Please Help with Tivo Desktop

[JLWINE]

I have had TiVo's for a long time but just got a series 3 a few days ago. Whenever I use TiVo Desktop v. 2.51 to transfer a video from my TiVo to my desktop I cannot play the file. After the download completes and I click play it looks like it is going to play in Windows Media Player v.11 but all I get it a black screen and no sound. I get no error message and the status bar does not move--however if I drag it across it will show the running time i.e 5:23 of 30:00. Any ideas? Am I missing a codec? If so where do I get it?

[JLWINE]

No one has any suggestions?

[TexasGrillChef]

Are you able to play MPG or MPG4 files ok?

TGC

[pilotbob]

I have had TiVo's for a long time but just got a series 3 a few days ago. Whenever I use TiVo Desktop v. 2.51 to transfer a video from my TiVo to my desktop I cannot play the file. After the download completes and I click play it looks like it is going to play in Windows Media Player v.11 but all I get it a black screen and no sound. I get no error message and the status bar does not move--however if I drag it across it will show the running time i.e 5:23 of 30:00. Any ideas? Am I missing a codec? If so where do I get it?

I would try re-installing TiVo desktop. It may not have installed the codec if you didn't have an update version of Windows Media player when you did install it.

If this is a new install of desktop... sorry.

BOb

[worachj]

Yep, I believe you need an mpeg-2 codec. You usually get the mpeg-2 codec with DVD player software. I’m not 100% sure, but I believe I down loaded the free versions of Cole2k Media Codec Pack. It contains a lot of extra stuff you don’t need, so only install what you want.

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Cole2k_Media_Codec_Pack.htm


Search the TiVo Home Media Features & TiVoToGo forum for more help.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=35

[tluxon]

I found help for a similar issue in this post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5964833#post5964833).

[JLWINE]

I found help for a similar issue in this post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5964833#post5964833).


Thanks to all above for all of your help!

Yes, I can watch all MPEG types, AVI and DVD-- and I installed TivoDesktop on top of WMP 11. I'm not sure why its not working for me. Fortunately, tluxon directed me to a post that had a link to a TiVo decoder (http://www.gmonweb.com/portal/Coding...4/Default.aspx) that works great. I wish I did not have to do the extra step, but at least this is a doable suitable work around.

[worachj]

You shouldn’t have to do the extra step. Not all mpeg-2 codec’s are the same. I still think you need a mpeg-2 decoder which is 100% compatible with TiVo recordings. I would try removing the current mpeg-2 codec and install a different one. Sometimes you can have multiple mpeg-2 codec’s install and the one WMP is using will not decode TiVo files. Try differnet codec's.

[JLWINE]

You shouldn’t have to do the extra step. Not all mpeg-2 codec’s are the same. I still think you need a mpeg-2 decoder which is 100% compatible with TiVo recordings. I would try removing the current mpeg-2 codec and install a different one. Sometimes you can have multiple mpeg-2 codec’s install and the one WMP is using will not decode TiVo files. Try differnet codec's.

I know I don't get it. I went to the web page you referenced and downloaded XP Codec Pack, uninstalled and reinstalled TiVo Desktop, uninstalled and reinstalled WMP--it still will not play.

[worachj]

I downloaded a show from my S3 and S2 and both of the videos play using the InterVideo Video Filter codec which I got from cole2k media pack from the link above. I would try downloading the cole2k pack and NOT the XP codec Pack. You can find out which codec WMP is using by playing a recording and going to the properties menu under the file menu and it will list the video and audio codec being used to play that video.

Good luck.

[worachj]

If you have windows XP you can download a Microsoft utility which will show which mpeg-2 codes you have loaded on your pc. Mine showed that I had 5 different mpeg-2 decoders and that I have InterVideo Video codec as the preferred one to use in WMP.

Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility
Brief Description
The Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility helps you determine if an MPEG-2 video decoder (also called a DVD decoder) is installed on your Windows XP computer and whether or not the decoder is compatible with Windows Media Player 10 and Windows XP Media Center Edition.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DE1491AC-0AB6-4990-943D-627E6ADE9FCB&displaylang=en

[JLWINE]

If you have windows XP you can download a Microsoft utility which will show which mpeg-2 codes you have loaded on your pc. Mine showed that I had 5 different mpeg-2 decoders and that I have InterVideo Video codec as the preferred one to use in WMP.

Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility
Brief Description
The Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility helps you determine if an MPEG-2 video decoder (also called a DVD decoder) is installed on your Windows XP computer and whether or not the decoder is compatible with Windows Media Player 10 and Windows XP Media Center Edition.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DE1491AC-0AB6-4990-943D-627E6ADE9FCB&displaylang=en

First of all, worachj, thank you very, very much for all your help and information. I downloaded cole2k pack as you suggested and the cool Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility. With this utility I changed my perferred Codec to the InterVideo Video Filter one.

Unfortunately, the results were still the same. I think my WMP installation is somehow corrupt and even though I have unistalled and re-installed remains corrupt. After I convert the .tivo files with the TiVo decoder to MPEG I can use either RealPlayer or VLC Media player to watch but the WMP still will not work. Still no error message--just black screen and no sound and the progress bar does not move. I may try unistall and re-install one more time.

[worachj]

Which codec is WMP using when you play the video? When playing a video, right click on WMP's menu bar, then file and properties.

[greg_burns]

This codec pack (and you don't have to install everything from it if you prefer not to, just the MPEG-2 video/audio) works great for most people.

http://www.cole2k.net/?display=Codec-Pack-Standard

Oops: I see you already tried this.

Do you have the Plu$ version of Tivo Desktop? Ironically, a few people that installed the plus version have issues playing .tivo files and not .mpg.

[JLWINE]

No I am not using the Plus version.

Well, I uninstalled, reinstalled WMP then reinstalled TiVo Desktop. WMP will play .avi, however it will not play .tivo or .mpeg Still no worky. When I check the codec it is using when trying to play it is "InterVideo Audio and Video Decoders.

Anyway I reinstalled the Cole2k and selected advance setup this time and one of the unchecked boxes was WMP so I checked it and installed. Then I used the XP checkup utility to select ffdshow raw video encoder as that was the name I saw when running cole2k setup. And..............Victory!! Both mpeg and .tivo files now play. WMP still shows it is using the interVideo decoders--but now it works. I'm still a little confused but happy it is working correctly now Thanks again for all of your guys help.