If you have had the problem of MCE2004 or MCE2005 where you get the above error (or something like it; I don't remember the exact message" and are not able to play DVDs or Videos, here is how you fix it.

1. Make sure you have the .Net Framework 1.1 or 2.0 BETA. Then download the SDK for your version. They can all be download from The Microsoft Download Center

2. Copy ehshell.exe (in the %windir%\ehome) directory to a tempory location.

3. In C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\(either v1.1 or v2.0)\bin folder (or wherever you installed the SDK), open ildasm.exe.

4. Click File>Open and open ehshell.exe in your temporary directory.

5. Click File>Dump. Check only Dump IL code and Expand try/catch. Click OK. Once that process is finished, close ildasm.exe.

6. Open Notepad. Browse to your the temp directory that ehshell is, and you should see two new files, ehshell.il and ehshell.res. Open ehshell.il. This may take a while, depending on the power of your computer.

7. Search for the string get_UsableVideoMemory in the file. Just below that, you should see the value 0x2000000. Change that to 0x1000000. Save the file and close notepad.

8. Go to your temp directory, and delete the copy of ehshell.exe that you have.

9. Using the Open Command Window Here powertoy, open Command Prompt to your tempory directory. Type "C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\(v1.1.4322 or v2.0.40607)" \ilasm /resource:ehshell.res /exe ehshell.il and press enter. If this process fails, download a new version of ehshell.res Here, and replace the old version with this version.

10. Start Safe Mode

11. Backup your old ehshell.exe in the ehome directory to a different folder.

12. Copy and paste the new ehshell.exe from your temp directory to the ehome directory, replacing the old version (MAKE SURE YOUR OLD VERSION IS BACKED UP!!!!!).

13. Boot the computer again normally.

14. Start Command Prompt at the ehome directory.

15. "C:\Program Files\Microsoft .NET\FrameworkSDK\(v1.1 or v2.0)\bin\sn -Vr ehshell.exe

Now You Should have a completely working version of Media Center 2004 or 2005!

Thanks for this guide

My card is compatible with MCE, but the emulated VMware card is not - so it will be useful in that context.

I have an ATI Radeon 7000 series video card on a Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 machine that gives me the "Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center" error. I tried the above steps, but I am still receiving the error and I still can't play videos in Media Center. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Yogi

Do you have WHQL Certified drivers for MCE 2005?

I am running the ATI Radeon MCE drivers that I downloaded at http://www2.ati.com/drivers/wxp-mce-8-121-...22a-022141c.exe. My card is not listed as a compatible video card at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediace...nerlisting.mspx, but I was under the impression that this hack was to get around that.

Yogi

I have the same videocard (radeon VE aka radeon 7000 (32mb of ram)), i've done the same things and I'm still getting the same error

i've found a referenge in the assembly to a certain "DisableDxCheck" thing, probably it's a registry key that when disabled turns all the dx9/ram check off... i'm giving a look at this right now i'll post some updates as soon as I can

Just open regedit and point to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Display Settings

Then Add 2 DWORD KEYS called DisableDxCheck and DisableDx9CapsCheck and set both their values to 1 and media center should start without problems and without all those nasty recompiling things

Have fun

Francesco, that did indeed work to start Media Center without giving any errors. However, I cannot view any video in Media Center, be it live tv from my E-Home Wonder TV tuner or a regular video file. I can hear sound, but no video comes through. Seeing as you have the exact same video card as me (Radeon 7000 VE), I was wondering if you are experiencing the same problem. I may just have to break down and buy a new video card, but I don't want to spend a bunch of money. This is an extra computer that is using a spare TV tuner I had. My main computer with an up to date video card is running Media Center with no problem.

This guide will only help if your video card has memory of between 16 and 32 megabytes. The video requirments are actually more tham 32 (33 or more) mb of ram. This makes it 16 (or should). Although this is most cases with Media Center Video, there are still other ways to make this happen.

MCE 2005 requires a beter video card. Why kludge a work around if you don't have to? Your overall experience on MCE is going to suck rocks with just 32 Megs of video RAM!

