Getting black screen when I play recordings

[dalokgawd]

When I play recordings (or live tv for that matter) on my GBPVR 1.47 I get nothing but a black screen. I can hear the sound, but there's no picture whatsoever. I have been thinking about just reinstalling the software but I am not sure if I will lose all my saved recordings if I do so.

If anyone could let me know either if they have an idea how to fix the black screen problem or whether a reinstall would delete my old recordings I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

[sub]

I can hear the sound, but there's no picture whatsoever.

This is almost certainly down to the video decoder you have selected. Which do you currently have selected?

[dalokgawd]

It just says system default...

[dalokgawd]

Incidentally I tried several of the other video decoders and one of them (Roxio DCFilters MPEG I/II Decoder) got me my picture back. However, it was kind of choppy and anytime I tried to skip forward or backward it would take forever to start playing again. I went through all of the other decoders and all of them gave me a black screen. When I went back to the Roxio DCFilters one, I had picture but no sound now. Should I just re-install the GBPVR 1.47 software? I won't lose all my recordings will I?

[Braklet]

Reinstalling gb-pvr probably won't do you any good. "System Default" is fine to use, but you need to make absolutely sure that your DirectShow codecs are set up correctly.

I suggest you debug this problem outside of gb-pvr. Use Windows Media Player instead. Once that works, gb-pvr will also work.

What format are your recordings?

[dalokgawd]

I have been able to watch other video files on WMP and VLC just fine. It is only when I try to watch recordings through GBPVR that I get this black screen problem. I will try to download and reinstall these DirectShow codecs if you think that is causing the problem. Would that explain why the picture is black on every other video decoder except the Roxio DCFilters one? Does that particular decoder rely on a different set of codecs other than DirectShow?

[sub]

If you only have 'system default' listed, then chances are you dont have a usable decoder installed.

Try downloading and installing this one: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/MPV_Decoder.htm

[dalokgawd]

I had several listed, probably 8 or so. I tried all of them but only the one called Roxio DCFilters MPEG I/II Decoder actually generated a picture. The other ones all generated sound but no image. In either case I will try the one you have suggested. Thanks!

[sub]

They fact you have 8 or so listed is probably a sign that your machine is clogged up with all sorts of decoders.

Glad you found one that works. (personnally I've never heard of this Roxio decoder though).

[sub]

BTW, unfortunately those decoder settings only apply to .ts and .mpg files, so you're still at the mercy of your decoder setup for other file types like .avi or .mkv.