Pinnacle PCTV or Media Center Scanning Problems

Question

Ragnarok 0 Junior Poster in Training

21 Years Ago

Hi,

I have just bought Pinnacle PCTV 300i Sterio DVB-T card and it came with the software Pinnacle Media Center. When I tell the software that I want it to scan for chanels I get this error:

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.
************** Exception Text **************
System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException: Specified argument was out of the range of valid values.
Parameter name: '-1' is not a valid value for 'index'.
at System.Windows.Forms.ObjectCollection.get_Item(Int32 index)
at PmcSettings.AutoScanForm.get_CurrentCountryCode()
at PmcSettings.AutoScanForm..ctor()
at PmcSettings.ChannelPanel.buttonAutoScan_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at Pinnacle.Spezi.Controls.PcleButtonBase.OnClick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/microsoft.net/framework/v1.1.4322/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
PmcSettings
Assembly Version:
Win32 Version: 1.0.1846.13723
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Pinnacle/MediaCenter/PMCSettings.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.windows.forms/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.windows.forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
LanguageManager
Assembly Version:
Win32 Version: 1.1.1770.18882
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Pinnacle/MediaCenter/LanguageManager.DLL
----------------------------------------
PMCSettingsManager
Assembly Version:
Win32 Version:
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Pinnacle/MediaCenter/PMCSettingsManager.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.xml/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.xml.dll
----------------------------------------
PcleControls
Assembly Version:
Win32 Version:
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Pinnacle/MediaCenter/PcleControls.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.drawing/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/system.drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
Interop.PclePvrControlLib
Assembly Version:
Win32 Version:
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Pinnacle/MediaCenter/Interop.PclePvrControlLib.DLL
----------------------------------------
PclePvrControl
Assembly Version: 1.0.1773.24612
Win32 Version: 1.0.1773.24306
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Pinnacle/MediaCenter/PclePvrControl.DLL
----------------------------------------
************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just in time (JIT) debugging, the config file for this
application or machine (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.
For example:
<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>
When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the machine
rather than being handled by this dialog.

Anyone able to point light in my direction?

microsoft pci-card xml

7 Contributors
11 Replies
399 Views
2 Years Discussion Span
Latest Post 19 Years Ago Latest Post by wigseryc

Dani AI

Generated 9 Months Ago

The stack trace shows an ArgumentOutOfRangeException caused by an index of -1 being used to fetch a country entry from an internal list. In plain terms, Pinnacle’s autoscan is trying to read a saved “country” selection that is not valid (no selection / out-of-range index), so the AutoScanForm fails immediately. This explains the exception in ’s dump and lines up with ’s observation that a bad saved country value will break autoscan.

Recommended checklist (in roughly the order that narrows the fault):

Confirm Windows XP is fully patched and that audio drivers are present (missing SP/driver combinations were called out by ). MediaCenter depends on those components.
Have the product repair/reinstall run so the region/country setting is re-established by the installer; if the GUI won’t let the app set a country, restoring the saved selection is what stops the exception.
Verify the correct .NET runtime that the product expects is installed and up to date (the trace shows .NET 1.x assemblies). Corrupt or missing framework pieces can make UI code fail in unexpected ways.
Always create a restore point or export any keys before editing the registry; several people fixed the crash by restoring the saved country to a valid value, but that requires care.

For full-system reboots during scan (as reported by ), treat it like a driver/kernel crash rather than just an application bug:

Test the card in another PC to separate hardware from driver/software problems.
Update Pinnacle drivers, motherboard/chipset drivers and check Device Manager for resource conflicts.
Inspect Windows Event Viewer and any memory-dump logs for the failing driver name or bugcheck code.
Try an alternate capture app (Dscaler / ChrisTV / MediaPortal) to confirm hardware functionality — note some third-party installers have AV false positives.

Summary: the most common resolution path is to restore a valid country/region setting (or let a clean reinstall set it), ensure XP/.NET/audio drivers are correct, and isolate any driver conflicts if the machine reboots. Back up the system before registry edits or driver changes. ’s registry-based fix and the SP/driver advice from are the two fixes that repeatedly resolved this exact exception for others.

