Leadtek WinFast TV2000 XP Deluxe

[PaulCrane]

I've just installed one of these in order to capture some old VHS tapes to burn to DVD.

Whenever I try to capture anything, the PC freezes after an apparently random period of time - I can't use the mouse, keyboard or anything and find myself having to press the PC's reset button. It's rather infuriating.

I've tried capturing to uncompressed avi, mpeg2, mpeg 2 optimised for DVD and it happens with all. I've also tried using Power Producer 2 Gold to capture instead of Winfast PVR and no change.

Can anyone suggest anything? Or anything further I should check to help diagnose the problem?

My system:-

Athlon XP 1900+
MSI motherboard
512MB RAM
FX 5600 Ultra
60GB plus 120GB Seagate hard drives
Soundblaster 5.1 (I think).

PaulC

[tw1965a]

Paul:

Which OS you use ?

Try the Microsoft Windows Memory Diagnostic to
tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

[PaulCrane]

I'm using XP Home SP1

[winifreid]

What capture program are you using? Are you able to watch the video on the screen before you capture? I have this card and it works great for me and my specs are lower than yours.

[PaulCrane]

I've tried Winfast PVR, which comes with the card, and Power Producer 2 Gold, which came with my LG DVD burner (not that I've got that far yet).

As for watching the video, my first instinct was simply to say yes. BUT, I have not sat down and watched any significasnt length of video, so it's possible that the PC would lock up just through watching, not necessarily through recording. I hadn't really thought about that before - It's possible I have a TV card problem generally rather than a capture problem.

Winifreid, can I ask what specs you have and what drivers/programs you are using?

PaulC

[winifreid]

My specs are listed and I use either VS 7 and Winfast PVR (latest version). and I use the next to the latest drivers. I usually use Picvideo mjpeg codec to capture to avi. But I can capture directly to mpeg as well. I use either the cable connector or the rca and have used the S-video. I suspect it is ethier the codec you are using or a HD problem. You might consider using the btwincap drivers. I haven't tried them since they do not work with 98. You also could try the forum at :
http://www.tv-cards.com/messageboard/index.php

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Are there any other programs operating in the background when you're trying to capture eg: Antivirus etc.
Though a longershot with XP, have you checked to see what IRQ resources your capture card is using? Have you tried installing the card into a different PCI slot & reinstalling?
I recall that my PCTV pro card always wanted to share the 3D videocard's IRQ until I sorted things out & allocated its own separate IRQ away from the display & soundcard's at a BIOS level-though that was a little overkill, normally shifting slots can help.

[PaulCrane]

Yes, I'm sure there were things running in the background, far too much I expect. Would that cause the PC to lock-up though?

I'll try shutting everything else down and moving the card.

[PaulCrane]

A suggestion elsewhere was that my processor might be overheating. Shutting down everything running in the baclground and increasing ventilation (by opening the side of the case) seems to have cured it.

PaulC