Interesting you mention this tool.  I have run it a number of times and in all cases it comes back as HDCP compliant.

 Stalag

Last night I found that ATI had an updated driver for my card.  After working to deinstall the old driver (several intermediate steps), I reverted the system to a default generic driver to make sure I had deinstalled any ATI driver software.  I then installed the new driver from xfxforce.com which is the maker of my video card.  Now when I play media center for about 2 minutes the screen goes black when playing an unprotected station.  But for protected stations I still see about ~5sec of video and audio but with the same behavior as with an unprotected station after about 2 minutes of Media Center.  My monitor still operates and if I do not open media center the computer runs normally.  What gives?  I am almost certain the HDCP handshake is working because this behavior is more like I would expect if HDCP were working. 

 I still think the problem is DRM copy protect.

 Stalag

One other thing to consider, remove the Cisco 1520 while you're working this out. The TW operation of this device is flaky (at least here) and you can get problems similar to what you're experiencing. Once that's removed from the stream, and you get it worked out, then put it back in. Just because it says "operational" on the tuning resolver page in the ATI  brower doesn't really mean that it's "Operational". My DAVICS never says connected under rf even though it works and it says Broadcast Only on page one, but under Tuning Resolver (next page on the home of dia for the TA) it says authorized and operational and then it's working.

Here there are only about four channels in HD that are SV so you'll be able to test most of the line-up without the TA connected. (Just remove it's USB connector for testing).

John

I have actually tried removing the Cisco 1520 tuning adaptor to attempt to sort this out.   I am still working on this problem but it will take time as I have to now attempt a clean install of Windows 7 to replicate the issue.  I do not know how to try to troubleshoot further an HDCP issue without some way of directly testing the handshake.  I have no idea if the handshake succeeds or fails.  If the handshake is succeeding, why do I not have full video beyond the 2-5 second window with either SDV channels or the analog channels when the Digital card is in the ATI DCT tuner.  This should be a simple answer but I have no way of testing beyond a full reinstall of the OS here.   I did try another video card with no luck.

 Stalag

  Alex:

dude, people are being really polite it really does sound like a HDCP issue and you have done little to confirm you have tried what they suggest.

 

for example - did you run the cyberlink tool again?

for example what models of monitor have you tried (your gave manufacture names but not specific model names) and have you validated they are HDCP.

 IIf you can get everything to work on extenders or anlaog out then it isn't the copy protection on the file.

 

In answer to your questions I have the following

Cyberlink tool has been run lots of times with the return of HDCP compliant in multiple configurations.

I have tried the following monitors with the same effect.  The  24" NEC AccuSync™ LCD24WMCX and the LG L206WTQ-BF.  Both monitors are HDCP compliant.

I tried both the MSI 2600XT pro video card and an XFX Force 4770 video card with no effect.

I reverted the drivers back to the default SVGA drivers and deleted all  drivers pertaining to ATI with no fix.

I have no extenders.

Stalag

In continuation.

I finally was able to install to a bare drive to test for problems related to the install.  I found the following. 

1.  32 bit windows media center did work but the operating system was very unstable.  I blew away this config almost immediately.

2.  64 bit windows media center works after activation but the video stops arbitarily with pixelation. 

3.  32 bit upgrade worked but I found major issues with Media center and playback.  Which leads to a question.  Why is an officially supported upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7  32 bit do not work?  I have preserved the old system and can go back if needed.  I suspect some system instability was due to the 2gb to 4gb upgrade but it still does not explain why media center did not activate properly when Vista was upgraded to Win 7.  I am still testing Windows 7  and if one has more info into dealing with the continuity of video in Windows 7 I would be willing to apply any fixes.

Stalag

And if it was not clear HDCP issues are NOT THE PROBLEM.  If in a clean install everything works, HDCP was not the problem.

