Yikes, no picture or sound but channels found

[silkshadow]

I finally got this box together and installed SageTV. Yeah! However, I am having some problems. First, my systems specs:

AMD Athlon XP 2000+
512mb 333mhz (I think this is PC2000) RAM
ECS K7VTA3
ATI 7500 AIW (only using it for TV out)
Prolink playtv@7000
prolink playtv@7000 remote
Soundblaster Audigy Platinum
Tons of free HD space (over 200 GB)
Windows Server 2003
SageTV 2.0.20
Analog Cable Signal via Coaxial cable.

The first problem I was having is that I was getting no picture or sound. SageTV is able to find all the correct channels, so there is definately a signal going through. I disconnected the coaxial cable and plugged it into a VHS to see if that was working ok. No problem, got a clear signal on the VHS. All the drivers went in ok and are working. They list out like this in device manager:

PV Center Cx23416 MPEG Encoder
PV Center CX2388x Crossbar
PV Center Cx2388x Digital Audio Capture
PV Center Cx2388x InfraRed Decoder
PV Center Cx2388x Tv/Radio Tuner
PV Center Cx2388x Video Capture

For some reason, SageTV calls my prolink tuner card a Genisis but that dosen't seem to be a problem. I fought with it for 2 hours and got nowhere. So I decided to try and move the card to another slot (sometimes this works to fix problems). All the drivers went in ok and everything looks fine. Fired up Sage again and went to the setup wizard. Deleted the Genisis source and re-set it up. Sage was able to find all the correct channels again (I think it actally found 1 new one, actually). When I went to display the live TV I got this error:

There was a MPEG-2 Video Error in playback.
Details: Failed connecting video stream to the overlay Mixer
ErrCode=0x80040217

Does Sage need any kind of MPEG-2 software codec? I mean do I need to install winDVD or anything? Also, could the ATI 7500 AIW be causing problems? Its using the Microsoft drivers instead of the catalyst ones (for server 2003 ATI says to use MS's drivers). It has a better TV out than the Geforce 3 I have as an alternative but, if the ATI is any kind of problem I am willing to swap it out for the Geforce 3. I read here that Sage works on Server 2003. but just to double check: does SageTV work on Server 2003?

I am not adverse to re-installing everything if I have to. If this makes any difference, I let Windows Update install directX 9.0c. I am more concerned with the first problem, being no video or sound. The error (second problem) is probably due to me moving the card to a new PCI slot. I am going to uninstall the drivers and reinstall, I think that sould fix that.

So, I am not really sure what to do now. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

[mls]

Yes, you need to have an MPEG decoder installed. Most video cards come with some type of MPEG decoder or DVD playback software. Intervideo WinDVD, Cyberlink Power DVD, nvDVD, and many others will work. They usually need to be registered versions though and not just a trial version.

[silkshadow]

Ah ha! That could be the problem. I didn't install the windvd that came with the prolink card. Let me give that a try and I'll repost in a bit . Thanks MLS!!

Edit: Ok, this is going to have to wait till tomorrow . Installing WinDVD is giving me a Bad_Pool BSOD. On server 2003 thats not good. I think moving the prolink to another slot messed things up I'm gonna do a format and reinstall and try again.

[silkshadow]

Ok, I finally finshed doing the whole re-install thang . Having the same problem still. Very frustrating. This is re-install #6 or 7. I've lost count. I installed powerDVD 5.0 and ran the cyberlink's update. I also have a windvd 5 codec from my tuner card installed. I am getting the following error in Sage:

There was a MPEG-2 Video Error in playback.
Details: Failed connecting video stream to the overlay Mixer
ErrCode=0x80040217

What does this error mean? Is it just not possible to get this working? Please help? Thanks!

Edit: DUH on Me!

'm receiving the error message "There was a MPEG-2 video error in playback details: Failed connecting video stream to overlay mixer ErrCode = 0x80040217".

* Go into your Detailed Setup and click on the Video tab. Change the Rendering Filter from Overlay to Default or vice versa. Restart SageTV on version 1.4 or "Reload Media Player" for version 2.
* Go into your Detailed Setup and click on the Video tab. Change the Video Decoder you are using. Restart Sage.
* Make sure you have a Video Decoder installed. Examples, PowerDVD, WinDVD, Elecard, InterVideo, etc.

I'm a moron and a big thanks to Sage. Let me see if this works.

Edit 2: Its working but I am have some very serious chopiness. I'll fight with it for awhile.

[silkshadow]

I can't fix the chopiness problem. Arg, I am having so many problems getting this HTPC working correctly (not only sage but meedio and girder as well) . I am using powerdvd 5's mpeg encoder for video and sound. Has anyone gotten windvd to install on server 2003? I keep getting a BSOD with a bad_pool error everytime I try and install it. If I install it in safe mode, it installs fine but when I re-boot and try to use it I get the same BSOD. I own both powerdvd and windvd so it would be finanically painful to have to buy nvdvd but, if its the last resort, I'll do it if it definately will fix my problem.