinent here. =)
>>
>> --
>> Speaking for myself only.
>> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> --
>>
>> "Rich" <Rich@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:2F9027AA-8BD3-4536-9B87-F2E4A906C3C3@microsoft.com...
>> > FYI they asked me to try this link
>> > http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/...it.asp?force=1
>> > See if that works for you, didn't for me...
>> >
>> >
>> > "zachd [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> That sounds like a video card driver issue - is there an update
>> >> available
>> >> for your driver?
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Speaking for myself only.
>> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> rights.
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> "Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
>> >> news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> >> >I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in
>> >> >Media
>> >> >Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart
>> >> >Media
>> >> >Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different
>> >> >one,
>> >> >I
>> >> >get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live
>> >> >TV.
>> >> >Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no
>> >> >video.
>> >> >Any
>> >> >ideas?
>> >> >
>> >> > My system is:
>> >> >
>> >> > AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
>> >> > 1022 MB RAM
>> >> > 32-bit Operating system
>> >> > Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
>> >> >
>> >> > Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't
>> >> > work
>> >> > with
>> >> > the other one plugged in)
>> >> > External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

From visiting The Green Button, I get the impression that this is a video
card driver issue. Since the video shows up on the first viewing, I will
just restart Media Center between recordings until this gets fixed. nVidia
has not done a very good job with their drivers. The latest beta is from
March 2 and since I want my SLi enabled cards to work. I will have to
tolerate this until they have new drivers. I bitterly regret not getting ATI
cards in my new PC.


"Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in Media
>Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart Media
>Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one, I
>get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV.
>Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video. Any
>ideas?
>
> My system is:
>
> AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
> 1022 MB RAM
> 32-bit Operating system gettin
> Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
>
> Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work with
> the other one plugged in)
> External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
>

Update us ,if redoing your video drivers work.

"Lynne" wrote:

> From visiting The Green Button, I get the impression that this is a video
> card driver issue. Since the video shows up on the first viewing, I will
> just restart Media Center between recordings until this gets fixed. nVidia
> has not done a very good job with their drivers. The latest beta is from
> March 2 and since I want my SLi enabled cards to work. I will have to
> tolerate this until they have new drivers. I bitterly regret not getting ATI
> cards in my new PC.
>
>
> "Lynne" <LynneL@cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:OlB111seHHA.284@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> >I have a bit of a weird problem. I am trying to watch recorded TV in Media
> >Center. The first time is OK. Video and audio. But, unless I restart Media
> >Center, the second time I try to watch the program, or a different one, I
> >get a black screen. Audio but no video. Same thing happens in live TV.
> >Watch it. Audio and video. Stop it. Watch it again. Audio and no video. Any
> >ideas?
> >
> > My system is:
> >
> > AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.20 GHz
> > 1022 MB RAM
> > 32-bit Operating system gettin
> > Two NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS video cards with SLi enabled.
> >
> > Internal MSI TheaterPro 550 TV tuner (which, by the way, doesn't work with
> > the other one plugged in)
> > External Hauppauge WinTV PVR2 USB2 tuner
> >
>
>