I have a Pinnacle Studios VCD card 410005000 V.1.00 12/2000 with which I want to convert old VHS tapes onto CD's. It worked fine with Windows Me but I'm using Windows XP pro now and can't seem to get it working.

The pinnacle site is of no help in this matter with drivers or support.

Stefan Blam, Hillbank, SA

First try the XP driver at

http://www.windowsxp-drivers.com/drivers/51/51908.htm

This is said to work with the card running MGI Videowave, Adobe Premier, Ulead Videostudio for the video capture.

Failing that, success apparently has been tried with the following exotic work around:

1. Download ATI TV Wonder Conexant Capture Driver (http://support.ati.com)
2. Install it -- and it will register your card as the ATI TV Wonder instead.
3. Download virtual dub from http://www.virtualdub.org and choose composite when offered the choice of S-video, TV or composite.
4. There are some issues with PAL versus NTSC but there is an interesting fix using Microsoft's Movie Maker suggested at: http://groups.google.com/groups?q=studio+pinnacle+VCD+XP&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=49c145c.0202121635.2c351102%40posting.google.com&rnum=1

Thirdly, you might try setting up a dual boot option with Windows ME for when you need to use the card.

Judging by the airing this issue has had there are quite a few other Pinnacle Studios VCD card users in the same boat.

If so, any reader suggestions on getting the card to work under XP would be welcome.

John Hilvert