Creator 10/TiVO/Vista

[Pat S]

I have what I think *should* be a fairly simple question but after searching through the site for the last couple of hours I cannot find a straightforward answer.

 

I have a TiVO. I can currently copy TiVO recorded programs to my PC then play them using TiVO's playback program.

 

I'd like to convert these TiVO files to DVD format and burn them to a DVD. I have two questions:

 

1) Does Creator 10 have this capability?

 

2) If the answer to (1) is "yes", will it work using Vista (since almost nothing works in Vista!).

 

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can offer.

[Beerman]

I have what I think *should* be a fairly simple question but after searching through the site for the last couple of hours I cannot find a straightforward answer.

 

I have a TiVO. I can currently copy TiVO recorded programs to my PC then play them using TiVO's playback program.

 

I'd like to convert these TiVO files to DVD format and burn them to a DVD. I have two questions:

 

1) Does Creator 10 have this capability?

 

2) If the answer to (1) is "yes", will it work using Vista (since almost nothing works in Vista!).

Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can offer.

I don't have a Tivo to try but it is supported in v10.

So far, everything works for me in Vista with v10.

[ggrussell]

Also make sure you have the latest version of the Tivo software that transfers the files.

[Pat S]

I don't have a Tivo to try but it is supported in v10.

So far, everything works for me in Vista with v10.

Well, after reading the documentation I went ahead and bought "Easy" Media 10. Boy, whoever named this thing "Easy" must have a huge sense of humor - this is one of the most difficult programs to install and use I've ever seen!

 

Anyway, after a couple of hours of installing, reinstalling, Vista locking up, rebooting - hooray, "Easy" Manager 10 finally installed. Then it wouldn't recognize the TiVO recorder, no way, no how. So, maybe that's ok - I downloaded a program I recorded last night using the TiVO desktop which recognizes the recorder just fine. When I then tried to "Add Movies" in Roxio and selected the TiVO directory with the file I'd just downloaded in it I got a message box informing me that it had indeed found "TiVO Files" but I'd need TiVo desktop v 2.3 or higher to load or preview same TiVO files (2.3a was up and running at the time). "Easy" Media still refused to show the TiVO file and won't add it, no way, no how - don't cross "Go", don't collect $200.

 

Next I checked the Tivo site - there is now a later version on TiVO desktop, 2.5, which claims to be "Vista compatible". The version I had installed (2.3) was Vista compatable as far as I could tell - meaning, it works, something of a miracle considering it was running under Vista - but I decided to try installing 2.5 anyway.

 

I uninstalled 2.3, reinstalled 2.5, and lo and behold - while Roxio still won't recognize the DVR it did now show the program I'd downloaded. I was able to successfully burn it to a DVD which worked in my DVD player.

 

OK, here's what I learned from this, along with some suggestions for the Roxio folks:

 

1) EMC10 is neither easy nor is it fast. Burning a one hour program recorded at medium quality took a long, long time - how long I don't know as I went to bed after 20 minutes when it reported being 2% complete.

 

2) It'd be just SWELL, Roxio guys, if you'd include some usable instructions! This is *NOT* an intuitive program in any sense of the word; good instructions are essential. And missing.

 

3) Probably should correct the error messages while you're at it. That bit about needing TiVO desktop v2.3 when v2.3 was up and running was what was throwing me. EM10 requires (at least) 2.4, more likely 2.5 since TiVO has already pulled 2.4 and provides a "patch" so you can upgrade to 2.5 (what's up with that? Why not just uninstall it?).

 

4) Should recognize the TiVO DVR. How hard would this be, after all the super work on the instructions?

 

5) Stop installing those cute little programs that load when Windows boots. Everybody seems to want to do this these days. I worked on a neighbor's computer the other day, running XP, that took twenty minutes just to come up after you logged in. I don't really need a TSR to go check Roxio for later versions; I am quite capable of doing that myself. This is an annoying practice that needs to stop!

 

Overall I'd give EMC10 about a C-. Lots of functionality but lacks documentation; some useful stuff missing; slow (on a dual core 2.0 GHx Pentium with 2 GB ram running Vista Home); doesn't install real well; incorrect error messages. Nice try, guys - now fix it, please!

