8400 w/MCE Tuner not Available unless I reboot

I have an identical problem.   I believe this is a software problem, also.  Dell technical support had me reload sound system, which was no help.  I called MyDVD, they were no help.  Now, Dell has scheduled to replace my tuner.  I don't think replacing the tuner will solve the problem, unless they have upgraded the tuner. 

Have you contacted Dell?  What does Dell Tech. Supt. say to you about the problem?  Sure would like to use some of that software that can capture live video or recorded video. 

Please let me know if you get a solution to this problem.

Thank you for posting.

Regards,

Western12

Re-booting no longer works for me.  I now have to do a "system restore" from an earlier date.  I will not open any software that effects the tuner; at this time.  I will try again to communicate/phone Dell Tech. Support.   But, I find normally they are not familar with Media Ctr; and are far away from the USA; and are difficult to communicate with. 

Thank you for the email.  If I get a solution to the problem, I will post it.  It would be good  if you tried to talk to Dell, too.  Two people working on the problem, with Dell, may be better then one.

Regards. 

I had the same problem: Tuner not available unless I re-boot, or if only one user logged on. This eventually degenerated to never having access to the tuner. Yet the tuner works, because Windows Movie Maker could use it for video capture. Thanks to this forum, I tried the AIM solution. I chose to disable AIM upon startup by opening MSCONFIG (Start-->Run--> Open MSCONFIG -->ok). Click on the Startup tab and look for the AIM checkbox and clear it. This will keep AIM from launching on start-up, and still keep the kids happy (AIM is still in the Programs list). My guess the odd, degenerating behavior (works, works only after reboot, then never reboots) has to do with the reboot timing of tasks as the system configuration changes as programs are installed on new machines (mine is 2 weeks old) before you get a chance to launch TV via Media Center; I certainly don't understand how AIM causes this problem. Thanks to all for the clue.

PS I E-mailed this solution to Customer Support; I guess they don't read these forums that they refer their customers to.

Just to be very clear:  I do not have AIM installed on this machine and never have had.  There are some posts where people have apparently solved this problem by removing AIM, but there is clearly another non-AIM cause for this problem.

I still have the problem.  I have not had time to call Dell support (no free days to spend on the phone).  I have been rebooting after video capture.

Anyone WITHOUT AIM have this problem and solve it?

Dell installed a new tuner in my PC.  That tuner installation did not solve the problem.  Dell tech (email) support and the tech that installed my new tuner, and I, all believe it is software.  Thanks for picking up the ball, Chris.  I have the normal software, system Dell installed and provided on my PC, all licensed software, that was installed or provided on my PC by Dell.  I was given a Dell tech software persons number to call, 1-800-433-9005, by the Dell hardware tech, but I have not had time to call; either .  

I also spoke to Sonic; they provided the MyDVD software, that was on my PC when I purchased from Dell, looks like a nice software package.  But I don't use it, because it locks out my tuner when I use capture.  The tech support at Sonic indicated he never heard of this type of problem.  Sonic tech said he was going to move my problem up to the next level.  They were suppose to call me, it's been weeks now, and I have not heard from them.

That's the latest I know on this problem.

For those with the AIM problem, the MSCONFIG solution allows the tuner to be used, but if another user (like my kid) logs on to AIM, the tuner still gets lost. HOWEVER there is hope: Earlier versions of AIM work ok. Specifically, I uninstalled the current version (5.9.3702) and installed 4.7.280. I reset MSCONFIG to "Normal Startup", and the tuner works, even with AIM active on another signon.

Media Center has a messenger service built in, so I wonder if the conflict is really between AIM and that MC component, rather than the tuner itself; the error message displayed would then just not be accurate. AIM is doing something differently between versions. For those not running AIM, do you have any other chat, IRC services running? 

Chris,

It's a long list, but I extracted the startup information using HiJackThis.  It is listed below.  I don't recognize AIM in the list, but I do see Messenger (although I'm the only one who has a Messenger account in my house and I've never logged on using this machine).  I hope this helps.

nchaleys

StartupList report, 2/20/2005, 1:15:09 PM
StartupList version: 1.52.2
Started from : C:\Documents and Settings\Tim\Desktop\HijackThis.EXE
Detected: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Detected: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
* Using default options
==================================================

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Application Accelerator\iaantmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ehome\RMSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Application Accelerator\iaanotif.exe
C:\Program Files\MusicMatch\MusicMatch Jukebox\mmtask.exe
C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\DVDLauncher.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2ZS\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe
c:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\NotifyAlert.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2ZS\DVDAudio\CTDVDDET.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\EHOME\RMSysTry.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Tim\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Listing of startup folders:

