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Hi all,
Following the replacement of my primary HD and the failure of the OEM restoration disks to restore the system to its as purchased condition, I formatted the drive and installed XP Home SP3. I installed my FusionHDTV software and then VS 9 + updates.
Problems:
1. When in capture mode, VS 9 no longer has the option to select the FusionHDTV, BDA Tuner 1. Only displaying the single default selection, FusionHDTV, WDM Video Capture.
2. The Options/TV Channel Manager/Auto Scan goes through the scan procedure but no channels are found.
Source/Video composite works fine but Source/Video Tuner, nothing. I do have recollections when testing VS 11 a while back that it gave the option to select the BDA Tuner 1 but took about 15 attempts before it actually located it. Once it did it was ok. Up until now VS 9 has always had the option to select either the BDA or WDM options. Not any more.
I have updated all drivers from the manufacturer except the BIOS, still nothing.
It's got me beat.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Can we assume that the Dvico control and record software which came with the card detects both tuners? If not, that would of course point to something related to the card and possibly Windows, rather than VS specifically.

Can we also assume that your reference to updating drivers includes the Dvico drivers? I happen to have a Dvico dual tuner hdtv card too, and was pleased to find only about two weeks ago that Dvico had finally gotten around to issuing new drivers to work with Vista SP 1 (which is what I have).

I confess, though, that I have never used VS to capture from the card. I prefer to use the software which came with the card which allows me to set up recording times in advance. Its use of .ts format is a bit of a pain, but I convert it to program stream mpeg-2 using either a freeware program called HDV2MPG or else Video ReDo.

I am also currently using Video Studio 12 Ultimate. I have just checked, and it gives me the choice of BDA Tuners 1 and 2. What is more, I have just done scans on both tuners, and both worked fine.

Hi Ken,
The DVICO card I have is the single tuner DVB-T Plus and this is working fine with the OEM driver updates as it did before them. Also works fine with non OEM XP Home. I did look at Vista but dumped it, too many problems with existing software and hardware.

The DVICO drivers I installed are the same drivers I had before the change of the HD and new XP Home installation. DVICO, VS 9 & demo VS 11 all worked fine with the previous OEM setup, only DVICO runs 100% with the new XP Home.

I agree having to convert TS format etc. is a pain which is why I had been working through VS 9 and it had been working fine. I did have thoughts of the OEM setup installing "something" of its own so I installed their companion driver disk as well, then updated but no luck.

I installed an early version of DVICO which had also worked with the OEM installation but same result. DVICO ok, VS 9 no BDA Tuner 1 to select, only WDM capture.
Not sure if this is a specific OEM problem and there is "something" built into the computer calling for ID or a file that is missing.

For the past 2 weeks I have been attempting to restore to original "as purchased" condition via a master cd set but have had no luck there either. It's supposed to create a hidden sector to store the backup in but in typical computer logic cannot find the hidden sector to put the backup in........

Perhaps specific Windows software is required for VS 9 to run?

There is no special Windows software required. You have XP, and VS9 will run on any flavour of XP as far as I am aware.

As far as the hidden partition is concerned, I forget the name used (it's an old DOS sort of thing), but you will (or would normally) find it during the boot up sequence for the computer. You might need to do it a couple of times, to be able to read the screen properly if you can't stop it in time. But down toward the bottom of the screen in the BIOS stage, right at the very beginning of boot-up, you will probably see a set of messages telling you to press, say f8 to enter Set-up (which is the BIOS/CMOS settings), and probably f10 to enter System Restore or words to that effect. Try that. It won't (or shouldn't) actually start anything, but should instead present you with a DOS looking menu telling you what to do.

I have a similar set-up on my computer C:\ and would dearly love to get rid of it but am not yet prepared, unless absolutely necessary, to reformat my computer just to achieve the 18 or 20 GB that are dedicated to that partition. But you have already reached that stage!!!

Let us know what happens...

Many pc's, such as those from HP and Dell, use hidden FAT32 restore partitions.

