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windows_media_center:faq [2019/06/20 05:07] – created nedswindows_media_center:faq [2025/04/01 23:30] (current) – neds
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 ====== Windows Media Center FAQ ====== ====== Windows Media Center FAQ ======
 <btn type="success" size="xs" icon="fa fa-chevron-left">[[:Windows Media Center|Go back to all Windows Media Center topics]]</btn> \\ <btn type="success" size="xs" icon="fa fa-chevron-left">[[:Windows Media Center|Go back to all Windows Media Center topics]]</btn> \\
-<btn type="success" size="xs" icon="fa fa-chevron-left">[[:FAQ|See also: other FAQ listings]]</btn>+<btn type="success" size="xs" icon="fa fa-chevron-left">[[:FAQ|Go back to all FAQ listings]]</btn>
  
 ==== Broadcast channel works in QuickTV but no signal in WMC ==== ==== Broadcast channel works in QuickTV but no signal in WMC ====
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 Situation: when using an HDHomeRun Connect/Extend  connected to an antenna to receive over the air broadcasts in the US, all channels play in QuickTV, and most play in WMC, but a couple give a no signal error. This may also appear as channels that work in Live TV mode but fail when recording, or vice versa. Note: this section only applies to broadcast TV, not cable. Situation: when using an HDHomeRun Connect/Extend  connected to an antenna to receive over the air broadcasts in the US, all channels play in QuickTV, and most play in WMC, but a couple give a no signal error. This may also appear as channels that work in Live TV mode but fail when recording, or vice versa. Note: this section only applies to broadcast TV, not cable.
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 These steps will need to be repeated on any other PCs you’re using WMC in, and in the future if you ever go through the TV setup wizard in Windows Media Center again. These steps will need to be repeated on any other PCs you’re using WMC in, and in the future if you ever go through the TV setup wizard in Windows Media Center again.
  
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 ==== Video Error: Files needed to display video are not installed ==== ==== Video Error: Files needed to display video are not installed ====
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 This error is often caused by using a digital audio output on the PC (HDMI, S/PDIF, coax) and WMC being unable to reserve it for exclusive use in order to pass surround-sound audio. If you are not using a receiver to process surround-sound, this can be disabled by enabling the auto-volume feature in WMC. Go into Tasks > Settings > TV > Audio and check Auto volume. Save, and exit and reopen WMC. It should now play normally. This error is often caused by using a digital audio output on the PC (HDMI, S/PDIF, coax) and WMC being unable to reserve it for exclusive use in order to pass surround-sound audio. If you are not using a receiver to process surround-sound, this can be disabled by enabling the auto-volume feature in WMC. Go into Tasks > Settings > TV > Audio and check Auto volume. Save, and exit and reopen WMC. It should now play normally.
  
 +</WRAP>
 ==== No channels found during scan (clear QAM/DVB-T/DVB-C or no audio/video (ATSC/CableCARD) in WMC ==== ==== No channels found during scan (clear QAM/DVB-T/DVB-C or no audio/video (ATSC/CableCARD) in WMC ====
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 This usually indicates that a firewall is blocking the stream from the HDHomeRun. Please check your firewall configuration and make sure that the HDHomeRun programs and the Windows Media Center Receiver Service have full access under all profiles. If issues persist, try completely disabling the firewall. This usually indicates that a firewall is blocking the stream from the HDHomeRun. Please check your firewall configuration and make sure that the HDHomeRun programs and the Windows Media Center Receiver Service have full access under all profiles. If issues persist, try completely disabling the firewall.
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 If you are are using your HDHomeRun with WMC in a Domain environment, you may need to go into the Advanced Firewall Configuration and change the Inbound connections behavior to Block rather than Block all connections. If you are are using your HDHomeRun with WMC in a Domain environment, you may need to go into the Advanced Firewall Configuration and change the Inbound connections behavior to Block rather than Block all connections.
  
 +</WRAP>
 ==== Clear QAM channels are initially found but disappear during scan ==== ==== Clear QAM channels are initially found but disappear during scan ====
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 This indicates that your cable provider is encoding channels in a format that confuses WMC. You will need to manually add the missing channels. This indicates that your cable provider is encoding channels in a format that confuses WMC. You will need to manually add the missing channels.
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   - Click **Save**.   - Click **Save**.
  
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 ==== Windows Media Center reports No tuners found when trying to complete TV setup - HDHomeRun PRIME ==== ==== Windows Media Center reports No tuners found when trying to complete TV setup - HDHomeRun PRIME ====
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   - Open **HDHomeRun Setup** and verify that the tuners are found and that no UPnP error is received.   - Open **HDHomeRun Setup** and verify that the tuners are found and that no UPnP error is received.
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   - Reopen **Windows Media Center** and access the **TV setup wizard** again.   - Reopen **Windows Media Center** and access the **TV setup wizard** again.
  
