MPEG 2 Decoder Disabled

[cncb]

It appears you only get a functioning MPEG2 decoder if you upgrade from a PC with WMC installed (probably get the decoder with the "Windows DVD Player" app that is automatically installed). I found out the hard way that if you do a clean install after the upgrade, it "forgets" that you used to have WMC and you don't get the DVD player app.

[optimas]

I to just updated to windows 10 and having issues with nextpvr saying it is unable to communicate with recordings service. I checked the setting and the video decoder was disabled, the only option under it is LAV video recorder, I selected that and I still get the same message. when I select the settings button for the LAV I am not sure what should be turned on/off, etc. Does any one know how the options should be set. I am using the WinTV 950Q tuner.

[optimas]

After you installed the codec pack, what decoder did you choose. I only get LAV decoder and ffdshow decoder. neither seem to work.

[optimas]

Thanks to Hoborg, I have installed the unlocked version of SAF, I get the following decoders: ffdshow video decoder, LAV video decoder, cyberlink video/SP decoder and Cyberlind decoder (PDVD 13). When I set the MPEG 2 video decoder to any of them, I still get the "Unable To Communicate With Recording Service" I have even tried setting the H264 decoder to match the MPEG 2, still to no avail. I am using the WInTV 950Q USB receiver and I don't even see it being accessed. Are there any adjustments I need to make in the settings of the different decoders. Any further assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[sub]

When I set the MPEG 2 video decoder to any of them, I still get the "Unable To Communicate With Recording Service" I have even tried setting the H264 decoder to match the MPEG 2, still to no avail.

If you run "services.msc" (ie, Windows Services control panel), do you the NPVR Recording Service listed as running or stopped?

[craigrs84]

Thanks to Hoborg, I have installed the unlocked version of SAF, I get the following decoders: ffdshow video decoder, LAV video decoder, cyberlink video/SP decoder and Cyberlind decoder (PDVD 13). When I set the MPEG 2 video decoder to any of them, I still get the "Unable To Communicate With Recording Service" I have even tried setting the H264 decoder to match the MPEG 2, still to no avail. I am using the WInTV 950Q USB receiver and I don't even see it being accessed. Are there any adjustments I need to make in the settings of the different decoders. Any further assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

"Unable To Communicate With Recording Service" means it's probably an issue connecting to your TV tuner and nothing to do with your decoders.

I don't know, maybe try temporarily turning off your firewall and see if that helps? If that fixes it then you probably need to add firewall exceptions.

[optimas]

If you run "services.msc" (ie, Windows Services control panel), do you the NPVR Recording Service listed as running or stopped?

It was stopped, I did start it>

Well, that seems to have solved the Problem. SUB, you saved my life, LOL

[sub]

And did things work after starting it?

[optimas]

Yes Sir. You are a life saver, LOL. Where were you a couple of days ago. Thanks for the help.

[jpsa]

I've just been round some of these corners recently. There are a couple of gotchas with ffdshow...

1. You seem to need the 32 bit version of ffdshow, even on a 64 bit machine. Presumably this is because NextPVR is a 32 bit application.
   
2. The MPEG2 decoder is not enabled by default. You need to start the 'ffdshow Video decoder configuration' utility, choose 'Codecs' from the left-hand pane, and enable it. A right-click over the right-hand pane followed by 'Set all stable formats to libavcodec' did the trick for me. It's doubtless possible to be more selective if you can work out exactly which codec is needed!
   
3. ffdshow has a mechanism for only allowing certain applications to use it. Start 'ffdshow Video decoder configuration' again, chose 'DirectShow control' from the left-hand pane, and ensure that 'Use ffdshow only in:' is unchecked (or add NextPVR.exe to the list). This appears to be a per-user setting (unlike the enabled codecs), so you may need to repeat the exercise for each user of the computer. Also, oddly, it was already unchecked as desired for the first user (who did the installation of ffdshow), but checked for the second. Weird.