What if you have a MCE laptop???

I had a problem in starting from step 14 till the end I could not write the comand

15. "C:\Program Files\Microsoft .NET\FrameworkSDK\(v1.1 or v2.0)\bin\sn -Vr ehshell.exe it says that it is not recognized as internal or external command

please tell me how to write it as i get a message of
If you have had the problem of MCE2004 or MCE2005 where you get the above error (or something like it; I don't remember the exact message" and are not able to play DVDs or Videos, here is how you fix it.

1. Make sure you have the .Net Framework 1.1 or 2.0 BETA. Then download the SDK for your version. They can all be download from The Microsoft Download Center

2. Copy ehshell.exe (in the %windir%\ehome) directory to a tempory location.

3. In C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\(either v1.1 or v2.0)\bin folder (or wherever you installed the SDK), open ildasm.exe.

4. Click File>Open and open ehshell.exe in your temporary directory.

5. Click File>Dump. Check only Dump IL code and Expand try/catch. Click OK. Once that process is finished, close ildasm.exe.

6. Open Notepad. Browse to your the temp directory that ehshell is, and you should see two new files, ehshell.il and ehshell.res. Open ehshell.il. This may take a while, depending on the power of your computer.

7. Search for the string get_UsableVideoMemory in the file. Just below that, you should see the value 0x2000000. Change that to 0x1000000. Save the file and close notepad.

8. Go to your temp directory, and delete the copy of ehshell.exe that you have.

9. Using the Open Command Window Here powertoy, open Command Prompt to your tempory directory. Type "C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\(v1.1.4322 or v2.0.40607)" \ilasm /resource:ehshell.res /exe ehshell.il and press enter. If this process fails, download a new version of ehshell.res Here, and replace the old version with this version.

10. Start Safe Mode

11. Backup your old ehshell.exe in the ehome directory to a different folder.

12. Copy and paste the new ehshell.exe from your temp directory to the ehome directory, replacing the old version (MAKE SURE YOUR OLD VERSION IS BACKED UP!!!!!).

13. Boot the computer again normally.

14. Start Command Prompt at the ehome directory.

15. "C:\Program Files\Microsoft .NET\FrameworkSDK\(v1.1 or v2.0)\bin\sn -Vr ehshell.exe

Now You Should have a completely working version of Media Center 2004 or 2005!

I have a change to make to my post ---

Here is the old version:



Here is the new version:
If you have had the problem of MCE2004 or MCE2005 where you get the above error (or something like it; I don't remember the exact message" and are not able to play DVDs or Videos, here is how you fix it.

1. Make sure you have the .Net Framework 1.1 or 2.0 BETA. Then download the SDK for your version. They can all be download from The Microsoft Download Center

2. Copy ehshell.exe (in the %windir%\ehome) directory to a tempory location.

3. In C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\(either v1.1 or v2.0)\bin folder (or wherever you installed the SDK), open ildasm.exe.

4. Click File>Open and open ehshell.exe in your temporary directory.

5. Click File>Dump. Check only Dump IL code and Expand try/catch. Click OK. Once that process is finished, close ildasm.exe.

6. Open Notepad. Browse to your the temp directory that ehshell is, and you should see two new files, ehshell.il and ehshell.res. Open ehshell.il. This may take a while, depending on the power of your computer.

7. Search for the string get_UsableVideoMemory in the file. Just below that, you should see the value 0x2000000. Change that to 0x1000000. Save the file and close notepad.

8. Go to your temp directory, and delete the copy of ehshell.exe that you have.

9. Using the Open Command Window Here powertoy, open Command Prompt to your tempory directory. Type "C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\(v1.1.4322 or v2.0.40607 or v2.0.50215)\ilasm.exe" /resource:ehshell.res /exe ehshell.il and press enter. If this process fails, download a new version of ehshell.res here, and replace the old version with this version.

10. Start Safe Mode

11. Backup your old ehshell.exe in the ehome directory to a different folder.

12. Copy and paste the new ehshell.exe from your temp directory to the ehome directory, replacing the old version (MAKE SURE YOUR OLD VERSION IS BACKED UP!!!!!).

