Video may turn black during playback over a Media Center Extender device (896568)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Media Center Extender for Windows XP Media Center
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

SYMPTOMS

When you play back an MPEG video by using a Microsoft Media Center Extender device on a Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based computer, the video may turn black.

CAUSE

This issue occurs when the video uses MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 encoding and the timestamp that is embedded within the MPEG stream is corrupted. Typically, this corruption occurs at the time that the video is originally encoded. This corruption causes the timestamp to change values significantly. When the Media Center Extender detects that the timestamp has changed in value, the Media Center Extender must flush the video buffers and then refill the video buffers. Because the Media Center Extender uses large buffers to stream media content over a network, the video takes longer than expected to restart.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, you can use the Microsoft Windows Media Encoder 9 Series to re-encode the affected MPEG videos into the Windows Media Video (WMV) format. Then the videos will play correctly through the Media Center Extender device.

To obtain Windows Media Encoder, visit the following Microsoft Web site:


To re-encode the MPEG video into WMV format, follow these steps:
  1. Start Windows Media Encoder.
  2. On the Windows Media Encoder toolbar, click New Session.
  3. Click Convert a file, and then click OK.
  4. Click Browse, locate the MPEG video to use as the source file, and then click Open.
  5. Click Browse, choose the location where you want to save the converted file, type a name for the file, and then click Save.
  6. Click Next.
  7. Click File download (computer playback), and then click Next.
  8. Click Finish. Depending on the size of the original file, conversion into a WMV file may take a long time.
  9. After the conversion finishes, click Close.
  10. Save the session file, and then quit Windows Media Encoder.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

Technical support for Media Center

Because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition was included with your hardware device or system, the hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for this software. Your manufacturer may have customized the installation with unique components such as specific device drivers and optional settings to maximize the performance of that manufacturer's hardware. If you require technical help with Windows XP Media Center Edition, contact your manufacturer directly because the manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that the manufacturer has installed on the hardware.

You can also visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition product information Web site at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/17/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kbprb KB896568 kbAudEndUser kbAudOEM
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.