UPDATE:

I have installed SP1 and now have video on two out of three turners in that the other one has been uninstalled (see below) and power disconnected.

Connectivity to a XBox360 has been confirmed, HDTV functioning.

BROKE IT AGAIN:

I enabled the third turner and now get the RESTRICTED CONTENT message and most channels does not tune-in.

* Going to remove the third turner, update to follow.

I also uninstalled my DCTs to no avail.  In fact, it made things worse.  Vista could not reinstall them; it has given me various errors, including finding no driver at all, not recognizing the device, and, most often, reporting

"An error occurred during the installation of the device.  The driver installation file for this device is missing a necessary entry.  This may be because the INF was written for Windows 95 or later.  Contact your hardware vendor."

Has anyone else received this error, and do you have any idea how to fix the problem?

I left my hdtv on while away on some errands.  I left at 3:00pm.  when I returned at 6:00PM my tuner was showing the restricted content  message.  I uninstalled my tuner in Device Manager, it re-installed immediately, my MC left the live TV mode and reverted back to the main menu screen.  After the DCT re-installed and was recognized by Vista Device Manager, I went into MC live TV and it HDTV content showed just fine.  Maybe this workaround only works for me.

What we need to do is gather some details from everyone to find commonality amongst us.

Here is the kicker everyone...in a previous post I specifically mentioned that I did not update the firmware on an extra DCT I had laying around.  This DCT is on firmware version 1.15.2007.04051!  The DCT I had updated to 1.17 wouldn't work on initial troubleshooting with Verizon, so I switched it out and have not gone back to the original.  However, the key point here is that even with different firmware, I am having the same problems.

Dell XPS420, NVidia 9600GT on 174 drivers, single ATI DCT, Verizon FIOS w/Motorola Cable Card, problem started 5/15

Times where problem occured:  10:00PM or so 5/14, 9:00 or 10:00pm or so 5/15, 8:00AM 5/17, 12:00AM or so 5/17, between 3 and 6 today 5/18.

5/15 updates applied again after rollback to the 12th on the evening of 5/14...next newest update was done 4/9

Security Updates: 946974, office 2007 sp1, 950114, 951808, 950113, 947801,946983, 947590, 946691, 950378

Windows update 905866, 943729

Dreamscene 931133, 944427, 941236

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Jon
Carrollton, TX

Dell XPS420, 2.4GHz Quad Core
3GB 800MHz RAM, 320GB 7200rpm HD
NVidia 9600GT 1GB w/Display Port
BD Drive + DVD-RW, ATI DCT
Dell 3008 WFP 30" 2560x1600 Monitor/TV

Dell XPS 420 Q6600, 9600GT 175.16, Dual ATI with 1.17, Comcast Cable Moto M-Cards

Vista SP1

Here's an update on my situation.  After uninstalling the DCTs in Device Manager, I was finally able to get the DCTs to install an "unidentified devices" (Vista could not successfully install drivers automatically).  Then, by going into Device Manager, I opened the unidentified devices, and chose "update driver".  I selected "browse for driver", then "let me choose . . . " then scrolled down to "Network Adapters".  This allowed me to intall the ATI "OpenCable Receiver" driver.  This installed the DCTs with a 6/21/06 driver.  I then selected "update driver" and let Vista locate a driver.  It then updated to driver 1.17.1.0, dated 4/7/08. 

I am now getting some, but not all, of my HD channels.  I have not yet identified a pattern to what I get and what I do not (for example, I get one of the Cinemax HD channels, but not the other). 

For those following along, relevant info about my setup is:

Dell XPS420
Q66000 Quad Core Processor
Dell Bios version 04
Nvidia 8800GT Video Card
Cox (Orange County, California) cablecards
I have SP1 installed, along with all other current windows updates, and my DCTs have been updated with firmware 1.17.

zorbarick:

Here's an update on my situation.  After uninstalling the DCTs in Device Manager, I was finally able to get the DCTs to install an "unidentified devices" (Vista could not successfully install drivers automatically).  Then, by going into Device Manager, I opened the unidentified devices, and chose "update driver".  I selected "browse for driver", then "let me choose . . . " then scrolled down to "Network Adapters".  This allowed me to intall the ATI "OpenCable Receiver" driver.  This installed the DCTs with a 6/21/06 driver.  I then selected "update driver" and let Vista locate a driver.  It then updated to driver 1.17.1.0, dated 4/7/08. 

Even after a fresh install, flashing one DCT back to 1.16h and then upgrading it to 1.17, I'm still not able to install the updated driver.  The firmware for 1.16h does have a driver on it but its old and is miss-dated for 2000.

My system is as follows:

XPS 420, Q6600, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, ATI HD 2600 XT (A02 8.432_071101a-054945C_Vista 32bit), 2xATI DCT with 1.17 (started failing while 1.16 was installed). Factory HD image with the addition of WHS Connecter software and Virus/Defender disabled.

So far it has been random as to which DCT fails first and it takes a good while for both to fail. It hasn't seemed to be around the same time except once or so. Also it would seem for me that power downs of both DCTs and the computer and then restarting after a minute or so repairs the connection for a while.

Last power down was around 2pm EST Sunday 5-18-08. It would seem things are recording still fine, and I have several more to go until about 3am tomorrow, then the next recording is 9am. Will update. The only issue I'm currently experiences at the moment is it appears my Recorded TV Manager is failing to move completed recordings to the WHS. Probably unrelated and most likely resolved by a reboot of the WHS.

