Since apparently everybody here knows far more about how to fix my computer than I do (and a hearty THANK YOU to everybody who steps up and helps out) I need a bit of advice. I am wanting to get a TV Tuner for my computer. Its a 2 month old HP a1700n with Vista. I have the Media Center and want to start using the features. I mainly want to be able to record and watch tv shows from my cable, and on a rare occasion, burn a dvd of a show.
I have seen several different tuners, and the vast majority say they are good for Media Center when running XP. I have googled VISTA COMPATIBLE TV TUNERS and cannot really tell which ones are, and which ones are not compatible. (none seem to come out and make a compatibility claim).
Hauppauge has some excellent products. Click Here (hauppauge.com) to see their list of Vista compatible ones.
ATI, of course, is a name most are familier with. And I can assure you they aren't lying when they say "we've been working with Microsoft". Out of all the manufactourers out there, they've definitly have bene on the ball. I haven't heard or seen many problems with ATI products and Vista. Click Here (ati.amd.com) to see their product list.
Hope this helps.
Yes, I finally have updated the Troll Moment of the Week! This week is brought to you by ;
"STONEBOY!" , who brought us the following such pieces of wisdom as:
STONEBOY!: "THIS GOES MESSAGE GOES OUT TO ALL CANADIANS ESPECIALLY MONTREAL WHEREVER THE F#CK THAT IS".
Kidbrooklyn: "Please god tell me that you're making fun of the douche who started this thread...
Wait, no he isn't. He's serious. I hadn't read his previous brilliance before. I apologize" (in reference to a reply by James1978).
Go to the store and check or check the websites of ATI and Hauppauge. Not all of their tuners are capable of working on Vista. I had one that was a more basic ATI version, but still fairly new, and they made it clear that it could never work with Vista. Had to go to the store and check out the box which had a Vista compatible thing on it to find a working one.
In other words, if it doesn't specifically say it works with Vista don't buy it.
My ATI All in Wonder pro does not work with Vista and that is screwing with my homebrew DVR right at the moment - I want it on Vista for a couple reasons, but it is on XP to support the card.
I am looking at the ATIs, but I personally don't know that ANY claim to be Vista certified yet.
I should have clarified that I did purchase an ATI that is fully Vista certified and works fine. Was the only model they made though and I couldn't tell you from work what it is. I'll have to check when I get home.
I ended up getting the Happague WinTV - HVR16000. It was the only one 'certified' for vista in the store. The clerk tried to sell me a comparably priced alternative that I'd have to fiddle around and look for a driver for. But, it was only ten bucks cheaper, so I said NO THANKS. The extra ten bucks is worth not having to look around for drivers and worry if they'll work.
Had it installed and running and WORKING in under fifteen minutes.