Windows Media Center "Tuner not available" error message

Question

My TV tuner was working great then all of a sudden it's not.  Whenever I try to watch TV, I get "tuner not available.  The tuner in currently in use by another application or is not working".  There are no other programs running. 

Not sure what is going on.

Answer 1

Hello, Lannie1234

Check your Device Manager for any problems. Go to Start, type “device manager” in the search box and press enter. Check if any item is unknown or has a yellow Exclamation /!\ next to it.

If so, what is the error?

We look forward to hearing back from you.

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David

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

I have the same error on a different card. I use an ATI HDTV Wonder. I have all of the drivers installed and working properly because Nero Home recognizes and uses the tuner perfectly. I prefer Windows Media Center however and would like to use it.

Why would Windows 7 Media Center have the tuner error and Nero Home have no problems with it?

And before you ask, Nero isn't taking over the tuner or anything as this error has happened from day one of my Windows 7 installation and Nero was just installed today.

I believe that this error is something in Windows Media Center and not the drivers as most seem to say.

Answer 3

@ lannie:

When you installed the drivers for your HVR-1800, did you install only the drivers, or did you also install the full Hauppauge package (which includes the WinTV PVR application)?  If the latter, that's a big problem - multiple TV/PVR apps (in this case, Media Center + WinTV) will create issues.  One ot the other will lose in the "who gets the tuner first" race on startup.

My recommendation to you would be to download the latest drivers from Hauppauge (on this page) - scroll down to the section titled

WinTV-HVR-1800/1850, WinTV-HVR-1250, WinTV-HVR-1500 driver for Windows Media Center.  Download the zip file, and extract it somewhere easy-to-remember (such as C:\Hauppauge)

On your Hauppauge CD (that came with the tuner), you'll find a utility called HCWCLEAR.EXE.  Run that, and select the option to "remove all Hauppauge software and drivers."  Reboot when that's complete.

On restart, watch your Notification Area for the "installing device drivers" popup.  Click it, and point it to the directory (e.g. C:\Hauppauge) that you previously extracted the drivers to. 

Reboot again after drivers are installed, and re-run TV Setup.  If, for some reason, TV Setup fails to run properly, reboot again.  This time, run Media Center Setup again (Tasks > Settings > General.)  This option will reset all of the MC config files and Registry settings (including TV config) to a 'virgin' state, and should correct the issue.

@ watchuknow:  what tuner(s) do you have installed on that system?

@ Tango_Delta:  As you're runnning Windows 7, you should re-post your question in one of the Windows 7 forums.  I'd suggest the Windows 7 Media folder.  ;)

-Chris

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Answer 4

There are no problems listed. Usually I can troubleshoot most things on my computer but this is just ridiculous!

If this is a compatibility issue between Vista and the cable company, will Windows 7 actually clear it up?  I haven't been able to use my tv tuner on my computer for 8 months!  It was one of the reasons why I bought this computer.

Does Windows 7 actually have a Media center with a tv tuner?

Frustrated me!

Answer 5

Before windows 7 mine worked fine. Now I receive the same error i.e. can't find tuner.  Dumped existing driver and now can't load a replacement driver.  Normally when deleting a driver, windows will pick up the device as "new equipment" however even that's not happening.  Does anyone know where I can find a driver that will work with Windows 7 ???.