Should Fresh XP-MCE Install Include MPEG-2 Decoder?

On my homemade HTCP I had to do a fresh re-install of MCE after the
original 750GB WD drive went AWOL. Put in a new Samsung "green" 1TB drive
and did a fresh install from scratch using the OEM set that I had bought
when I built the machine. The problem (or at least the first one I'm
tackling) is that live TV doesn't work. It was working fine using an
Avermedia low-profile tuner under the old install. Now I find that even
simple things like scanning for OTA channels doesn't work. Tried to watch
live TV and get the dreaded "No Decoder" message. Installed the Video
Decoder Checkup utility and it reports no decoder is present.

Should the OS install have given me some sort of MPEG-2 decoder? If one is
on the OEM CDs, how can I install it now?

MB is using Intel G33 chipset, Q6600 processor, 4Gb memory, using the
onboard video which worked fine previous.

MCE was only sold by OEMs or by purchasing the OEM product. It does not
include a decoder since it was the responsibility of the OEM to select and
install the decoder that worked best with his system configuration.
Versions of Vista and Windows 7 that include the MC application do include a
MS provided decoder.
There is no decoder on the OEM MCE installation CD.
The most recommended decoder for MCE is the Nvidia XP Purevideo decoder
which you can get from their website for $20.

"John McGaw" <> wrote in message
news:#QXmovB$...
> On my homemade HTCP I had to do a fresh re-install of MCE after the
> original 750GB WD drive went AWOL. Put in a new Samsung "green" 1TB drive
> and did a fresh install from scratch using the OEM set that I had bought
> when I built the machine. The problem (or at least the first one I'm
> tackling) is that live TV doesn't work. It was working fine using an
> Avermedia low-profile tuner under the old install. Now I find that even
> simple things like scanning for OTA channels doesn't work. Tried to watch
> live TV and get the dreaded "No Decoder" message. Installed the Video
> Decoder Checkup utility and it reports no decoder is present.
>
> Should the OS install have given me some sort of MPEG-2 decoder? If one is
> on the OEM CDs, how can I install it now?
>
> MB is using Intel G33 chipset, Q6600 processor, 4Gb memory, using the
> onboard video which worked fine previous.

An MPEG2 decoder is not included with any Windows XP variant of Media Center
(2002, 2004 or 2005).

You'll have to use a trial version or purchase a full MPEG2 decoder.
Cyberlink (PowerDVD) or Intervideo (WinDVD) are popular choices today though
there are others that are available.

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx




"John McGaw" <> wrote in message
news:%23QXmovB$...
> On my homemade HTCP I had to do a fresh re-install of MCE after the
> original 750GB WD drive went AWOL. Put in a new Samsung "green" 1TB drive
> and did a fresh install from scratch using the OEM set that I had bought
> when I built the machine. The problem (or at least the first one I'm
> tackling) is that live TV doesn't work. It was working fine using an
> Avermedia low-profile tuner under the old install. Now I find that even
> simple things like scanning for OTA channels doesn't work. Tried to watch
> live TV and get the dreaded "No Decoder" message. Installed the Video
> Decoder Checkup utility and it reports no decoder is present.
>
> Should the OS install have given me some sort of MPEG-2 decoder? If one is
> on the OEM CDs, how can I install it now?
>
> MB is using Intel G33 chipset, Q6600 processor, 4Gb memory, using the
> onboard video which worked fine previous.

Jason Tsang wrote:
> An MPEG2 decoder is not included with any Windows XP variant of Media
> Center (2002, 2004 or 2005).
>
> You'll have to use a trial version or purchase a full MPEG2 decoder.
> Cyberlink (PowerDVD) or Intervideo (WinDVD) are popular choices today
> though there are others that are available.
>

I guess I'll have to reconstruct how I set everything up two years back
when I built the system. I know that it was working properly for almost all
of that period so I must have done _something_. I'm sifting through the
remains of the files on the old drive seeing if anything gives me a clue to
work with.

Thanks for the replies...