Aha! You're both right, I can't believe I didn't even notice that. All the WDM drivers are signed "Microsoft Corporation."

I just tried uninstalling all the Windows versions and then reran the Multimedia Drivers within the Custom Install, then upon restarting, the Windows Drivers were back. It appears that the WDM driver installation is failing silently. When it gets to that stage, it doesn't actually look like anything is happening from an installation standpoint (progress bars, etc).

I recall reading something about this through my journey, relating to .Net2 (I thought), which is something I haven't installed, but for I don't see that mentioned anywhere on the installer, so I am thinking that might have been for another variation I was trying.

Yes, it looks like right-clicking and choosing "Explore" let me browse the CD. I looked into the WMD drivers folder (attached below), and it looks like they’re all there, but I am not sure what to do with them? Is it as easy as right-clicking the .inf file and choosing "install" ?

As always, thanks for the advice. I need the background cheering at this point! Feels closer than it's ever been though.

You may need to force install, manually install.

Microsoft version is generally fine for the graphics drivers, but not WDM.

I tried this a few ways, but still no luck.
I tried:

1. the installer again
2. navigating to and right-clicking the INI file on the installation disc and selecting "install"
3. selecting the driver and having it search the folder on the CD to "update" it manually (XP said no).

Is there any guidance notes on this process? I have been hunting around the forum but have yet to find anything.

My thoughts…

Try installing .NET2 before installing the ATI drivers. I don’t know at what point it’s needed in the evolution of the ATI AIW drivers, but installing it shouldn’t hurt.

Try some of your other driver options you have, 1084 vs 1085, 6.2, 6.11, etc.

Try WinXP SP2.

I’m not sure I understand what LS means by “force” install, but I think that’s what you’ve been trying with the .inf file stuff.
I assume you’re trying to “update” the drivers through Device Manager.

As I understand it, using this method, when you select a folder Windows scans the files in the folder looking for “compatible” drivers as identified by content in the .inf files. All of the info in the .inf file must be correct: OS and version and supporting things like DX9, .net, etc. correct hardware and supporting software; in this case for the WDM drivers, the correct display drivers.
All this has to to line up correctly or Windows won’t let you install/update anything.

I think it’s basically the same if you try to install directly by right clicking the .inf files. I don’t know if you’d need to first uninstall the display or WDM drivers before trying to directly install via the .inf, but it would seem likely.

Here’s hoping something finally works for you. It just shouldn’t be this hard! :eek:

BW

OK, another update – everything appears to have installed!

Additional steps I took:

1. Tried the WDM drivers from the ATI/ADM website (which are still online). That didn't work.
2. Tried to manually select different drivers "right click, update, chose my own" – this actually appeared to work. It let me select the ATI versions of the drivers which were on the system (rather than the Microsoft versions), but something was still off. ATI's test and VirtualDub didn't like it and said it was incompatible.
3. Ran the ATI uninstaller, rebooted, then ran DriverCleanerPro, rebooted.
4. Installed the ATI Display Drivers only, then rebooted
5. Attempted to install the WDM drivers by right-clicking the installation CD > clicking explore, then navigating to install > WDM > setup.exe (directly instead of through the CD). This again appear to fail silently, but then I looked at the drivers in the and :woot: hooray – they were the correct ATi versions.

I restarted and everything still looked good. That's the good news!

The bad news is that now it's looking like maybe the Sony EV-S9000E, which I had read played NTSC tapes, might not actually be NTSC compatible after all. In your experience, looking at the videos and attachments – does this resemble a noob that is trying to play an NTSC in a PAL VCR?

Great to hear that you finally have a working AIW capture PC!:thumb:
:salute::salute:
You’ve gone through a lot to get there.

I don’t really know anything about the Sony EV-S9000E deck. However, in poking around, I found this:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/...capturing-NTSC

Again, from the minimal info I found, I’d also be worried about bad caps and possibly other issues with that deck. But maybe it’s been refurbished, etc.

