Wintv Pvr


Will any of the WinTV-PVR tuner cards record (with smart scheduling) in the same way a Media Center PC will?

Ok, so basically I have a 2002 HP Media Center Edition computer that I’ve used up until now. The tuner card is started to break so I want to get something new, but this time for my new XP Pro computer. I loved how you could record shows in MCE using the guide and it had a very smart scheduler that it used so I could record specific shows and go into details such as recording only first-run shows or reruns, how many to record in a day, etc. Well, I had purchased an ATI Remote Wonder tuner card and the scheduling was equivilant to a standard VCR. It used a program called K+ Guide or something like that, which claimed it could automate recording like MCE. However, I couldn’t do any advanced scheduling, basically I had to manually schedule EVERYTHING! I had to put in the exact times I wanted and everthing, it sucked. My question is, will I be able to get the same advanced settings with any of the new WinTV-PVR cards? In other words, will it work like TiVo like my MCE computer did?

The tuner card S/W won’t do what MCE can do. There are other “media center” wannabees out there, but why not just buy the MCE OS from newegg and upgrade?

Motherboard Complete


I have replaced the motherboard, cpu and graphics card on my sysytem but cannot get it to work?

You’ll have to excuse me, blonde moment, replaced all the above ok, started to install drivers, system kept rebooting, got most of the drivers in but now get a corrupt file message. I have the license key for xp but cannot find the original disc to complete set up!!!!!!!!!!! Does any one know of a site where I can download xp and use my original license? Or do I have to wait another 100 years for the manufacturer to contact me? Any help greatly appreciated.
Thank you all for your responses, i think from the looks of things I will either have to find my original discs or purchase another copy. You all get best answer MWAH.

Ok – you’ve replaced your mobo, cpu and graphics card. From Microsoft’s point of view that is a different computer from the one you originally installed XP on. However, this is no problem. If you haven’t got the original XP disc, borrow one (but make sure it’s the same version), use your own original key, get everything working……

When Windows comes up with it’s ‘You have X number of days to activate windows…….

Then you’ll have to call Microsoft (it’s not far away, it’s in India) on a free number, type in a great long sequence of numbers, then perhaps speak to a real person and explain that you’ve upgraded your pc and need a new activation code. They will proceed to recite another great long sequence of numbers which you need to type in the required box.

Bingo! Your Windows XP is now activated once more!

Don’t be in a hurry, however – you’ve got 30 days to activate!

Card Wifi


How can I increase the range of my laptop’s internal wifi card?

My laptop has an internal wifi card. There is no connection for hooking up an external antenna. Is there any way that I can increase the range or hook up an external antenna? What are my options? Please be specific in your answers. Thanks.

You’d have to buy an adapter that can take an external adapter. (Or open the laptop, find where the antenna from the top of the case connects, and run a pigtail from there to the outside of the case.)

Motherboard Memory


how do i match memory chips to motherboard memory slots?

i have two memory sticks. i GB each DDR 400 pc3200. They used to be on a Gigabyte GA K8nsc 939 motherboard that died on me. I want use the memory but i can not find the motherboard i had before. I am wondering if another motherboard could accommodate the memory.

Yeah, there are hundreds out there.

I would double-check, but I believe DDR has two notches in the RAM slots, while DDR2 has only a single notch in the RAM slots.

(find a motherboard that has two notches in each RAM slot)

Out Cable


How can I lengthen the cable cord coming out of the wall?

I just moved into a new house and realized that the cable line coming out of the wall in my bedroom is far too short. Honestly, then TV is on the floor right now because there’s no furniture that’s short enough to match the short cord.

they have a connector,i belive its called a female to female connector,you will need this and a coaxial cable wire that you can get at any electronics store.just tell the person what your doing.maybe this will cost 10.00