What is a decoder, which ones do I need, and where do I get them?
A combination of audio decoders and video decoders are required for you to watch live tv and recordings. In simplistic terms, decoders take compressed audio/video frames, and decompresses them into audio samples for sending to the speakers, or video frames for displaying on the screen.
NextPVR is a non-commerical application, and ships without any decoders installed, since these would cost $$$ for me to legally license and distribute. Instead, NextPVR will make use of decoders you already have on your system. Some of these are supplied with Windows, some come from other applications you have installed, some are downloaded from Internet sources.
Below is info on what decoders you need and recommendations, the TL;DR answer: install the LAV decoders from HERE, then go to the Settings->Decoders screen, and set everything to the LAV decoders
It depends on the country you're in, the television system you're using, and sometimes the device you use. If you don't have a decoder you require, NextPVR will tell you what type of decoder it's missing. Here are some example decoder requirements for common user groups:
The HP 500B MT BIOS is a stable, legacy AMI implementation suitable for its era but severely outdated by modern standards. Technicians managing these systems should:
For continued use with Windows 10 or Linux, the BIOS performs adequately, but the platform is recommended for retirement due to security and performance limitations.
Appendices:
HP 500B Microtower (MT) features a standard F10 Setup Utility
that allows users to manage hardware configurations, security, and diagnostic tools. Core BIOS Features System Diagnostics : The BIOS includes the HP Vision Diagnostics
utility, which identifies and isolates hardware issues for internal components like the processor and storage. Security Management : You can set an Administrator Password to lock BIOS settings or a Power-On Password to prevent unauthorized system access during boot. Storage & Boot Control : Users can configure Boot Options
to prioritize devices such as internal hard drives, USB flash drives, or network adapters (PXE boot). Advanced Hardware Settings : The "Advanced" menu offers control over Virtualization Technology
, fan behavior (Fan Always On), and power-on options following a power loss. Access and Management Entering BIOS : Restart the computer and repeatedly press when the HP logo appears. Alternatively, press to open the Startup Menu and then select F10. Clearing CMOS
: If the BIOS is locked or the system won't boot due to incorrect settings, you can manually clear the RTC RAM by moving the E18 jumper
on the motherboard from pins 2-3 to 1-2 for 5-10 seconds while the power is disconnected. : HP periodically releases BIOS updates
to fix bugs and improve hardware compatibility. You can find these on the HP Support website to a specific version or configuring virtualization for a specific software? HP 500B MT IPSM.fm
The HP 500B Microtower (MT) is a business-grade desktop typically built on the Intel G41 Express chipset (motherboard model H-IG41-uATX).
Managing its BIOS is critical for hardware upgrades, such as increasing RAM to its 4 GB maximum or troubleshooting boot issues HP Support Community 1. How to Enter BIOS Setup
To access the BIOS Setup Utility on the HP 500B MT, use the following steps: Standard Entry : Restart the computer and immediately press the key repeatedly until the utility opens. Startup Menu : Alternatively, press during boot to bring up the Startup Menu, then select for BIOS Setup. Advanced Utility
: To access hidden advanced options (like CPU multipliers or fan voltage), some users report pressing Ctrl + F10 followed by Ctrl + F11 at the HP logo. 2. Updating the BIOS
Updating the BIOS can resolve compatibility issues with newer hardware or PXE bootloader errors. HP Support Community Identify Version
during boot to check your current revision (e.g., Revision 5.13).
: The official drivers and BIOS updates are available on the HP Support Portal Flashing Method hp 500b mt bios
: It is highly recommended to burn the BIOS update to a CD and boot from it to perform the flash, rather than running it directly from within Windows, to avoid corruption. 3. Clearing CMOS (BIOS Reset)
If the system fails to POST or you are locked out by a password, you can manually reset the BIOS: Power off the PC and disconnect the power cord. Locate the E18 jumper on the motherboard (near the RTC battery). Move the jumper cap from pins for 5–10 seconds. Return the jumper to pins and restart. 4. Common POST Beep Codes
If the HP 500B MT fails to boot, the internal speaker will emit beep codes to identify the failure: HP 500B Microtower PC Software and Driver Downloads
The computer repair shop was called "The Lazarus Pit," and it smelled of burnt coffee, ozone, and desperate hope. Viktor, the owner, had seen it all: motherboards fried by lightning strikes, hard drives that clicked like dying crickets, and screens cracked in the shape of a fist.
But the machine on his bench tonight was a relic: an HP 500B MT.
It belonged to Mrs. Gable, an elderly librarian who had refused every upgrade for fifteen years. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” she always said. Yesterday, it broke. The monitor stayed black. No beeps. No fan spin. Just a single, slow-blink of the power LED, like a dying heartbeat.
“Dead BIOS,” Viktor muttered, pulling the side panel off. The dust inside was archaeological—layers from 2012, 2015, 2020. He removed the coin-cell battery, held it to the light. “Classic 500B. The BIOS chip corrupts if you sneeze near the power supply.”
He wasn’t wrong. The HP 500B MT was infamous for it. A cheap SPI flash chip, a finicky southbridge, and a boot block that was as delicate as a spiderweb. Viktor had resurrected a dozen of them over the years. But tonight was different.
Tonight, the file was missing.
He plugged his EEPROM programmer into the motherboard’s header, fired up his old Windows XP laptop, and scrolled through his archives. HP_500B_BIOS_v1.02.bin — Not Found. HP_500B_BIOS_v1.04.bin — Not Found.
He checked his backups. His cloud drive. Even the ancient CD-R binder labeled “Sacred Texts.” Nothing. HP had scrubbed the 500B from their support site years ago. The forums were dead links. The Internet Archive had the driver pack, but not the BIOS.
