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Windows => Television => Topic started by: IAM4UK on September 24, 2020, 08:25:44 am

Title: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 24, 2020, 08:25:44 am
Starting with version 27.0.15, it appears that the prior method of getting Electronic Program Guide data has been deprecated. It no longer exists in the Options to configure my TV Tuners settings. I subscribe to an EPG service that I have used within MC for years, so the change to automatically search for SiliconDust EPG had not affected my MC setup. But now, MC finds that I don't have that long-used EPG configured (because the option to do so has gone away inexplicably), and its new logic says, "Load 24 hours of SiliconDust EPG by default." This causes the program to stall for such periods of time that it effectively stopped/locked.

Please change the settings back to include the previous option, which had been the default option for years. The program is now basically unusable until either that happens, or perhaps I give SiliconDust $35...
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 24, 2020, 09:08:17 am
Sorry for the trouble.  Is your EPG option MC2XML?  I removed it thinking it no longer works.  If it still works for you and you need it, we should not have removed it.  I will add it back.  In the mean time please roll back to a previous version of MC.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 24, 2020, 09:47:41 am
Sorry for the trouble.  Is your EPG option MC2XML?  I removed it thinking it no longer works.  If it still works for you and you need it, we should not have removed it.  I will add it back.  In the mean time please roll back to a previous version of MC.
Yes, and thank you.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 24, 2020, 05:29:59 pm
I subscribed to SiliconDust DVR EPG service.
I configured MC to use SiliconDust for the Tuner Profile, using the HD HomeRun tuners.
I asked MC to load program guide, and it failed spectacularly. The Schedule Guide Reloading dialog now has about a thousand entries (instead of one), all of which say "No EPG," and have no Tuner Profiles Using the Mode. I can neither delete those bogus entries, nor edit, nor add a correct one. Then, of course, the program stops because I asked it to do any of those tasks.

How can I use TV in MC now?
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: RoderickGI on September 24, 2020, 05:48:51 pm
Install version 27.0.1211 of MC as Yaobing suggested. Disable Automatic Update in MC, under the Help menu. Then restore a recent Library Backup with settings from before the Silicon Dust EPG load attempt.

Run your MC2XML EPG load, and all should be back to normal.

Then wait for a version with MC2XML back in it, update to that manually, then turn Automatic Updates back on.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 24, 2020, 09:38:12 pm
Install version 27.0.12 of MC as Yaobing suggested. Disable Automatic Update in MC, under the Help menu. Then restore a recent Library Backup with settings from before the Silicon Dust EPG load attempt.

Run your MC2XML EPG load, and all should be back to normal.

Then wait for a version with MC2XML back in it, update to that manually, then turn Automatic Updates back on.

So, having subscribed to SiliconDust EPG, it's now not going to work in MC?
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 24, 2020, 11:54:09 pm
So, having subscribed to SiliconDust EPG, it's now not going to work in MC?

It is going to work, but my decision to removed mc2xml from setup caused all the confusing behavior.  It would have been simpler if you had just rolled back to build 12 and waited.  But no worries, since you already subscribed to SiliconDust EPG, I will help you make it work.

Firstly, don't try to delete those "No EPG" entries now.  The more you try the more you will get.  I can't believe I created such a "gremlin" by removing "MC2XML" from setup.  Those "No EPG" entries are duplicates of your old MC2XML entry.  I don't know why it keeps duplicating.

So at this point, you have a lot of "No EPG" entries and perhaps one "SiliconDust" entry.

Secondly go to Help > Update Channels, and select "Disable automatic update (not recommended)".  This will prevent MC from updating back to build 105 after you roll back.  You can then roll back to a previous build without MC automatically upgrading itself to the latest.

Now install MC27.0.12 (you can find it here: https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,126832.0.html)

After installing build 12, you can go back to "Load Guide Program...". You will find all those multiple entries, except they are not called "No EPG".  Instead, they are called "MC2XML", and you can delete them.  You can not select and delete them all at once unfortunately.  You will need to delete them one-by-one.  After deleting all those entries, you should have one entry left - "SiliconDust".  You should keep this one, and put a check mark on it. 

