Media Center won't change channels anymore!

Ok, I have looked around and seen SOME topics on this, but no real resolutions (if they did start working again, it was due to mysterious luck).

I have the latest build of 7, am using a tuner card that came with my Dell XPS430, and am using it with a DirecTV set-top box. Also, the remote and IR sensor came with the computer too, but I got the IR Controller (blaster) and extension cable online.

Here's the situation as of now: I had it working WONDERFULLY last night; changed channels quickly, set up recordings and recorded on-the-spot, fully-stocked guide, etc.. but this morning when I went to mess around with it, it could do all of that except change the channels on the set-top box! Literally same setup, no changes from last night, and all of the connections are still good (the IR blaster did not fall off or change positions at all). I tried re-configuring the entire tuner setup a few different times, going through getting the remote control setting down different ways (with the actual remote to the IR sensor at the PC).

Any other things I could try? I even went as far as to make sure the box was just watching live TV, no DVR recording or rewound TV, just sitting there.

Side Note: Of course, for some reason, the PC doesn't recognize the "local" channels with the satellite (0-70) as in, they aren't even in the guide, and when I woke up this morning my girlfriend had left the box on one of those channels (using the box itself, not the PC of course), so when I turned on the computer, IT thought it was on animal planet or something, but the signal was the local news channel.

I know it's a lot, but I tried to break up the paragraphs so that important stuff is easier to read.

I tried to restore to multiple points but each time it said is was unsuccessful due to inaccessible files, possibly due to an antivirus program. Though even after disabling my antivirus it still gave me the same problems.

Are you able to change channels by clicking the +/- icons that appear when you mouse over the MC window? One of the most basic things to do is make sure the MC window has the focus. If it doesn't, most remote commands will be ignored, as they go to the window with the focus, which is a perennial pet peeve of mine.

Still won't change the channel, just stutters once and stays at the same signal. Media Center itself THINKS it's on a different channel (guide-wise), but the display is still just what's on the box. And I spent a while playing around with the IR blaster too.

Also, when I did the setup it recognized the IR blaster as working, so that should mean it's not the issue right?

TheColdOne said:

Also, when I did the setup it recognized the IR blaster as working, so that should mean it's not the issue right?

One would think so. How I hate problems like this. What about the LEDs? The receiver should blink when it receives a signal, and the emitter when it forwards it. If the former blinks, but the latter doesn't, maybe there's a bad connection. What about Device Manager? You should find the receiver under "Human Interface Devices". Mine is listed there as, "Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver". I guess you might also look in Power Plan Options and turn off "USB Selective Suspend". I'm really reaching here. Hope you figure it out.

I actually tried re-configuring the TV Signal this morning (after fiddling around with the position of the blaster a bit more) and it worked mysteriously... I honestly don't know why it didn't work before, it frightens me. I mean, what if it decides not to work when it is supposed to record something scheduled?

Thanks for the help though.

It stopped working again, so until I figure out why it keeps doing this, I'll continue to use my regular DVR for scheduled recordings of my shows (I set up 2 non-important ones to test that out).

I'll play around with it some more too.