If I try to watch either Live TV or Recorded TV on my personal computer I mostly get the "Restricted Content Restrictions set by the broadcaster and/or originator of the content prohibit playback of the program on this computer" error. Sometimes its either a black screen or the wonderful green screen. Here is the catch.... everything works on my xbox 360 extender. Live TV and Recorded TV both work as they should.

Dell XPS 420 with Vista Ultimate.
This problem started just yesterday morning.

List of things that were done to the computer in the period of time that might have caused the problem:
- Agreeing to some kind of terms and conditions statement tha was preventing my wife from viewing tv or working with Media Center in general (both on xbox and PC). She thinks it was for the guide.
- Very likely failed installation of Cyberlink PowerDVD
- Registry entry for turning on the DVD Library for Media Center was turned on.
- Connecting to the computer remotely through rdesktop (linux) and turning on Live TV.

List of actions taken to attempt to resolve the issue
- Updated DRM License at http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/Indivsite/en/indivit.asp?force=1
- Using ResetDRM.exe provided by http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?linkid=105000
- Using the Napster reset DRM client.
- Check decoders using vmcd.exe. First comes back with error saying "Current values not found" and after kitting ok lists no decoders. Attempting to set the decoders results in "Unable to set registry entry - Object reference not set to an instance of an object."
- Checked values for decoders manually at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE->SOFTWARE->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->Media Center->Service->Video. Both PrefferedMPEG2(Audio/Video)Decoder have values.
- Uninstalled Cyberlink PowerDVD although decoders seem to remain.
- Updated Video Drivers to the latest version
- Multiple resets of machine and ATI Digital Cable Tuner (of course)
- Ran DRMCapTool.exe , I have the output, but am not allowed to attach it to this thread.

Hopefully I have given enough information and I certainly appreciate the time anyone takes to help me figure this one out.

Thanks!

I also just tried running through Windows Media Center Setup again... no luck.

Does this happen on non-premium channels or just premium channels?

---

Tim Schreck
Media Center SE

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

Thanks for the reply TimSchreck-MS!

This happens on every channel and every recorded tv show. Note that the computer is still able to record tv shows as the xbox360 is currently watching an xfiles episode my computer recorded just yesterday. On the computer I get restricted content on that recorded show.

I would also like to inform that I backed up my c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\DRM folder and then emptied it yesterday. This effectively caused all recorded shows to be restricted content for the xbox and my pc. However, my xbox was able to watch livetv and my PC was not.... again restricted content. My xbox was then able to watch recorded shows that were recorded post deleting DRM folder contents my PC of course is not. When I tried restoring the DRM folder with the backed up copy I was not able to view anything on either system... so I just deleted it again.

Typing the following into cmd fixed the problem:
> regsvr32 msmpeg2vdec.dll
> regsvr32 msmpeg2adec.dll
> regsvr32 msmpeg2enc.dll

Origination of fix found here: http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/mpeg-2-encoder-is-missing/page/2

I also noticed that now vmcd.exe runs properly and brings up Microsoft video and audio decoder.

Honestly.... Restricted Content set by the provider is the proper error message for having screwed up decoders? Really?

Does anyone have any idea as to how I might be able to restore my recorded TV now that I have reset my DRM??

This usually happens if you replace the DirectX version that came with Windows.

I accidentally did it by installing Call of Duty 4.

Wow, I didn't realize. That is exactly what happened. Thanks for that insight... will help the next time I install. It really is a shame that something so simple as installing a game could be so system catastrophic. It was wrong for me to assume that it would know if directx was up to date.