I’ve talked about DVRMSToolbox for Commercial Skipping before, but I just did this for a thread over at AVS so I figured I’d go around and repost it here to.  This is a 5 minute DVRMSToolbox automatic commercial skipping crash course....

1. Install DVRMSToolbox
2. Make sure ComSkip is checked to be installed. It can also install Show Analyzer, but remember that it is only a trial. You would need to purchase Show Analyzer if you want to keep using it ($10).
3. Not sure what the newest version does in XP, but make sure that ComSkip is registered. To do this there is a batch file that is linked to in the Start Menu.  If you don’t see that, consider it registered for right now.
4. You must reboot before any of this will actually work.
5. Open DVRMSToolboxSettings from Start Menu
6. Change "Preferred Analyzer" to ComSkip on the DVRMSToolbox tab
7. Switch to the File Watcher tab
8. Make sure the "Watched Directory" has your Recorded TV in it. Make sure the Output Directory is set the way you want it.
9. Check "Log Create" just because
10. Switch to the Commercial Skip tab
11. Check "Write Events"
12. Change "Scan Choice" to Auto.
13. Switch to the Processing tab
14. Make sure it says "Find Commercials" in both

Newly recorded files will be run through ComSkip without any user intervention after they finish recording.  While you are playing them back, the commercials should be automatically skipped.  Happy skipping, but remember it will not work with protected files (CGMS-A or CableCARD).