13. Boot the computer again normally.

14. Start Command Prompt at the ehome directory.

Now You Should have a completely working version of Media Center 2004 or 2005!




You still must go to the old post if you need to download the nwe .res file.

Hi,
I had my first ever play with MCE 2005 over the weekend, and struggled a little with this configuration:

IBM Aptiva PII400 +128Mb, with Voodoo3 3500 (32Mb-Euro (No FM))TV card.

The basic install went very well and I am very pleased with the results so far, plenty of tweaking of unncesssary stuff means it actually runs quite happily in less than 90Mb RAM; however I cam across the very problem this thread is describing.

I have run up DXDiag and all checks out with the card supporting DX9.0c
I have installed the latest version of cyberlink DVD codec and checked compliance and functionality all OK.
I have tried the Registry Keys mod, this only poduces a black screen, functionality appears to all be there, sound works fine, mouse is OK, just no picture...
I have recompiled ehshell.exe and worked through the version signing that WBHoenig removed from latest post, (its in the\SDK\ rather than \FrameworkSDK\) directory and I found won't launch without this.
Neither of these have improved the situation and I am now at a loss as to other opportunites that may me available to tell MCE to ignore the card type and continue, anyone got any suggestions or had experience with my Voodoo3 card?

any advice will be gratefully received. (apart from trash it and buy new :-) )

Many thanks
Craig

Why are you insisting in do all that long process for nothing? You can just change those 2 registry entries and have media center working! If you gave a better look at the .net disassembly you could see that it checks those registry keys in those 2 points and if you change them everything will work without touching the sources so your source changes are useless, really useless. Just use the registry keys and everything will go fine without dirtying up your windows installation with .net sdks.

If somebody is interested in the registry keys just give a look at the previous posts.

It's strange, it works fine, probably your radeon ve doesn't have enough video ram to have it running. You should consider upgrading.

You CAN upgrade from Windows XP Home/Professional Editions.
The problem you encounter in the Media Center Setup is common. When i installed Media center, when asking for the Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2, i put in my own Service Pack 2 cd foolishly, and then once that did not work i tried my other "XP Pro" cd (version 2002 no service pack). After many upgrades and formats i tried my media center disk 1 cd (as CD 2 was in the drive at the time of asking for Xp Pro with SP2. Sure enough that was the problem, a simple labelling error!

I don't understand how this is allowed to be posted? This thread documents hex editing files and circumventing built in operating system checks allowing you to install unlicensed software (warez).

This info was posted on an independent website for a good while. MS came down on the author and had it removed.

Hi Guys,

I have tried following all of the above steps. So far, nothing has changed. Well, I tried what Francesco suggested, with the regitry key chage. This made the warning message disappear, but MCE turned black. Now, whenever I turn on MCE, it goes black, until I press ALT+F4 and return the Windows. Does anybody know about this issue?
An email would sure do good!

Thanks,
Niklas

Why u all doing these recompilation or deassembling of M$ code it their ©

dont

Start MC
go
Settings-->General-->Startup and Window Behaviour-->
untick show"Not Desgined For Media Center"dialog
isn't it enough ??

Because than Media Center still starts in safe-mode. The recompiling isn't necesery, but if you add these registry things Media Center will start in normal mode.

Hello,


I have a Nvidia GeForce4 420 Go with 32 MB memory, and installed de 36.48 drivers on XP MCE 2005.
When launching the Media Center Application I receive the error "Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center". I already tryed to had on The Registry ..../MediaCenter/Video Settings the 2 keys, and the error disapear, but when launching videos the application starts fleeking and crashes the application.

Does anyone know what to do?