I've deleted them using Partition Magic in dos on a Win98 boot disc.

I would prefer to install XP and not bother with any hidden partitions, if VS 9 was working as it used to. The only reason I'm trying to restore to "as purchased condition" is because VS 9 worked then but not now. I'm trying to find out what my current XP configuration is missing that could cause VS 9 to not give access to BDA Tuner 1.

It's very frustrating!

Not much use now, but you might consider making regular Windows System Restore points, enabling you to revert to previous configurations in the event of stuff giving problems.

Personally, I maintain a FAT32 image partition on all my pc's, and use a program called Norton Ghost to do exactly the same thing. When I'm unable to find the cause of a problem, I simply restore a previous image of a known working configuration. The system depends on keeping your operating system and programs on a separate partition from your data in order to minimise the image file sizes and time needed to create and restore the images. It's worked very well for me over the years, and for me it's the ultimate protection against malware and viruses.

One benefit is in uninstalling programs. As you know, most programs leave all manner of traces behind after you run their uninstallers, and it's difficult to eradicate those traces even when using registry cleaners and so on. The guaranteed way of removing all traces of a program is to restore the pc to a configuration that existed prior to the installation of that program.

One unfortunate additional complication in recent times appears to be the potentially disruptive effect of some Windows updates. It can be tiresome and disc-space intensive to make disc images prior to each update.

In my case, and I suspect Ken Green's case as well, that it is not just a 'normal' partition, hidden or not, but what is called an EISA configuration (I finally looked it up! ) And I don't think it is manageable with Partition Magic or similar tools... It is, as far as I am aware, only accessible in the manner I described above. Happy to proven wrong, though, since as I say, I would love to get rid of it but have not yet found a partition manager which will do it!

You know it's amazing that although Windows comes with things like Media Player and Internet Explorer, it has never had an integrated disc partitioning utility, which I would certainly consider to be a vital component of any operating system.

Anyway, even when faced with one of the monstrous partitions you describe, it's still possible to configure your hard drive in the way I posted - in XP at least. You would first need to write an image of your hard drive to a FAT32 partition on another drive - or these days, perhaps even to a large flash card, though any device connected by USB will only get legacy USB data transfer speeds. Better to use a second internal hard drive. Then you could format the original drive as the OP did. If you were concerend about some persistent infection, you can use a secure delete utility, which although slow, will ensure that no data whatsoever remains on the drive. Then create partitions to suit using Partition Magic or other partitioning software, run from a Win98 boot disc. Having done all that, you can then write the drive image back to the newly partitioned original drive. It's a bit round the houses, but it does work.

Yes, it is a good idea, and one I have considered before.

My other problem, though, is that I have never seemed to be able to get Ghost to work properly -- either on my current main computer, or the previous one. I have version 10.0 of it. Anyway, that has made me loath to go that way as I would hate to copy the C:\ drive contents elsewhere, then find I cannot return it or find it is corrupt or unusable in some way. And unfortunately, Partition Magic does not work with Vista. Paragon, which does, costs nearly A$300 here, and so far I have been reluctant to spend that for what would probably only ever be one use...

Mind you, it has a facility like Ghost, so that might make it worthwhile, now that I think about it!

Whilst not wishing to hijack the post (apologies to the OP) I have tried Paragon. I think it allows you to write an image to an NTFS folder too - but I prefer Ghost. The Paragon version I used keeps nagging you with prompts at every stage, which I found annoying, but in fairness it seemed to work at about the same speed as Ghost.

A net search reveals several freeware utilities you might consider since software prices seem steep in Oz.

The problem with these hidden sectors is that one cannot see them. Are they there or not? Usually they only become a problem when one has to replace drive C:. Does one stay with the original or start again with a new OS. I went for a new OS. Problem is VS 9 did not work 100% and I'm trying to find out why by reinstalling to "as purchased condition" which I know did work. As Ken Berry pointed out there are "work arounds" but I'm not all that keen on "work arounds", they create extra work.

