Hauppauge WINTV PCI Frequently Asked Questions.....

WinTV Common Issues and Solutions

1- Installation Issues on Windows XP systems

2- NO AUDIO & Audio Muting on XP

3- Failed To Create TV Window another Application may be using the driver error when running WinTV.

4- WinTV locks the PC.

5- "A Stream operation Failed" error in WinTV2000 with PVR250

6- WinTV PVR USB..Ivac error, black screens, and various errors

7- Capturing Video With WinTV and WDM Drivers.

8- I get a black border around the WinTV Window when scaling the screen larger than 640X480 on Windows XP

9- Always On Top

10- DVD Players

For all other issues and known troubleshooting tips and solutions, please visit our FAQ pages

1- Installation Issues on Windows XP systems:

(NOTE: These instructions will also apply if you receive a "failed to create TV window", or Missing .DLL error messages when attempting to run the WinTV application).

WinTV PCI

WinTV USB

WinTV PVR PCI

WinTV PCI on Windows XP installation:

To assure that older drivers/files have been removed, run the HcwClear Utility. Choose "total removal" as well as "search INF files" and click OK. When the DOS window disappears it has completed the removal(ignore any of the DOS screen messages, as they are not relevant).

Disconnect from any LAN/WAN, so the system is not online.(disonnect or power off any cable modem or DSL connections). Also, remove any WinTV CD's from the CD Rom drive.

Download and install the WinTV Driver 3.31 and restart Windows. Upon bootup, when the hardware is detected, choose Next to automatically install. Choose "continue anyway" if prompted with a Microsoft Digital signature message. Repeat this for the audio driver when it is detected.

Install the WinTV application 3.39 to load the application software. You can then also load the accessory software(Radio, IR Remote, teletext) if applicable.

NOTE: If you are having problems with this installation, you may repeat this process and replace the driver with the VFW 3.11 drivers, and the application with the 3.31 application file to correct the problem. WinTV Theater models require the VFW 3.11 drivers.

WinTV USB on Windows XP installation:

The procedure to install the WinTV USB on Windows XP is as follows.

(NOTE: Installation may be done with your WinTV CD if it is version 3.3 or later)

As a general rule during all WinTV installations on Windows XP systems, be sure that you are disconnected from any LAN/WAN, and that the WinTV CD rom disk is not in your CD drive when installing any of the software updates from our website.

Install the latest WinTV USB driver HERE. After loading the drivers, connect the WinTV to the USB port on the PC (not a hub or keyboard).

Next, download and install the latest WinTV application software.

For Radio models, you will also need the Radio software.

WinTV PVR PCI on Windows XP installation:

If Windows update installed the WDM drivers for the board, follow these steps: First, click on Start and then RIGHT CLICK on MyComputer - Properties - Hardware - Device Manager. You should see the WinTV listed here. If they are listed as Hauppauge WinTV 878/9 WDM driver, right click on each listing and Uninstall. Close Device Manager.

Download and run the Hcwclear utility and run this to remove the existing WinTV files from the system. Choose "total removal" and put a checkmark in the box for "Search all .INF files for conflicting Bt8xx hardware" and click OK.

Download and install the following files in this order:

WinTV Driver and reboot Windows

WinTV PVR update and reboot Windows

WinTV Application software

MPEG Decoders

The WinTV PVR will now be up and running on Windows XP.

The RADIO and IR REMOTE software may also be downloaded and installed.

2- NO AUDIO

NOTE For XP users experiencing audio muting see below.

If no sound is heard from the WinTV program, check the following:

First, assure that the physical LINE OUT connection from the WinTV hardware is connected to the LINE IN on the soundcard.(in some cases Microphone in, when dealing with WinTV USB on some laptop systems). NOTE: Some systems use an "auxilary" input(AUX). In such cases, substitute Line In with Auxilary for configuration purposes below.

Next, in the WinTV 2000 program, click the AUD button for the audio configuration. Set the mixer to LINE IN, and be sure that the mixer level is up to 50% or higher. Click OK.

Lastly, go to start/programs/accessories/entertainment/volume control. In the Volume control program, there should be a separate Line In balance. Be sure that this is not muted, and that the volume level is up. If there is no Line In balance present, you can add one by clicking options/properties and checking Line In.

If audio is still not heard, you can test the WinTV hardware by connecting powered PC speakers, or a set of headphones directly to the Line Out of the WinTV. You should hear audio this way. If no audio is heard, this would indicate an audio circuit problem with the WinTV hardware.

XP Users who are experiencing problems with random WinTV audio muting problems. Those users who have Norton System Works 2003 installed, go into the Norton AntiVirus options, and uncheck Instant messenger. This should address the audio muting problem.

On some systems, using Outlook XP, in Outlook go to Tools/options, and click the Other tab. Uncheck MSN Messenger and click OK.

3- Failed To Create TV Window another Application may be using the driver error when running WinTV.

In general, this error will occur if the driver is not installed correctly, or if the driver is not seeing the hardware properly.

The HCWCLEAR utility is a handy tool to completely remove all of the WinTV files and registry entries, on any OS, and with any model WinTV board, allowing you to perform a fresh reinstallation of the drivers and software. Run the HCWCLEAR utility, and choose "total removal", and put a checkmark in the box for "Search all .INF files for conflicting Bt8xx hardware" and click OK.

When the DOS screen disappears, the Clear has finished. Reload the latest driver, and application software for your model WinTV board at this point.

