Problem playing video in Media Center

[henado]

Hi:
Just installed vista x64 SP1 with all latest updates, installed latest Shark codecs and K-lite codecs.
Have no problem playing video files in Media player, but the same video files are not properly played in Media Center. They blink from time to time. It looks like a problem with codec, but after installing Shark and K-lite codec packs the problem still the same.
May be Media center gets different codec. How do I change it?
Any idea?

My second question is:
How do you add extra programs to Media center in vista x64?
In XP MCE 2005 you could just drag desired program to the start button and prop it there and it would end up in MCE.
It doesn't allow to the same in Vista MCE.
If you drag the program to start button it will open MCE, but you won't find the added program in MCE.
Could you help?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Techymike]

It might be helpful to know more about the system in order to determine the solution. Onboard video or added graphics card?

 

[henado]

I have
Intel Core Duo 2 6600 @ 2.4 Ghz
4 GB ROM
2 TB HD
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 (256MB) videocard by ASUS

Thanks!

I have one more question.
Right now I am trying to set up home network to connect two or my laptops to a network printer which is connected the HTPC and now running x64, and of course there is a problem.
Both of my laptops can see each other, no problem, and they can see my HTPC, but they cannot get in to it. And of course, they don’t see the printer.
The HTPC can see everything (both laptops) and folders there, no problem.
I have switched on all possible settings in Vista Network menu. Restarted…. Few times… no difference….
Any idea what can be done?

 

[Techymike]

​

Home4thewinters

Normally with wireless networks one would start at the router (set the SSID, Passphrase,...etc) and work toward the devices, but this is Vista we're talking about. And since Vista couldn't find an ass at a donkey farm, muchless a computer on a network, I had to change my approach when working with Vista,... ass backwards. Try this method. Click on "Start", "Network", "Add a wireless device". Allow Vista to search for wireless device. Disregard any devices that it may find, and continue with "I want to add a wireless device or computer that is not on the list using a USB flash drive", at the bottom of the window. Choose "Add the device or computer using a USB flash drive". Click on "next". You should see your local terminal listed, if not, "Create a new Wireless Network Profile". Set your SSID and Passphrase. You may want to "copy and paste your choices to notepad for future reference. Save your settings to your USB flash drive. Insert the USB flash drive into the other laptop and run the wireless setup wizard. Now open your routers web base page...192.168.1.100 for linksys...you'll have to find the right one for your particular manufacturer. If your router settings are stored locally or web based, make the new chages to the SSID and Passphrase. Restart all computers and they should all be able to view each other. Good Luck.

I found this at another post and thought it might help with the connection problem you are having. I left out as much of the COLORful words as possible.

 

[henado]

Thanks for that. I will try it.

 

[pullinghairout]

I too am going completely insane with Media Center. Any video I play AVI, MPEG, DVD etc, it doesnt seem to matter, plays fine as long as A: the window is minimized and B. I dont bring the mouse anywhere near the open window. When MCE is maximized I have to keep the mouse moving for good playback. As soon as I stop moving it and the controls retract whatever image was on the screen at that point flashes while the video plays on. If the window is minimized the video will play just fine unless the cursor moves to that window and the controls appear. Once they do the screen freezes and stays frozen for about ten seconds and returns to normal playback. I have installed all of the latest Vista 32 and 64 codecs (shark and k-lite) as well as the latest ATI driver. I've tried all resolutions from the lowest to the highest. And it does this no matter which monitor I have MCE playing on. (1024x768 LCD and 1920x1080 DLP) All other players do just fine. I built this machine for this purpose and it is really frustrating. Please help.

My system is as follows:

Vista Ultimate x64
ATI Radeon HD 4670 512MB
4GB G-skill RAM
500GB Raid 0 HDD (2x 250GB)
AMD Athlon x2 2.8ghz sllightly overclocked to 3.1 at stock voltage (tried bringing back to stock and no difference)
ASRock A780 motherboard

 

[DemonSeed]

Sounds like a screen saver is trying to Start when media center disables Task (DWM). I'v had this problem from some 3rd party screen savers. Try a vista default, or disable it all together and try again. Hope this helps

 

[DemonSeed]

Hi:
Just installed vista x64 SP1 with all latest updates, installed latest Shark codecs and K-lite codecs.
Have no problem playing video files in Media player, but the same video files are not properly played in MediaCenter. They blink from time to time. It looks like a problem with codec, but after installing Shark and K-lite codec packs the problem still the same.
May be Media center gets different codec. How do I change it?
Any idea?

My second question is:
How do you add extra programs to Media center in vista x64?
In XP MCE 2005 you could just drag desired program to the start button and prop it there and it would end up in MCE.
It doesn't allow to the same in Vista MCE.
If you drag the program to start button it will open MCE, but you won't find the added program in MCE.
Could you help?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Media Center in Vista x64
is a Native x64 Software and Media Player is Both x32 & x64
Meaning Media Player will use all x32 codecs but
Media Center Requires an x64 codec installed
Best iv found are vista codec pack x32+x64
or Media Control Plugin for Windows Vista Media Center @ Welcome to the Media Control Plugin Site

And on the Button Prob here is your answer is MC Menu Mender @ http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/community/plugins-addons-vista/25714-new-util-mc-menu-mender.html

 

[DemonSeed]

I too am going completely insane with Media Center. Any video I play AVI, MPEG, DVD etc, it doesnt seem to matter, plays fine as long as A: the window is minimized and B. I dont bring the mouse anywhere near the open window. When MCE is maximized I have to keep the mouse moving for good playback. As soon as I stop moving it and the controls retract whatever image was on the screen at that point flashes while the video plays on. If the window is minimized the video will play just fine unless the cursor moves to that window and the controls appear. Once they do the screen freezes and stays frozen for about ten seconds and returns to normal playback. I have installed all of the latest Vista 32 and 64 codecs (shark and k-lite) as well as the latest ATI driver. I've tried all resolutions from the lowest to the highest. And it does this no matter which monitor I have MCE playing on. (1024x768 LCD and 1920x1080 DLP) All other players do just fine. I built this machine for this purpose and it is really frustrating. Please help.

My system is as follows:

Vista Ultimate x64
ATI Radeon HD 4670 512MB
4GB G-skill RAM
500GB Raid 0 HDD (2x 250GB)
AMD Athlon x2 2.8ghz sllightly overclocked to 3.1 at stock voltage (tried bringing back to stock and no difference)
ASRock A780 motherboard

Sounds like a screen saver is trying to Start when media center disables Task (DWM). I'v had this problem from some 3rd party screen savers. Try a vista default, or disable it all together and try again. Hope this helps

 

[digitall2]

Those playback problems can be caused by too many codecs, that are probably causing conflicts. Uninstall all the codecs and you mentioned the Shark ones, then install only those and follow the instructions for X64 Media Center installations, as even older Shark versions still work for my Vistas.

 

[DDR4040]

Right now I am trying to set up home network to connect two or my laptops to a network printer which is connected the HTPC and now running x64, and of course there is a problem.
Both of my laptops can see each other, no problem, and they can see my HTPC, but they cannot get in to it. And of course, they don’t see the printer.
The HTPC can see everything (both laptops) and folders there, no problem.
I have switched on all possible settings in Vista Network menu. Restarted…. Few times… no difference….
Any idea what can be done?

I just went through this myself. Check the laptops' workgroup name. If the laptops are XP, they defaulted to MSHOME while the Vistax64 probably used WORKGROUP. You can change the workgroup name by clicking on the System icon in the Control Panel.