Windows Media Center Updates Released for Windows 7

Today Microsoft has released two reliability updates for Windows Media Center:

KB981129 – An update to the TV tuner functionality in Windows Media Center is available for Windows 7

An update is available for Windows Media Center in Windows 7. This update fixes a deadlock issue that occurs when you use a TV tuner in Windows Media Center.

This issue may occur if you change channels fast and frequently (also known as "channel surfing"), in Windows Media Center.

These symptoms may be caused by other issues that are not related to this update. For example, you may receive similar symptoms when you try to query current state of a TV tuner or of a malfunctioning hardware device.

KB981130 – Install this update if you see low bit rate message on Windows 7 Media Center when watching live TV

On Windows 7 Media Center systems with analog tuner(s), customers may encounter low bit rate overlays.

The mechanism Windows 7 Media Center uses to monitor bit rate (signal) strength is overly sensitive in some scenarios, resulting in false detection of a low bit rate which triggers an overlay.  This update addresses how Windows 7 Media Center monitors the bit rate on systems with analog tuners.

Related Posts

• The Other Patch Tuesday for June 2010
• Microsoft’s Other Patch Tuesday for May 2010
• Windows 7 Google Alerts for 10 May 2009
• Windows 7 Critical Updates
• New Knowledge Base Articles (19 February 2011)

Richard Hay  (3349 Posts)

Richard is the Owner of WindowsObserver.com and has been involved in tech for over 25 years. His first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then he used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and what you see here today is the result of the work he has continued on the site since 1995. In January 2010 his community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when he was awarded the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for Windows Desktop Experience. In January 2011 he was renewed as a Microsoft MVP but in a new category called Windows Expert - Consumer and in January 2012 he received the award for the third time.