AIW Radeon: TV on Demand Crashes in XP!

[leebo]

I built a new machine specifically for the AIW Radeon, to use it as a TIVO.

In Win 98se, it worked, but would crash 30% of the time, so when XP came out, I upgraded (also so I could use NTFS.).

I had to let the machine sit while I waited for the XP version of driver and MMC to come out. The 7.1 MMC would crash as soon as I started it up.

Now, file player works w/o any problems, but TV on Demand only works in live mode. If I try to pause or rewind, it crashes every time.

My MB is a Shuttle AK12 with XP AGP driver.
AMD Athlon 1.2ghz.
256 megs ram.
Capture drive is 30gig, 7200rpm.

The Radeon is sharing IRQ's with ACPI, a USB and a NIC. There is no way to get XP to move the IRQ's (other than remove the devices). I called ATI tech and was told I would have to disable ACPI in the BIOS to be able to change IRQ's.

Tried that, and XP woulden't boot.

I built the system specifically for TV on Demand!

Any ideas?

[docfly]

You didn't specifically say that you are using MMC 7.2 which ATI just released a few days ago and is supposed to be XP compliant. If you are, then I would first uninstall
MMC, reboot, then re-install.

[Macros746]

You should really give Showshifter (found in the tools section) a try. I find that it give better picture quality and is FAR more stable than anything ATI has to offer. I am not sure that it is XP compatible but it is worth trying. I use it to watch tv and tv on demand and record shows that I don't want to later re-encode (as of right now it uses a propriatary capture system that can't be re-encoded...but that is going to be fixed with the new beta release) and I use Virtualdub and virtualdub timer whenever I want to record a show to burn on CD.

[leebo]

Thanks for trying to answer.

Sorry, I did say "I had to let the machine sit while I waited for the XP version of driver and MMC to come out".

So yes, 7.2.

I have not only un-installed and re-installed MMC, but XP as well.
I've played with BIOS settings too.

It sucks because MMC wasn't stable enough in Win 98se, which is why I went to XP. Now I can't even use it.

I'll try showshifter, but my guess is it's a hardware problem. Also, dosen't SS capture AVI's and not mpeg?
That would mean big files.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: leebo on 2001-12-04 16:34:29 ]</font>

[leebo]

OK, I installed Showshifter ver. 1.10.

My first impression is that it runs better than ATI's own software, MMC 7.2 for Win XP.

However, when I am in PVR mode, pause the recording, and then resume, the picture is zoomed in so that I can only see about 50% of the image, and scan lines are clearly visible. This doesn't happen until I pause and then resume playing.

Is there some setting to fix this?

(BTW, my opinion is that the recording is not higher in quality than ATI's mpeg2, but at least it dosn't crash my machine!)

[sommersby]

Tv on demand works great on my system running windows xp, did you try reinstalling xp after disabling the bios function? May be to much of a hassle, if you get this other ap to work I would probubly stay with it, anither program to try may be powervcr II, but I had trouble with it and the new ATI drivers as have alot of people, but if you go back to the older drivers it is a very powerful program.

[leebo]

"did you try reinstalling xp after disabling the bios function?"

Yes. It was a nightmare. And XP woulden't run again unless I re-enableb ACPI.

After using it for a day, I find Showshifter to be not much better than MMC.
It does crash sometimes, and the zoomed in bug makes it unusable.

I wonder if my MMC troubles are caused by an incompatablity with my motherboard.

I should have just bought a TIVO.

[Macros746]

don't give up! You should check out sites like rage3d.com and rageunderground.com. Post your issues there and see what kind of response you get. I have finally ironed all of my existing problems with AIW out but I am using Win98. My guess is, with the crappy driver releases that ATI is infamous for, you are just having driver issues. My advice would be this. Uninstall MMC. Uninstall video drivers. Before you reboot remove ALL ati.inf files from the C:\windows\inf folder (I don't have any experience with XP...I assume the file structure is the same?) because you may be struggling with ATI's extremely messy uninstall leaving conflicting parts in your registry. After you do that (or rather before) I would go and download the latest drivers from Rage3d.com and possibly the 'leaked' drivers from the same site. I would try the official drivers first. Install, then install MMC 7.1. Then, hopefully, everything will work. I am sorry you had bug issues with ShowShifter....I haven't had many problems. You are right that the capture to mpeg and mpeg2 isn't equivalent to MMC which is why I capture using Virtualdub. Anyhow, hopefully this will clear up your issue. If not, I highly suggest going the the forum section of those two sites and seeing if some of the real 'ati' experts can help.

[leebo]

" you may be struggling with ATI's extremely messy uninstall leaving conflicting parts in your registry"

I did a clean install of XP, then installed the ATR XP software.

"then install MMC 7.1"

Actually, they just came out with 7.2 for XP.

But I will try those sites. Thanks.

[sillyrabbitt]

are there other free programs to run the TV tuner and TV on demand. timeshifter seems nice but $50 is a little steep, huh?

[vhelp]

leebo,

just my two cents worth - had MANY installation issues with ATI cards,
my latest being ATI Rage Fury.

