TV tuner unavailable

Question

I just purchased a XPS 400, and ever since i opened the box, the tv tuner reports an error stating that "the tuner is currently in use by another application or is not working. please close all other applications, restart media center, and then try again." i cant think of any programs that could be using the card, so im almost sure its a hardware issue. can anyone help?

thanks

Mary G · Answer

New computer: Contact Dell support. Perhaps the tuner card came loose during shipping. You can look at the device manager to see if there's a problem reported there. Right click on My Computer, select properties, Hardware. Have you hooked up the card to your cable or antenna?

sethoscope1 · Answer

i have hooked up the cable, and it worked right after that. but the next time i restarted is when it started to malfunction.

Mary G · Answer

You can check for a loose cable connection and reseat the card yourself if you are comfortable with that, but I would call Dell right away.

joe53 · Answer

sethoscope1:

I have occasionally received the same error message, and have always found that a restart of MCE and/or reboot solves the problem. I have seen others reporting the same, but have not found any permanent fix. If you are continuously receiving that error message despite the above, I agree with Mary G's advice.

sethoscope1 · Answer

what i have found is that when i uninstall AIM (instant messenger) i get a signal and picture, but it is choppy and slow and def not watchable. so now i have to find a replacement for AIM and have to resolve this problem. anyone have any ideas?

DBWesalo · Answer

I've been having the same problem with my media center, where the tuner is unavailable, then after a restart it works again. Were you ever able to find a solution?

msghockey · Answer

I am Having this problem as well, and dell Is a bunch of idiots, and everytime i call about this problem, they put me on hold for one hour and never come back to the phones. I am really Getting fed up with this.

If anybody has a solution to the interference with AIM and Media Center please contact me

AIM: MSGHOCKEY
Email: msghockey@gmail.com

joe53 · Answer

Some further suggestions here: http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2005/12/27/507654.aspx

msghockey · Answer

WOW, I LOVE YOU, That just fixed the problem. Thank You so much, WOW.

joe53 · Answer

You are welcome. Can you tell us which suggestion solved your problem?

msghockey · Answer

problem not solved :( it worked for about 1 minute

joe53 · Answer

There are lots of posts about AOL's AIM interference with the TV tuner, and short of uninstalling AIM, I have yet to see a fix. Did you try the link's suggestions after  first uninstalling AIM? There are other IM services out there that do not conflict, apparantly. Sorry I can't be more specific, as I do not use any IM.

Windows General

TV tuner unavailable

Was this post helpful?