Does it work with PAL tapes and do you have ways to test its output other than the AIW PC?

BW

Cheers - yes it feels like a monumental hurdle to have finally overcome. And a massive thanks to you guys here for sticking with me and helping!

Yes, I came across this last night as well, which wasn't comforting. I am now trying to find all the links that I read, telling me this VCR did play NTSC, and now can't seem to! I was hoping that this could be rectified with something in the menu/settings on the player, but that thread gave me doubts. Such a shame as this has built in TBC...was really hoping I could just start my engines now before my girlfriend forces me to give up on the whole project (that conversation happened last night).

I would be happy to sell the player onwards, just need to find a quick solution for a player with built in TBC, which, as it is NTSC in Europe, seems quite a feat. Do you know if the 110V-120V machines made for the US and Japan would work well with a transformer? I worry about the frequency being a factor with VCRs, but I suppose the more pro the VCR, the less if would rely on that?
I could always buy a SONY EVO-250 with takes DC, but they aren't really around in France. I would have to probably wait until I was back in the US.

I don't have a huge amount of other ways to test, as I don't actually have any PAL cassettes, but I suppose I could find someone selling on online? I also have an NTSC Sony gv-d200 I could use to test with the card, to rule out if it's a card issue or a player issue? I sure wish I could just use the GV-D200, I never resolved whether or not it messes with the quality (4:1:1 vs 4:2:2) converting analogue to digital before output. I know you weighed in on this in a different thread I start back when I was hoping to use my mac. I will review that, 6 month on to see perhaps if I missed anything. I must assume that I would have already done that before buying a new player!

I could also hook the VCR up to the TV and/or use an RCA to rule out the S-Video cable?

Definitely try out the GV-D200! If it’s in good shape, I believe it will work well for your needs.
It essentially the same as the best of the recommended Sony Digital 8 camcorders recommended on this site. It does have the desired/required (line) TBC, and is powered by an external power supply which should be useful. Check the power supply to see what AC inputs are allowed. It may well work with your 220 50hz just fine.

Note that the TBC only is functional for analog tape playback Hi8 tapes.

Using the DV output for digitizing analog NTSC tapes is frowned upon (though possible and easy if you have a FireWire capable PC to “capture” to). This is where the 4:1:1 vs 4:2:2 issue comes in.

There is some disagreement on whether these Sony analog playback capable Digital8 devices convert to DV digital internally before “reconverting” back to analog for analog playback. Again, this is where the 4:1:1 vs 4:2:2 issue arises. I’ve read many of the discussions on this and I take the word of those who’ve analyzed the schematics of these devices over the naysayers who've not. The all agree that the DV conversion is not done in the signal path that leads to the analog outputs.

My :2cents:
BW

PS: Gotta end it here. I hope it makes sense without much re-editing. :eek:

The GV-D200 WORKS. Wow, finally nearly at the start of my journey...only took what, 6 months! :D

Thanks for the confidence booster on the 4:2:2 vs 4:1:1 conversation. That had me so worried that I bought the other player (that didn't work of course)! I don't know much if anything about the schematics or the design of the machine, but you're right, the logic would seem to favour analogue being analogue if I am not using the firewire output (which I was originally).

Now I am going to get moving on seeing if I can get capture settings right. Is this thread still the gold standard here for setting up VirtualDub for capture? https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vid...-settings.html

Excellent! Very glad to hear that things are finally falling into place for you.

I think sanlyn’s settings guide is still considered the best starting point for using vDub. It is probably even more relevant in your case since sanlyn used AIWs for capture. If your basic hardware continues to work properly and your questions are focused on using it for actual capture (Yeah!), you should probably start a new thread asking those specific questions. That should give your questions more exposure to a broader vDub user base.

BW

Thanks @BW37 - this journey has begun, a new thread has been created!
https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vid...tml#post103271

Thanks again for all the guidance.