Topic: NVIDIA ION, Theater View freezes when set as default in startup. (Read 4399 times)

raldo · « **on:** January 09, 2012, 02:56:33 am »

I'd like my system to start in Theater View when rebooted.

When rebooting, I see that the Asrock pc connects to the server. Afterwards, the screen goes black. I see the instruction text popping up for a brief instance but then the screen remains black.

I've tried waiting a while, but nothing happens. Pressing esc a few times brings back a responsive standard view.

------------------
Media Center 17.0.60.0 registered -- C:\Program Files (x86)\J River\Media Center 17\

6.1 (Build 7600)
Intel Pentium III 1599 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 3407 MB, Free - 2044 MB

Internet Explorer: 9.0.8112.16421 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.82.7600 / Shlwapi.dll: 6.1.7600 / Shell32.dll: 6.1.7600 / wnaspi32.dll: N/A
Ripping / Drive E: Mode:ModeSecure Type:Auto Speed:Max
Digital playback: Yes / Get cover art: Yes / Calc replay gain: Yes / Copy volume: 100
Eject after ripping: Yes / Play sound after ripping: No

Burning / Drive E: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GT30N Addr: 0:1:0 Speed:24 MaxSpeed:24 BurnProof:Yes
Test mode: No / Eject after writing: Yes / Direct decoding: Yes / Write CD-Text: Yes
Use playback settings: No /

Portable Device Info
Removed devices:

Interface Plugins:
TiVo Server (Active)

3bird · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2012, 08:10:06 am »

Same issue here - also with an Nvidia ION.

Once in standard view, I can close Media Center and restart, and it will then go into Theater View ok.

However, I am also getting stuttering video/audio, and high definition audio files are taking a while to buffer (and will often re-buffer through a song). Standard CD resolution flacs play ok. I usually stream from a NAS drive - but for test purposes I am running some files direct from the local drive.

Strange thing is, this only happens in my 'Media Center' login profile of Windows 7 (non-administrator) - which I use for Media playback.

When I login to my Windows 7 administrator profile (same machine - where I install the software), it all works fine including starting in Theater View.

I tried making my 'Media Center' login profile of Windows 7 an administrator of Windows - but that didn't help.

This started a couple of builds ago.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media Center 17.0.62.0 registered -- C:\Program Files\J River\Media Center 17\

Workstation 6.1 Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)
Intel Pentium III 1617 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 1572 MB, Free - 848 MB

Internet Explorer: 9.0.8112.16421 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.82.7601 / Shlwapi.dll: 6.1.7601 / Shell32.dll: 6.1.7601 / wnaspi32.dll: N/A
Ripping / No CD drives found.
Digital playback: Yes / Get cover art: Yes / Calc replay gain: Yes / Copy volume: 32767
Eject after ripping: Yes / Play sound after ripping: No

Burning / No burners found.
Test mode: No / Eject after writing: Yes / Direct decoding: No / Write CD-Text: Yes
Use playback settings: No /

Portable Device Info
Removed devices:

Interface Plugins:
TiVo Server (Active)

CountryBumkin · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2012, 08:45:39 am »

I have an Nvidia Ion too, but I don't have this problem. I see both of you have Tivo Server active. I don't have that. Perhaps disable Tivo Server and see if it works then.

3bird · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2012, 09:05:37 am »

Thanks for your idea.

I don't use the Tivo server, I guess it is active by default? Also, can't see where to disable it.

When I go to Services and Plug-ins and highlight 'Tivo server', it gives the option to start server - so it's not started even though it is 'active'.

Plug-in manager doesn't allow me to uninstall it either.

Matt · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2012, 09:45:34 am »

Is this only on PC boot?

If you close Media Center (and Media Server if you use it), then run again, will it work that time?

Thanks.

raldo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2012, 10:35:44 am »

Quote from: Matt on January 09, 2012, 09:45:34 am

Is this only on PC boot?

If you close Media Center (and Media Server if you use it), then run again, will it work that time?

Thanks.

It looks like it's only on boot. I can restart MC and thv comes up just fine.

3bird · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2012, 04:53:18 pm »

For me, it happens both ways - boot or manual after Windows has first started. However, once the standard view appears (by pressing ESC key a few times) - Theater View can be selected with no problems. It is only the first time Windows boots up.

Remember, for me it is only happening in my 'Media Center' Windows log-in. In my administrator log-in it works with boot or manual start.

I tried something else just now. Created a new Windows User profile (standard user), and ran a new instance of MC17. I have found everything works fine in this - Theater View and playing video/audio (except for one exception, which I shall ignore for now).

