Resolved ATI TV Wonder 650 HD

This tuner card is installed in my Dell computer which now has Windows 10 (Virtual box Host). I installed Windows Vista in Virtual Box 5.0.4 (Guest); and I tried to install the Catalyst software which would normally setup the drivers for the tuner card, but it couldn't find the card. Nor could the Windows Media Center. And Add hardware from control panel didn't find it either.

The Tuner card was specifically intended for Vista although it could work on XP as well. I did install it when my machine was on Vista and the tuner card worked fine both in the Catalyst and in the Windows Media Center. But when I changed the OS to windows 7, the Catalyst was not supported by Windows 7; so it wouldn't play tv. But the WMC still did. When I changed the OS to Win 10 I can't even find the device any more on Windows 10. It cannot be found through add devices or any other means. And it's not listed in the device manager.

My problem is how to make Vista Guest in virtual box recognize the Tuner Card.

 

I have downloaded and installed these drivers; but nothing happens. I can't still install the card, because the devices menu on Windows 10 doesn't recognize the tv tuner card.

 

Hi Moorty, Found this with a Google: "TV on Windows10 "
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2409331
Have you tried this Arcsoft software? Neil.

 

I have just installed it and tried in windows 7 or vista-64 compatibility mode three times. It recognized the tuner and tried to scan the channels, but alas no channels were found. Once it showed channels 70 and 77 (which are not usable channels on my cable); but always ended up with a blue error screen saying look up for DPC_Watchdog_Violation. I looked up on Google and found a video which would take care of this and used those instructions. But that made no difference.

Conclusion: Either the software is full of bugs or it wasn't able to scan the channels on my cable or both.

Thanks for your suggestion, though.

 

Have you seen this: "Top 5 free Windows Media Center alternatives for Windows 10 "
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-media-center-alternatives-windows-10
Neil.

 

I have, thank you. NVPR is full of bugs and doesn't actually scan channels from my analog tuner.

Kodi does have plug-ins, but the free ones are very limited for live tv. You get 7 channels at a 400 kbs/s bandwidth. I am not too excited about these.

I can't find any media center yet which recognizes and scans channels from my tuner.

 

Sorry to sound like a broken record.

If you want to retain all the functionality of Windows Media Center, Microsoft says your best option is not to upgrade to Windows 10. The company will continue to offer support for Windows 7 through January, 2020 and for Windows 8 Pro through January, 2023.

hawk22

 

I know. I am not sure whether and how I would like to go back to Windows 7. (Since I installed Windows 10 more than once, the option of rolling back to win 7 is gone.) My Windows 7 was a Dell upgrade from Vista 64-bit full version. If you have any suggestions on this, I would welcome.

 

How did you upgrade from Vista to 7? By any chance was it through the Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Anytime Upgrade.

 

No. Using Dells Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant and Windows 7 upgrade disc.

 

Do have a set of Vista recovery disks. If you do, you can try reinstalling Vista, then use the dell win 7 upgrade assistant and your windows 7 upgrade disk. I know some upgrade disks you can perform full OS installations.

 

The Windows 7 upgrade disc is a full OS installation disc. The question is whether by just inserting the Vista disc in the dvd/cd drive, it will clean install windows vista by erasing all windows files (and personal files including, of course). And also whether it is worthwhile just to be able to play the TV on the computer. There is always the question whether the ATI software will recognize the TV tuner card and the recognition will be retained by the Windows 7 upgrade (because windows 7 does not support ATI Catalyst software). It worked before, but I am not sure it will work now.

 

Read this: AMD Catalyst

 

Unfortunately that driver autodetect utility will only find AMD Radeon™ graphics card, and not the ATI 650 HD TV tuner. I have tried it.

 

My comp in sys specs uses ati catalyst. But that's different than a tv tuner. So, my apologies.

 

Is this your Tuner unit: "ATI AMD TV Wonder HD 650 PCI TV Tuner "
http://www.diamondmm.com/tvw650pci-ati-amd-tv-wonder-hd-650.html
It seems that they only support Vista. Neil.

 

Yes, that's the tuner. That's the problem. I have now Windows 10. Of course, I have vista disc(with also a windows 7 upgrade disc). I have no roll back possibility on Windows 10. The question is if it's advisable to install vista 64-bit; there is a recovery file (about 6 gbs) on a partition for Vista. Will I be able to use that to reinstall vista erasing windows 10? How could that be done exactly? I am worried about possible glitches that might occur on the way.

After all that, it's only a hope that the drivers for which you gave me the link would work on the vista. (They should.)

I am looking for a specific advice.

 

If it's been 30 days since W10 Upgrade, you won't be able to revert back to your previous OS. W7.old will have been erased.
Check to make sure but I think you will need to wipe the drive and start with your Vista install. You may need to contact MS in regard to activation if it won't activate on line. You may need your Vista drivers and m/b drivers as well. Neil.

 

Thank you. I will keep your information in mind if and when I do the vista installation. I am not sure I want to do that yet.