How Do I Connect an HP Pavilion to a DVR?

by Maya Austen, Demand Media

HP Pavilion computers that run on a Windows 7 or Vista operating system come preinstalled with an application called “Windows Media Center.” By connecting your HP Pavilion to a satellite or cable box DVR you can use the Windows Media Center application on the computer to not only watch live TV, but you can also turn the HP Pavilion into a digital video recording device as well. This is one way to increase your overall digital recording capacity because shows can be recorded to the hard disk in the DVR unit, to the hard disk in the computer, or both.

Set Up HP Pavilion to Receive TV Signals from the DVR

Step 1

Connect the DVR to your television set as outlined in the DVR user manual.

Step 2

Load the TV tuner installation CD into the computer's CD-ROM drive. Wait for the installation wizard to load. Follow the wizard’s on-screen prompts to install the drivers, required to operate the TV tuner device, onto the computer. (This Step only needs to be done once.)

Step 3

Plug the TV tuner device into any available USB port on the computer.

Step 4

Connect one end of a coaxial cable to the DVR’s RF “TV” output terminal. Connect the other end of this cable to the TV tuner’s RF terminal.

Set Up Windows Media Center

Step 1

Click the Start button. Type “Windows Media Center” in the “Search” box. Click “Windows Media Center” in the results.

Step 2

Scroll down the Windows Media Center start screen. Highlight “Task.” Select “Settings.” Select “TV.” Select “Set Up TV Signal” to open the signal set up wizard.

Step 3

Follow the wizard’s on-screen prompts to configure Windows Media Center to receive TV signals from the DVR.

Watch TV on an HP Pavilion with Window 7 OS

Step 1

Launch Windows Media Center.

Step 2

Scroll down the Windows Media Center start screen. Highlight “TV.” Click “Guide.”

Step 3

Browse the guide to locate the program you want to watch. Click on the program listing to begin watching it.

Watch TV on an HP Pavilion with Window Vista OS

Step 1

Launch Windows Media Center.

Step 2

Scroll down the Windows Media Center start screen. Highlight “TV + Movies.” Click “Guide.”

Step 3

Browse the guide to locate the program you want to watch. Click on the program listing to begin watching it.

Use HP Pavilion as a DVR

Step 1

Launch Windows Media Center.

Step 2

Scroll down the Windows Media Center start screen. Highlight “TV” or “TV + Movies.” Click “Guide.”

Step 3

Browse the guide to locate the program you want to record. Right-click on the program listing. Select “Record” or “Record Series” depending upon whether you want to record this one airing of the selected show, or program Media Center to record the selected show each time airs on the selected channel.

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References

  • Microsoft Windows: Set Up a TV Signal in Windows Media Center
  • Microsoft Windows: TV on Your Computer: Understanding TV Signals and TV Tuners
  • Microsoft Windows: Record TV in Windows Media Center
  • Microsoft Windows: Watch TV in Windows Media Center (Vista)
  • Microsoft Windows: Watching TV in Windows Media Center: Frequently Asked Questions
  • HP: HP Pavilion Manual

About the Author

Maya Austen began freelance writing in 2009. She has written for many online publications on a wide variety of topics ranging from physical fitness to amateur astronomy. She's also an author and e-book publisher. Austen has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the New England Institute of Art and currently lives in Boston, Mass.