So it appears something is corrupted in MC17 for a particular Windows user log-in? I know some settings are unique to a user, so this must be where the problem is?

It's no big deal to use the new profile instead I suppose.

Hope this makes sense.

raldo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2012, 01:56:27 pm »

Some more info:

It seems as if this happens also if I start MC manually after the machine has rebooted. I.e. Theater View freezes the first time I start MC after a reboot.

It also happens if I start MC with default std view and then select Theater View from the menu.

Antivirus is disabled, btw.

Facel · « **Reply #8 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:09:39 pm »

Same problem for me on my Nvidia Ion CPU.

It could be a graphical problem on MC17 version
=> this problem did not occured on MC16 version
=> MC 17 is running ok, it is only the initial display, because if I run an MCC media core command MCC_THEATER_VIEW via my remote control (I have assigned tgis command to the green button), then the Theater view appears normaly.

I Hope this can help you for solving the problem

IanH · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2012, 11:23:43 pm »

Another one here. AsRock with Nvidia ION. Set to start up MC17 with windows...black screen. Works OK if I esc and restart from the standard screen.

wig · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2012, 07:48:33 am »

Same problem on my Ion-based Revo 3700.

One more nugget; if I start Theater View using the green button, it goes blank. If I click my music button (mapped to Theater View > Audio) after that, it appears after a lengthy delay.

Matt · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:03:57 am »

I can't reproduce this on a regular nVidia.

What happens if you get Theater View showing, then lock the screen (Windows key + L), then return? Does it recover, or does it switch to a black screen?

3bird's report that it's only certain user accounts makes me wonder if there's a race condition and the order or number of things run at boot might be relevant.

Any other clues?

Matt · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2012, 12:27:31 pm »

Could you try these old builds and report with which build the problem starts (or if the problem occurs with all of them):
http://files.jriver.com/mediacenter/channels/v17/latest/MediaCenter170020.exe
http://files.jriver.com/mediacenter/channels/v17/latest/MediaCenter170038.exe
http://files.jriver.com/mediacenter/channels/v17/latest/MediaCenter170050.exe

Thanks.

raldo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2012, 03:42:48 pm »

I mailed Matt a log which I generated as follows:
reboot
start mc manually
reset log
select Theater View
wait 15 sec while screen is black (as described above), press esc 5 times
View log, ctrl c

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2012, 03:48:21 pm »

Did you test any of the older builds?

Darth B · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:54:29 pm »

I'm experiencing the same thing with my Athlon 5600 system. Running Win 7 64 bit. Had MC17.62 set-up to autostart in Theater View. Got the Black Screen to nowhere. Pressed Esc and Standard View opened.

Updated to MC17.64. Restarted. Same thing. Autostart to Theater View went into the Black Screen to nowhere. Pressed Esc and got into Standard View. Closed MC. Re-launched and Theater View started fine.

Tried different Autostart settings.
Autostart into Standard View worked.
Autostart into Cover View worked.
Autostart into Display View worked.
Autostart into Last Exit View. Exited from Theater View. Got the Black Screen to nowhere on the restart.
Autostart into Theater View - Location Audio. Got the Black Screen to nowhere on the restart.

Per Matt's Request.
Uninstall MC 17.64. Express install MC17.50. Restart into Theater View went into the Black Screen to nowhere.

Uninstall MC17.50. Express install MC17.38. Restart into Theater View worked.
2nd Restart worked.
3rd Restart, MC tried updating itself, cancelled and disabled auto update.
4th Restart worked.
MC17.38 seems to autostart into Theater View just fine.

Uninstall MC17.38. Express install MC17.20 and disable auto update. Restart into Theater View worked.
2nd Restart worked.
3rd Restart worked.
MC17.20 seems to autostart into Theater View just fine.

Uninstall MC17.20. Express install MC17.64. Restart into Theater View went into the Black Screen to nowhere.

Done for the night. Jim and Matt - hope this helps.

Matt · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2012, 01:51:00 pm »

Thanks for the testing.

To summarize:
17.0.38 (11/18/2011) works
17.0.50 (12/8/2011) does not work

That gives me a nice window to focus on for the source changes.

If you don't mind, it would be helpful if you could also test this build that's in between:
http://files.jriver.com.s3/mediacenter/channels/v17/latest/MediaCenter170046.exe

Thanks.

Darth B · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2012, 05:50:25 pm »

Matt -

Just uninstalled MC17.0.64 and express install MC17.0.46. Restart went into Theater View. It worked.
2nd restart worked.
3rd restart worked.

