I encountered the dreaded BDA TV Monitor a few days ago. I’m using a fresh XP Pro installation in a PC with no hardware add-ons, and basic internet software: Zone Alarm, AVG Free, Skype, a selection of malware detectors, Firefox and Google Chrome browers in addition to IE7. Little else installed other than a few old, tried and trusted programmes which have never previously given problems.

The only action I can remember which might have led to this icon insinuating itself is accessing a live video stream from a recognised UK TV channel (probably BBC News 24). I also regularly use BBC iPlayer which is evolving all the time. When next re-booted the PC decided to install a new USB driver which appeared to have something to do with TV although as far as I can remember no new USB devices were connected - that was a bit strange - then the icon appeared, perhaps after a re-boot.

I have just got around to sorting it out.

After searching quite a few forums this was the first place I found any reference to the

Microsoft “Broadcast Driver Architecture” - BDA !!

Well done sailcaptain!

This is the cause of dozens of entries in the registry if you search for “BDA” - apparently harmless in themsleves but typical MS bloat cluttering up the registry.

I always keep a close eye on programmes and system tray applications which start on booting. So the first place to look:-

Run “MSCONFIG” and check [Startup]. This lists emMON.exe with a registry key as its source. This can be un-ticked but it’ll go-away after the next step. If you make changes, ignore the dire warning that MSCONFIG gives next time you boot up, just tick the box “Don’t show this message . . .” If you want to, and know how to safely, you can also remove the registry key, but it’ll probably return. Best to remove it, if at all, after the next step:-

Use [Start]->[Search]->[for Files and Folders] and enter “emMON” - not forgetting to tick [Advanced Options] and the three items [Search System Folders], [Search hidden files and folders] and [Search Subfolders] - thanks Microsoft for making those three essentials an easily forgotten option for the absent-minded!!

This should bring up TWO entries:

C:\Windows\emMON.exe
and
C:\Windows\Prefetch\emMON******.pf

where “*****” = a hex string I can’t remember

Delete both these files. If you want to you can now delete the registry key as well, but leaving it shouldn’t cause any problems.

This solved my problem completely.

Hope this is useful for those reluctant to download and mess about with extra software.

Thanks to all those who’ve already done their bit on this one!

I am running it on two machines Both Dells. One XP and the other VISTA. At my room I have a cable connection that requires a powered splitter since the TV signal has been split to the point it won’t work without the signal boost.

Anyway both laptops worked fine for awhile. However lately the vista machine refuses to save the drivers once loaded. every time I run the dang thing I get the message that the 950 is not there then I have to uninstall the drivers and the application, reinstall them and everything is fine as long as I dont’ shut down my laptop. Once I do that it is all over back to square one. This is the ONLY thing that this happens with.

it is NOT a virus because the vista machine has never been attached to a network. it is a stand alone machine only.

any ideas? Hauppage is off my list of recommended platforms as a result of this.

But I did go into REGIDIT and deleted the startup file HCWemMON.exe.

Now I have no more warnings about BDA MOnitor being blocked.