Windows XP MCE Problems

05-25-2005 Windows XP MCE Problems

After getting back from vacation, my XP Media Center was not recording shows anymore. Duane informed me his media center is not playing any shows but Steve has had no problems whatsoever. The apparently random occurences had me convinced it was a software problem so I decided to reload from a previous backup instead of trying to troubleshoot it. Once I had re-imaged the machine, I noticed live TV would randomly black out. After a few reboots it would work again. I checked to make sure I was getting consistent signal from the cable line and have decided it's a problem with the tuner card. The blackouts would explain the lack of recorded shows since Media Center just quits when there is no signal. It could just be a faulty card, but Steve has not had to reboot his machine for almost a month. He does not allow his machine to suspend which means it's on all the time. Bad for power bills, but apparently good for stability and possibly hardware components as well. I'm sure my machine has turned on and off at least 2 times a day for the past year and all that power cycling may have also affected the tuner card negatively. My suspend is off and a new card is on order. I'll see if this theory holds for the next year.

User Comments for 05-25-2005:

Which leads me to my theory about Media Center PC's... nobody other than hardcore Windows geeks will use them, because the general populous just wants to watch TV not have another computer that screws up. Brighthouse offers a DVR cable box for $7/mo which does the same thing and is bulletproof (other than shoot it with bullets).
Brian

Like Atomic said I’ve had 0 problems haven't rebooted in months and I have a $0/month fee with it. This things been more stable then my refrigerator. Only problem i've had is show conflicts however thats easily fixed by adding another tv tuner for $80, I even play mp3s and show guests my digital photo's all at once while we order pizza directly from the internet. I love MCE
Stavos

250 watts running for 31 days? $0? Case-in-point: What happens when the hard drive fails? I just lost a disk in my G5, and lost hours of video and pictures I can never get back. Yea, you could RAID it... but at that point is it just becoming technology for technolgy's sake? That means I now also have to back up my television in addition to a computer? Sorry, it's just too much complexity to do something as easy as looking at pictures and watching TV. Windows nor computers are ready to start doing this crap yet. No, Macs aren't there either. Perhaps I'm too much of a purist and less of a tecnologist--but I just can't drink the kool-aid. Simple, direct tools to do things: phone for pizza, TV for TV... works everytime, your stress level goes down, less mistakes, and it's just faster too.
brian

The 250watt is max output. My UPS never reports higher than 120 and typically hovers around 80 since I only have one HDD in that machine. Same with my server. I'm sure the settop box pulls close to that. Now if you're running crazy-whack RAID 6000 that's a different story :). I liken it to the transmission in a car. Sure the automatic is easier and less stressful, but a manual is just more fun.
AtomicInternet

your right, i'll sell it now and get rid of the cursed thing... BTW if my hdd fails no biggie i save what i want to keep on DVDs all the time. The same thing could happen to your Bright house DVR box it's a hdd also. anyways my stress level is at a 0 with the MCE I’ve had it for 6 months with zero problems, and my electricity bill hasn't drastically changed either. I'm content and able to watch shows whenever I want. MCE isn’t for everyone, same goes with the cable company DVRs, let’s just be glad we can skip commercials
stavos

I'm glad you stroked Steve's already out of control ego.
tim

I conceed, but only after pointing out that so far, MCE has a 33% success rate in our group--if you include Brad and Duane into the equation. ;-P
brian

Time to bring back the atomic forums and create a MCE technical support section. BTW my ego is as big as it going to get timmah!
Stavos

i leave one of my computers on all the time. no suspend mode enabled. had this one for 4 years with zero problems. could use that to back up your theory.
Zac

I just wanted to get the 10th comment
Stavos

I claim #11
Excelcier

u post whores!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zac

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