I just noticed that MC seems to lose focus. The bottom taskbar appears and the cursor keys won't work unless I use the mouse and click inside Theater View. Seems like odd behaviour to me. I don't know which builds other than this one are impacted.

So the updated summary.
Builds MC17.0.46 and earlier work.
Builds MC17.0.50 and later do not work.

raldo · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2012, 12:08:50 am »

Quote from: Darth B on January 12, 2012, 05:50:25 pm

I just noticed that MC seems to lose focus. The bottom taskbar appears and the cursor keys won't work unless I use the mouse and click inside Theater View. Seems like odd behaviour to me. I don't know which builds other than this one are impacted.

I've seen that too! It's very important that this doesn't happen. In particular for those of us that use a remote.

Edit: In most cases I've seen, the focus has been lost but the taskbar has not appeared. The only indicator is that the remote doesn't work.

)p( · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2012, 02:35:21 am »

I have a freezing issue with a ion based htpc for the longest times. I am not sure this has been mentioned before. I have tried every driver combo I could think of. It just happened again with 17.0.64. The ion pc runs win7 with all drivers uptodate.

It happen when I fast scroll and it barely is able to keep up.
It mostly happens when I scroll through a long list of photo albums in lineup view.

3bird · « **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2012, 04:18:02 am »

Apologies from me. I deleted the profile that was causing problems, and so I am unable to test with older builds. Theater view is still working fine in my new profile at the moment.

I have been using theater view at boot for ages - it started having a problem around Xmas/New Year. I keep up with all the latest stable builds - although I recently installed a couple of the latest betas, as I found the added features fixed a couple of minor annoying issues I was having.

So it is definitely caused by pretty recent update.

Quote from: Darth B on January 12, 2012, 05:50:25 pm

I just noticed that MC seems to lose focus. The bottom taskbar appears and the cursor keys won't work unless I use the mouse and click inside Theater View. Seems like odd behaviour to me. I don't know which builds other than this one are impacted.

I noticed the same thing.

Sandy B Ridge · « **Reply #21 on:** January 13, 2012, 05:36:24 am »

Quote from: Darth B on January 12, 2012, 05:50:25 pm

I just noticed that MC seems to lose focus. The bottom taskbar appears and the cursor keys won't work unless I use the mouse and click inside Theater View. Seems like odd behaviour to me.

Quote from: raldo on January 13, 2012, 12:08:50 am

I've seen that too! It's very important that this doesn't happen. In particular for those of us that use a remote.

Edit: In most cases I've seen, the focus has been lost but the taskbar has not appeared. The only indicator is that the remote doesn't work.

The losing focus thing may be unrelated, not sure.

I'm not on the same platform, but have similar setup - booting into TheaterView, or resume from sleep into TheaterView. Whenever it has happened I think the focus is lost because something else grabs it, it seems to happen for me only when something else announces that updates are available or they have a problem initializing, once it was AnyDVD, once Adobe, once Apple, regular Windows Updates, etc. Seems that the taskbar programs grab the focus, needing a mouse click in MC. Each time it happens, I go round the programs to disable the auto updates or notification, so now I lose focus less often.

Does pressing the Green Button on the remote bring the focus back? I keep meaning to check, but keep forgetting because my wireless keyboard/mouse thingy is too handy! If it doesn't, you could always program an unused button on the remote to bring the focus back.

SBR

lbstyling · « **Reply #22 on:** January 13, 2012, 07:53:38 am »

I had this problem, but solved it by setting JRiver to delay startup by 20 seconds over other programs (done in a program called glary utilities- kinda like ccleaner)

Hope that helps!

Matt · « **Reply #23 on:** January 13, 2012, 04:57:56 pm »

I think this should be fixed in a coming build.

There's a timer that reloads Theater View if it fails to load (because madVR had an exclusive device, or maybe the video driver wasn't ready, etc.)

But the reload timer could get out of order with the timer that did some of the actual loading, and then the two timers would fight each other.

raldo · « **Reply #24 on:** January 14, 2012, 06:03:11 am »

Quote from: Matt on January 13, 2012, 04:57:56 pm

I think this should be fixed in a coming build.

There's a timer that reloads Theater View if it fails to load (because madVR had an exclusive device, or maybe the video driver wasn't ready, etc.)

But the reload timer could get out of order with the timer that did some of the actual loading, and then the two timers would fight each other.

Good!

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Author Topic: NVIDIA ION, Theater View freezes when set as default in startup. (Read 4399 times)