Microsoft is investigating the Restricted Content Error many of you have reported in various threads. We are attempting to reproduce the problem in our test labs, and are trying to understand if this was caused by a Windows Update, the device FW, or has some other root cause.  We are also looking into updates from Windows Update that were made available on or around 5/15 to understand if any of them could explain the issue being reported.

The test is being done with instrumented code that will allow us to have better visibility into the state of the PC when the issue occurs.  As part of that test, we are loading Vista SP1 and all of the updates, and are running the test with an ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner with the 1.17.1 firmware installed.  Because of the reports that this occurs after periods over a day long, Microsoft's tests will be setup to run for an extended period.  MS hopes to have some results by tomorrow, but will let it run over the weekend if we have not reproduced the problem yet.

These posts are a great way to understand the issue more, so continue to post if you have any additional information of relevance that will help us determine what may have caused this. For those that are seeing it and have not reported it, it would be helpful if you could continue to post your machine configuration and other relevant information.  Make sure to including PC Make/Model number, Graphics Card/Display Driver version, specific Cable Provider and location city, and additional troubleshooting steps you have taken.  We would also like to hear whether anyone has seen the issue with the previous 1.16 version of FW, and what the content is that is affected if it makes a difference. This will help us narrow down whether it is configuration based, cable provider/region based, Windows Update based, Digital Cable Tuner firmware based, or content based.  Thanks for those that have already provided this information in your posts, we are currently sorting through them, and will use that to help us focus on likely causes.

We do understand the frustration this sort of problem causes, and we do take it seriously.  We are all avid users too, and want to make the experience great. Thanks in advance for helping us track this issue down.

- Joe

Joe Chauvin, Lead Program Manager

Microsoft eHome Division

NetOps TV, Windows Media Center

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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I am happy that MS is investigating.

I am NOT using 1.17 and NOT using SP1 and have same problem described for all digital channels I have taken NO corrective actions but notice that re-booting DCT's revives system for 1day.  System has worked flawlessly since first installed in Feb.

System:

XPS 420, Vista Ultimate, Q6600

6.0.6000 Build 6000

Bios DELL A02 11/12/07 SMBios 2.5

Graphics ATI Radeon 2600XT

FW 1.16.2007.08.233

Comcast, Walled Lake MI

Recent Updates: KB 890830 5/16/08, KB 905866 5/14/08, KB940510 5/11/08

Family Unit: Disappointed.1.2.3

Thank You and TGB,

Scott

Joe,

Glad to hear MS is working on this. This problem started last Thursday 5/15. I install the ATI 1.17 firmware a week before the problem started. In trouble shooting I upgraded the BIOS from A3 to A4. I also tried the 175.16 Nvidia drivers.

XPS 420 with Vista Home Premium SP1, Q6600, 3GB memory, 9600GT 174.74, Bios A4, Dual DCT, Auto Updates turned on. Has been working since February. Dual OTA tuners installed also.

Using Comcast in Channahon, IL. Motorola M-cards.

Temporary fixed by restarting Windows Media Center Receiver Service.

 

Thanks for looking in to this and giving us feedback that you are.

My problems started Sunday evening around 8pm when a scheudled recording of Iron Chef America began. As usually the recording starts about 4 minutes early, but I don't know what show was on at that time. Its also possible a second program tried to record to a differnt channel, but usually nothing else is scheduled. I'll check the logs and update if the information is different.

I was unable to record or view any channel after this began. Since MCE doens't have a way to force tuners, I was unable to confirm if the problem was with just the one tuner that attempted the recording or both tuners.

The computer is a Velocity Micro CineMagix Grand Theater with 2 DCTs which were some of the earliest editions out.

I'm using digital cable for the McHenry County, IL area;

To resolve, I did a simple server shutdown and power off. I intended to reboot the DCTs as well, but forgot to. The problem resolved anyway, either due to server reboot, or the soft reset it may have caused the tuners. I have not experienced the problem since.

The only other time I have experienced a similar issue was when there was a configuration change brought about by Comcast. After that change, I was unable to tune in, getting the same restriced content message until I rebooted.

 

As a suggestion, since NBC was part of the issue. Perhaps there could be a national effort to resolve either through NBC proper or MSNBC. If a broadcast could be sent the same way as the american gladiators/medium fiasco at a scheduled time in the middle of the night, I think many of us would be willing to setup recording to help you get a better picture of the level of effect it has. I would certainly be willing to help in that effort.

Thank you again.

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Eagles may fly, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines (see bio for exception)

Thanks Joe, can you provide a list of the pertinent information those affected should supply?  Is there a log file or system configuration file that would be useful?  What types of hardware/BIOS/driver information do you guys need? 

A very specific list of useful data would help keep everyone on track and hopefully accelerate this to resolution.

