Down to my last major VMC bug before I feel extremely satisfied with my XPS 420.  When I open a mkv from the video library, I get a restricted content error when I switch back to either live or recorded tv.  My work around used to be restart the vmc machine, but now I quit media center, kill the scheduler and reciever process, and reopen media center to get tv back.  But I'd like to have mkvs never trigger the vmc drm error to begin with.

Installed codecs:
ffdshow tryout stable beta 5
spdifer
Haali media splitter

I have uninstalled CoreAVC to reduce compexity (same error happened with CoreAVC installed instead of ffdshow).  Also In ffdshow for both audio and video I reduced the priority in the DirectShow control to normal from default.  Also I'm using vmcd.exe to make the Microsoft decoder the faulter.  What else can I do to resolve this issue?

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XPS 420: Intel Q6600 CPU, ATi Radeon 3650, 3GB DDR2 RAM 800MHz, 320GB HDD, 2 x 1TB Seagate HDD, 16X DVD-RW, 3 x ATi CableCard

Panasonic 50PZ800U HDTV, Onkyo TX-SR705 Reciever, 4 x Mission m73 Speakers, Mission m71c1 Center Channel, B&W ASW 650 Sub

I was having the same issue, until I re-installed ffdshow and haali. I don't have spdifer.
I went with the version Chris commended here.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2007/07/21/1046591.aspx

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Ben
How good can it be, if it isn't HD?
Engadget HD

I have an xps 420 also and this issue took some time to resolve:

I installed Nero 8 and the vista codec package http://shark007.net/on all pc's in the house, mkv plays fine and tnuners are happy now. :)

Once I get the new TV setup and calibrated, I'll have to try each of these.  I didn't get much sucess with passthrough for FFDshow, and so spdifer came up to be an easier solution.  I'll also add removal of all ac3filter code if the problem remains.

UPDATE:  FFDShow Beta 3 as described by Chris seemed to do the trick.  Thanks so much Ben (and Chris too).  Looks excellent on the new Panny.

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XPS 420: Intel Q6600 CPU, ATi Radeon 3650, 3GB DDR2 RAM 800MHz, 320GB HDD, 2 x 1TB Seagate HDD, 16X DVD-RW, 3 x ATi CableCard

Panasonic 50PZ800U HDTV, Onkyo TX-SR705 Reciever, 4 x Mission m73 Speakers, Mission m71c1 Center Channel, B&W ASW 650 Sub