Pros
None, does not run at all
Cons
Requires that Windows Media Encoder 7.1 be installed, which Microsoft no longer offers. Utterly useless.
Pros
I'm using the MsDVR 2005 version with new hardware. It uses Windows Media Encoder profiles, but it's much easier on system resources than WME -- and it's more practical for both viewing and recording. Since newer ATI cards use Catalyst Media Center -- not ATI Multimedia Center with GuidePlus -- this program is a happy find. At review time, there are problems with the EPG. But manually setting recording schedules is painless and flexible. I've tried numerous cost-free solutions. This has been the only one to satisfy me yet.
Cons
There are few minor imperfections ? most are easy to resolve. Installation/first-run asks you to select your tuner card from a list. If you don't see your card, just hit the X and you should be fine. To use WME 9 profiles, you have to copy them from "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\Settings" to "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Components\Encoder\Profiles." To use custom A/V resolution/bitrates, first create them in WME and save the profile(s) to that folder. The next time you start MsDVR, you should see the profile name in the Advanced list. Scheduled recordings don?t start unless the application is running and the application doesn?t minimize to tray. Just use something like DM2 (open source, available from sourceforge.net). It will let you minimize to tray, ensuring the recording starts. And it will let you keep the detached TV window on top when viewing. It takes a moment to load on my system. But that's almost certainly due to my bloated ATI driver. Although there are problems with the EPG, I?m sure they could be resolved with a little support and effort. The absence of tips, tricks and general help is disappointing. But overall, this is a GREAT little program for users that don?t need hand-holding. I hope development resumes.
Pros
nothing I liked about it.
Cons
old program not compatable with modern software. Might work if you run a 486 computer with 4 meg ram and win 98
Pros
don't know
Cons
would not work
Pros
It installed well.
Cons
It doesn't work.
Pros
This program is the best I've ever seen for capturing TV to hard drive. The software has worked beautifully from the moment of install. It is very easy to program the start/stop times. The interface is very simple to use. No fancy bells and whistles. Just simple, straight forward, timed recording!
Cons
It uses WMV format, which means actually editing the videos or even converting them to another format is either impossible or a large pain in the butt. If not for this, the software would be perfect.
Pros
Unlike the majority of the PVRs out there this program runs super Light... I can actually keep other programs and windows open while running it without worrying about how much memory is being used and a resultant computer crash.
The interface is about as simple as you could hope for
Cons
Like the previous commentor something screwy recently happened.
I now need an activation code to register the program...There are instructions to email for the activation code. It literally says it will take no more than 5-30 minutes ...... Ive been waiting about 30 days now.
The Maksil site looks deserted, with no answers or info on the situation.
this is a real pain, but the program Is worth the trouble to get it working properly again
Pros
worked great, good layout
Cons
once I registered it, the software blew up & after going as far as removing every existance of it from the windows registry the exact same thing happend when I reinstalled it. I have also duplicated this issue on two different systems...
Still have not heard from the mfgr on any possible resolution.
if it still runs after you register it, count yourself lucky
Cons
It did not work at all. I installed windowmedia encoder 7.1. My tv card is wdm supported but the message was MS DVR did not find a video device.
Summary
I tried this program a few months ago and I couldn't get it to work. I though that it was because I had a generic card (it doesn't even have a brand listed, but it's Philips compatable). I was tired of other unstable programs, so I tried this one again. I installed Windows Encoder 7.1 (I hadn't done that before becuase the error message said that my card wasn't recognized). I also had to uninstall Encoder 9 to get the program to work.
So, if you can't get this great, free program to work, make sure you uninstall Encoder 9 if you have it and install Encoder 7.1.
Please Wait