[james_hardin]

Pat: I you have learned anything from all the computer experience you list, it is that you are missing something simple along the way…

 

I don't have anything Tivo, so I cannot guide you, but when you look at the experience level of user who are up and running, this has got to be a forest for the trees situation.

[John Tucson]

Pat: I you have learned anything from all the computer experience you list, it is that you are missing something simple along the way…

 

I don't have anything Tivo, so I cannot guide you, but when you look at the experience level of user who are up and running, this has got to be a forest for the trees situation.

I do the same with TIVO files. I fouund on EMC 9 it was very slow if you used the "best fit" to DVD. If instead you select a record speed it goes much quicker. With the high compression being the fastest

[Pat S]

I do the same with TIVO files. I fouund on EMC 9 it was very slow if you used the "best fit" to DVD. If instead you select a record speed it goes much quicker. With the high compression being the fastest

Still wrestling with this thing...

 

Ok, if I transform the TiVO files one at a time I get DVD movies. That part works, more or less (sorta like a monkey playing chess - the amazing thing isn't how well he plays, just that he plays at all). Now I'd like to edit out the commercials, which again *SHOULD* be relatively easy. Gee, Roxio guys - it'd be just SUPER KEEN if you'd address some of the more obvious tasks in your "documentation" instead of coming up with some left handed, backward oblique reference. I searched all through the docs; nothing on "deleting commercials" or "commercials".

 

Finally figured out I needed to define chapters (now, THAT'S obvious - NOT!!!). Tried auto chapter definition, which is based on scenes: It hit 99 chapters, the limit, in about ten minutes of run time. Ok, so that feature's useless.

 

So I decided to manually define the chapters, bracketing each commercial break as one chapter; then just delete the commercials. Easy, right? Well, maybe if you say it really fast. Dang thing keeps locking up, sometimes using fast forward or other odd times. Well, hey - it's only a dual core Pentium with 2 GB ram.

 

Anyway, it's currently on it's third lockup tonight. I'll have to dump Roxio using Task Manager, then wouldn't ya know? Roxio won't run any more, so I have to reboot and start over. I think I'll give it one more try then just give up.

 

I finally broke down and ordered seasons 3, 4, and 5 of Smallville from Amazon. Cost less than I paid for Roxio and should be more fun than this torture.

 

Anyway - nice try, boys. Hope you have a working version one day.

[grandpabruce]

Still wrestling with this thing...

 

Ok, if I transform the TiVO files one at a time I get DVD movies. That part works, more or less (sorta like a monkey playing chess - the amazing thing isn't how well he plays, just that he plays at all). Now I'd like to edit out the commercials, which again *SHOULD* be relatively easy. Gee, Roxio guys - it'd be just SUPER KEEN if you'd address some of the more obvious tasks in your "documentation" instead of coming up with some left handed, backward oblique reference. I searched all through the docs; nothing on "deleting commercials" or "commercials".

 

Finally figured out I needed to define chapters (now, THAT'S obvious - NOT!!!). Tried auto chapter definition, which is based on scenes: It hit 99 chapters, the limit, in about ten minutes of run time. Ok, so that feature's useless.

 

So I decided to manually define the chapters, bracketing each commercial break as one chapter; then just delete the commercials. Easy, right? Well, maybe if you say it really fast. Dang thing keeps locking up, sometimes using fast forward or other odd times. Well, hey - it's only a dual core Pentium with 2 GB ram.

 

Anyway, it's currently on it's third lockup tonight. I'll have to dump Roxio using Task Manager, then wouldn't ya know? Roxio won't run any more, so I have to reboot and start over. I think I'll give it one more try then just give up.

 

I finally broke down and ordered seasons 3, 4, and 5 of Smallville from Amazon. Cost less than I paid for Roxio and should be more fun than this torture.

 

Anyway - nice try, boys. Hope you have a working version one day.

 

Pat, you are missing something here. You aren't talking to Roxio. We are users, just like you, NOT ROXIO. Not that it helps you, but I have EMC 10 running smoothly on my XP machine. I don't have any Vista machines but know that some day, I will have to put it on my computers. That will be one sorry day.