Problem with DVD playback

[Soapyfrog]

I have SageTV setup and working well for watching and recording TV shows, however I have two issues when using the Media center feature:

1) I cannot get DVD playback to work.

When I insert a DVD in the DVD ROM drive and try to play it I get a black screen, if I try to elect a chapter or goto the DVD menu I get the following error:

sage.PlaybackException: ERROR (-8,0x2): There is a problem playing the DVD content due to Macrovision or CSS

I am using the SageTV MPEG video decoder, although I have a few other options, noone of them work, all produce this identical error.

2) I cannot playback other video files

When I import avi's and mpegs into the library and then try to play them back, I get no picture on the TV though I do get sound. On the PC monitor I do get video playback. Any idea what causes this?

[Opus4]

To play DVDs, you will need to use a decoder that can play DVDs. The SageTV decoder cannot decrpyt/decode DVDs.

For your other imported videos: what are you using for playback when it is output to your TV? It almost sounds like you are using a Hauppauge PVR-350, which has a hardware decoder & cannot play DVDs or avi files.

- Andy

[Soapyfrog]

I installed PowerDVD, presumably that has a DVD decoder? How would I go about getting Sage to use it?

Edit: yes I am using the PVR-350. Am I out of luck then?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Soapyfrog

I installed PowerDVD, presumably that has a DVD decoder? How would I go about getting Sage to use it?

Edit: yes I am using the PVR-350. Am I out of luck then?

Essentially, in order to be able play any video that the 350 can't handle, you would have to use your video card's output to your TV instead of using the 350.

And, you can set the DVD decoder in Setup -> Detailed Setup -> DVD -> DVD Video Decoder Filter. Again, this should be played via your video card, not the 350.

- Andy

[Soapyfrog]

So I will have to get a new videocard then since I am using a crappy onboard S3 card, which I assume also cannot decode DVD?

[Motofreak75]

I just resently upgraded my Video card to a 7300GS and works great in HDTV playback etc..

but here is the kicker. if you have your tv output hooked up on the back of your video card. And you try to play a dvd either in Sage or Power DVD 7 ( Like I did) with the tv ouput enabled, then you will get this error. Christ, I just rented a few dvds ( I even tried to watch dvds that I even own) that I couldnt watch, without hooking my DVI to my tv. Its just nuts.

Just another another way of controlling us in how we watch movies that I rent and pay for.

[stanger89]

Sounds like by "TV output" you mean component, and you're probably running 1080i or 720p. Macrovision prevents output of protected content over analog connections a >480p. There are, of course, ways around that.