“No firmware,” he whispered. “No resurrection.”
He was about to call Mrs. Gable with the bad news when he noticed a folded piece of paper taped inside the computer’s chassis. It was yellowed, handwritten in messy blue ink. It read:
“If this machine dies, check the floppy.”
Viktor laughed. The 500B didn’t even have a floppy drive. But he lifted the optical drive bay anyway. Tucked beneath it, wedged against the metal, was a relic within a relic: a generic 3.5-inch floppy disk. The label said simply: “JIC - 2011.”
“Just in case,” Viktor breathed.
He drove home, dug an ancient USB floppy drive from his own junk pile, and plugged it in. The disk spun up with a grumble. One file. One 512KB file. The HP 500B MT BIOS is a stable,
HP500B_BIOS_ORIG_FINAL.bin.
He wrote it to the EEPROM, soldered the chip back onto the board, and pressed the power button.
Beep.
The HP logo bloomed on the screen like a sunrise. The 500B whirred to life, POSTed in two seconds, and booted straight into Windows XP. Viktor leaned back, exhaling.
Mrs. Gable came by the next morning. She didn’t ask how he fixed it. She just ran a finger along the scratched beige case and smiled.
“You know,” she said, pulling the floppy disk from her purse, “the engineer who built this at the HP factory in 2010 slipped that in. He told me, ‘One day, you’ll need this. Don’t lose it.’”
She handed Viktor a twenty-dollar bill and a homemade oatmeal cookie.
“The BIOS is the soul,” she said. “And souls don’t die. They just wait for someone patient enough to reflash them.”
Viktor watched her walk out, the old tower humming like a contented cat.
He taped the floppy disk back inside the chassis.
Just in case.
HP 500B Microtower (MT) is a legacy business desktop that utilizes a standard BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) to manage the foundational communication between its hardware and operating system
. Because this model is older, its BIOS lacks many of the graphical features found in modern UEFI interfaces, focusing instead on stability and essential hardware configuration. Accessing the BIOS Utility
To enter the BIOS on an HP 500B MT, you must interact with the system immediately upon powering it on. Startup Menu : Press the key repeatedly during the initial boot screen until the Startup Menu Setup Utility : From the Startup Menu, press to enter the BIOS Setup Utility. Boot Order
: If you simply need to change the boot device (e.g., to boot from a USB drive), you can press to access the Key Menus and Settings
The BIOS utility is typically divided into several primary tabs:
: Provides system information including the processor type, memory amount (the 500B MT generally supports DDR3-1333 RAM ), and current BIOS version. For continued use with Windows 10 or Linux,
: Allows users to set power-on passwords or setup passwords to prevent unauthorized access to hardware settings.
: Used to configure SATA controller modes (IDE or AHCI) and view connected hard drives or optical drives. Advanced/System Configuration
: Contains power management settings and hardware features like virtualization support or onboard audio/LAN toggles. Maintenance and Updates
Updating the BIOS is considered standard maintenance and can improve system stability or hardware compatibility.
HP Desktop PCs - BIOS Setup Utility information and menu options
Q: Does the HP 500B MT support UEFI boot?
A: No. It is a legacy BIOS system. You must install 64-bit operating systems using MBR partitioning, not GPT.
Q: Can I boot from a USB drive?
A: Yes. Insert the USB, press F9 at boot for Boot Menu, or change Boot Order in BIOS under the Boot tab.
Q: My HP 500B MT says “BIOS Update Failure – System Halted.” How to recover?
A: Most HP boards use a Boot Block recovery. Create a USB with the BIOS file named AMIBOOT.ROM. Connect it, restart, and press Ctrl+Home. The system will force-flash.
Q: Does updating the BIOS remove Windows activation?
A: No. BIOS updates do not affect Windows product keys or activation status.
Q: What is the maximum CPU supported after a BIOS update?
A: Even with v01.13, the 500B MT’s VRM (voltage regulator) limits it to 95W TDP CPUs. The best drop-in upgrades are: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 (3.0GHz) or Core 2 Duo E8600. A BIOS update does not add support for Xeon or newer socket CPUs.
The HP 500B MT is an entry-level business machine typically featuring Intel Pentium Dual-Core or Core 2 Duo processors (LGA775 socket), utilizing the Intel G41 Express Chipset. The BIOS serves as the intermediary layer between this hardware and the operating system (typically Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7).
If you’re installing a fresh OS (Windows 10 LTSC or Linux):
Access the BIOS by pressing F10 repeatedly during the POST (Power-On Self-Test) screen.
Crucial Warning: Download BIOS updates only from HP’s official support website. Flashing the wrong BIOS can permanently brick your motherboard.
| Problem | Solution | |---------|----------| | “No boot device” after SSD install | BIOS lacks AHCI; use IDE mode or install a patched BIOS (if available). | | CPU fan runs at full speed | Reset BIOS to defaults; update to latest BIOS. | | USB boot fails | Enable “USB legacy support” and set USB HDD as first boot device. | | BIOS password locked | Short CMOS reset jumper or remove battery for 30 min. |
The HP 500B MT is a business-oriented desktop released around 2010–2011. It uses an Intel G41 chipset and supports Intel Core 2 Duo, Pentium, and Celeron LGA775 processors. The BIOS is a legacy (non-UEFI) Phoenix/Award ROM.
NextPVR is a 32bit application so will only see 32bit decoders on the machine. It can't see 64bit decoders, so these will not be listed.
NextPVR's decoder settings only apply to Live TV, and the playback of .ts recordings. For playback of other file types, like .mkv/.mp4/.avi, it's left to Windows to decide what decoders etc are used during playback. Installing LAV from HERE will often resolve issues with playback of these other file types.