Windows Vista How to back-up Media Center TV recording schedule?

I record TV using Media Center and everytime I restore the computer (which is often lately) to an earlier time, I have to fix my recording schedule this is so annoying. I just tought of windows easy transfer, but I don't know if this will work.

 

Wow! that's great! Mine used to be like that! I let my wife's friend use mine ounce on a restricted account and I don't know for sure what he did but I had to start over from factory settings. That was about a year ago work just fine 'till about 3 months ago, things started degrading, Media Center would freeze or take forever to do something, half my remote buttons would not respond, the computer would get very sluggish. It seemed to me that it started after I installed a bunch of windows updates. so I started installing the updates one at a time but then I got behind... anyway it's a long story...

Now I'm thinking of starting again from factory install but I would like to save my Media Center scheduling. Do you think that Windows easy transfer will save that?

 

It says "program settings" here
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928635

I have used it pretty extensively in Windows XP and it does a good job of transferring Microsoft-based settings.

You know that you will need to save to a file and only select settings, not data files.

Make one, store it until you next need to restore...and see.

Your need for restoring? You might need to look for updated drivers or third party program updates. (If it is a system manufacturer, like HP, Dell, Gateway, etc, you might find the relevant updates at their website. Edit, I see it is a HP)

Matt

 

Thanks for the tips, like you said we'll see... I came across some post about codec pack issues, I checked and I have a few of them installed over time each solving a codec issue at the time but it just dawn on me that some of them may be clashing with each other in strange ways or some of the updates clashes with some of the codec packs do you think I should uninstall them all and see what happens. the system is finally stable now (has been all day). for a bit earlier today Intel Viiv software was giving an installation error every time I started Media Center, but that has stopped. waiting for your reply. Thanks again

here's a list of the codec showing in Programs and Features:

- Cole2k Media
- DivX
- Xvid 1.1.3
- Xvid & Mp3 codec pack

 

CODECs might be a cause, but I haven't heard of it before. I can't see how they cause the build-up to a System Restore.

Unfortunately, I don't use Media Center. I run my media on a Windows XP computer with third party software.

I still suggest looking at updating drivers (and software programs that may have been included with the HP factory installation). Did HP include any media software?

If I find something that is annoying me (in your case for example, continual System Restores and occasional reformats) I would start looking for the source, as Steve said.

Can you back your system up as though you were going to do a factory reinstall, then start uninstalling/installing/updating? That is a way I would try finding the source of the problem (and you learn along the way).

Matt

 

Thanks Mattman, to speed up the process I started installing the updates in packets instead of one at a time I will then break down the offending packet in smaller packets...

the drivers that needed updating: were Nvidia and Intel network adt. and also USB host controller (but installer says this is not for my system version)

now I get this message in Media Center: "component registration failure" I looked this up and found it to be an XP issue, which has lead me to realize that this may be all due to my own stupidity: I remember now that I uninstalled something called net.framework 1.1 since I had net.framework 3.5 sp1 version installed. Could this be all my own doing? Do I need to have all net.framework versions installed?

Update: I went ahead and reinstalled net.framework 1.1 and it's SP1 restarted and everything is working just fine so far, Media Center says it deleted my schedule because the file was corrupted, but it's all there.

So odd enough uninstalling net.framework 1.1 didn't cause any problems for months by it's absence, up until a certain update (don't know which one) came up that seemed to need it to function...

 

Some people complain about .Net Framework and I think it is a little intrusive, but a lot of things won't work without it. If it is installed now, I don't think getting updates for it will be any more detrimental. If version 1.1 seems to work OK, you may as well wait until you get to a point where you need upgraded versions.

Good work getting the drivers. Let's hope it keeps working well now.

Let us know how you get on.

 

So far so good, great speed. the .net Framework 3.5 sp1 is still installed. I put Win updater back on auto; there were 6 updates I didn't need, but got tired of it constantly asking me to install these updates. I wanted to hide them but didn't know how so I installed them too.

The only thing odd today is on the last restart it was taking a long time to load again and since I didn't want to wait a long time had to force restart the start-up 3 times before it finally loaded normally. I have no idea what causes that, but this is why I have been restarting when I know I won't be needing it (at night or when I go out).

Also it seems that since I install the display driver update the fonts seem coarser. So I increased the resolution and the DPI. Will see what that looks like tomorrow after restart.

Thanks for caring.

 

my system has been working fine for the most part except for Media Center, had the "component registration failure" error come up again and it won't function when this happens... I restart the machine and it's ok again... untill the next restart then the error is back again... odd!

any idea what causes this, anyone?

Also I just noticed: on the desktop in the bottom right corner it says:

Windows Vista (TM)
build 6002
This copy of Windows is not genuine

What's with that? This version came from Hp in the box!

I restarted and all is back to normal again. a little annoying...

 

Just maybe...
If you fix the "genuine" problem, the component registration will be fixed.
Microsoft Genuine Advantage Support website

You might want to check your drivers (Device Manager) and find up updated drivers (at HP if the hardware was supplied by them). Both of those might be caused by some sort of driver problem.

Matt

 

Hi Matt,

I have restarted numerous times today and none of this nonsense has occurred again!

I did what you said and sent a report to Microsoft.

All drivers are up to date.

Thanks for caring.

 

Sounds positive JCinvan. If things seem OK, come back and mark this thread Resolved. It should help others.

Matt