WMC freezes when changing channels and W7 do not responde-Hangs:(

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › WMC freezes when changing channels and W7 do not responde-Hangs:(

GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#92934 9-Nov-2011 12:29

Hi everyone here at Geekzone,
thank you for reading my post and here is my problem:

My Windows Media Centre ramdomly freezes while changing channels or accessing guide during tv watching.

I have tried everything I could from reinstalling the W7 64bit and updating all drivers and I all works fine with DVB-S single tunner but once i use Dual DVB-T tunners the problem starts.

this HTPC has core 2 3ghz and corsair 2GB 800mhz ram and HD 3870 512mb video card running tv with hdmi cable and two physical DVB-T tunners.

When WMC freezes I can't access windows desktop to close apps as mouse keyboard and remote do not respond and that surprises me because W7 is better in that sense.

thank you guys

Andy

Nety

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#543084 9-Nov-2011 13:09

What DVB-T tuner card/s do you have? I had a HVR2200 which caused hang issues as well. It turned out to be a faulty card. Had it replaced under warranty and the replacement has never caused me any issues. I did hear that there may have been a bad batch that came in (although that was a long time ago now).

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B1GGLZ

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#543126 9-Nov-2011 14:05

Nety: What DVB-T tuner card/s do you have? I had a HVR2200 which caused hang issues as well.

I have a HVR2200 card which also used to freeze regularly in WinTV application although I can't say it did for Win7 Media Centre as I never use it. Recordings were fine.
All hiccups and freezing stopped completely when I disabled hardware acceleration.
Tried enabling again recently after latest software update and immediately started freezing again.

GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#543173 9-Nov-2011 15:34

hi guys thanks for the replies,

I actually have two physical cards

One tunner is Avermedia H789 DVB-T HD

the other is Hauppauge HVR 3000 DVB-T

I tried running just the hauppauge and freezed after changing channels and also tried running the AverMedia H789 on its own and same issue again.

at first I thought this problem may be caused by signal strength as my antenna is just above the edge of my roof and there are lots of trees in the direction to wharite transmiter so I added a signal amp to the cable and problem persists that is why i have gone back to check if software or hardware issue.

thanks guys,

Andy

Regs

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Snowflake

#543269 9-Nov-2011 18:39

just suggestions, not solutions: try running different screen resolutions (e.g. try 1024x768) or updating video card drivers too. or add more memory to video card.

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GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#543373 9-Nov-2011 21:57

Thanks REGS for ideas I will see if there is an update for graphics card drivers and this card is more than capable with 512mb GDDR 4 and HD compliant decoding hardware. also I have played around with resolutions both 720p and 1080 as that is what the tv is capable too and in the catalist control have the options for both as HDTV.

i will run windows update after backbenches is over and see what happens,

thanks

Andy

Mattv

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#543428 10-Nov-2011 05:18

Do you need to be running 64 bit Win 7 and do you have 32 bit available? For a simple Media PC and with only 2 GB of Ram it may be worth changing if you can. My guess would be a hardware or driver issue and although it's getting a lot better, 64 bit still seems to have more issues at the moment.

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#543439 10-Nov-2011 07:41

ATI releases video drivers almost every month. I am running the latest in all my PCs (I have three PCs here with ATI video cards).

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GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#543515 10-Nov-2011 10:06

Thank you guys for the replies: I have updated the drivers for the ATI card and also have updated the drivers for one of the tuners and im about to test.

1- the question about if I need a to be running 64bit system- answer is yes I prefer 64bit as I use the HTPC not only for tv watching but also for gaming and Im waiting for the courier to bring me some time today two modules of corsair 2gb each and I think 32 bit cant use 4gb or so of ram.

I want to use this opportunity to ask you guys if anyone know if Digitech LT-3137 HDTV digital antenna is any good as if it is poor signal issue then Im thinking of buying this from Jaycar for $119 as they claim this antenna can pull a wooping 40db output.

anyway will keep you posted and see if it works with new drivers and if not I will install 32 bit in another drive and try that too.

thanks

Andy