Re: Media Center refusing to show video

From: Luis A. Burgos (luis_at_hasnopublicaddress.com)
Date: 08/25/04 

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 15:29:00 -0400

Hi Nigel,

Although I wouldn't take it that far as never installing any other software
on it, that is true that messing with codecs is a guarantee recipe for
disasters.

Like you mentioned, many programs nowadays install codecs and directshow
filters, even those you don't expect it to.

Nero now includes a DVd player and a DVD ripper (dvdshrink) and it installs
its own codec. Any DVD sofwtare you install (including players, rippers,
converters, etc) are likely to install new codecs as well.

I would discourage MCE users from installing this type of software, but will
okay them to install any other type of applications, like office, games etc.
I myself have installed countless number of applications on my media center
(HP 873N), including video editors, DVD players etc. However, over the
course of more than 2 years, I've learned -sometimes the hard way- the nasty
consequences of my acts, and have learned to clean up and configure the
system so the components I want installed don't mess with each other.

It is adviseable though, to create a system restore before installing an
application that is suspected to have "multimedia" components, and to back
up your computer frequently in case you need to re-install the OS.

Finally, if someone wants to "try" a new DVD decoder, the latest and
greatest DVD player, etc, please make sure you first uninstall your existing
DVD player software. reboot the computer and then install the new one. Never
install two DVD player software side by side if you don;t know how to clean
up the mess it may create with Media Center.

Best regards,

Luis

"Nigel Barker" <nigel@hp.com> wrote in message
news:8b9pi013nf5vom9q1dmjcdck54o3lqa37h@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 09:28:02 -0400, "Luis A. Burgos"
> <luis@hasnopublicaddress.com> wrote:
>
> >This problems you and other people are having seems to be codec-related
and
>
> Far & away the most likely cause. Obvious candidates are if you installed
a new
> DVD player but other software can still cause problems e.g. Nero 6 insists
on
> installing its own MPEG2 codec. The only way to get 100% reliability with
MCE is
> never to install any other software on it.
>
> --
> Nigel Barker
> Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur

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