No services are found when you scan for services on a Windows Vista-based Media Center computer that has a PAL TV tuner

Consider the following scenario:

• You have a Windows Vista-based Media Center computer that uses a Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial/Antenna (DVB-T) TV tuner.
• Media Center Live TV was configured not to use an Electronic Program Guide (EPG).
• You install a Phase Alternation Line (PAL) TV tuner.
• You use the Set Up TV Signal wizard to configure Media Center to use the PAL TV tuner instead of the DVB-T TV tuner.
• You do not download an EPG. This may be because of your location or because you decide not to download an EPG.

In this scenario, after you complete the Scan for Services part of the Set Up TV Signal wizard, you receive a message that resembles the following:

To work around this problem, follow these steps.

Note To complete this workaround, you must be logged on as a user who has administrator access.

1. Exit Media Center.
2. Locate the following folder on the computer:
   C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\EPG
   Note By default the C:\ProgramData folder is hidden. To display the folder, follow these steps:
   1. Right-click Start, and then click Explore to open Windows Explorer.
   2. Double-click drive C.
   3. On the Organize menu, click Folder and Search Options.
   4. In the Advanced settings list, click Show hidden files and folders in the Hidden files and folders area.
   5. Click to clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box.
      
      Note After you change this setting, system files will be displayed. Therefore, we recommend that you reset this option after you complete these steps.
   6. Click to clear the Hide extension for known file types check box.
3. In the EPG folder, delete all files that have an .sdf file name extension. If you are denied access to the files when you try to delete them, make sure that Media Center has been shut down. Or, wait several seconds, and then try again.
4. Restart Windows Vista
5. Start Media Center, and then run the Set Up TV Signal wizard.

In the Scan for Services part of the Set Up TV Signal wizard, Media Center detects the PAL services that are available.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

This problem may also occur if the following conditions are true:

• An external video input device, such as a camcorder, a DVD player or a VCR, was connected to the analog inputs of the TV tuner.
• Media Center was configured to view the video through Live TV.

However, we do not support this configuration for Windows Vista-based Media Center computers.