I also tryed to recompile the ehshell.exe but I get this error

D:\Documents and Settings\HOME\Desktop\BK>D:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\F
ramework\v2.0.50727\ilasm /resource:ehshell.res /exe ehshell.il

Microsoft ® .NET Framework IL Assembler. Version 2.0.50727.42
Copyright © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Assembling '\exe.il' to EXE --> '\exe.exe'
Could not open \exe.il

Assembling 'ehshell.il' to EXE --> '\exe.exe'
Source file is ANSI

' in: // Image base: 0x03720000x error at token '' // ILONLY

***** FAILURE *****


thanx

I tried that step and from the command prompt, F:\>"F:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\v1.1" \ilasm /resource:ehshell.res /exe ehshell.il

I receive this message:
'"F:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\v1.1"' is not recognized as an internal or
external command,
operable program or batch file.

This isn't an attempt to circumvent anti-copy protection!

I have just purchased a Stealth S60 graphics card ("featuring Radeon 7000"), which has 64 MB of video memory. I put it into a computer running Windows MCE because the motherboard has an on-board graphics chip with no connector for my TV set.

I too am getting the "Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center" message before the program will run (the "Not Desgined For Media Center" dialog box is already unticked). I tried Francesco's fix of adding DisableDxCheck and DisableDx9CapsCheck, but like niklasfin, when I did that and started Media Center, the screen went black (except for the cursor), and I had to press ALT+F4 to end the program.

I searched ATI's Customer Support (hah!) database for help, but this problem was not mentioned. No drivers for this card were shown either. I finally found a list of graphics cards that they recommend for MCE at http://www.ati.com/buy/promotions/mcesolutions/ and of course, my card isn't listed.

Has anyone found a way yet to get around this problem?

Only DirectX 9 cards are listed. That's why you have to add those registry keys. We run Media Center fine on a 7y old nVidia Riva TNT 16MB. That you get a black screen is not because of these registry keys but because of drivers. I don't really know haw to solve it but try the most recent drivers for XP but not the ones for XP Media Center Edition.

flupke wrote, "I don't really know haw to solve it but try the most recent drivers for XP but not the ones for XP Media Center Edition."

I added the 2 registry keys again, and then downloaded the latest Win XP driver (22.2 MB) on the Diamond Stealth driver page. It didn't help, and they haven't answered my email. The installation program changed my driver from 8.252.0.0, dated 5/3/2006, to 6.14.10.6525, dated 3/22/2005. The Media Center screen is still black.

The ATI Driver web site has past versions of CATALYST for Windows XP drivers from 5.1 to 6.8. Do I need to keep going back and trying the old drivers to see if they will work, or is there a simple way to accomplish this?

I can't see live TV or view previously recorded programs, which sort of defeats the whole purpose of having a MCE machine.

flupke wrote, "That you get a black screen is not because of these registry keys but because of drivers."

That is the part that I don't fully understand. I understand why adding "DisableDxCheck" and "DisableDx9CapsCheck" to the registry keys allows Windows MCE to believe believe the graphics card is compatible, but what is it about those values that turns a perfectly good TV screen black? Why is it that everything except the mouse pointer (which constantly flickers) disappears?

flupke wrote, "Only DirectX 9 cards are listed. That's why you have to add those registry keys."

I started searching other forums, to see if anyone anywhere might have a solution. At http://www.betaone.net/forum/archive/?t-13854.html I found the following:

"Also, the drivers probably MUST be DirectX 9 drivers. Run DXDIAG and check on the "Display" tab if it really says: "DDI Version: 9 (or higher)". If the number is lower than 9, your display driver is not a DirectX 9 driver."

Well, I ran DXDIAG, and not only does the Display tab say "DDI Version: 9 (or higher)", but the System tab says "DirectX Version: 9.0c". So that's not the problem, but it doesn't explain why I have to add the registry keys, and when I do, why the screen goes black.

And since the card has 64 MB of DDR memory, I shouldn't have to go through the 15 steps listed in the very 1st message, the purpose of which is to allow MCE to run on a 32 MB video card.

Still stumped ....