After all "MC2XML" entries are deleted from the list, you can exit the dialog.  Now you can upgrade to 27.0.15 again.  SiliconDust EPG should work.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 06:55:24 am
Yaobing,
Would IAM4UK be able to restore a backup instead of deleting those?

Or could we clean them up in a future build?
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 07:52:17 am
It is going to work, but my decision to removed mc2xml from setup caused all the confusing behavior.  It would have been simpler if you had just rolled back to build 12 and waited.  But no worries, since you already subscribed to SiliconDust EPG, I will help you make it work.

Firstly, don't try to delete those "No EPG" entries now.  The more you try the more you will get.  I can't believe I created such a "gremlin" by removing "MC2XML" from setup.  Those "No EPG" entries are duplicates of your old MC2XML entry.  I don't know why it keeps duplicating.

So at this point, you have a lot of "No EPG" entries and perhaps one "SiliconDust" entry.

Secondly go to Help > Update Channels, and select "Disable automatic update (not recommended)".  This will prevent MC from updating back to build 105 after you roll back.  You can then roll back to a previous build without MC automatically upgrading itself to the latest.

Now install MC27.0.12 (you can find it here: https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,126832.0.html)

After installing build 12, you can go back to "Load Guide Program...". You will find all those multiple entries, except they are not called "No EPG".  Instead, they are called "MC2XML", and you can delete them.  You can not select and delete them all at once unfortunately.  You will need to delete them one-by-one.  After deleting all those entries, you should have one entry left - "SiliconDust".  You should keep this one, and put a check mark on it. 

After all "MC2XML" entries are deleted from the list, you can exit the dialog.  Now you can upgrade to 27.0.15 again.  SiliconDust EPG should work.

Thanks for the reply.
Issues with this approach, as I have tried thus far:
- there is no "SiliconDust" entry within the many "No EPG" entries.
- as you noted, the "No EPG" entries must be deleted singularly; each one takes many minutes (or even causes "program not responding," and there are hundreds of "No EPG" entries

Since I am in for hours of work anyway, perhaps I should delete my television profile, and re-establish it from scratch?...
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 07:55:00 am
Delete your Television profiles.  Then run Setup, and reset TV settings on the first pop up window.


Quote
each one takes many minutes (or even causes "program not responding," and there are hundreds of "No EPG" entries

There is something goofy, perhaps on your computer as I don't see that behavior at all.  Delete takes a second or less here.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 10:02:39 am
Delete your Television profiles.  Then run Setup, and reset TV settings on the first pop up window.


There is something goofy, perhaps on your computer as I don't see that behavior at all.  Delete takes a second or less here.

Even trying to delete the profile failed. The program just stopped working. 27.0.15 is something...
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 10:08:16 am
Even 27.0.12 locks/stops responding immediately upon running. Nothing can be done.
Title: No version of 27.0.x will run
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 10:09:56 am
Immediately upon starting any version of 27.0.x, the program locks/stops responding.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 10:16:18 am
Did you try turning off the EPG?
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 10:18:45 am
Configure Windows Defender.  Uninstall any other antivirus.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 10:24:25 am
Configure Windows Defender.  Uninstall any other antivirus.

Done and not applicable.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 10:25:18 am
Did you try turning off the EPG?
Yes, but no function will work in any version of 27.0.x
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 11:02:34 am
Back up your library, uninstall, removing registry entries.  You'll lose your library and have to re-import or restore.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 11:39:56 am
Back up your library, uninstall, removing registry entries.  You'll lose your library and have to re-import or restore.

That's dropping a nuclear bomb on the system, and will cost me many hours and therefore much money
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 11:40:43 am
Back up your library, uninstall, removing registry entries.  You'll lose your library and have to re-import or restore.

