Black Screen on SageTV client...

[fluffy]

I have a "black screen" problem while playing recorded shows via SageTV client. It connects to the main (server) machine ok (like, I can see the available recordings, I can even schedule shows from the Client, so that they record on the main Sage "server" machine), but playback on the SageTV Client machine is just plain broken.

On my SageTV Client machine, I tried downloading NVDVD, and Intervideo's Windvd7 trial version, to get their Decoder Filters.

My sexy Stats! --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
WinXP Pro (SP2) on both machines
Using a Matrox Millenium G-400 Dual Head (5.93.9.0 version (the latest, which I just installed today, to see if it would help with the problem) on the SageTV Client Machine
CLIENT VERSION is 2.0.0.1
SAGETV (server side) VERSION is also 2.0.0.1
Running Cayars on the Server, and the "Original V.2STV" on the Client pc.
DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904) on the SageClient machine


I have the following results when trying various things:

When using Video Renderer: Overlay
------------------------
Renderer: Intervideo...
"Error in playback: -4,0x80040217"

Renderer: NVIDIA...
"Error in playback: -4,0x80040217"

Renderer: SageTV MPEG Video Decoder...
"Error in playback: -4,0x80040217"


When using Video Renderer: DirectX VMR9
-----------------------------
Renderer: Intervideo...
- completely black screen, but if I click the screen, I get the 'time of day and volume level' menu overlay

Renderer: NVIDIA...
"Error in playback: -4,0x0 problem while rendering the video portion of the playback."

Renderer: SageTV MPEG Video Decoder...
- completely black screen, but here I get *SOUND*!! (woohoo!). And if I click the screen, I ALSO get the regular overlays for playback (Channel, "seek bar", volume, title of show, etc)


So here I am, with my very best result coming from SageTV MPEG decoder with DirectXVMR9... at least it plays, but its a completely black screen, with just sound, and (if I click the screen) overlays for playback are visible.

"Audio only" isn't a happy outcome for me. Anyone know what might be causing this?

I sure do envy the folks who have 2 or 3 brands decoders working, and can swap between overlay and directX... those fortunate folks who are able to pick and choose from several viable ways of displaying. I wish just one of my display methods was working.

I even tried "Overlay color keying on/off" (in "Advanced" settings) on a few of the combinations I mentioned above, thought I don't know if that even makes a difference for anything, so I didn't retry it on every combination (maybe I shoulda? anyone know the answer to that one?)

(argh)