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 ==== No Extras Gallery in Windows Media Center ==== ==== No Extras Gallery in Windows Media Center ====
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 The extras gallery may not be present in WMC the first time it is run. The extras gallery may not be present in WMC the first time it is run.
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   - Allow a few minutes for the update to download – you should see a green icon appear in the notification area while the download is going, and it will disappear when the download is complete.   - Allow a few minutes for the update to download – you should see a green icon appear in the notification area while the download is going, and it will disappear when the download is complete.
   - Reopen **Windows Media Center**. You should now see the **Extras Gallery** in the **Extras** section.   - Reopen **Windows Media Center**. You should now see the **Extras Gallery** in the **Extras** section.
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 ==== Clicking Apply/OK in HDHomeRun Setup causes a viewing or listening conflict in WMC ==== ==== Clicking Apply/OK in HDHomeRun Setup causes a viewing or listening conflict in WMC ====
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 When Apply or OK is clicked in HDHomeRun Setup, it automatically restarts the WMC service that is used to communicate with tuners. If this is done while WMC is open, it will lose contact with the service. Simply close and reopen WMC. When Apply or OK is clicked in HDHomeRun Setup, it automatically restarts the WMC service that is used to communicate with tuners. If this is done while WMC is open, it will lose contact with the service. Simply close and reopen WMC.
  
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 ==== Clear QAM - some or all channels not found during scan ==== ==== Clear QAM - some or all channels not found during scan ====
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 Windows Media Center will not enable any channels that do not have identifying information sent by the cable provider. These channels must be manually enabled and identified. Windows Media Center will not enable any channels that do not have identifying information sent by the cable provider. These channels must be manually enabled and identified.
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   - Click **Save**.   - Click **Save**.
  
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 ==== CableCARD - blank screen or service unavailable error when trying to access copy-protected channels ==== ==== CableCARD - blank screen or service unavailable error when trying to access copy-protected channels ====
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 This typically indicates that the Windows Media DRM system has not been installed correctly on the PC, or is not working. This typically indicates that the Windows Media DRM system has not been installed correctly on the PC, or is not working.
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   - Attempt to access the problem channels again   - Attempt to access the problem channels again
  
 +</WRAP>
 ==== HDCP Support Required message ==== ==== HDCP Support Required message ====
 +<WRAP indent>
  
 This indicates that WMC is not detecting the presence of a protected output path to your screen. There are several possible reasons for this: This indicates that WMC is not detecting the presence of a protected output path to your screen. There are several possible reasons for this:
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 If you have installed any codec packs such as Shark007 that modify or disable Microsoft components, these can cause problems for WMC. If you choose to install such programs, make sure to disable any options that would have them modify any Microsoft DirectShow or Media Foundation components (typically there will be a checkbox for this). If you have used any other programs such as Win7DSFilterTweaker to disable any components, undo those changes. If you have installed any codec packs such as Shark007 that modify or disable Microsoft components, these can cause problems for WMC. If you choose to install such programs, make sure to disable any options that would have them modify any Microsoft DirectShow or Media Foundation components (typically there will be a checkbox for this). If you have used any other programs such as Win7DSFilterTweaker to disable any components, undo those changes.
  
 +</WRAP>
 ==== Video appears washed out/brightness levels are incorrect ==== ==== Video appears washed out/brightness levels are incorrect ====
 +<WRAP indent>
  
 Windows Media Center’s default settings are intended for use with older TVs that are designed to accept a different range of brightness levels than PC displays. Newer TVs, however, will detect when they are connected to a PC, and will configure themselves to expect PC levels. This mismatch causes WMC to send the very darkest parts of the screen at a brighter level than they should be, and the very brightest parts of the screen at a darker level than they should be. This makes the image appear washed out. There is a registry fix available at http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/06/fixing-media-centers-poor-black-levels.html that will correct these levels. Windows Media Center’s default settings are intended for use with older TVs that are designed to accept a different range of brightness levels than PC displays. Newer TVs, however, will detect when they are connected to a PC, and will configure themselves to expect PC levels. This mismatch causes WMC to send the very darkest parts of the screen at a brighter level than they should be, and the very brightest parts of the screen at a darker level than they should be. This makes the image appear washed out. There is a registry fix available at http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/06/fixing-media-centers-poor-black-levels.html that will correct these levels.
  
 +</WRAP>
 ==== Service Unavailable/No Signal message appears for all channels ==== ==== Service Unavailable/No Signal message appears for all channels ====
 +<WRAP indent>
  
 This typically indicates that a firewall is blocking the stream from the HDHomeRun. You will need to check the program control in your firewall and give the Windows Media Center Receiver Service (c:\windows\ehome\ehrecvr.exe) full network access. For third-party firewalls, refer to the program’s documentation for instructions on allowing a program through the firewall. For the Windows Firewall: This typically indicates that a firewall is blocking the stream from the HDHomeRun. You will need to check the program control in your firewall and give the Windows Media Center Receiver Service (c:\windows\ehome\ehrecvr.exe) full network access. For third-party firewalls, refer to the program’s documentation for instructions on allowing a program through the firewall. For the Windows Firewall:
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   - Click OK   - Click OK
  
 +</WRAP>
 ==== Intermittent loss of sound in WMC on some AU channels ==== ==== Intermittent loss of sound in WMC on some AU channels ====
 +<WRAP indent>
 +
 **Symptom:** Intermittent loss of sound during playback of some Australian broadcasts in Windows Media Center on Windows 7, often when rewinding or starting a recording. This most commonly affects the ABC channels. **Symptom:** Intermittent loss of sound during playback of some Australian broadcasts in Windows Media Center on Windows 7, often when rewinding or starting a recording. This most commonly affects the ABC channels.
  
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 Close regedit, then either reboot the PC, or use Task Manager to kill the ehshell.exe and ehexthost.exe processes, then reopen WMC. Close regedit, then either reboot the PC, or use Task Manager to kill the ehshell.exe and ehexthost.exe processes, then reopen WMC.
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 +</WRAP>
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 +{{tag>windows_media_center faq troubleshooting}}
  • Last modified: 2019/06/20 05:07