Backing up library requires that the program will run. It won't.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 11:49:11 am
Do you have slow or fast internet connection on this computer?  I am wondering if it is just MC trying to download data from SiliconDust and it is taking too long.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 11:50:55 am
That's dropping a nuclear bomb on the system, and will cost me many hours and therefore much money

How come?  It is just uninstalling MC and removing MC's registry settings.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 11:55:29 am
How come?  It is just uninstalling MC and removing MC's registry settings.
If I have to set it all back up, then I have to spend the time to set it all back up, including hours and hours and hours of tagging
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 11:57:08 am
If I have to set it all back up, then I have to spend the time to set it all back up, including hours and hours and hours of tagging

That is what restoring library will help.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 11:59:24 am
Another thing you can try:

Install MC27.0.11.  Build 12 was the first build with SiliconDust EPG stuff.  If that runs without locking, reset TV settings.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 12:25:56 pm
Another thing you can try:

Install MC27.0.11.  Build 12 was the first build with SiliconDust EPG stuff.  If that runs without locking, reset TV settings.

I managed to reset (destroy) all TV settings. Upon trying to setup TV again, MC closes (does not lock/stop nor BSOD, but actually just closes) as soon as I click to setup OpenCable
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 12:33:13 pm
I managed to reset (destroy) all TV settings. Upon trying to setup TV again, MC closes (does not lock/stop nor BSOD, but actually just closes) as soon as I click to setup OpenCable

With build 11?  Try produce a set of logs and dump file:

1. Open MC.
2. Help > Logging, make sure "Output to a log file" is checked.  Click OK.
3. Restart MC.  Run TV Setup and reproduce the issue.
4. Open MC again and go immediately to Help > Logging.  Click "Report problem...".
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 12:41:18 pm
Backing up library requires that the program will run. It won't.
MC makes automatic backups.  Search in Explorer or *.zip files.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 12:43:34 pm
MC makes automatic backups.  Search in Explorer or *.zip files.

Are all TAGS saved in those library backups?
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 12:45:25 pm
Are all TAGS saved in those library backups?
MC can save tags in most file formats.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 12:50:05 pm
MC can save tags in most file formats.

I have all of my movies, for example, tagged. Those include backups of my DVDs, blu-rays and UHD blu-rays. Will I lose any information or settings when I completely uninstall MC from my computer and re-install it?
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 12:53:10 pm
Movie tags are usually in xml "sidecar" files in the same folder.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 12:56:45 pm
Regardless whether the files have saved tags internally or externally, the library backup should have all tags, except those you added after the last library backup.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 01:36:21 pm
I uninstalled MC. Completely, including not only registry but also libraries.
Re-installed.
Tried to setup TV. BOOM... the program closes immediately.

Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 01:41:23 pm
Log attached.
How can TV be setup in MC 27?
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 02:03:26 pm
You have an USB camera that does not play well with MC.  Unplug it and try again.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: JimH on September 25, 2020, 03:15:55 pm
Please try this build.
https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,126998.msg880714.html#msg880714
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 03:36:23 pm
Build 16 which we released today should behave much better and it has the MC2XML option back.

Whichever version you try, you need to unplug your webcam before trying TV setup.  The camera crashes outside of MC code (in its driver) so we can not do anything about it.  After you finish TV setup, you can try plugging the camera back in and hopefully it will not cause problems (as long as you do not try to use it inside MC).
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: Yaobing on September 25, 2020, 03:40:22 pm
Also, wait a couple of minutes after MC startup, to let MC finish DLNA device discovery, before you start TV setup.
Title: Re: Prior EPG option gone; SiliconDust EPG attempting to load, causing problems
Post by: IAM4UK on September 25, 2020, 05:56:42 pm
Just logged back in here to say I found the problem (the webcam was listed in MC setup as if it were a CableCARD device). I see that you also discovered that via the log. I disconnected and set up.