Pre-Install NEWBIE Questions

[OU812]

Hi

I have been reading these forums like crazy and have a few questions for the experts here, while I wait (ever so impatiently) for my PVR-250 and SS Kit to arrive by mail.

1) Do most people just install the latest drivers for the PVR card, or do you also install the WinTV and miscellaneous apps as well. (ie. In an effort to save disk space and avoid possible conflicts, can I just INSTALL THE DRIVERS ONLY for use with SnapStream PVS?
If you do also install the WinTV app, is it because it has extras/features that Snapstream doesn't?

2) I am using an Intel 845G chipset motherboard with onboard video up to 64mb. Is this sufficient for playback? I assume I will have to install SW MPG decoders. Should I install the ones downloaded for the PVR-250, or does the Snapstream PVS software provide SW decoders I should use?

Thanks

[RobertH]

1) Ignore the cd that comes with the card completely the only usefull thing on it is the mpeg editor, just get the drivers and follow the install steps on their driver page. Make sure you have the IR software installed before you install snapstream if you are intent on using the remote control on the pvr. the wintv software may need to be installed for the mpeg decoder or the ir software to work with some versions of the driver, but i have it installed just for sakes sake on my 1.8ghz where the software doesnt even work (as soon as it starts up it scans for channels when it is done it hard locks the machine, but since I use SS for tv dont care too much bout it)

2) You are probably going to want to use the hauppauge decoder and the steps in the general forum on how to set the decoder up for DXVA mode it will make the decoder use less cpu. the onboard video devices have had some problems with other manufacturers as they tend to not provide updated dx8/9 video support or provide vmr9 support. just make sure you are using the absolute latest drivers from intel and that you have dx9 and wmp9 installed.

[archie]

as usual, RobertH is right. just thought i would chime in with a similar experience.

1) i didn't install anything off the cd. from the hauppage site, i downloaded the latest drivers, the latest decoder, and the latest irremote (plus the editor, which you don't need for ss but is a fairly quick, easy to use splicing engine). i've never installed wintv or any of the other stuff from the disk and haven't missed it. though as robert says, it may be required for some drivers.

2) i haven't used it for onboard video, but here is the link to get the hauppage decoder working better than the default decoder.

imho, archie

[OU812]

Thanks to RobertH and Archie

Thanks for you input, it helped a great deal. My install of the PVR250 went smooth, as did PVS3.3. I am having problems getting the included (silver) remote working though. I DID install the latest irremote software BEFORE PVS, and I have also tried editing the irremote.ini file, but the only button that works is the "Full" button. Any Ideas what I should try next? I did start and restart the IR software and PVS, but still no go. I'll try a reboot next to see if for some reason that helps. The IR software version Iam using is the latest one downloaded from the Hauppauge site.
I haven't tried playing back anything I have recorded yet, so I will let you know how the Hauppauge Video decoder works with my onboard graphics display. I will also use your advice and do the reg hack for better performance, based on the thread you recommend.

Thanks Again

[RobertH]

The remote will only send commands to snapstream while its gui is active and the forground window (its an issue with the remote software)

you can check and see in the ini, under the [Applications] section there should be a line:
Personal Video Station=

and at the bottom it should have something similar to this (mine is edited for the prev channel function):
[Personal Video Station]
0=0
1=1
2=2
3=3
4=4
5=5
6=6
7=7
8=8
9=9
MUTE=m
FULLSCREEN={alt}{enter}
CHNLUP={UP}
CHNLDOWN={DOWN}
VOLUP={right}
VOLDOWN={left}
OK={enter}
BACK={esc}
MENU={home}
REC=r
STOP=s
PAUSE={space}
PLAY=p
REWIND={left}
FASTFWD={right}
SKIPFWD=.
SKIPREV=,
GRNPOWER={ctrl}{shift}{f1}
GO=g
YELLOW=-
BLUE==
RED={pgdn}
GREEN={pgup}
FUNC=l

you have to restart the ir software or log off the computer and back on to get it to refresh the settings.