Reinstalled Win 7, now can't watch old TV recordings...any solution?

[bovinda]

I through in a new CPU and mobo to our HTPC and reinstalled Windows 7. Now the wife is unhappy because 75% of her recorded TV had the digital broadcast flag so that it couldn't be watched on a different computer than the one that recorded them. Of course it's the same computer, but the OS doesn't know that. Is there any way to still watch these recordings or are they a lost cause? 😕

 

[kamikazekyle]

Changing the mobo changed the system id, so it basically is a new computer for licensing purposes. I'm assuming the videos are in MTS streams or similar. You might be able to try VLC, FFMPEG, or another decoder/player combo like WMPClassic and FDDSHOW to see if it'll ignore the flag. Beyond that, uh, assuming it's just the flag that's in your way you could probably remove it with a hex editor or something. Maybe re-encoding with software that ignores the flag?

But, again, this is just kinda random guessing. I've never really used MTS/M2TS except for a random playback here and there. So long as there isn't any encryption/scrambling then I assume all you need is some software that just ignores the flag.

Anyway, if none of that helps or I'm off-base, then maybe the bump will get someone's attention that's more knowledgable 😛

 

[bovinda]

All those are good thoughts and I appreciate the suggestions (and the bump!). I'll try some of those out. And if anyone else has any thoughts, I'd appreciate it too...

 

[rsd]

Unfortunately if they truly had the broadcast flags set on them, you are out luck thanks to the DRM. Were they recorded via a cablecard tuner I assume then?

 

[bovinda]

Yeah, using a Ceton InfitiTV. Shootmongers. Well, thanks for confirming it then guys.