I have the same problem. I dont think my video card is installed. I only got my pc recently and all worked fine, i was forced to use system restore and now not only is my pc jumpy and jerky but i got that message when i start MCE. Im not sure how to install my card however i do have a folder on my pc called TV TUNER CARD DRVERS can sum1 plzzzzzzzzz help thanks..Jay

Tried the recompiling of ehshell.res, but got this error:

Method Implementations <total>: 135

Resolving member refs: 87710 -> 87710 defs, 0 refs

CUTRES : fatal error CVT1105: cannot seek in file

Could not create output file, error code=0x80070714

***** FAILURE *****

anyone be able to help with this? Also, the download for ehshell.res you had posted just directs me to the forum and not the download....anyway you could post a new d/l for it?

And can anyone figure a way I can get my LeadTek WinTV2000XP Expert to run on MCE2005? it does come with WDM Drivers, but MCE still isn't detecting the **** card :S Even checked for new drivers for d/l.......and I have to admit, I hate using they're PVR Software (LOL))

Hey!

Thanks for this!
Im running a intel 82815 desktop - and I know that it will work (cos its fine in WMP or VLC or powerdvd, but MCE thinks otherwise!)
but i got a problem (and a error message!)

its at this stage....
im getting this when i complie it...

Method Implentation (total): 135
Resolving member refs:87710 -) defs, 0 refs
CUTRES : fatal error CVR1105: cannot seek in file
Could not create output file, error code=0x80070714

***** FAILURE *****

anyone know whats up?

Thanks ya kindly now!!!

-James




btw that other file which you say to download - i can't find it on the other page

Just open regedit and point to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Display Settings

Then Add 2 DWORD KEYS called DisableDxCheck and DisableDx9CapsCheck and set both their values to 1 and media center should start without problems and without all those nasty recompiling things



Just like a few other people - im also getting a black screen - and the welcome sound!

also the guy above ma last post - has got the same problem as moi! what gives!?

...this is going to sound silly...

right

without editing the ehshell.il file, i still can't do it, im still getting the same error (tried it 3 times, and checked everything twice!)...whats gives?

btw which veiron you guys running?
I got MCE 2005, with SP2, and rollupdate 2 thingy-a-boby!

same here

I have the same problem!!! what can I do for to solve it?

I got this very same error message and I tried almost everything listed here. I finally figured out a fix: check your hardware acceleration if you are getting the black screen on all videos - well Real Player and Quicktime are fine, but I could not play a DVD, nor did Media Center even have a DVD option any longer. That fixed it all. Go to control panel, display, settings, advanced and then troubleshooting. My hardware acceleration was turned off - knew how it happened but didn't know how to fix it (long boring story). This worked like magic and I only stumbled across it because I downloaded a new program for my video card that finally gave me an error message that was useful.

Hope this helps...

[b]Hey guys, Im Anthony and I have just recently purchased a new laptop for college. My laptop is an Acer and it has Media Center Edition already installed. My Media Center worked fine at first but now it gives me the "Your video card or drivers are not compatible with Media Center" error, and I am feeling helpless on fixing it. Can someone please help me and use lamens terms, I would be very grateful, thanks

-oh I almost forgot my video card is a NVIDIA GeForce GO 7600, and I do have the latest drivers

,Anthony

Many, many thanks to lafitzp . Everyone - check out his/her solution. I tried it and -WOW- I have my Media Center working flawlessly now. I was getting "the error" when entering MC and nothing would play.

Here's what he/she said:
check your hardware acceleration if you are getting the black screen on all videos - well Real Player and Quicktime are fine, but I could not play a DVD, nor did Media Center even have a DVD option any longer. That fixed it all. Go to control panel, display, settings, advanced and then troubleshooting. My hardware acceleration was turned off -

I had been on the chat line with HP support quite a few time fooling around with the drivers etc for sooooooo many hours over a couple months now. They were at the point of telling me I had to perform a destructive recovery; to go back to my original hard drive restore version from when I first purchased my computer! But, lucky for me, they did point me to this web page!

lafitzp gave the easiest, most logical first step. Thanks again lafitzp.

I too get the video Card and Drivers msg but after clicking ok, the Media Center opens up and seems to work OK. So why not just let the opening msg be and ignore it?