Thank you for your attention to this problem!

I am having this issue as well... however, it does not manifest as a "restricted content" message.  After the 24 hour period everyone is describing, I get a "tuner not found" error.  Unplugging the tuner, either the power or the USB connection corrects the issue.  Rebooting also corrects it.  I don't watch a ton of TV, so when the 24 hour period expires, I am typically not watching TV, but when I go to launch the live TV app, I get the "tuner not found" error.  On a side note, I also get the tuner error anytime the computer resumes from standby or sleep.  Neither of these behaviors was occurring prior to 5/19.

Interestingly, my computer appears not to have downloaded the latest Microsoft driver for the ATI cable tuner.

My computer:

Dell XPS 420, Bios version A03, Windows Vista Ultimate SP1, Windows Update On

Intel QuadCore 2.4Ghz, 3Gb Ram, RAID 1 (2x 500Gb), ATI HD3750 graphics (512Mb)

ATI Digital Cable Tuner firmware 1.17, Microsoft Driver 6.0.6000.16386  6/21/06

 

Thanks in advance for your hard work on this issue!

 

Thanks for trying to resolve this problem.

I experienced this "Restricted Content" message while recording on Thursday, May 15.  At 22:26PM EDT, this messaged appeared while recording "Great Performances at the Met" on channel 505 WNETDT.  My cable provider is Comcast and I live in Putnam County, NY.  The recording never finished.  It terminated with this message!  Up to this date, I have had no problem with viewing and recording normal and HD TV!  The current state of affairs is that I am not able to view any TV channels, zero, nada!  This error has disabled any viewing even liveTV of non-premium channels let alone recording them!

My hardware:

Dell XPS Studio 420, 2.4GHz Quad processors, 4GB memory, two 1TB Sata hard drives, Vista Ultimate with SP1 and all updates installed (both recommended and optional) up to May 13.  Bios A04 installed on April 28.

ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner, single tuner with cable card installed, firmware 1.16.2007.08233

Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme

In one of the forums at this site, a user reported that by stopping and restarting the ehRecvr service, this step solved the problem.  I stopped ehRecvr and started it up again.  I was now able to view live TV.  However, if I tried to record the program, the image froze and a message appeared, stating that there was no TV signal.  I then tuned to another station and I again could view live TV.  I also could go back and view the station which I just tried to record.  I repeated the record again with the same result.  This "fix" is only a partial solution in only allowing the viewing of live TV.

I also tried other recommendations reported on this site.  I removed the cable card and I was now able to view stations below 100 which are not the premium channels requiring the cable card.  Reinserting the cable card still resulted in the "Restricted Content" message.

Has anyone tried to replace the cable card or had the cable provider redownload the appropiate codes to the card?  Perhaps some information is stored on the card which is used by Windows Media Center to intercept all TV channels from being viewed.

It seems clear that the problem involves the ATI TV Wonder DCT when a cable card is used .  The Media Center code must be misinterpreting some piece of data from the ATI device and blocks the viewing of TV.

I hope you can solve this problem speedily.  I want to record an important HD event on May 25!

 

I am experiencing both “Restricted Content” and “No TV signal” errors.  All started about a week ago, 5/15/ or 5/16.  Had updated my dual DCTs to 1.17 about a week before the problem was first experienced.  Can be temporarily fixed by stopping and restarting MC Receiver Service, but will then fail again within next 24 hours.  Not sure if it stops working at a particular time of day, like others, but could well be.

XPS 410 with Vista Home Premium SP1

2GB memory

Nvidia GeForce 8600GT

Dual ATI DCT, firmware 1.17

Dual OTA tuners

Bios A02

Auto Updates turned on

Cable provider is Time Warner, Austin, TX

Abyss:

In one of the forums at this site, a user reported that by stopping and restarting the ehRecvr service, this step solved the problem.  I stopped ehRecvr and started it up again.  I was now able to view live TV.  However, if I tried to record the program, the image froze and a message appeared, stating that there was no TV signal.  I then tuned to another station and I again could view live TV.  I also could go back and view the station which I just tried to record.  I repeated the record again with the same result.  This "fix" is only a partial solution in only allowing the viewing of live TV.

Not to go off topic but hitting record while watching Live TV is a know issue with firmware 1.16 and was happening before all this restricted content issues. When I installed 1.17 it fixed the hitting record while watch live tv and loosing the tv signal.

Thanks for posting an update - glad to see MSFT is looking into it and considers it a serious issue.  Thanks.

