SPDIF stops when MCE starts

Nigel:

The sound card is an on board Realtek AC'97.

The decoder I use is InterVideo WinDVD.

I can reproduce and fix the problem like clock work. If MCE starts on it's
own, the sound only comes out the centre channel. If it starts automatically
upon inserting the DVD, -- no problem. Stop the DVD and after I can listen to
music, TV, radio, etc. in full 5.1

"Nigel Barker" wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 15:31:01 -0700, Randy M <RandyM DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Here's what I know. MCE has a bug in it that causes it to mess up the SPDIF
> >signal when you exit MCE.
> >
> >My problem is pretty much the same as most that have posted about this
> >problem. The SPDIF signal somehow either stop being transmitted or get really
> >messed up so that the receiver does recognize the signal or produces
> >inaccurate results. In my case, this most often happens with just sound
> >coming our of the centre channel and nowhere else.
> >
> >Here’ my work around for this bug.
> >
> >1) Exit out of MCE to the desk top.
> >
> >2) Insert a DVD in the DVD layer. “The Incredibles� works great for me. I’ve
> >tried other and mist will work but some do not. I suggest you use a DVD that
> >produces 5.1 THX sound.
> >
> >3) The DVD should start to autoplay. Assuming you have the autoplay set to
> >USE MCE to play the DVD, MCE should start up.
> >
> >4) If you have your receiver turned up a little you should hear some popping
> >and crackling in you speakers. This is the SPDIF sound output somehow being
> >reset.
> >
> >5) Your speakers should now all have sound coming out of them.
> >
> >6) Do NOT exit MCE.
> >
> >7) Try playing some music or TV. Your speakers should all still have sound.
> >
> > If you exit MCE, you’ll have to redo the steps above. This is because MCE
> >somehow loses it’s settings or otherwise screws up the signal upon restart.
> >
> >Let me know if this works for you.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Randy
>
> Randy,
>
> What sound card do you have & in particular what is the ship set? There appears
> to be an odd interaction between MCE & some C-media chipsets & drivers. I can
> vouch for the fact that SPDIF with the Hercules Fortissimo 4 works straight out
> of the box & doesn't lose settings.
>
> --
> Nigel Barker
> Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

check the motherboard manufactor, and/or chipset maker's site for possible
updates or patches.

--
----------------
Nickyrock
----------------
"Randy M" <RandyM.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:78213085-3055-4A00-A802-73AC499C092F@microsoft.com...
> Nigel:
>
> The sound card is an on board Realtek AC'97.
>
> The decoder I use is InterVideo WinDVD.
>
> I can reproduce and fix the problem like clock work. If MCE starts on it's
> own, the sound only comes out the centre channel. If it starts
> automatically
> upon inserting the DVD, -- no problem. Stop the DVD and after I can listen
> to
> music, TV, radio, etc. in full 5.1
>
> "Nigel Barker" wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 15:31:01 -0700, Randy M
>> <RandyM.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Here's what I know. MCE has a bug in it that causes it to mess up the
>> >SPDIF
>> >signal when you exit MCE.
>> >
>> >My problem is pretty much the same as most that have posted about this
>> >problem. The SPDIF signal somehow either stop being transmitted or get
>> >really
>> >messed up so that the receiver does recognize the signal or produces
>> >inaccurate results. In my case, this most often happens with just sound
>> >coming our of the centre channel and nowhere else.
>> >
>> >Here' my work around for this bug.
>> >
>> >1) Exit out of MCE to the desk top.
>> >
>> >2) Insert a DVD in the DVD layer. "The Incredibles" works great for me.
>> >I've
>> >tried other and mist will work but some do not. I suggest you use a DVD
>> >that
>> >produces 5.1 THX sound.
>> >
>> >3) The DVD should start to autoplay. Assuming you have the autoplay set
>> >to
>> >USE MCE to play the DVD, MCE should start up.
>> >
>> >4) If you have your receiver turned up a little you should hear some
>> >popping
>> >and crackling in you speakers. This is the SPDIF sound output somehow
>> >being
>> >reset.
>> >
>> >5) Your speakers should now all have sound coming out of them.
>> >
>> >6) Do NOT exit MCE.
>> >
>> >7) Try playing some music or TV. Your speakers should all still have
>> >sound.
>> >
>> > If you exit MCE, you'll have to redo the steps above. This is because
>> >MCE
>> >somehow loses it's settings or otherwise screws up the signal upon
>> >restart.
>> >
>> >Let me know if this works for you.
>> >
>> >Regards,
>> >
>> >Randy
>>
>> Randy,
>>
>> What sound card do you have & in particular what is the ship set? There
>> appears
>> to be an odd interaction between MCE & some C-media chipsets & drivers. I
>> can
>> vouch for the fact that SPDIF with the Hercules Fortissimo 4 works
>> straight out
>> of the box & doesn't lose settings.
>>
>> --
>> Nigel Barker
>> Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
>>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I have the RealTek AC'97 ALC658C chip set on board the motherboard.

