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More => Old Versions => Media Center 13 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: stricko on March 06, 2009, 01:07:24 pm

Title: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: stricko on March 06, 2009, 01:07:24 pm
Wierd one, probably not a bug, but just wondered if anyone had seen this happen.

From theatre view, if I play a video, that is an avi file, the windows taskbar appears at the bottem of the screen, and just stays there. Visually intrusive, but not the end of the world. But it also seems to be blocking certain remote controls, notably fast forward and reverse. Nothing I seem to do with the remote (standard MCE model) seems to get rid of it. With the keyboard/mouse, if I select on the playing video and get the player toolbar, then the windows taskbar disappears, and fast forward works....

Doesn't happen for DVD playback or MPEG2 files, just AVIs. Also and I don't know if it's related, but the system has become much more temperamental about going into standby for some reason.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: stricko on March 08, 2009, 12:57:10 am
Bump. Sorry about the bump, guys, anyone ever seen anything like this before. Doesn't happen on my main PC, running XP Home. HTPC is on XP MCE.
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: )p( on March 08, 2009, 01:03:43 am
Probably a directshow filter with a tray icon. Disabling the tray icon in its settings will most likely solve this.


peter
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: JimH on March 08, 2009, 07:59:30 am
ffdshow and haali have tray icon settings that should be turned off.  If you've installed CCCP, you can do this in CCCP settings.
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: )p( on March 09, 2009, 03:22:59 am
ffdshow and haali have tray icon settings that should be turned off.  If you've installed CCCP, you can do this in CCCP settings.

Also look for the directsubvob subtitle filter...its one of the most annoying in this regard.

peter
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: stricko on March 10, 2009, 05:32:51 am
Sorry guys, but I'm a complete filter novice, how exactly would I get to the setting you are talking about to see if they are on or not.....  ?
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: JimH on March 10, 2009, 07:04:21 am
Pause and right click on the screen to see what filters are in use.

They're set in MC's options.  In newer players it's under file types.  In older players, it's under Playback/Video.

Our wiki (link above) has an article on DirectShow.
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: stricko on March 10, 2009, 08:54:27 am
Many thanks, I'll check it out when I'm next home
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: Dirhael on March 10, 2009, 02:07:35 pm
I made you a little autohotkey utility you could try out if nothing else works (I've had to use similar solutions with other apps in the past). It will check if a Media Center window exists and if the taskbar have taken focus. If so, it'll give focus back to MC again. You could modify it and recompile if you need it to be more strict with the check or there are other windows that are stealing focus, but hopefully it'll work for you as is :)

[Download] (http://www.thesecondscreen.com/uploads/keep_MC_in_focus.zip), unzip and run.

Oh and remember to start MC before running the executable, it'll exit if MC is closed or minimized to the tray.

Source:
Code: [Select]
#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.
DetectHiddenWindows, Off

Loop
{
; Check if MC is running...
IfWinExist ahk_class MJFrame
{
; Check if the taskbar is active, and if so, give MC focus back.
If WinActive("ahk_class Shell_TrayWnd")
WinActivate ahk_class MJFrame
}
Else
{
ExitApp ; Close this script if MC isn't running
}
Sleep, 1000 ; Sleep for a second just so we don't use any noticable CPU resources
}
Title: Re: Windows XP Taskbar appearing when playing AVI files
Post by: stricko on March 11, 2009, 01:22:15 am
guys, thanks for the input on this. but i did warn you that i was a complete novice at this.

So, i did some reading up, and realised that i hadn't even done the basics.

I installed CCCP as recommended, and hey presto, no more problem......

I'll do some more reading before i bother you again.....