Can I use any MPEG-2 decoder with Media Center in Vista?

[Ganadeo]

Hi all
Vista comes standard with its own MPEG-2 decoder, which allows playback of TV channels TNT and play DVDs. Can I use any other MPEG-2 decoder with Media Center?

[Jackie]

Hi
As you said Vista comes standard with its own MPEG-2 decoder, which allows playback of TV channels TNT and play DVDs. This decoder is at the heart of including Media Center. However, some criticize him for being too universal like you and not as accurate as other top boxes designed specifically for cards, like the encoder / decoder nVidia (PureDVD).

See The decoder used is designated by the following Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Media Center \ Decoder

There is the small utility that lets you control what decoder is currently active, and change the decoder used by Vista Media Center for the Treatment of MPEG-2. Called Vista Media Center Decoder Utility, this software is downloadable for free here.