 Stalag

A continuation of problems still plague me here.  I now have Windows Media Center randomly crashing, random black screens, etc.  I now reiterate my comment and question, "Are you sure this was ready for prime time?"  Supported upgrades do not work, random crashes in Media center on the following hardware:

an Intel BX48BT2 motherboard with integrated networking and has installed memory of 4GB of OCZ platinum memory

NEC AccuSync LCD24WMCX

XFXforce 4770 video card

ATI External DCT

Cisco 1520 SDV (Switched Digital video tuner)

Microsoft Natural Keyboard and Microsoft Intelimouse optical, both of which are attached through my Raritan KVM through a Raritan PS2-USB adaptor

An Plextor Px-800A DVD player and an Lite-on LH-16D1P DVD player

A Corsair 4GB USB operating as my ReadyBoost device

And currently my 64bit Windows 7 install running in AHCI mode with the potential to revert to my 32 bit Windows 7 install running in my preferred RAID configuration.

And not to forget the processor is an Intel Quad Core Q9550 processor.

This system configuration should work.  Why does it not work?

Stalag

stalag

A continuation of problems still plague me here.  I now have Windows Media Center randomly crashing, random black screens, etc.

For all its problems, 7MC x86 does not crash on me or randomly go to a black screen. (ISTR that Windows 7 introduced a new feature that causes the end of DVD playback to remain on a black screen, but that's one of those "by design" thingies.) After getting rid of codec packs and other detritus, I would want to rule out hardware issues. Are you MemTest86+stable? If not, your memory is bad. If so, your memory may still be bad, and Prime95 can expose memory that is problematic only under load. If you're overclocking, stop. Are any of your components overheating, particularly the CPU and GPU? Why are you using ReadyBoost? I thought that was helpful only for computers with very limited memory. Get rid of it. Things like the KVM also represent unnecessary variables. Ultimately, it would be useful to strip the computer down to the bare essential hardware and run MemTest86+, Prime95, and other diagnostics, and as for Windows, try a clean install that is fully patched by Windows Update and install only necessary drivers. Deny the drivers offered by Windows Update that are superseded by vendor releases, and if you're using HD audio on your motherboard, and it works, do not install any audio drivers. They (well, Realtek and VIA IME) don't add anything particularly useful, especially if you're running S/PDIF to an AVR. In particular, the VIA audio drivers supplied by Asus for my P7P55D knocked out WMC/WMP's ability to play protected Zune Marketplace audio files, and I had to reset the Windows 7 DRM to get that capability back.

Finally, if you gave a more detailed problem description, there's at least a tiny non-zero probability that someone would recognize non-randomness in what you've characterized as "random crashing." Even "crashing" is very lacking in descriptiveness. There are usually error dialogs, event log entries, and so forth that further characterize the "crash". It can't hurt to include this information. In fact, examining the event log is the first thing you should do. It's easy, and there's a chance it will contain useful information.

I am definitely NOT and I repeat NOT overclocking on this system one IOTA!!!  If the previous posts I made have not been read, I will repeat here.  I am not dealing at this point with DVD playback but instead with Digital Cable television playback issues.  I am running a clean install of Windows 7 at this point with NO 3rd party software installed other than requisite drivers from XFXforce(ATI) and Intel.  CPU and GPU are running within normal operating parameters including temperature.  Keyboard and mouse inputs through a KVM should not be an issue.  Monitor I am using is directly connected to the video card via a DVI-D to HDMI cable.  DVI-D and HDMI are basically the same standard just different connectors as far as I understand.  Blanking of the monitor only happens when Windows Media center is being used and THIS BLANKING OF THE MONITOR IS TOTALLY RANDOM!!!!.  Memory is being tested as I write this and I will answer that issue when I get home this evening.

Please read all posts as I have been adding to them as I go along.

Stalag

I have been for the last few days running the Windows Memory Management tool to make sure that the timings on the newly installed memory are correct.  The OCZ Platinum memory is capable of running at 1600MHz but the SPID timing default in the BIOS of the Intel DX48BT2 motherboard were less than ideal to say the least.  I think with the last timing settings tried manually are working since of the 2 iterations (I will post the timings I used later),  These timing settings now have both the processor, an Intel Q9550, and the memory, OCZ part number OCZ3P1600LV4GK, running at 1333 MHz bus bandwidth with the memory underclocked for its capabilities.  The first iteration of the Windows Memory Management Tool on the first run reported no errors and the second run was 89% complete with no errors when I left for work this morning.  I am hoping this resolves some of the stablility issues and helps me to isolate the problems to Media Center television alone.  Also, I have no CODEC's installed other than what came on the Microsoft install media (further reply to a previous post).

