OSD gives black screen

[simon]

I've now got a dedicated machine to use as a PVR, so have stopped using the MVP.

The problem on this machine is that anytime the OSD or miniguide display during live tv preview or recording playback, the picture goes completely black. The sound continues, so the video is still playing but can't be seen. As soon as the OSD times out, the video reappears and everything is great.

My video card is a ATI Radeon 9250 with the latest drivers, on a Windows 2k machine with a Sempron 2400 processor. If I select VMR 7 or 9 in config I get an error, so I have to use Overlay. I have a Nova-T DVB card.

From using the MVP (with my desktop pc, not the dedicated PVR machine) I know that transparent OSD is possible, but I can't make it work.

All settings on the Playback tab are left as system default, as that worked before.

What do I need to change to enable transparent overlay? I've searched the forums and can't see an obvious answer.

Thanks,

Simon

P.S. The MVP is for sale if anyone in the UK wants it.

[capone]

Also try reinstalling Direct X. I had those symptoms after changing vid cards.

[wtg]

Simon,

I'm having similar problems.  I have an ATI 9200 and I think the problem is at least related to the software decoder that comes with it, though maybe we'll find a solution.

I have the following software decoder choices:
- InterVideo NonCSS Video Decoder for Hauppauge,
- CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (ATI),
- CyberLink Video/SP Decoder

I've found the ATI-specific decoder gives the best performance by a long shot, in part I'm sure since my CPU is only a 1.2 GHz Celeron.  With either of the other decoders I get a lot of noticible video stutter, though I'm still getting a wee little bit with the ATI decoder in live preview mode.

With either of the CyberLink Video/SP Decoders selected the OSD comes up but blacks out the video.  With the InterVideo decoder selected the OSD works fine but the decoder gives me quite a bit of stutter, so it's not worth it.

I downloaded the newest version of the ATI drivers last night, released 3-9-2005 and it improved the OSD issues a bit, but not completely.  Now the picture doesn't go completely black but for lack of a better description, it changes to look as if you are viewing it through a thick screen door - it doesn't look good.  After the OSD disappears the video returns to normal but the live preview seems to be a bit stuttery afterwards.  

I made a lot of changes last night tweeking things, installing new software that might have better decodes (like PowerDVD, etc)  and I haven't had much time to play with it since my last changes, and I'm hoping I'll find some combination of things that will get it working right, but for now anyway I think I've at least narrowed the trouble down a bit.  The very latest ATI drivers did seem to improve the OSD issues a little bit.

Please let me know if you discover anything.
Tim

[capone]

I have the 9200 SE as well, and that was the card I installed last night.
The Direct X reinstall was the fix, but it was because I switched cards, probably. At first is wasn't letting me use VMR 9 or 7, then I had no TV and only OSD. After resintall, I had all back.

I use the Intervideo decoders now, and they have performed ok. I tried nVidia, and they were chugging a bit. Where can I get the ATI ones? My card was oem, so I have no disk.

I'm also dealing w/ the color a little bit. I use only on a TV, and the video/overlay settings are blocked out. Have you had any luck improving the color? It just seems a little washed out.

[wtg]

It was just the latest Catalyst drivers I installed last night, which as I said, seemed to help some. I thought that the Catalyst package might have an update to the MPEG decoder that I got off the installation CD, but now I realize that it might not have. I looked just a few minutes ago and I found that they have an 3-9-05 update to their DVD decoder software that is downloaded separately. I haven't tried it yet to see if that helps, but I noticed that the download specifically says it requires access to the original installation CD.

Here's the link to the Catalyst software.
Catalyst update

[capone]

I have that, and was locked out of DVD update because my card was a refurb. I'm returning it and getting the Gigabyte 9250 model, w/ the disk. I appreciate the link, though.

Do you have any issues w/ color? Just interested if it's the same, and how you improve. One thing I liked about nVidia was that vivid color slider.

[wtg]

Capone,

Well the DVD decoder update didn't improve anything that I could tell.  If you'd like it, PM me with your email and I'll send it to you for you to try.

As far as the color goes, I haven't really noticed any issues with it.

Tim

[capone]

The update wouldn't work w/o the original install, but I appreciate it. I'll get a copy w/ the new card, anyway.

I got the color problem fixed using ffdshow. I raised the saturation there and lowered the lum offset...looks like my tv now. Now I'm down to a pesky .3 sec audio sync issue in recordings...last row to hoe.

Btw, I did email ATI and ask them if the card is meant to be on TV, and they recommend 800x600 for size, why the @*(&$^ catalyst window is juuuuust a little larger than that.

[simon]

I've been doing a little googling and reading on this, and I've found that Win2k doesn't support VMR7 or VMR9. So its overlay or nothing for me.

Does anyone out there have overlay working without a black screen appearing behind the OSD?

Simon

[simon]

I've been using GBPVR and ignoring this problem of black OSD, until two nights ago, when for some reason, the OSD worked properly, fully transparent, full motion video carrying on behind, obviously as sub intended it!! Absolutely fantastic, but last night, it refused to work again. I have changed nothing on either night, the only changes to the system were the timed EPGupdate and defrag.

So, having now proven (without trying) that Overlay will work on my system, I now need to work out how to make it work all the time. Scanning through the logs from last night only produced one error, which is below:

Code:

06/04/2005 22:29:39.562    VERBOSE    [2]    Loading DirectRecordingSource Configuration : 1
06/04/2005 22:29:39.890    VERBOSE    [2]    About to connect to remote recording service
06/04/2005 22:29:39.890    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/RecordingServiceLocation
06/04/2005 22:29:39.890    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue: /settings/RecordingServiceLocation : tcp://localhost:7968/RecordingRemote
06/04/2005 22:29:39.906    ERROR    [2]    Unable to find node: /settings/SpecialElements/SpecialElement[@name="MenuType"]
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]    Loading main menu
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Live TV
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: TV Guide
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Search Guide
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Recordings
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Video Library
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Music Library
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Weather
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Exit
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: DVD
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: FM Radio
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Net Radio
06/04/2005 22:29:39.921    VERBOSE    [2]     - Adding task: Comics
06/04/2005 22:29:39.984    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/ExitOnEsc
06/04/2005 22:29:39.984    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue: /settings/ExitOnEsc : false
06/04/2005 22:29:39.984    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue cached value: /settings/DirectNumberSelect : false
06/04/2005 22:29:39.984    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue cached value: /settings/DirectNumberSelect : false
06/04/2005 22:29:40.000    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue cached value: /settings/EPGProcessingMode : NORMAL
06/04/2005 22:29:40.000    VERBOSE    [2]    getValue cached value: /settings/EPGProcessingMode : NORMAL
06/04/2005 22:29:41.937    VERBOSE    [2]    RecordingFactory.loadSchedule()

Will this have anything to do with the problem?

Thanks for any advice anyone can give.

Simon