Shell folders Common Startup:
[C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup]
Digital Line Detect.lnk = ?
Extender Resource Monitor.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\EHOME\RMSysTry.exe
Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE

--------------------------------------------------

Checking Windows NT UserInit:

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
UserInit = C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

ehTray = C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
NvCplDaemon = RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
IAAnotif = C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Application Accelerator\iaanotif.exe
mmtask = c:\Program Files\MusicMatch\MusicMatch Jukebox\mmtask.exe
MMTray = C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
dla = C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe

--------------------------------------------------

Autorun entries from Registry:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

MSMSGS = "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background

--------------------------------------------------

Shell & screensaver key from C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI:

Shell=*INI section not found*
SCRNSAVE.EXE=*INI section not found*
drivers=*INI section not found*

Shell & screensaver key from Registry:

Shell=Explorer.exe
SCRNSAVE.EXE=C:\WINDOWS\System32\logon.scr
drivers=*Registry value not found*

Policies Shell key:

HKCU\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry key not found*
HKLM\..\Policies: Shell=*Registry value not found*

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Browser Helper Objects:

(no name) - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3}
(no name) - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890}
(no name) - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872}

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Task Scheduler jobs:

ISP signup reminder 1.job
Norton AntiVirus - Scan my computer - Tim.job
Symantec NetDetect.job

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Download Program Files:

[Creative Software AutoUpdate]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLO~1\CTSUEng.ocx
CODEBASE = http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15009/CTSUEng.cab

[CInstall Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLO~1\Install.dll
CODEBASE = http://www.spywarestormer.com/files2/Install.cab

[Office Update Installation Engine]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\opuc.dll
CODEBASE = http://office.microsoft.com/officeupdate/content/opuc.cab

[{4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21}]
CODEBASE = http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/en-us/4,0,0,84/mcinsctl.cab

[TLIEFlashObj Class]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\TLIEFlashCtrlU.dll
CODEBASE = https://echat.us.dell.com/Media/VisitorChat/TLIEFlash.CAB

[{BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389}]
CODEBASE = http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcgdmgr/en-us/1,0,0,21/mcgdmgr.cab

[Creative Software AutoUpdate Support Package]
InProcServer32 = C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLO~1\CTPID.ocx
CODEBASE = http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15010/CTPID.cab

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating Windows NT logon/logoff scripts:
*No scripts set to run*

Windows NT checkdisk command:
BootExecute = autocheck autochk *

Windows NT 'Wininit.ini':
PendingFileRenameOperations: c:\windows\system32\OLD52.tmp|||t

--------------------------------------------------

Enumerating ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad items:

PostBootReminder: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
CDBurn: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
WebCheck: C:\WINDOWS\system32\webcheck.dll
SysTray: C:\WINDOWS\system32\stobject.dll

--------------------------------------------------
End of report, 7,133 bytes
Report generated in 0.078 seconds

Command line options:
   /verbose  - to add additional info on each section
   /complete - to include empty sections and unsuspicious data
   /full     - to include several rarely-important sections
   /force9x  - to include Win9x-only startups even if running on WinNT
   /forcent  - to include WinNT-only startups even if running on Win9x
   /forceall - to include all Win9x and WinNT startups, regardless of platform
   /history  - to list version history only

I think Dell is trying.  It appears they are more hardware oriented, and subcontract the software.  You have to admit they tried to fix your problem, and sounds like they did it quickly.  I believe they are still working on this software problem.  I'm going to be a little patient; for now.  I'm hopeful they will ultimately fix the problem.  If they don't fix the problem, I plan on sending a lot of letters to Dell and others. 

Have you had better PC support from another PC supplier/provider?

Regards.

This problem has to be an MCE issue as this happened to me with both my wintv single and dual tuners.  I use to work at Dell support so i know how some problems like this are, (ie the Radeon issue with Doom and we were waiting for the driver to be released)  Its driving me crazy as well, there something this happens when i capture from Mydvd, Pinnacle Studio, as well as Movie maker, so obviously, its not multiple SW's causing the issue, unless they all lack some MCE '05 update.  Something fishy is going on. that i DO know.  And we all no the tuner still works because after capturing in any program, noticing the error in Media center, then going back to any capturing SW, the tuner still displays channels properly if i wanted to capture, but not in Media center itself.

Replacing tuner cards IS NOT THE SOLUTION.  IMO, just something to buy some time.

Message Edited by BigJon06 on 02-28-2005 12:57 PM

Message Edited by nau1977 on 03-03-2005 07:33 PM