Windows Media Center problem.

I just bought a new PC (HP m8013w) and the included graphics card has S-Video/Composite in, two jacks to exact. The only included program for video capture is Windows Media Center, which seems all well and fine, but I'm kind of stuck. While I can view and record regular television fine, I can't even find the option to select the S-Video signal. There was nothing mentioned while configuring the program the first time I ran it, and there are no options for it now. On my old ATI card, all you did was push a button to switch sources, but there is nothing that simple here.

If nothing else, can anyone recommend a good program that captures video?

Any help is appreciated.

S-video on a computer is always out not in, allowing you to view your computer on a tv, not view the tv on your computer. You need a card or USB device that captures video. Your S-Video won't do that.

It has an S-Video input on the front of the computer though, and it's labeled "input".

Some graphics cards do have s-video input to capture media.

Have you tried using Windows movie maker to see/capture the s-video in? It may automatically find it once there's signal present.

Well, then I would assume HP included some software to use the capture device. And according to the specs provided at HP this computer includes MyDVD from Roxio and Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 basic. But looking on Roxio's website I don't see anything that either them will allow capture from the tv, only from camcorders and digital cameras. I know Windows Movie Maker 2 will not do this either, well, I should say WMM 1 won't.
So back to square one here.
HP also says you have Composite Video input, have you tried connecting those cables to the computer and tv? You'd need a set of RCA composite video cables to do this.

Since there are many different softwares to do this, some freeware, some not. I suggest you go to the link below and see what they have to offer. I am a member there also and have used their software successfully.

Videohelp.com

WMM gave me an error message when I attempted to connect my "camcorder" (It's a video game console I'm trying to connect), so nothing there.

I went to that site however and downloaded a couple programs. They actually let me select a source (which is all I wanted all along) unlike Windows Media Center, and everything is good to go. I just need to find a program with the features and settings I need.

So thanks, you were a great help.

You're welcome. You can join that website, if you haven't already, it's free and you can ask them questions about what software would give you the options you need.