I really messed up.  I ordered a new Inspiron 9300 (17" screen) with MCE2005 but when ordered did not order the TV Tuner Card and remote.   The total order value exceeded my $1500 credit limit so I had to delete a few things figuring I could add them later.   Dell does not allow you to use other payment means for any overage of your credit limit--stupid as it must cost them sales and their customers frustration just like me.

 

Dell's solution so far was for me to call sales.   Sales says they can't sell me the internal card for me to install (makes some sense as a housing or panel would have to be replaced also to have the connectors exposed).  Their solution was to sell me a WinTV-USB by Hauppauge.  This installs and immediately MCE says I do not have a TV Tuner card when I try to set it up.   The unit does not work with MCE 2005.

 

I have done some searching on line and the only USB device I can find that is approved by Microsoft for MCE2005 is made by AverMedia (model A800) but it is not sold in the US.

 

I really wish I could return the Laptop for rework as I want this feature--it was the whole reason for ordering Media Center Edition on the thing!!!!

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Bill