PVRX2.exe not rendering anything? no menu, video, nothing

[ClwFLGator]

I have been reading up for a while now on a number of different software and hardware options for building my own PVR. After careful consideration, I believe that GB-PVR is the software I have been looking for. So I finally decided to take the plunge today and I downloaded and installed the GB-PVR software to start "playing" with it.

However (after checking the Config), when I go to launch PVRX2, all I can see is the border of the window, inside the actual window area is transparent and I can see the desktop underneath. It's as if the video is not rendering. I don't see the menu, nothing, just an empty window frame.

So far I have done / tried the following:

I had already installed the vcredist_x86.exe runtime before performing my installation, running the latest version of the installer msi (1.4.7). I am also pretty sure that I have all the required .NET dependencies installed already, as I needed those for something else, as well as all the other requirements and prerequisites.

I tried changing the video renderer from "VMR9 Custom" to everything else in the list (one by one), to no avail.

I tried changing the Aspect Ratio / Televison Shape, to no avail.

I tried changing between both the default "blue" and "Slick" skins that come with the installer, all to no avail.

FWIW, I went through all of the possible permutations of the above three settings in an orderly fashion, but all with the same result (no joy).

I have also searched the forums and googled at length, but couldn't seem to find anything that addresses this particular issue. So I figured I would ask you guys. At this point I am pretty disappointed and frustrated, but hopefully I am overlooking something simple and some helpful soul here can point me in the right direction.

Also, I would like to mention that I don't have a hardware based encoder card installed yet (I plan on ordering an HVR-1600 very soon). Is this my problem? I figured I should be able to at least check out the menus, set up the EPG, and maybe try some plug ins, just of course not watch any TV without a source. But maybe this is my entire problem.

Logs attached. Other specs: WinXP Home SP3, onboard PROSavage S3 video card*, DirectX 9 installed, let me know if any other info is needed.

* After "no hardware capture card installed" this is my second guess as to where the problem may lie. FWIW, I ran directxdiag and all the video tests came out fine. But I could be barking up entirely the wrong tree...

So I hope that wasn't too long winded. And needless to say, any pointers would be greatly appreciated, as I am really excited about the potential that GB-PVR seems to offer!

[johnsonx42]

It's probably your graphics card; I think this same issue came up a couple of weeks ago with someone else with very similar onboard graphics.

Try NPVR instead. It has lower graphics requirements. GB-PVR is a dead project, little point in a new user installing it now. Much will be explained if you read here: http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...READ!!!!**

[sub]

Yeah, its definitely a case of your videocard not being up to creating the large textures required by GBPVR. I suspect it'd be the same with NPVR. You'd probably need a new videocard to use either. Sorry.

[johnsonx42]

ah, yes, I forgot it's the large textures required that makes some older cards not work, and that's no different in NPVR. I'll stop pointing users to NPVR for that particular reason (but of course there are plenty of other reasons ).

[ClwFLGator]

Thanks guys for replying so quickly!

And yeah, I figured as much.

I had actually read up on NPVR before installing but decided to try out GB-PVR instead on the basis that I figured it was more "mature" (or at least more fully featured, with more plug-ins, etc.).

And thanks sub for weighing in, I probably would have tried to install NPVR, but that will save me a few steps. Luckily, I think I have an old FX5200 lying around here, maybe I will try and throw that into this old box and see if that will fly. Incidentally, I looked around a bit and couldn't find any minimum graphics card requirements, so I might as well ask, do you think that will work?

Sorry for piddling about with teh ancient hardware, but this is what I have to play around with until I build the new rig. Soon I will have 2x 5xxx series in CrossFire, on an appropriate modern mobo that supports that sort of silliness, but until then these are the parts that I have lying about to put together this PVR box out of old parts...

I'm in a tinkering mood, so depending on how quick I get a reply I may already have the 5200 installed and then maybe I will be reporting my findings back for the benefit of others...

Thinking also about installing NPVR as well in paralell, and playing around with that...

I will check back a little later; for now, off to crack open a few cold ones, and crack open my computer case as well...

[johnsonx42]

An FX5200 should do fine for standard def video; if you're trying to do HD much will depend on your decoder and CPU. Either way, it will work fine for the GB-PVR or NPVR GUI.

[ClwFLGator]

Yep, just wanted to confirm that the FX5200 did in fact did make the GUI work, cool! And yes, standard def will be fine for me for now. I certainly am not expecting miracles, especially with the dated hardware that I am working with here.

Problem was, I didn't get very far after that without any video sources. lol

Also, am I correct in thinking that you need a video source before you can update or get any sort of EPG data? Isn't it based on the channels available in your video source(s)? If that is the case then I guess I will give up on trying to play with the EPG until I get a TV card.

BTW, I have my eye on several right now on a couple different sites, so I should have one (or more) soon (a hardware capture / tuner card(s) I mean)... Then I can really play with this thing!