ejezuba1:

Yes, you can change the videocard. It's just another pc. The only thing that is special is the firmware on the motherboard.

And a special SKU for Vista with the cablecard code, right? 

I recall way back when where there was more speculation than fact that the video card was also part of the 'secure path' and wasn't easy to switch out in a cable-card ready system.  Apparently, that's bogus.

I pulled the Nvidia card that shipped with my m9000t and sold it on eBay.  I unscrewed the cover from motherboard VGA port to expose the connector.  No problem!  But, If was to connect it to a monitor the onboard VGA would not display any protected content.  But as my sits in a closet it is perfect, and helped reduce noise and heat.

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MCE Server (in closet, non-viewing): HP m9000t - Vista Ultimate x64, dual Cablecard, dual Maxtor 160GB RAID 1, Seagate 750GB. Infrant ReadyNAS NV-1.6TB RAID 5. Three XBOX 360's and one Linksys DMA2100 as HD Extenders.

 

Can someone please provide simple clear answers to the following questions:

1.  Can you upgrade the O/S to the retail version of Vista Ultimate? (using a key for Vista Ultimate)

2.  Can you replace the video card with any HDCP compliant video card?  (like the one I currently have in my Vista Ultimate VMC box)?

3. What do you need to do to activate the external Cable Tuner?

4. I can simply add an extra external ATI Cable Tuner to get two, yes?

5. Are there any difficulties I should be aware of in hookup up VMC with a Digital Cable Tuner (things that don't work)

6.  I can transplant the motherboard etc. into my really nice Zalman HD135, yes?

Thanks in advance!

Did anyone see this?:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/21/cablelabs-losens-up-on-pc-cablecard-tuner-restrictions/

 

Looks like these would need their firmware upgraded... but no knowledge of whether that will be possible.

Is it possible there will be a next generation with firmware that isnt restrictive on the shelves soon?

I have a m9000t, which is the model that was out 9 months ago. Here are my experiences.

skf:

1.  Can you upgrade the O/S to the retail version of Vista Ultimate? (using a key for Vista Ultimate)

I upgraded from HP Home Premium to Ultimate with a retail upgrade. (You will need the DVD and an unused key). I ended up completely formating my OS drive and doing a clean install. HP includes alot of software I did not want.

skf:

2.  Can you replace the video card with any HDCP compliant video card?  (like the one I currently have in my Vista Ultimate VMC box)?

I have not done it.

skf:

3. What do you need to do to activate the external Cable Tuner?

If you buy a m9300t with a tuner, the PC will come with an external digital cable tuner and a digital cable product key (in addition to the windows product key). If you use the vista install that comes preloaded you will never need to do anything with the digital cable product key. Even if you restore you OS from HP's restore DVD or restore partition. HP doesn't require you to activate your digital cable product key. If you install vista from a retail DVD you will need to type in the product key during media center setup to activate the digital tuner. 

skf:

4. I can simply add an extra external ATI Cable Tuner to get two, yes?

YES, I have been using two.

skf:

5. Are there any difficulties I should be aware of in hookup up VMC with a Digital Cable Tuner (things that don't work)

Firewall software (norton) will block the digital tuner. The tuners operate as a network device, you need to turn the firwall off for the tuners IP address. When my service provided initially came to install the cable cards we could not get the tuners to recognize them. Ended up that both cable cards were bad. New cards were brought and everything has been working since. One final issue I have experienced is that when I setup the PC to sleep, once in a while I would get a "No TV Signal Error." With the PC on 24/7 I never get the error.

skf:

6.  I can transplant the motherboard etc. into my really nice Zalman HD135, yes?

YES, HP uses an ATX case.

This is the first time I've visited this site and only the second thread that I've looked at... and you guys are a bad influence.

LOL I spent $1000 after visiting 5 mins.

I noticed that Toadmazter has "Vista Ultimate X64" in his signature and folks were talking about upgrades. But when I purchased HP machine with the ATI tuners it would only allow me to select the 32 bit version (and that limits the max motherboard ram too). How come HP forces you into a 32 bit version with that tuner?

I'll only be using this system to act as a HDTV and music server so it was fine to go 3GB and x32, but i'd like to know the details behind the X64 upgrade for a friend who will not want to a seperate PC from the one he works and plays on.

Great info on this site guys!

ohh I forgot to ask. How many tuners are possible per machine under Media center? Will Media Center automatically allocate the next avalible unused tuner to each requesting extender device? If your not using media center for multiple tuners then what package are you using?

Gror:

I noticed that Toadmazter has "Vista Ultimate X64" in his signature and folks were talking about upgrades. But when I purchased HP machine with the ATI tuners it would only allow me to select the 32 bit version (and that limits the max motherboard ram too). How come HP forces you into a 32 bit version with that tuner?

