In trying to debug a problem (that turns out just to be a CBS signal quality problem I have not yet fixed) I allowed NVidia to install a driver update on my HTPC. I didn't notice it immediately, but it totally hosed the EVR. So, WMC would load fine and display stuff, but I eventually tried to view live TV and a recording and everything was blank.
So I installed MC (I've been wanting to move to this but WAF is low due to ease of Theater View use for TV). It will use MadVR and work, right? Right. Awesome. I also confirmed RO Standard, which uses EVR, showed a blank screen. That's fine. Oh no! MC still needs EVR to show WTV files. I can't tell my wife there is no way to watch recordings.
So I do a clean install of the old NVidia drivers, and EVR works again (thanks, NVidia, for reminding me why I hate you and only bought you for LAV CUVID). So I'm in the clear, right? I go to run WMC, and it says it can't run because of some system restriction. I restart. WMC IS COMPLETELY GONE. No shortcut, no desktop widget, nothing.
Fine... I will use this as an opportunity to fully set MC up. I enable library sharing on the basement server that contains the recordings. Import the recordings into the library. I take the code upstairs to the HTPC and enter it. I see the recordings in all their thumbnail glory. Woo hoo! I go to play one. "Playback encountered a problem." (or some similarly simple message). NO!
Please give me an option besides reformatting the hard drive or fleeing the country.
I did tell MC and Media Server to start at Windows Startup on the HTPC, and told it to disable WMC when the Green Button is pressed. I didn't think that totally destroyed WMC, though. What's going on?
Thanks. (Remember this is urgently life-threatening).