Running EMC9 on an older HP Media Centre PC

[Steve180]

Hi,

 

I am going crazy with my upgrade. I've been using an older version of Sonic's software to capture analog video (Sonic myDVD 7), and burn TV programs recorded with MS Media Centre (dvr-ms extensions) for the past year and a half on my HP Media Centre 7160n. I bought an upgrade early on that allowed the program to fit the content to the disk. It worked reasonably well, but I often had audio syncronization problems, with the sound being out of sync with the video, particularly on captured video tapes.

 

So I thought I'd upgrade to solve my problem. BIG MISTAKE! I first tried installing EMC9 without uninstalling my old software. I knew this was risky, and sure enough, it wouldn't work. So I took the plunge, and uninstalled my old software, even though I didn't have it on CD to reinstall (since it came originally installed on the PC, and I bought a downloaded upgrade.)

 

Now EMC9 will not operate, and its telling me to upgrade my video drivers - sounds reaonable, since I haven't done it since the machine was purchased in July '05. BUT, HP's website does not offer any video driver upgrades. After three long on-line chats with HP tech support, they pointed me to Intel's website, which offers numerous driver upgrades for the Intlel 945G chipset which is on my motherboard. Unfortunately, none of them will install, and I've confirmed that it has to be an HP supplied driver! I've written to HP's CEO complaining, but of course no results.

 

So now I have no ability to burn analog videos or recorded TV shows. Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 is working fine for digital video, but does not support analog of the dvr-ms file types.

 

My question:

 

1) Any suggestions for getting things working?

2) Any suggestions for competitive products to EMC9 which will capture analog video, and burn dvr-ms files, but not be so finicky? I've looked at Pinnacle Studio, but it won't do the dvr-ms files.

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Steve

[ggrussell]

You're best bet would be to upgrade your video. There are many in the $40-80 range that work well with EMC 9. Most video chipsets on motherboards do not work well with Videowave / MyDVD 9.

 

Looking at HPs support pages, you have a PCI Express 16X slot open.

[Steve180]

You're best bet would be to upgrade your video. There are many in the $40-80 range that work well with EMC 9. Most video chipsets on motherboards do not work well with Videowave / MyDVD 9.

 

Looking at HPs support pages, you have a PCI Express 16X slot open.

 

Thanks very much. I'd been avoiding making any changes to the base machine. Two of my sons have HPs; both had motherboard-based graphics, and both put in expensive video cards for gaming. The process of getting it all working together was not easy.

 

But if this is the best solution, I think I'll let Best Buys Geek Squad do it for me.

 

A few quick questions:

 

1) Will a new graphics card conflict with or prevent me from using the existing Conexant (I think is the name) video capture board in the machine? That works fine, with the existing TV tuner, I'd hate to mess with it.

 

2) Any suggestions for specs for the new video card - amount of RAM, brand, etc?

 

Thanks again,

 

Steve

[james_hardin]

I have no suggestions on specs…

 

Normally all you need to do to defeat an on board card is disable it in the Device Manager. – Years ago, some HP's required cutting a trace on the motherboard but that shouldn't be required these days.

 

Likewise your capture card should be a separate device and not related to any video card. To be sure, please list the make/model – Look in Device Manager.

[Steve180]

I have no suggestions on specs…

 

Normally all you need to do to defeat an on board card is disable it in the Device Manager. – Years ago, some HP's required cutting a trace on the motherboard but that shouldn't be required these days.

 

Likewise your capture card should be a separate device and not related to any video card. To be sure, please list the make/model – Look in Device Manager.

 

It is a Conexant Falcon II NTSC Video Capture Device, installed in PCI Slot 3.

 

Steve

[ggrussell]

You should not have any problems with the capture card just by adding a new video card. There are many video cards in the $50-80 range that work well with EMC 9. Just make sure it is DirectX 9 compliant. You have a PCI Express slot so you should be able to find a nice card. At least 128MB memory on the card.

 

I think your machine has the same motherboard as mine. Nothing to do in the BIOS to turn off the other video. Just install the new card and turn on the machine. Then install the drivers.