Sorry Ken and no disrespect meant but I couldn't take much comfort, if, when reading a flight manual, I found something along the lines of; Press go button twice but if that fails, matches are stowed under the seat, light blue touch paper.
Computers have been around long enough now for us to be getting it right.

I've run the OEM restoration disk more than a dozen times but not all the reinstallation software gets installed and I'm pretty sure that it only installs the OS, as when I run my Master Recovery Media, within the first few lines it advises;

Command = >Q:\PARTS\WSE000AB.XX\RESTORE.BAT<
Arg [1] = >Q:\PARTS\WSE000AB.XX<
BACKUP = NO_BACKUP:
FACTORY = NO_FACTORY:
MAINTENANCE = NO_MAINTENANCE:
RAMDRIVE = D:
HDD = C:

The final few lines read;
Q:\PARTS\WSE000AB.XX is remote
CHECKING BPRoot Didn't find BACKUP or NEC-RESTORE in OEM name or volLabel
Q: File not found

It would seem from the above that the hidden sector "BACKUP" is not there. I'll ring NEC Sydney again and see if I can get onto local tech. support. The Tech. support call centre NEC provide, although very helpful with phone and emails, I'm having language difficulties with.
cheers,

The point I was trying to make -- obviously badly! -- is that the OEM restoration disc is probably not going to restore it to original factory (or computer manufactuer's) settings. That is what is embedded in the hidden partition.

Now since writing the above, I have had the chance to reboot my computer and found in the BIOS messages across the bottom the one I was referring to (vaguely, admittedly) above. It says Xpress Recovery F9. And as it suggests, it will restore or reinstall your original OS.

While the partition is hidden, you should be able to see it in a program like Partition Magic or Paragon Hard Disc Manager. I can also see mine in Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management. In my case it simply says EISA partition. It gives no file system, but Paragon tells me it is Linux Ext2. (Coincidentally, I only just that the disc which came with this month's edition of PC User magazine has Paragon Disk Manager 8.5 on it. )

Partition Magic does not show any hidden or backup sector/partition nor does disk management. The NEC applications/drivers installation CD that came with the computer selects installable software based on whether it finds the hidden/backup sector. Some software which I remember previously being on the computer is no longer listed on the software selection list, again suggesting the backup is not there. The software for producing the Master Recovery CDs being one. Strange though that drive C: indicates 149 GB of a 160 G drive. 11 GB gone missing or a non locatable hidden sector?
It may also be that I am assuming too much. I have assumed that restoring to "as purchased condition" or "as it left the factory" to mean that all software including hidden/backup sectors would be reinstalled. With the computer not operating as described in the sales propaganda maybe I'll just return it and claim a refund, now that's a thought.
This is becoming a very good argument for installing the new XP OS and the hell with it, just never buy OEM again.
thanks Ken - cheers,

At long last, three steps forward.
Unable to deal directly with NEC, no real person works there, only machines that divert one to an overseas call center no matter which number one selects. Rang the original retailer, explained the situation to them. "No worries, I'll check and get back to you". Heard that somewhere before.
9 minutes 26 seconds later, phone rings...
"Have your answers for you Ken".
1. Once the hidden backup sector is gone it's gone for good. Restoring to "as purchased" or "as it left the factory" is not meant to be taken literally. (I'm not sure the ACCC would agree)
2. The Master CD Recovery Media set is now useless, it requires the hidden partition to be there to work. Throw them out.
3. Some of the original software, Record Now & Smart Restore will not work, they also require the hidden sector.
4. The original NEC Windows XP Home Installation CD will install the full XP onto drive C: or if you wish you can install any version of XP. It will be fully installed, nothing missing.

WOW! If that bloke ever needs a job I can steer him to an overseas NEC call centre that could certainly use his talents.

Answers your question also Ken, be careful with hidden sectors. Now for the one step back, to find out why VS 9 is unhappy with my setup. Will let you know the outcome.
cheers,