Yes, I run it in windows 98. I don't feel ready for anther monster on
my machine, and besides, I'm perfectly happy with my windows 98.

What's a clean install to you, may NOT always be a clean install per your
video card! Ok, as for the installation, my problem(s) were like this.
Though I did reinstall my drivers many times, and with many different
versions, I'd still have problems, EVEN though I did reinstalls, and yes,
un-installs as well. Ok, UN-unstalling is not always, running the install
app. You also have to clean up everything else. Like all those other
driver files you left after the installation/unstallation/installation procedure.
You may think thats enough, but not always so for some picky cards.
You really have to kill those files! I mean:
* delete those ATI folders
* delete ALL files (if you know what to look for) .vdx, v??, ect. that ATI
leaves in the system and syste32 folders and then,
* go into the register and delete any folder keys as well as keys... anything
with ATI whatever in them that you can find. In the regedit.exe app, use
the FIND command and search for "ATI"

You gotta get RID of them all - everywhere! Cause, anything left in the
registery, will, when the next time you reinstall ATI drivers, ATI will see
some values in the registy and use whatever it finds. Hint, hint, ever
see the pop up box, "found an newer version, you should keep this
". . . bla, bla, bla - - message on your screen? In my case, I always,
and obviously chose YES (you morron!!) (me) he, he....
Hinit, hint, when you first installed your video card (may in windows 9
remember when everthing was working so great! Then, you started to
play around with other driver version you heard to updates or bug fixes
or what-ever, and then later, you had problems, but then decided to
reinstall your video drivers, and...but you couldn't get that same clean,
first-time driver installation. Well, that's because of the above I just
stated. Lots more, but I'll spare you

Ok, now... that's just for your drivers, now for windows. Well, at least
windows 98 for me. You said that you did a clean install?? I don't
think so! Ok, I could be wrong. Have ben before! But, if you listened
to my previous paragraphs, you'd be a step ahead.
I don't know how XP installs and what-not, but for me and windows 98,
when I installed FRESHly, I would rename my old windows folder, ie,
oldWindows98, and rename the "program files" folder as well
(oldProgramFiles) THEN, I would reinstall windows 98, and I NEVER had
ANY issues with drivers, etc. I don't know if you can apply the above
to your XP's way of installation, but maybe it will work.

Ok, the smartest thing for you to do is, this, right after you FINALLY
got it working just right, burn an IMAGE onto CD with norton ghost.
Next time you have problems, just pop in this cd and reimage you hardrive
and presto, you're back in business! No installation hassles what-so-ever!
Ignore my advise on the IMAGE thing, and you back to fighting with your
driver issues, etc., etc.

Do the above and you should get better results. IMO, a clean install, is
like haveing a reformated hardrive, and your installing windows for the
first time. Same for the Driver only installation. Wipe out every iotta of
ATI driver files and you should be able to install with no glitches.

Of course, I could have missread your post, and by gally, what a waist!

I'm not sure what you mean by "TV on Demand" but ain't that the same
as "video capture" ? Just what are you trying to do? Capture TV, or
or simulate Tivo?

I have the Wintv pvr, and that TV on demand thing sucks on it, if that's
what it really is on my PVR, he, he... I dont' use it for TOD, but for
DVD captures only, and occational satalette capturing or something.

I'm using my ATI-TV Wonder card for now. And, i'm pretty satisfied with
what I get with it. I mastered the driver installation thing (above) so,
I'm back in command again, he, he...

I hope you figure out your driver installation wows! I sure do know how
you feel. Just trying ta help an ATI fan.

---------------------------------------------
Sample Clips . . .revised web site

[leebo]

Thanks for trying, but in my previous posts I said it worked (so so) under Win98se, but not in XP. I formated the hard drive then installed XP, then the Radeon XP drivers and MMC7.2. so yes, a clean install.

BTW, tonight I installed MMC 7.5 - and it still crashes!!!

Now I'm thinking the problem is my MB. The VIA KT133 chipset.

[Pied-Piper]

The Problem is not your MB.
I'm having the same problem with MMC 7.5 and WinXP.
TV on Demand always crashes and when I want to rewind,it turns off my computer(under WinXP)!!!
My ATI card is AIW 128(not pro)and I have some other issues with MMC 6.3+ and their drivers.
The only MMC that works fine on my system is MMC 6.3.
ATI has mentioned that MMC 7.1 or 7.2 (also 7.5) should work with AIW 128 but I have tried so many different configurations and it always has problems.
The main issues are sound related problems and tv on demand.
TV on demand is not my concern,I just want to have sound.
I think MMC 7+ can't work with AIW 128(not pro).
The sound is always interrupted!!!(Aux or line in,no difference).
I was browsing the posts and I will post this in a new topic to find a solution.
but if any of you have ANY ideas on how to fix these sound interruptions,your help is greatly appreciated.

[leebo]

" if any of you have ANY ideas on how to fix these sound interruptions,your help is greatly appreciated"

Sorry, but I can't even get it to record w/o crashing the whole system, much less troubleshoot sound problems.

BTW, I made a mistake, my chipset is the KT133a, not the 133.

I don't understand why TV on Demand worked in 98se, but not XP. Others claim it works in XP for them.