I'll only be using this system to act as a HDTV and music server so it was fine to go 3GB and x32, but i'd like to know the details behind the X64 upgrade for a friend who will not want to a seperate PC from the one he works and plays on.

I installed Vista Ultimate 64 on my HP m9000t from a retail upgrade DVD. The retail package includes both the 32 bit & 64 OS DVD's. If you try to  upgrade to 64 bit Vista from 32 bit Vista you will not be able to. The 64 bit OS must be a clean install. When you run setup from the 64 bit DVD in Vista 32 a message says you must boot from the 64 bit DVD to install. When you do so the 64 bit install will not let you continue because the upgrade product key will not let you install a clean copy.

What I did was boot using the 64 bit DVD and instead of using the ultimate upgrade key I put in the Home Premium key on the PC case (I unchecked the activate after install box - no need in activating it because the installation will soon be deleted). I was able to install a clean copy of Vista Home Premium 64 bit. Once that was installed I ran the 64 bit setup under the new Home Premium installation. At the beginning of the install instead of choosing Uprgade, I chose Custom so I could do a clean install of Ultimate (the install will copy the Home Premium install into a folder named windows.old). After the second install is complete I have a clean install of Vista Ultimate 64.

It's a pain that you have to install windows twice but that was the only way I could get what I wanted.

Thats good info if I decide to uppgrade at some point, but what I rellay wanted to know is what was why HP forced me into a 32 bit window version when selecting the ATI tuner? Will the TV Pack add X64 support?

Okay - I've been sucked in and the trigger has been pulled. Now I have some ?'s

I plan on using the PC in my office and serving up content throughout the house via extenders (already in place) . Currently my computer is too loud and was able to convince the Mrs we should get a new quieter PC - OH YEAH! Anyway, I guess I now need to make sure the 9300 which has been ordered will fit the bill.

Can anyone elaborate on what exactly happens when you remove the video card from one of these systems? Will the extenders still receive all the copy protected content?

Does anyone know what the internal tuner card is that ships with the OCUR tuner? Is it PCI-E or PCI?

MrTybalt:

Does anyone know what the internal tuner card is that ships with the OCUR tuner? Is it PCI-E or PCI?

The internal tuner in my m9000t is a asus ViXS PCI Express combo tuner. It is basically the exact same thing as the Vista View Saber DA-1N1-E, except the one that comes in the HP also has an FM tuner. The card will do clear QAM if you use the driver from Vista View. HP's drivers are old and do not yet support QAM.

MrTybalt:

Can anyone elaborate on what exactly happens when you remove the video card from one of these systems? Will the extenders still receive all the copy protected content?

Does anyone know what the internal tuner card is that ships with the OCUR tuner? Is it PCI-E or PCI?

I pulled the HDCP video card from the box and it now only has the onboard VGA.   All protected content plays fine to all 4 of my Extenders.  Protected content does not play from the VGA connected monitor when I have tried it, but I don't care becuase it sits hidden in my closet.

I pulled the factory ATSC card (ViXS) because it didn't have 64 bit drivers.  I replaced it with two PCI-E Avermedia cards.

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MCE Server (in closet, non-viewing): HP m9000t - Vista Ultimate x64, dual Cablecard, dual Maxtor 160GB RAID 1, Seagate 750GB. Infrant ReadyNAS NV-1.6TB RAID 5. Three XBOX 360's and one Linksys DMA2100 as HD Extenders.

ToadMazter,

   Did your computer come shipped with the 32 bit verison of Vista, and did you do a clean install of the 64 bit verison of Vista. I ask because like said before i couldn't get mine with the 64 bit verison. I want to upgrade but I have to do  clean install and was wondering if the cablecards would still work?

Thanks!

Mine came loaded with 32bit Home Premium.  I didn't want all the bloatware, so I added dual 160GB drives in a RAID 1 config and did a clean install of Vista Ultimate x64.  Then used the Cable Card Activation code off the sticker on the chassis.  Worked like a charm.  BTW, I purchased the system from Costco because of the double warranty, and purchased the 2nd cable tuner from Sony.

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MCE Server (in closet, non-viewing): HP m9000t - Vista Ultimate x64, dual Cablecard, dual Maxtor 160GB RAID 1, Seagate 750GB. Infrant ReadyNAS NV-1.6TB RAID 5. Three XBOX 360's and one Linksys DMA2100 as HD Extenders.

ToadMazter:

Mine came loaded with 32bit Home Premium.  I didn't want all the bloatware, so I added dual 160GB drives in a RAID 1 config and did a clean install of Vista Ultimate x64.  Then used the Cable Card Activation code off the sticker on the chassis.  Worked like a charm.  BTW, I purchased the system from Costco because of the double warranty, and purchased the 2nd cable tuner from Sony.

 

It is nice to hear that, I am in the same boat you were. I am going to load 64bit Vista on my 32bit system. Thanks for the info

Is there room in the case to fit an ATI 4850 or those 10inch video card upgrades?