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Niveus Rainier 500HD Media Center PC
4 tuners (2 CC, 2 OTA)
64" Pioneer Elite (PRO-720HD)
Marantz, Parasound, Mirage, Definitive Audio Equipment
Logitech 890 Pro Remote
Linksys DMA-2100 Extender
HP MediaSmart WHS
3 Xbox 360s
Zune
Sonos

I am one of those experiencing the problem.  My signature spells out my PC details.  I might also add that after Sunday at 6:00PM, my tuner has worked flawlessly.  I was out of town Tues (5/20) - Thurs (5/22) but the tuner worked all last night into this morning (5/23).  Additional information:

Graphics Card driver version:  NVidia 174.14 drivers

Verizon FIOS - Carrollton, TX

ATI DCT Firmware:  1.17 as well as 1.15 - my 1.17 tuner didn't work so I used a spare tuner that had never been setup that still had the 1.15 FW.  Verizon re-activated the Cable Card for this tuner and I would get picture but it seemed to only last anywhere from 12-24 hours before going back to the "RC" screen.

Content Affected:  all digital content on all channels

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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 Dual ATI digital Tuners, NVIDIA 8800, Motorola MCard Cable cards.

System worked great after 1.17 firmware update for about 1 week prior to 5.15

After that ststem stopped at 8:11 every evening with Restricted Content message.

I am now coming to believe that this may actually be a windows defender problem and could be an update that windows defender downloaded around this time.  I have now shut down real time checking by defender, system restored back to 6/13 made sure none of the updates after that time are installed. Will update this post with any further info.  for 2 nights since doing this all my 8pm shows have recorded.

If I use the ehrecvr start stop routine, while I can watch and record TV I am unable to get the extenders to take control of the tuners.  In other words if an extender and the pc are watching CBS and NBC and I try to tune a different channel say Fox on an extender I et the pop up telling me the tuners are in use and do I want to take control of one of them.  I say yes and see CBS and NBC but cannot take control of them.  clicking the button does nothing.  Interestingly enough if I do this on another extender, it will give me the choice to shut down NBC or FOX even though the pc is watching CBS and the first extender NBC.

Finally one point of clarification.  It is not a period of 24 hours from the time of a reboot or restart of the service.  For me it happened at 8:11.  So If I *** down my pc the night before and started it when I came home from work at 6:30 then it would only last for 1:41 mins.  It is also interesting to note that for me the machine boots up into RC mode.

Hope this helps

I appreciate it that attention is being paid to this matter:

I am experiencing a complete inability to view and record digital content from media center.

Dell XPS 420

ATI 2600 video card

ATI digital cable tuner

XBox 360 extender

 

Keep us posted....kklemme

Another one here with who is seeing the problem.

XPS 420

Q6600

ATI HD2600XT (I think)

2x DCT with Moto M Cards

PLEASE get this fixed by next thrusday. I will strangle my dog I can can't watch lost. Do you want THAT on your conscience? DO YOU? He is really cute, trusting and vulnerable....act quickly.

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Hi!
Frustrated MCE2k5 User
5c sucks

Joe,

The problem began for me on Thursday, May 15. I came home to find my recordings scheduled for that evening had failed, and when I tried to watch Live TV, I got the "Restricted Content" error. At that point, I still had version 1.16 of the ATI firmware on my cable tuners so the problem clearly occurs with that version. I tried various fixes including rebooting and powering down the PC and tuners overnight, but it at some point it seemed to fix itself the next morning. By Friday night the 16th, the problem had come back and I could not fix it by rebooting or leaving the machine and tuners off. Saturday morning I decided to upgrade the firmware to version 1.17. That fixed the problem, but by Saturday night the 17th, I saw the problem had come back. This time I had the Live TV on and saw that the problem happened at exactly 7:30 pm. That time has remained constant; "Restricted Content" comes back every night at 7:30 pm.

I found I could fix the "Restricted Content" message by re-flashing the firmware, but then one of the forum members realized that restarting the ehrecvr service would also fix it. I now have a scheduled task that does this every night at 7:31 pm. Also, at one point I needed to reboot the PC after getting rid of the "Restricted Content" error by restarting the service. After rebooting, the message came back and I needed to restart the service again.

It isn't my usual policy to use automatic Windows Updating, but I do on this machine as I mostly leave it unattended. So, I have all the latest updates. Some people have reported receiving an ATI driver update via WU, but I don't see that in my history. I don't have SP1 because WU hasn't offered it to me; I assume that is due to the Creative XFi audio card.

Obviously, while I've worked around the problem for now, I cannot record anything that is running at 7:30 pm. I hope you come up with a fix soon. Thank you.

My computer information is:

Dell XPS 420 Q6600 2.4 Ghz
3 Gb RAM
GeForce 8600 GTS (don't know version, will update later)
Creative XFi Xtreme Audio PCI Express
Vista Ultimate (not SP1)
neither AV nor firewall (Defender is turned off)
dual ATI DCTs at 1.17 firmware; Motorola cable cards
Cable provider: Comcast Digital in Ashland, MA

Melissa