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billenium_uk 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 1 · 2005-06-06T00:11:48+00:00

well i bought exactly the same thing and i managed to get mine working ok.. although i did have a bit of trouble with the sound to begin with.. other than that it works ok.. maybe its a faulty card as i had no real trouble installing it! shame though because it really is a wicked card!

sorry i couldnt be of more help!

Bill

Ragnarok 0 Junior Poster in Training · Answer 2 · 2005-06-06T03:56:13+00:00

I am not sure if it is the card, I download another peace of software and it seemed to get sound and video from the card but it had a tendency to freeze my computer

flyingbuddha 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 3 · 2005-06-18T23:43:00+00:00

I am not sure if it is the card, I download another peace of software and it seemed to get sound and video from the card but it had a tendency to freeze my computer

Hi, I have the exact same problem, did you manage to fix it? If not, what was the working piece of software you used?

Cheers.

woloseckyj 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 4 · 2005-07-04T19:45:26+00:00

had the same problem, but noticed it said sp2 was not installed... im not sure if its that.. what other sw u used???

flyingbuddha 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 5 · 2005-07-04T23:42:35+00:00

Hi,

I found out what the problem was. I had recently upgraded my OS to XP Home but forgot to install the drivers for my sound card.

I put SP2 on the machine and then updated the media centre to its latest version. Once I had installed the drivers for my soundcard it all worked fine. I suggest you try these and making sure you have nothing wrong with the hardware for your sound card / video.

I really don't like media centre, I recently read an article saying that although the PCTV 300i has an s-video/composite port, the software hasn't been written to utilise it!!!

I'm currently using Dscaler: http://www.dscaler.org

Cheers.

ubien 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 6 · 2005-07-23T15:16:25+00:00

Hi

initially the registry value for "TVChannel.Country" ist set to zero. Depending on the installed framework this will cause the descripted exception. Set it to any valid value (e.g. 49) and autoscan will operate. If "49" (Germany) is not suitable you can change it with the GUI.

Or make a ".reg"-File like the following:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Pinnacle Systems\MediaCenter]
"TVChannel.Country"="49"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
;) Goog Luck

jindalarpan 0 Junior Poster in Training · Answer 7 · 2005-08-10T17:30:35+00:00

can u tell on which windows u r trying this like xp with sp , 98 se etc

flyingbuddha 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 8 · 2005-08-10T23:11:09+00:00

flyingbuddha 0 Newbie Poster

21 Years Ago

PCTV 300i only works on XP

wigseryc 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 9 · 2007-05-18T05:15:34+00:00

Hey.. Now i don't mean to dig up a (rather) old topic here, but i fear i've no other option..

I've just been given a Pinnacle PCTV 300i card, complete with drivers and Pinnacle Media Center as well (on the supplied cd). Now, this all installs well and good, but there is a problem when it comes to scanning for channels.

When i start to scan, my pc reboots. Every time.
Now, i've just today replaced my PSU with a CoolerMaster iGreen 600w unit, so i know it's not a power issue. And XP is up to date. Also i've tried MediaPortal, but to no avail, and i'm really at a loss as for what to do.

Can any of you guys point me in the right direction? Please?

Oh, system spec is as follows:

C2D E6600 2.4ghz
Asus P5NSLi Motherboard
1 Gig A-Data 800mhz RAM
2x nVidia 7600GS 512MB GFX Cards in SLi mode
CoolerMaster iGreen 600w PSU
250gig Samsung HD
Pinnacle PCTV 300i Tv Card
& Case Fans / Few Lights.

Any help would be hugely appreciated.. Thanks in advance.

Wigs.

flyingbuddha 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 10 · 2007-05-18T14:18:47+00:00

Hi wig,

My money's on the pinnacle software. It's shite. It came out-of-the box with no s-video functionality yet it has an s-vid. port.

Chances are the drivers are clashing with some other piece of hardware causing a memory conflict, that's why your computer is rebooting. Have you tried running all the updates from the pinnacle site?

Best of luck.

wigseryc 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 11 · 2007-05-18T20:12:03+00:00

Yah i've tried everything i can think of.. Got so far as to trying ChrisTV.. And this seems to be working, channel scans have picked up vague imagery on the telly, so just need to move the arial about now. However, AVG has picked up the ChrisTV executable installer to be a virus, and now I don't know whether to keep using it or search for an alternative.

Also unsure as to whether or not the remote will work now :(

Why is it never simple?