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-Ripley

zorbarick:

I also uninstalled my DCTs to no avail.  In fact, it made things worse.  Vista could not reinstall them; it has given me various errors, including finding no driver at all, not recognizing the device, and, most often, reporting

"An error occurred during the installation of the device.  The driver installation file for this device is missing a necessary entry.  This may be because the INF was written for Windows 95 or later.  Contact your hardware vendor."

Had a similar problem on a fresh install.  Give the 1.16h firmware are go, the driver in there works fine for me.  The driver bundled with 1.17 gives me an error during install that it's missing files.  When I looked into the INF the following files are required: atiocur.cat, atiocr64.cat, atiocur.ini, atiocur.dll, atiocr64.dll, atiocur.dkb.

Reposting from Dell forums on same issue: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=Tech_Talk_XPS&thread.id=27536&view=by_date_ascending&page=25

Well, first, my problem was that my HD channels were working fine.  I have an ATI HD 2600, XPS 420, 4 Tuners....

Until last week, I started getting this repeated 'Restricted Content' error every minute or so, it was only occuring on all the standard digital cable channels.  This would be in exception of the HD channels and the locals.

I tried looking around for a solution and apparently nobody has one.  But, I remember that the DRM issue has something to do with the restricted content error coming up every now and then...

What I don't appreciate is that Dell is being very secretive about this solution.  C'mon Dell, you guys get paid to find solutions for your products that you sell.  You guys are under the obligation to make sure that your customers are getting what is being advertised.  If it keeps dropping out with the restricted content message and you guys found a fix, make it available for God's sake. 

But since you guys aren't gonna do that...

Here's what fixed it for me:

Restricted Content = DRM issues... duh?

Go to Computer Management, stop all "Windows Media Center" related services.  Make sure they're all stopped. Then navigate to: 

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DRM  (go to Organize -> Folder Options -> View and select Show all hidden system files)

Delete all the files WITHIN the DRM folder but DO NOT delete the DRM folder itself.

Reboot.

Go to Windows Media Center, Settings, TV, Activate Digital Cable.  At this point, the MCE should start updating all of your DRM settings... then finish the activation process. 

Voila.  No more Restricted Content problems for me.  If you change hardware or driver.  Expect this to happen again, so repeat if necessary.

I'm not sure if that is a resolution to our problem, but i figured it'd help to be seen by others here as well. I may give this a shot as well if and when my system fails again.

I'm also monitoring this thread for information: http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter.digitalcable/browse_thread/thread/a1238dbecea737e1?hl=en#

 

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-Ripley

ARobinso0502:

UPDATE:

BROKE IT AGAIN:

I enabled the third turner and now get the RESTRICTED CONTENT message and most channels does not tune-in.

* Going to remove the third turner, update to follow.

UPDATE:

I got the HOTFIX mentioned previously in this thread and when installing it, I receive the message that this fix is not required: Vista Ultimate- 3 DCTs.

Removed third turner and set system up as previous.  System work for about 1 hour before while turning the channel I got the RESTRICTED CONTENT message.  I have since removed the cable cards and I am able to watch LOW DEF TV (oh-wo is me).

EDIT: Was watching TV on one turner and recording another channel.  The signal on the recorded channel dropped and when I went to that channel, there was no signal.  Reboot PC...

I would think that if you delete the files in the DRM folder your previous recorded tv from you cablecard tuners would not work.

my same thoughts.. Perhaps backing them up prior to deletion as a test would be successful however?

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-Ripley

UPDATE:

LtRipley36706:

Reposting from Dell forums on same issue: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=Tech_Talk_XPS&thread.id=27536&view=by_date_ascending&page=25I'm also monitoring this thread for information: http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter.digitalcable/browse_thread/thread/a1238dbecea737e1?hl=en#  

I have decided to take the plung.  I was not afraid of this fix in that I have already done a fresh install.  I disabled anything to have to do with media.  I then backup the DRM folder and deleted the content leaving the directory structure in tack.  After the reboot, I put in the cable cards and allowed it to find the cable cards.  I did not run the Activate Card wizard but HD is working.

ARobinso0502:

UPDATE:

LtRipley36706:

Reposting from Dell forums on same issue: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=Tech_Talk_XPS&thread.id=27536&view=by_date_ascending&page=25I'm also monitoring this thread for information: http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter.digitalcable/browse_thread/thread/a1238dbecea737e1?hl=en#  

I have decided to take the plung.  I was not afraid of this fix in that I have already done a fresh install.  I disabled anything to have to do with media.  I then backup the DRM folder and deleted the content leaving the directory structure in tack.  After the reboot, I put in the cable cards and allowed it to find the cable cards.  I did not run the Activate Card wizard but HD is working.

The real test isn't wether it's working after you reboot, it is if it's working longer than 24 hours.  Mine works fine all day long until 10:00pm every evening.  Like clockwork it stops, so I wouldn't call it a success until then.

Beyond that, deleting all of your DRM files will render your previously recorded content useles, which shouldn't be the end all solution.

-D

LTRipley...........please let us know if you get through tomorrow succesfully without the Restricted Content error.   If so, I may try the fix you suggested.  I commented in the other thread "Restricted Comcast Content at Night" on the same topic, but thought I'd jump in this thread as well.  I live in RI and have Cox Cable.  XPS 420 with TV Wonder Dual ATI Cable Card Tuners.  Started getting the Restricted Content message on Thursday evening.  It has happened every night since at 9:15pm.  I unplug and plug the tuners and it fixes the problem until the next night at 9:15pm.  I'm desperate for a fix, so let me know if yours sticks.