WinTV PCI

WinTV USB

WinTV PVR PCI

WinTV PVR USB

NOTE: For the WinTV PVR USB models on Windows XP or 2000 systems, you will also need to add the files hcwncusb.sys and hcwncusb.inf

Download these 2 files, and save the Hcwncusb.sys into the system32/drivers folder, and the Hcwncusb.inf file into the c:\windows\inf folder, and reinstall the drivers and application software. If the same problem continues, search for and delete the Ivivideo.ax and Iviaudio.ax files from the system and repeat the installation procedure.

4- WinTV locks the PC.

Lockups may occur if there is a resource conflict, an issue with the VGA/direct draw, or if there is a PCI bus issue with the chipset on the motherboard.

To determine if there is a resource conflict, or problem with the resource settings, look in the device manager (Right click MY COMPUTER, and choose properties/device manager). Click on sound, video, and game controllers. Assure the WinTV drivers are listed here without an exclammation point. An exclammation point would indicate a potential conflict. In this case, physically move the WinTV card to a different PCI slot in the system.

If VGA or direct draw issues are suspected, try going to start/programs/Hauppauge WinTV/Primary. Set the primary program to "dib draw", and close it. Initialize WinTV. Most VGA lockup issues will be resolved this way. Be sure that you have the very latest VGA drivers installed for the graphics card, as well as the latest DirectX.

VIA, ALI, and other 3rd party chipsets on the motherboard may also result in lockup issues.

For VIA based motherboards, try these suggestions:

Download and apply VIA's 4 in 1 update if applicable

Look in the BIOS settings for:

Latency timer (use a setting less than 64, usually a setting of 32, 12, 10, etc. should work)
AGP fastwrite(if applicable), and set it to disabled.
CPU to PCI write buffer(if applicable), and set it to disabled.

Set the Primary program to Dib Draw mode.

Try moving the WinTV board to a different PCI slot(s) in the system.

be sure that the latest BIOS for the motherboard is installed.

For ALI based motherboards, try these suggestions:

If the ALI chipset is the ALiMAGiK 1 as used on the Asus A7A266, download and apply the ALI update HERE, which should correct the lockup problem. (version 1.82)

Download and install the WinTV Driver 4.19a from here (if using Windows 95,98, ME only)

Check with ALI for any possible PCI bus updates, or BIOS updates with them or the motherboard manufacturer. Look in the BIOS settings for a "PCI Latency Timer" setting and set this to 8 (some systems may have problems at any greater setting (i.e. 16,32, etc.). If you get bad horizontal lines (with movement) when used with the Soundblaster Live Player 5.1., enable 'Delay Transaction' in the BIOS (or using another soundcard will eliminate the line problem.)

Set the Primary program to Dib Draw mode.

Move WinTV to a different PCI slot(s).

For SIS Based motherboards, try these suggestions:

Check for a BIOS update with SIS or the motherboard manufacturer

Look in the BIOS for CPU to PCI write buffer, set to disabled. PEER CONCURENCY- set to disabled.

Try using DIB DRAW mode

Move WinTV to a different PCI slot

5-"A Stream operation Failed" error in WinTV2000 with PVR250

Check the Add/remove programs section in your control panel for "WinDVD" software or any other software that might indicate "intervideo" or that would be used for a DVD player in the system. Remove this software, and reinstall the WinTV MPEG Decoder. Restart Windows. This may also apply in cases with playback/Audio-Video issues after capture, or black screens. An updated MPEG Decoder for the WinTV is in development to address these issues.

Reloading the DVD software after WinTV is working may allow both to work properly, or in other cases, you should be able to use Windows Media Player for DVD playbacks.

6- WinTV PVR USB..Ivac error, black screens, and various errors

7- Capturing Video With WinTV and WDM Drivers.

The new WDM driver and WinTV application(3.35) with the descaler feature eliminates the Remote control applet from the program which used to allow for .AVI capture within the WinTV2000. The AMCAP program which gets installed into the WinTV directory during installation is what can now be used for .AVI captures. This program gets installed with the WinTV installation, and will be located under start/programs/Hauppauge WinTV/Amcap.

This utility will be used in place of the "VCR" feature that was implemented in the previous version of WinTV2000. You can optionally install the 3.11 drivers and 3.31 application software(for WinTV PCI models on Windows XP) to return to the previous version and eliminate having to use the separate Amcap utility for captures.

For Windows XP users and WinTV USB who are having issues with capture, you will need to use the Amcap utility for capture, which will be located on your WinTV CD rom, under Misc/Utility.

8- I get a black border around the WinTV Window when scaling the screen larger than 640X480 on Windows XP

Scaling the video is limited to 640X480, however, you may achieve full screen mode simply by going to Preferences/TV mode in the WinTV application, and selecting "allow resolution change" and then clicking OK. Going to TV mode now will give you a full screen picture, since it is defaulting the VGA to 640X480 resolution, and then back to your normal desktop resolution upon exiting TV mode.

If a full screen is not shown, you simply must adjust your monitor settings (H and V adjustments on front of monitor display) for 640 X 480 resolution. adjusting this when in TV mode will not affect the normal desktop.

This will also apply to NT and Windows 2000 systems.

9- Always On Top: In WinTV2000, you can set the Always-On-Top feature if you Click and Hold the Right mouse button. This will give you the Context menu. You can then click on Options - Always On Top

10- DVD Players: If your DVD player is not on the list, then we have not yet tested with this particular model DVD Player. If your DVD player states that it works with VCD's in its specifications, it should work fine. DVD testing will be a continuous effort on our part and we will update the list accordingly.

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