Rebuilding new system - few questions

[Deano]

OK, I've been struggling with choppy video on the computer for over a year (the HD300 works like a champ with no problems). I've also starting having Sage crash when trying to play a recorded show (again, HD300 works just fine). So, I've purchased a bunch of new hardware components (MB, memory, CPU). I've also been having issues with the 2250 and it dropping out (sage reports recording error due to that device).

I will now have a i3570 on an Asus P8H77 MB with 4GB of RAM. Using old 2250 and HD-PVR to record.

Here's some questions:

1. Is the only file I need to copy over the wiz.bin? (want to start fresh with everything).
2. What video drivers should I install (none?). I'm using the built-in GPU.
3. I'm installing to a new SSD drive, any pointers? (using Win7 professional)
4. Any other pointers to get this system up and running smoothly?

Lastly, I think I just lost a HD with tons of movies on it. I can't access the "Video" folder. Is there some program that would help me recover most/some of the movies I had there?

Thanks...

[hedly]

I just did the same and there really isn't much to it. You may consider keeping a copy of the Sagetv.properties file just to be sure.

No issues on the SSD. It should be fast.

A while ago, someone told me that sage prefers to be installed in C:\SageTV, not in 'program files' or 'program files (x86)'.

Concerning the videos. Try it on another system as a secondary drive. If that doesn't work...I've tried some recovery software on a camera's flash drive after I accidentally deleted a bunch of photos. The results were not stellar. If you have money to burn, you could send it to one of those companies that get data out for you. Usually it costs about $2k.

Back in college, I had a drive crap out on me. I bought an identical drive and removed the controller board. I think that worked, maybe it didn't. I also found the chip that fried and tried bought one from Mauser or one of those IC companies. I soldered it on and tried it. Truthfully it was back in like 2000 and I don't remember if either worked. It was another lifetime ago.

Assuming that they are all movies you own, then I guess you can just re-rip them.

If they are copies of movies you don't own...I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

Good luck.

[Deano]

Heldy,

Thanks for the response. I've been working with the drive, and was able to get access to the files (don't know for how long) using a program called "testdisk". It read the entire drive (took a few hours) and made some repairs (upon reboot). Now I can see all files. I'm waiting for the new (replacement) drive to arrive and will transfer all files. Didn't want to re-rip all those DVD's as it would be a very long time.

As for the reinstall, how did your system work after the "rebuild"? Did the choppyness go away? I've had this drive for a very long time (like since V4) and there have been many updates and upgrades. I've tried many different codecs (some with worse results). I think this new / clean install will be the ticket.

Did you install any codecs? I'm going to try to use "nothing" other than the Windows 7 files and SageTV files.

[snipeman]

I had tons of problems with my 2250 dropping signals from my antenna. I thought I had an antenna problem, and no new antenna helped.

After reading a bunch of messages about reception on the message boards here, lots of people recommended the Avermedia Duet.

I bought the card for around $70 and put it in with my same old antenna, and all reception problems went away. It really is a great card.

You might want to consider a clean slate and a new tuner if you got an extra $70 bucks lying around. I'm not sure how much longer Duet cards will be around.

[sflamm]

before you go out and spend a whole bunch of loot - you really dont need much firepower to be 'choppy video' free.
issue isnt about cpu, mostly about the right codec and hardware acceleration via gpu.

use the arcsoft codecs - they are flawless and support hardware acceleration. I run old boxes that have absolutely no problems whatsoever....

[Deano]

So where might I find these codecs? The ones (a few years old now) that came wit the HD-PVR?

[sflamm]

the easiest way (and quickest) is to simply download the arcsoft TMT trial.
install and then take them from the codec directory. once you are done you can uninstall arcsoft TMT (not required).

you also need the 'checkactivate.dll' (from doom9):

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13568900146592


once you have the file put them in the same folder (can be located anywhere) and then simply "regsvr32.exe ASVid.ax".

the files you need are:

ASH264Vid.dll
ASMEGVid.dll
ASVC1Vid.dll
ASVid.ax
checkactivate.dll


Every once in a long while, when Arcsoft release a major release, I simply update the codecs by unregistering (regsvr32.exe -u) the old ones and registering the new ones.

[sflamm]

once this is complete - pick the Arcsoft codec under the "Detailed Settings" in SageTV.

[Deano]

I don't have the ASMEGVid.dll

There are 3 others (close). Do these work?

ASMPEG1Vid
ASMPEG4Vid
ASMPEGVid

I have the two other (ASH264Vid and ASVC1Vid). I see other ASXX dll's. Should I grab those also?

[sflamm]

I don't have the ASMEGVid.dll

Sorry typo. Should have been ASMPEGVid.dll