PC / PVR software

I've got an Hauppage WinTV PVR150, and I'm looking for some software
that lets me start recording a program from the beginning; even if I've
been watching it for half an hour first.

WinTV2000 doesn't! Snapstream automatically fills a buffer; but I can't
see any way of telling it that I've decided I like what's in the
buffer, so I want to turn it from soft data into a hard recording.

J. Clarke...

What happens if you just hit record?

I don't doubt it's possible, as I can do it on my Philips HDRW720 DVD
with hard disk; but I'm blowed if I can find any software that will let
me do it on my PC;

Any ideas?

Mark C....

One solution would be to add command line or shortcut
parameters to whichever capture program you use, to
automatically start recording whenever the program is
started. There might be some limitations with this, e.g.
some capture utilities don't allow channel changes once
recording is underway.

J. Clarke...

You could try Meedio or Showshifter. Both have 15-day free trial downloads.

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 I know does this. It keeps a 30 minute
buffer on whatever channel you're watching and if you hit record after the
show has started but before 30 minutes have elapsed you get the whole show.

J. Clarke...

Recording from the beginning yes, but that's not dumping the _whole_ buffer.
It's possible to set up MCE to run a two hour buffer if you want to, but if
you're watching a half your show you're only going to get that show and not
the other hour and a half of stuff that might be in the buffer.

Works fine with a PVR-150. While it's not available as a retail boxed
product you can get an OEM copy for 120 bucks or so.

If you're willing to abandon Windows altogether, MythTV also has this
capability but it runs under Linux.