Please make sure you have read all prior posts as further information is contained in those posts.  I have been able to eliminate the following hardware as a problem to Windows Media Center copy protection

1.  All hardware is HDCP compliant and works as expected (verified by a temporary clean install onto a test hard drive).

2.  All hardware is functioning as expected and has been eliminated as a potential source of the problem.

3.  Clean installs do work with the switched digital video.

4.  Upgrade does work with SDV but the video/audio cuts out after 5 sec.

5.  All connections to and from the computer as well as all internal devices in the computer are proper and all cabling is properly connected and meets all current standards.

Can anyone tell me/help me with the upgrade install that does not work as advertised and supported by Microsoft?  I deliberately bought the retail upgrade version of Windows 7 with the intention of getting Windows Media Center to do High Definition Switched Digital Video as offered by Time Warner in my area. Admittedly I did do some preliminary work under Vista but the problems I had were independant of both the Windows Vista and the Windows 7 installs with similar problems in both OS's.  For your info most of the channels we have available in Columbus Ohio are SDV only in High Definition.  There are only a few clear QAM channels from Over the Air Broadcasts that come in without SDV with which I I have no problem watching.  However I still under the upgrade have issues receiving/watching the protected flagged content as provided by Time Warner.

Stalag

stalag

I have been for the last few days running the Windows Memory Management tool to make sure that the timings on the newly installed memory are correct.  The OCZ Platinum memory is capable of running at 1600MHz but the SPID timing default in the BIOS of the Intel DX48BT2 motherboard were less than ideal to say the least.  I think with the last timing settings tried manually are working since of the 2 iterations (I will post the timings I used later),  These timing settings now have both the processor, an Intel Q9550, and the memory, OCZ part number OCZ3P1600LV4GK, running at 1333 MHz bus bandwidth with the memory underclocked for its capabilities.  The first iteration of the Windows Memory Management Tool on the first run reported no errors and the second run was 89% complete with no errors when I left for work this morning.

FWIW, underclocking memory has proven necessary with Crucial DDR3 1333 memory on an Asus P7P55D motherboard. This combination would pass MemTest86+ (and presumably the Windows tools you are using) 'til the cows come home, but run Prime95 or even Everest stability tests, and it would completely crash the PC or spontaneously reboot within minutes. The solution was to drop the speed down to 1066, which also dropped the voltage from 1.6v to 1.5v, which is what the memory was rated at anyway. I don't know if the BIOS was glitchy or what, but by default, the BIOS was using 1.6v at the rated speed. In any case, dropping to 1.5v and keeping the 1333 MHz did not solve the problem. It seems everyone using this memory has to reduce the speed to 1066 to get it Prime95-stable. This is why I suggested running Prime95 even if MemTest86+ reports no problems. (This memory was even less stable for some people, crashing Windows under non-load conditions and failing the memory tests. If you think about it, they were the lucky ones!)

3.  Clean installs do work with the switched digital video

4.  Upgrade does work with SDV but the video/audio cuts out after 5 sec.

Can anyone tell me/help me with the upgrade install that does not work as advertised and supported by Microsoft?

Wish I could help you. I'd personally call it a day with the clean install working. I've never tried an upgrade install in the 20+ years I've been using Windows. Just don't believe in it. If I had protected files I hadn't watched, I'd image the existing OS to a spare partition and keep it for watching those files.

I ran Prime 95 in both the processor mode and in the memory+processor mode.  What I found was that the memory was defective.  I returned it today for an exchange of corsair Dominator memory that should be in theory more compatable with my motherboard.  This may have lead to some of my video corruption issues and random crashes.  A short test with my old memory is good and stable with Prime 95.  Tims, you helped pinpoint one cause of the problems I was having. 

 Thanks,

Stalag

You are welcome. Hopefully the new memory will fix it for you.