Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 Download and Installation Guide

InsaneNutter

InsaneNutter

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Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 is an update for Windows Media Center included with Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, it is primarily targeted at adding support for additional international broadcast standards.

The TV Pack was only released to licensed OEMs, there for unavailable to people who want to build there own Media PC’s powered by Media Center. However you can stop worrying about that as you can download it right here

Feature List:

  • Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting – Terrestrial (ISDB-T) Digital television standard for Japan
  • Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite (DVB-S) free-to-air satellite standards in Europe
  • Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) digital television with improved user experience in Europe
  • ClearQAM (Unencrypted Digital Cable)in the United States
  • Interactive television with integrated Broadcast Markup language (BML) in Japan and Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group (MHEG) (MHEG5) in Europe
This update does not include native support for subscription-based satellite tuners or the H.264 video standard sadly. (For people who live in the UK this basically means you carnt get BBC HD, ITV HD and any other HD channels in Media Centre, however Ill post a guide later on on how to get BBC and ITV HD working in Media Center.)



Some things to note before installing:
  • Installation of the TV Pack must be on top of a clean Vista SP1 install, it will not install without Vista SP1. Apparently it will install on a none clean install of SP1 (an install that has been patched on windows update) but its not recommended.
  • Media Center TV Pack 2008 cannot be uninstalled so bear that in mind
  • Finally Media Center TV Pack is dependent on PlayReady for playing and recording protected content, if you follow this guide you will end up installing that.
Installation Instructions:

1) Install Vista and Update to SP1 if not already done.

(Do not launch Media Center or go through Media Center Setup)

2) Install Media Center TV Pack 2008

Download Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 (x86)
Download Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 (x64)

3) Install the PlayReady PC Runtime

Download PlayReady PC Runtime v1.2 (x86 and x64)

4) Install the following patches

KB951685 - The video playback application stops responding when you watch video or Live TV on a Windows Vista-based computer.

Download KB951685 (X86 and x64)

KB950754 - Noticeable problems occur in the video when you use the DirectSound renderer on Windows Vista.

Download KB950754 (x86 and x64)

5) Install any required or recommended Windows Updates and drivers for your pc

6) Launch Media Center and go through Media Center Setup

Media Center Version Info:

software version.jpg
 

Attachments

I had a problem with the KB950754 file. I downloaded it from this site and extracted it. The extracted file did not match but I was easily able to get it off of Microsoft's website. After that the install worked flawlessly!
 
KB951685 link in 1st post!

In #4 of the first post the Patch KB951685 actually seems to be KB950754 after it is extracted. I installed the KB950754 first and then the KB951685 from the link and paid "no attention" to the description after extracted and I got a "Does not apply"! I poked around and downloaded the same file again and I see after extraction the error it seems. I went to MS updates and got the actual file and moved on. I've seen others post similar errors in other forums.

I see also in the attached files at the end of the post both file sizes are noted as being 1.98MB (exactly the same size)!
 
The last step is very important. I was able to install TV Pack over an existing install with no problems....UNTIL I tried to use WMC with XBOX 360 - it wouldn't work at all. You MUST install "Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 Cumulative Update Feb 09" from Microsoft, as well as any other recommended updates that apply to your particular hardware/software. But have TV Pack 2008 installed first or Windows Update will not recognize. Now everything works perfectly with Windows Vista 64bit.
 
Thank you. No expert me and recklessly installed TV Pack 2008 over Vista SP1 install and brilliant, it worked! Little bit of a mix up with the download KB's but easily sorted. I wonder how many people are aware you can do this, I stumbled upon you by accident.
 
I am still getting "This computer is not digital cable ready. You will not be able to set it up for use with a CableCard".

I have followed the instructions to a "T". I have not skipped anything. I had my neighbor over here, who is a Comcast tech, and he can't seem to figure it out either.

I have performed all Vista Updates that are available.

Specs:

Vista Home Premium 64-bit
8gb PC6400 DDR2
Phenom II x4 940 Black Edition
EVGA GTX 295
24" Samsung 245BW Monitor
ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner w/CableCard installed and activated

How the heck do I enable Digital Cable on my computer ?

Any help is appreciated.

tanker
 
Video error after TV pack upgrade

I had Vista Ultimate and went through the above steps and now MCE complains with video error for livetv or recordedtv. I ca't do anything with MCE now.

Any help would be appreciated.

Fixed the problem. On my Intel on board G33 graphics controller changed the BIOS setting to 256MB & fixed (instead of DVMT).
 
I believe you have installed the TV pack perfectly, I had a look in to your problem and the “This computer is not digital cable ready” error looks to be a common occurrence with ATI Cable Cards. I dont think this has anything to do with the TV pack.

From looking around on Google you need the correct bios for your pc to be cable ready and your Windows Vista should have the licence for its self and for Digital Cable Cards.

I’ve never heard about having to activate cable cards to use them on the pc, this looks like a rather annoying copyright measure that’s annoying the legitimate consumer yet again.

