recording tv - which software?

[friesian]

I've seen the ads on tv that say you can record tv on your computer
with Vista. I have a laptop with vista, but I would need to buy a tv
tuner.

My desktop can with a tv tuner which I have never used. I'd like to
try it first since I already have the hardware, and the desktop stays
on most of the time anyway. But what software do I need to use? As far
as I can windows media center only works with vista, and I don't want
to upgrade my desktop to vista. I would also assume that the previous
owner, who installed the tv tuner, must have watched tv on this
computer.

What software should I be looking for?

 

[David B.]

Windows Media Center is only included in Vista Home Premium and Vista
Ultimate. The XP version of Media Center is an OS unto itself; MCE 2005, MCE
2004, etc. In order to use it you would need to purchase a copy and format
your hard drive and install clean, you cannot upgrade XP Home or Pro. You
could also install it in a dual boot configuration. If that isn't an option
you can use the software the comes with the tuner card or there are 3rd
party apps you can use.

 

[Bob I]

Ask the previous owner for the software that came with the tv tuner. Or
check with the support site for said tv tuner.

 

[Paul]

I've seen the ads on tv that say you can record tv on your computer
with Vista. I have a laptop with vista, but I would need to buy a tv
tuner.

My desktop can with a tv tuner which I have never used. I'd like to
try it first since I already have the hardware, and the desktop stays
on most of the time anyway. But what software do I need to use? As far
as I can windows media center only works with vista, and I don't want
to upgrade my desktop to vista. I would also assume that the previous
owner, who installed the tv tuner, must have watched tv on this
computer.

What software should I be looking for?

Maybe you could find some third party software here. I
set up MythTV on a box, as an example, and used a BT878
based analog tuner card. (Some of those, while you could
still get them, were about $25 or so. They dropped a lot
in price, from their introductory pricing.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Video_Recorder

With PC based PVRs, even if you get a "free" package,
the TV Guide data subscription still costs money. If
you want to capture every time slot of "Wheel Of Fortune"
from all available channels, then finding the program
by name, is better than manually programming the PVR
for Monday at 7PM on Channel 13 or whatever.

I ran MythTV manually, because I was testing for Closed Caption
capability, and didn't leave it set up after debugging
and getting it running. I was trying to see if I could
record content and make it to a DVD friendly format,
complete with closed caption, but that experiment failed.
I couldn't get it to work.

Some of the packages are commercial, and may offer better
support for a variety of tuners.

With digital tuners, part of the problem with them is
some options involve DRM. Some content will not be
recordable. Some of the early equipment, isn't as well
protected/armed as the current generation, so for some
lucky early adopters, they get to record more content
than late adopters. In some cases, the protections that
are turned on or enabled, make no sense, so if an idiot
runs the TV station, fewer things will be possible.

Paul

 

[beamish]

I've seen the ads on tv that say you can record tv on your computer
with Vista. I have a laptop with vista, but I would need to buy a tv
tuner.

My desktop can with a tv tuner which I have never used. I'd like to
try it first since I already have the hardware, and the desktop stays
on most of the time anyway. But what software do I need to use? As far
as I can windows media center only works with vista, and I don't want
to upgrade my desktop to vista. I would also assume that the previous
owner, who installed the tv tuner, must have watched tv on this
computer.

What software should I be looking for?

Hello,
If the tv tuner card is installed. check the back of the computer for a
connection.
This should be a tv type male cable connection.
If there then you do have a tv tuner installed.
Look in "device manager" for the installed device to retrive the name.
Next find the software, which may be installed, if not then with the name of
the
tuner card go to the company site and search for drivers for that card.
It may take several attemps to install the proper driver for the install card.
Next connect the card to a over the air antenna or a cable tv connection.
The older tv tuner cards recording ability is limited in terms of quality.
This is recording as opposed to viewing the tv signal.
Viewing tv on the computer screen should be as good as the imput from the
service used and the tuner card.
The other way to view tv stations on the computer would be to use a link from
companies that give access to online tv , either free or charge.
take care,
beamish.

 

[friesian]

Windows Media Center is only included in Vista Home Premium and Vista
Ultimate. The XP version of Media Center is an OS unto itself; MCE 2005, MCE
2004, etc. In order to use it you would need to purchase a copy and format
your hard drive and install clean, you cannot upgrade XP Home or Pro. You
could also install it in a dual boot configuration. If that isn't an option
you can use the software the comes with the tuner card or there are 3rd
party apps you can use.

As I mentioned, I do not want to put vista on the desktop. If I have
to, I will a usb tuner for my laptop. But it seems like I should
already have the software for the one in my desktop. I just don't know
what I am looking for.

 

[friesian]

Ask the previous owner for the software that came with the tv tuner. Or
check with the support site for said tv tuner.

I wish I could. I bought it about a year ago, and I have no idea the
name or email address of the seller. It was a feature that I wasn't
interested in at the time. My tv is bigger, so I had no reason to
watch tv on the computer.

 

[Lil' Dave]

I've seen the ads on tv that say you can record tv on your computer
with Vista. I have a laptop with vista, but I would need to buy a tv
tuner.

My desktop can with a tv tuner which I have never used. I'd like to
try it first since I already have the hardware, and the desktop stays
on most of the time anyway. But what software do I need to use? As far
as I can windows media center only works with vista, and I don't want
to upgrade my desktop to vista. I would also assume that the previous
owner, who installed the tv tuner, must have watched tv on this
computer.

What software should I be looking for?

The 2 predominant makers of those cards a few years ago were Hauppauge and
ATI. They typically supplied the driver(s) and installation instructions,
and software including recording both with the hardware and available for
download at their websites. You need to popout that card from the PC, take
a digital picture both sides and pop it back in.while the PC is off. At a
minimum, you should be able to determine make/model of the card.

 

[Bob I]

I wish I could. I bought it about a year ago, and I have no idea the
name or email address of the seller. It was a feature that I wasn't
interested in at the time. My tv is bigger, so I had no reason to
watch tv on the computer.

Then proceed with the second recommendation.

"Or check with the support site for said tv tuner."

 

[CodyG WIN-TEAM]

No Name-

Hi, my name's Cody, and I'm working with the Windows Media Outreach
Team to help answer questions users might have about Windows Media.

The other answerers know what they're talking about. If you are
running a Windows Media Center PC (Vista or XP MCE), the TV Tuner
should work. It is possible that there is some third party software on
the machine , although the previous owner could have been simply using
the PC to watch, not record TV. If you are deadset on not upgrading
the desktop to Vista, your next bet will probably be doing research on
different software that allows you to record TV without using Windows
Media Center.

Here is a link that should help you get started:
http://tinyurl.com/6gxjg2

I hope this is helpful!

Thanks,

Cody
Windows Media Outreach Team