Colossus / WinTV 2.5d - blank video.

[Tripple G]

Hi!
I need some help, I can't get my Colossus / WinTV (2.5d) to display any video signal. (mainly trying the Component/composite/s-video/HDMI signal - I don't use TV channels)

Problem: When I start Win TV, and start Live TV within it, it says "tuning" and then "buffering" and then it just shows a blank picture.
Throughput works fine though, I can see the video on my main TV from the source going through Colossus.

I recently installed Windows 7 64 bit, so I'm on a fresh start here. Colossus worked fine before I formatted the HD, and before that I was using Windows XP 32 bit.

I've tried:

• Installed (and re-installed) the latest drivers and the lastest version of WinTV, using the included driver-cleaner application.
• Clearing the channel database and re-scanning the channels.
• Searching the forum for similar issues.
• Double checked that all cables are connected properly and in the right places.

When I've installed the latest drivers, Colossus status is shown as "available" or "live tv" in WinTV, so I think it is installed and detected properly?

Edit: I installed arcsoft shobiz and it works as intended. Still no luck with WinTV though.

Update: Recording from WinTV (the record button) seems to generate working video files, even though the application shows no image.

Thanks in advance.

[TheNewGuy]

It's unable to find the 'ArcSoft Video Decoder' that we use for displaying this type of video, which explains why you're not seeing anything.

Unfortunately I'm no expert with the installer or decoder licensing rules, but hopefully Mr X will be able to tell you why it's not installed. It's most likely something to do with using a WinTV CD originally supplied with a different Hauppauge device than the Colossus?

You can probably go to the advanced settings screen, tick to enable 3rd party decoders, and select Microsoft DVD-DTV Video Decoder for the h.264 video decoder.

[Tripple G]

Yes, you're quite right. By mistake I used an old WinTV CD when I first installed the application, but since then I've re-installed it using the correct CD.

Now, it seems that I do get a corrupted image from my composite source (blue/red/green lines all over it), and I do hear audio from the source.
Is there a way to ensure that the decoders get installed correctly, or can I install them separately?

The log file now states "FindFilterByName failed to locate filter: DivX H.264 Decoder" but I'm not sure what that means...
Thanks for the help!

Update: I'm trying to re-install from scratch now...

[Tripple G]

So I re-installed everything, searched for div X decoder and installed it, and the logs show no error message any longer (that I can see), and the Component video source is now working!

However, the Composite video (another source, another PAL device) shows a flickery red/green image. What could cause this?

Update: I've tried a third PAL device (a Sega Mega Drive) on the Composite input and it also shows a flickery/corrupt image in WinTV (but works fine on the regular TV).
It shows up the same in Arcsoft Showbiz and WinTV.

[TheNewGuy]

If the symptoms are the same in WinTV and ShowBiz, then it sounds like the Colossus doesn't like the video signal you're feeding it.

Unfortunately I'm not Colossus expert. I'd be checking you've got the correct color cables plugged in if you're using component, and make sure it's device that's outputting standard signals (I'm not sure if a Sega Mega drive is - since some of the old game consoles did non-standard things with the video signals)

[Tripple G]

Thanks TheNewGuy, didn't think of that possibility! I hooked up my Wii console, which I used with Colossus on composite cables before, and it works! Just like it used to.

So I guess my problems are solved here... Thanks once again for the helping a guy out!

[TheNewGuy]

No worries.