Try this utility from DougKnox and see if your bios has the information to be Digital Cable Ready OCUR BIOS Check Utility

tanker2k6 said:
I am still getting "This computer is not digital cable ready. You will not be able to set it up for use with a CableCard".

I have followed the instructions to a "T". I have not skipped anything. I had my neighbor over here, who is a Comcast tech, and he can't seem to figure it out either.

I have performed all Vista Updates that are available.

Specs:

Vista Home Premium 64-bit
8gb PC6400 DDR2
Phenom II x4 940 Black Edition
EVGA GTX 295
24" Samsung 245BW Monitor
ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner w/CableCard installed and activated

How the heck do I enable Digital Cable on my computer ?

Any help is appreciated.

tanker
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

I have a Hauppauge 1600 card. I followed the instructions, but when I setup the tv signal WMC says I have a set top box connected, which I do not. My tuner is listed as detected but not configured. I manually try to configure, but it only list analog options for setting up cable service.
 
Still having issues receiving Clear QAM channels

I tried all the steps in this post. I already have the Media Center TV Pack that came with my PC. I am running Vista 64, I have a AverMedia a323 dual tuner card or Hybrid as they call it. The thing is I have done all the updates and still unable to get the channels. Media Center doesn't even find the tuner for Clear QAM signals. All I get is the anolog tuner. I know for a fact that I can receive the channels because I do on my digital TV's and I get them through Beyond TV on the same PC. I would use Beyond TV but it is just a trial and I really don't like it as much as MC. I have found very little help from HP or Microsoft on this matter and AverMedia seems to be hiding or something.. Just Kidding, they are no help though.

Any help would be great! This is an HP TouchSmart PC and I love it and the 22" screen, but I really want it to do what it was supposed to do.

Thanks
 
I have a Hauppauge 2250 that is supposed to e able to handle clear QAM from cable. Now that my cable provider has gone digital, there are a number of clear QAM channels. I can get them on my digital ready TV but not through Vista MCE. I get the same thing everyone else here has reported. MCE will only recognize an analog tuner. If I select ASTC/QAM, then it looks only for OTA channels. But as for the TV Pack:

It installs and seems to function properly even though MCE was already installed (as an upgrade).

The video is noticeably worse than before the addition of the TV Pack.

Uninstall is accomplished by a system restore. So if you want to try this addition, create a restore point first. After a restore, the video was once again as it was before and MCE setup is like it was before this update.

My recommendation is that it is worth trying to see what you can get to work, but be sure to create a restore point in case you decide it's not ready for prime time.
 
InsaneNutter. Thanks loads for this post. This totally fixed my TV Tuner Card. I was only getting 2 stations until I installed the TV Pack you listed here and now I'm getting over 30. I live in the U.S. too so it definetly applies to us as well. I thought I had a bad tuner card or it needed a new driver or something. The built in HD recorder is sweet. I don't know why Microsoft isn't plugging this.
 
.rar files

I am trying to install TV Pack 2008, so I can record and watch cable tv with Microsoft Media Center. My computer isn't recognizing any of these .rar files. How do I get it to recognize these files? Why aren't they .exe files? Executables would work much easier on most versions of Windows.

:P:@(6)8o|
 
prophotoguy said:
I am trying to install TV Pack 2008, so I can record and watch cable tv with Microsoft Media Center. My computer isn't recognizing any of these .rar files. How do I get it to recognize these files? Why aren't they .exe files? Executables would work much easier on most versions of Windows.

:P:@(6)8o|
Click to expand...

They are RAR files because when RARed they don't take up as much room. Go here and download the program it will unRAR the files for you allowing you to use them.
 
I appear to be running into similar issues and have not found any resolution within the thread yet, so I thought I would throw it out there again.

Completed all the installs as instructed, added most recent updates from Microsoft on the Windows media center and also update the drivers on the on Hauppauge WINTV-HVR-1800 tuner card.

WMC recognized the digital signals on my outdoor antenna, but does not recognize any the Comcast clearQAM signals. Signals are found by HD TV's like others have also reported so I know I am getting the signals. I have also been able to get the digital cable signals when using the Hauppagge WinTV7 software. As with others, WMC has a much better interface if I can get the digital QAM channels. Any new thoughts?

SOLUTION FOUND:

After submitted the above request, I found some similar instructions as the this post at http://mikewren.com/howto-clear-qam-vista. This new set of instructions from Mike added some registry updates that eventually worked for me. Since I stumbled upon Mike's post after I already follwed this forums instructions, I did not want redo everything so I just went directly to the registry edit at step 8. After a couple of tries, I was still not able to get my system to work and was losing hope on getting it to work. I elected to remove the registry edit and I also uninstalled the lastest HVR-1800 driver as my picture using standard over the air was more pixalated than before. I reinstalled the older HVR driver I received when I purchased my tuner. Today I elected to redo registry edit. To my extreme surprise, my system recognized the clear QAM channels. Successs alas!.
 
Last edited:
Which versions for 32bit?

Hi, probably stupid question but which of the download versions should I use for 32bit computer? Is it x86 or x64 (or none of them)? Many thanks for your help.
 
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