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[MusicHawk]

MC 17.0.165

My MC PC has been off for a few weeks (been traveling). Yesterday I started the PC, then started MC, which auto-updated to 17.0.165, then auto-started MC -- partially.

After MC appeared in the Windows title bar along with the name of the previously-used library, it hung. MC never opened, and eventually the computer locked up. (MC shows as running in Windows Task Manager, so that would be a way to shut down MC except the hang soon spreads to the entire computer and locks up everything.)

I've rebooted many times, and the above behavior happens exactly the same every time I try to start MC.

Obviously MC insists on opening the previously-used library. Guessing the library it's trying to open is somehow damaged,

I tried MC's Command Line options to start with a different library. But no matter what other library I specify, MC seems to be opening the previous "bad" library, as indicated by its name in the title bar.

So I am completely stuck.

The PC seems fine in all other respects. I've tried reinstalling MC, no help. Using Windows Explorer I checked the media files of the library are in the correct path and seem OK -- I can view the photos. This is why I'm guessing the library itself is damaged.

Possibly important: The library MC keeps trying to open is of PHOTOS, lots of photos. I never had a problem with this library or the photos until now.

QUESTIONS:

-- Does the  Command Line work to load a specified library? Not that I can tell...  For instance, I don't use the default library, though it exists by default, so it's likely empty or nearly so. Opening the default library seems like the best choice to open to get past the "bad" library, so I can at least get into MC and figure out what's happening. (I can use the Command Line to Start and Close and Restart MC, so I know it is listening, but I can't it to start without the "bad" library.)

I'm using this Command Line: mc17.exe /Library default, which always results in the above hang-then-crash behavior, with the "bad" library showing in the title bar. It doesn't work if I use the name of another existing library either. The Wiki isn't clear on required syntax, but putting the library name inquotation marks doesn't work either (am I goofing up syntax?). Is there more to know about MC's Command Line than the Wiki states?

-- Is there a Command Line option to load NO LIBRARY, just bare MC?

-- Is there a way to change the library MC wants to load, perhaps by hacking the Registry?

-- Is there a Command Line option for MC to evaluate and possibly rebuild/repair library and other key files?

-- URGENT SUGGESTION: There should be a Command Line option to start MC in "pure" mode -- no library or an empty library, etc. I know that MC will sometimes offer this after it crashes, but I never get to that point. There needs to be a Command Line way to invoke starting MC in a "safe mode".

It's been two days of experimentation with absolutely no progress. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[JimH]

Did you try uninstalling and reinstalling?

[MusicHawk]

Yes, I tried uninstalling and reinstalling, but using the option to retain settings, which obviously includes the setting of which library to load on startup. Perhaps if I nuke everything I can at least get MC to load, but I'd lose lots of other settings so that's a last resort.

Unless I'm overlooking a way to use Command Line to start MC with a different/good library, the solution might be to hack the Registry (or wherever MC "remembers" the startup library) to change the library it's trying to load. If no one can give me a better solution, I'll dig into that crude method.

[JimH]

You can try uninstalling and removing registry entries.

I wonder if you had a lightning strike or surge.

Or you could try renaming this directory:
C:\Users\JimH\AppData\Roaming\J River\Media Center 17\Library

to library.tmp, for example.

After MC starts, try restoring a library.  File/Library/Restore.

[glynor]

Unless I'm overlooking a way to use Command Line to start MC with a different/good library, the solution might be to hack the Registry (or wherever MC "remembers" the startup library) to change the library it's trying to load. If no one can give me a better solution, I'll dig into that crude method.

MC should ask you with a pop-up dialog to pick a library if it can't find the Library it wants.  The problem is that MC is finding a library, and then it is crashing when it is trying to load it.

Yeah, renaming the library folder itself (or just moving it to your desktop or something) will work.

But, FYI, you can specify which library to use via the /Library command line switch, so:  mc17.exe /Library <library name> works, but the Library you name has to be one of the ones that your copy of MC knows about and has used before.  The <library name> parameter is the "friendly name" you give the library, not a filesystem path.  If you've only ever used one, then that won't be useful.

I'd be VERY afraid of what may have caused this.
Check your disk.
Check your RAM.

[glynor]

except the hang soon spreads to the entire computer and locks up everything.

Something is badly hosed on that system.  In fact, the Library might be fine.

If a Windows 7 machine is locking up completely (so that the mouse doesn't move or anything) that's not any application that is running in "user land" causing it.  It cannot be because no application has the "rights" to use that much system resources.  If it gets all crazy, Windows "pre-empts" it and tells it "too bad, you're shutting down".  So, MC might be "triggering" the crash, but it isn't "causing" the crash.  There is a big difference.

No... That's hardware or drivers or filesystem corruption.  Maybe all three.

EDIT:  Download Prime95 and run the torture test.  I bet it dies a few minutes in.  If not, test the hard drive next.  Something isn't right, that's for sure.