"Nigel Barker" wrote:

> On Sat, 17 Jun 2006 15:31:01 -0700, Randy M <RandyM DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Here's what I know. MCE has a bug in it that causes it to mess up the SPDIF
> >signal when you exit MCE.
> >
> >My problem is pretty much the same as most that have posted about this
> >problem. The SPDIF signal somehow either stop being transmitted or get really
> >messed up so that the receiver does recognize the signal or produces
> >inaccurate results. In my case, this most often happens with just sound
> >coming our of the centre channel and nowhere else.
> >
> >Here’ my work around for this bug.
> >
> >1) Exit out of MCE to the desk top.
> >
> >2) Insert a DVD in the DVD layer. “The Incredibles� works great for me. I’ve
> >tried other and mist will work but some do not. I suggest you use a DVD that
> >produces 5.1 THX sound.
> >
> >3) The DVD should start to autoplay. Assuming you have the autoplay set to
> >USE MCE to play the DVD, MCE should start up.
> >
> >4) If you have your receiver turned up a little you should hear some popping
> >and crackling in you speakers. This is the SPDIF sound output somehow being
> >reset.
> >
> >5) Your speakers should now all have sound coming out of them.
> >
> >6) Do NOT exit MCE.
> >
> >7) Try playing some music or TV. Your speakers should all still have sound.
> >
> > If you exit MCE, you’ll have to redo the steps above. This is because MCE
> >somehow loses it’s settings or otherwise screws up the signal upon restart.
> >
> >Let me know if this works for you.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >Randy
>
> Randy,
>
> What sound card do you have & in particular what is the ship set? There appears
> to be an odd interaction between MCE & some C-media chipsets & drivers. I can
> vouch for the fact that SPDIF with the Hercules Fortissimo 4 works straight out
> of the box & doesn't lose settings.
>
> --
> Nigel Barker
> Live from the sunny Cote d'Azur
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

Hi,
This might not help as some most pcs dont have it but if you go to control
panel and open sound effects manager you can change the spdif settings.
--
Ben


"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts 

I fell back to pre-rollup2. SPDIF started to work normally again. So, I know
it's not my hardware.

I waited a few weeks and then re-installed the latest rollup 2 package (I
had difficulties wth that process but that's another story). To my surprise,
my SPDIF output was still working.

Here's the where I discovered at least one thing that caused it to stop
working.

My kids have wanted a karaoke machine. I thought I might be able to use MCE
for such a purpose. About a year or so ago I had downloaded the free karaoke
plug-in from Microsoft. It didn't seem to do much for me at the time and I
kind of forgot that I had done this.

Well, I recently really started looking back into finding software that
could play karaoke CDs. During an experiment to play karaoke CDs, I tried to
launch the Microsoft karaoke plugin. It failed to launch and displayed some
script error message (looks like java code to me). Anyway I figured that my
messing around with these MCE upgrades must of corrupted it. No biggy. I just
downloaded the program again and it worked no problem.

Guess what happened though. My S/PDIF stopped working and started with the
same symptoms as desribed by me and others here. I did a system restore to
the point prior to this download and bingo ... my SPDIF started working
normally again (and has ever since).

If I think back over time my problems began around the time I installed this
karaoke plug-in for the first tme.

It would be interesting to here if anyone else on this thread had installed
this plugin as well.

Maybe this will give a clue to others here as to the problem but I think I
finally found my solution.



"Kurgan" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm having a problem with my SPDIF port. When my PC starts up, the audio is
> output to the SPDIF fine. I have the windows start up tune fine and can play
> music etc throught the SPDIF. As soon as I start Media center, I hear about
> 50% of the welcome tune to MCE, but then it stops using the SPDIF and my amp
> stops seeing the digital input.
>
> I have 'use SPDIF' in all the audio settings I can find:
> windows Audio driver - use SPDIF
> Cyberlink Power DVD application - use SPDIF
> Media center DVD Audio settings - use SPDIF
>
> I must be missing one setting somewhere, can anyone suggest where else I
> need to force it to use the SPDIF in MCE?
>
> thanks,
> K
>
 >> Stay informed about: SPDIF stops when MCE starts