Hauppauge Computer Works: Support

The WinTV-PVR will function under Windows98SE (Second Edition), WindowsME, Windows2000, and Windows XP. It will not function under Windows 95 or NT 4.0

The WinTV-PVR does not have MPEG decoding hardware, only encoding hardware. However, the WinTV-PVR will use software decoding for the playback and pause functions.

The WinTV PVR is available at Bestbuy, CompUSA, Fry's, Microcenter, and Microwarehouse. It may also be purchased directly from our online webstore

Lockups occur when attempting TV mode, switching between TV and Pause functions, or clicking the OTR or OTP buttons?

If lockups occur with the WinTV-PVR when attempting to access any of the functions in the software, Set the Primary program to "dib draw" mode(start/programs/hauppauge/Primary). Certain Motherboard chipsets or VGA cards with compatibility issues will only allow the PVR to function in this mode.

The PVR can capture either MPEG-1 (the "VCD" settings), or MPEG-2. If you capture the video as MPEG-2, and own a good video editor (such as ULead) and the full Nero package, you should be able to: 1. Capture an MPEG-2 clip using the PVR; 2. Read it into the editor and output it as an SVCD; 3. Then use Nero to burn the SVCD itself.

Yes, you can edit the MPEG files with any 3rd party editing software that works with MPEG formats. Hauppauge also provides on our Software Updates page an MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video editor for use with the PVR.

If you intend to make a VCD compatible file, you would need to capture in MPEG 1 format, save in MPEG-1 format, do your editing, and then compress the file to VCD compliance in the WinTV software (or in the editing software if it has such a setting built in).

An MPEG editor is available directly from Hauppauge, which allows you to cut out commercials. This is a "cut only" editor, and may be downloaded here

As the WinTV is connected to the Sound card, it uses one of the Sound cards Mixer settings to control the volume. This setting can be selected in the WinTV Audio configuration. If you click on the AUD button located in the WinTV2000 application you can select the Audio Mixer Input here. When you adjust the Volume control in the WinTV application, you are really just adjusting the level of a single Volume control from your sound card's mixer (Windows “Volume Control”).

You select which mixer you are adjusting by going into the Audio dialog and selecting the Audio Mixer Input. In fact, if you open your Windows “Volume Control” and adjust the audio level in the WinTV application you can even see the mixer control slider move. The exception to this is the "WinTV Volume" mixer selection, (Default setting) which controls the volume level coming out of the WinTV Card. If this is set too low you won't get audio no matter how high you've got your ?LineIn” mixer setting. Likewise, if the LineIn on your mixer is muted or too low you won't get audio no matter how high the “WinTV Volume” is set.

With the WinTV-PVR you actually select and therefore control two different mixers. “Live” mode and “Playback” mode, which includes “Pause”, can each select an independent mixer. Each Mixer Input is selected by going into the Audio section and selecting a Mixer Input for each mode.

For Example: If you are watching live video, in the Audio Dialog you would select the mixer for “Live” mode. If you were watching “Playback” (including Pause) you would select the mixer for “Playback” mode.

The Primary program(start/programs/Hauppauge/Primary) must be set to "Allow Overlay" for the WinTV to be able to display playback of your captured video directly. If the VGA card in the PC does not support Overlay mode, then playback within the WinTV software would not be possible. Playback, in this case, must be done through Windows Media Player.(start/programs/accessories/entertainment).

The WinTV-PVR will be able to capture MPEG1 up to 352 X 240(NTSC), 352 X 288(PAL/SECAM) and MPEG2 up to 704 X 480(NTSC), 704 X 576(PAL/SECAM).

As a general estimate, the WinTV-PVR can capture one hour of Video (MPEG-2 4.0) per 2 Gigabytes of hard disk space.

I get upsidedown video when playing back captured video in the WinTV software?

This would be caused by a VGA related problem. VGA cards that do not correctly support video overlay mode, or have overlay issues can cause this to happen. Playback must be done in Windows Media player. If the VGA card is supposed to support overlay, then an updated VGA driver would be required.

If you get an error message: "Specified path does not exist. Check the path and try again" when trying to use the "Watch Now" button through TitanTV.COM, make sure that you have the latest version of the Scheduler program. This should correct the problem.

Error during Pausing or Playback after recording: "There is no common media type between these pins Connecting HCWSnapshot and Overlay Mixer2", followed by "A Stream operation failed. If you can reproduce this error please list the steps necessary and contact the developers. Hit Okay to continue. Some errors may require shutting down the applications and restarting it."

Both of these problems will result if the VGA card does not have Overlay support, or if the current VGA drivers for the Video card do not handle overlay correctly. A driver update that would allow Overlay emulation to be enabled from the VGA card manufacturer would be required. For VGA's that do not support overlay, set the Primary program to "Force Primary" (start/programs/Hauppauge WinTV/Primary). Optionally, you can also try a lower VGA resolution, color depth, and/or refresh rate setting.

There may also be a potential conflict in the system if there is another software package installed that uses the Intervideo decoders. If so, uninstall the other intervideo software, and reinstall the WinTV decoder(hcwsmd01).

VCD conversion process stops at 99%

If the VCD converter stops at 99%, or any point during the conversion process, you may need to alternately convert within the MPEG editor program instead of directly within the WinTV application. The MPEG editor can be freely downloaded HERE.

Use the WInTV-PVR to make a VCD file
Bring this file into the Nano MPEG Editor
Edit the file. It will now be in the correct VCD compliant format.
Take the output file and burn it onto a CD-RW media using the Nero burner, chosing VCD as the output

Or instead of step 4 you can use the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR convert program, open the file from step 3 and immediately burn it.

Problems with debugger software (such as NuMega's SoftIce) and the WinTV-PVR

Two problems have been found when running debugger software (such as NuMega's Softice) when running the WinTV-PVR. 1- Anytime you try to Playback an MPEG or go into PAUSE mode the WinTV app will suddenly just close. 2-The setup installation may tend to hang indefinitely.

"Closed Captions Not Available" Error when trying to view Closed Captioning

The VGA card is not set to "Allow Overlay" mode, or the VGA card does not support Overlay mode correctly. VGA cards that are supposed to support overlay may require updated VGA drivers from the Video card manufacturer.

Error "The Files Mux rate is recorded incorrectly" during VCD conversion

This may be caused by bad audio headers if the incoming signal is weak. Update to the latest WinTV PVR software and drivers (available here), which should address the problem.

Can I use the WinTV-PVR on a dual CPU system?

The stability of the WinTV operation or hardware functioning correctly may be impaired on dual CPU systems.