Can't get service to run :(

[Zeos]

I'm a current BTV user and have been somewhat dissatisfied lately with their releases and decided to give sage a shot. So far, I love it, but I've got 6 days left on my trial and am still unable to get the service to start here. Trying to start if from XP's service snapin I get "Could not start the SageTV service on Local Computer. Error 1053: The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion"

The funny thing is, when I initially installed sage it worked fine, but I was forced to re-install windows shortly thereafter (stupid hard drives have to be replaced at the worst possible time) After re-installing everything and getting everything else working this is the only issue I have left .....If I can get it nailed down before the trial runs out I'll be getting the ole' credit card out

System details:
WinXP Pro, SP2/DX9c
NV Decoders
PVR-250 w/ latest drivers available from hauggpauge
MyBlaster USB with MyIR 1.61 installed into Sage properly. (exe tuner plugin)
Latest Sage from the website.

I am able to watch live tv and change channels on my sat. box just fine.

When trying to start the service with the sagetvservicecontrol app it times out without starting, when setting the service to enabled sage takes forever to load (presumably becuase it's trying and failing to start the service with the interface)

I've tried both the default user that sage recommends and my local administrator account in the service configuration with the same results. . I've un-installed and re-installed sage as well...

Attempting to start sagetvservice from a command line yields no error messages to stdout either...

what's going on here?

[korben_dallas]

Any more detail on the error in Event Viewer?

And which version of SageTV are you using? Try both 2.1 and 2.2 ?

[Zeos]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

Any more detail on the error in Event Viewer?

And which version of SageTV are you using? Try both 2.1 and 2.2 ?

using 2.2 right now, but I'm kinda afraid to back down to 2.1 since I'm so short on time (trials running out)

The even viewer shows the error, but as non-descript as the services message
"The SageTV service failed to start due to the following error:
The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion."

[korben_dallas]

Two things I'd try would be:

Reinstall DirectX 9.0c http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
Uninstall any and all Java, and then re-download the newest here http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_xpi.jsp

[Zeos]

Still no dice with un-installing and re-installing java and dx. Clicking start service in the servicecontrol app still fails as well as starting via services.msc

[korben_dallas]

The only other reason I can think it would fail would be because the capture card(s) is in use by another service or program. Are you running Windows MCE by chance? It has some services that will lock your capture device. Or maybe WinDVR, WinTV, or another application like that? Something could even be running in the background without your knowledge, but it would definitely cause the SageTV Service some problems.

[Zeos]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

The only other reason I can think it would fail would be because the capture card(s) is in use by another service or program. Are you running Windows MCE by chance? It has some services that will lock your capture device. Or maybe WinDVR, WinTV, or another application like that? Something could even be running in the background without your knowledge, but it would definitely cause the SageTV Service some problems.

I wish it were that easy...I'm on XP Pro (non-MCE). I do have other apps installed, but anything and everything that may access the card is shut down (confirmed through task manager). The only thing even remotely involved thats still running is ir.exe, which as I'm sure everyone knows is the ir app for the pvr.

But, what I'm experiancing here sounds like it could be this...maybe I'll un-install some apps (currently btv is still installed, but disabled) and see if that has any affect.

[Zeos]

Think I got it. Uninstalling BTV didn't do a thing, but after poking around in the services cp I enabled "Allow Service to Interact with Desktop" and it started right up. I'm going to leave it like this and test for the 4 days I've got left on this trial to make sure it behaves itself.

I guess my only other question would be (assuming it's not a verbotten subject) would be, whats the difference between buying from pcalchemy and frey, besides the $15 price tag? I'm assuming it's legit over there....

[korben_dallas]

Originally Posted by Zeos

Think I got it. Uninstalling BTV didn't do a thing, but after poking around in the services cp I enabled "Allow Service to Interact with Desktop" and it started right up. I'm going to leave it like this and test for the 4 days I've got left on this trial to make sure it behaves itself.

Good to hear you got it running.

Originally Posted by Zeos

I guess my only other question would be (assuming it's not a verbotten subject) would be, whats the difference between buying from pcalchemy and frey, besides the $15 price tag? I'm assuming it's legit over there....

Definitely not forbidden here. If you can get a better price at PCAlchemy or another e-tailer, and you find them a trustworthy source, then there is no shame at saving some money. I have a feeling that if SageTV was much more popular, Frey wouldn't be selling it directly themselves anyways.

[jough]

I just wanted to add that I was having this same problem after uninstalling Beyond TV's trial, and that selecting the service's properties in Services.msc and selecting the "Allow Service to Interact with Desktop" box made it come right up.

So Beyond TV must've done something to mess with the SageTV service on its way out.

I tried installing both and then uninstalling BTV on another box - same behaviour - with both things installed both work fine, and the SageTV service has the box checked.

Uninstall BTV, and the SageTV service gets shut down and when I try to bring it back up that box is unchecked.

I don't know if it's windows or BTV messing it up, but it's worth noting. Hopefully Sage's service exe file will be updated in the future to fix this itself.

[korben_dallas]

Mine is not checked to interact. You are using Local System Account, right?

Are you perhaps not logged into XP as an Administrator? Or have some local security policies enforced?

[computer33]

Interesting. I had the exact same issue when I was using the trial version of Sage. I could not start the service and Sage was slow in starting up also but only near the end of the trial period. In the begininig everything was fine.

I decided to purchace it regardless because I was so impressed by Sage. Everything corrected itselft when I entered in the serial number to purchase it. Never quite understood what the problem was?

[michelkenny]

I figured out what the problem is here. When you are almost at the end of the trial period a dialog pops up on the screen when you start the service ("You only have xx days before your trial runs out"...). Since the service by default can't "interact" with the desktop, the dialog is hidden but it just sits there waiting for a response and eventually the service startup times out, giving the error. As soon as you allow it to interact the service starts and the dialog pops up. The reason why this doesn't happen on a fresh install or with a valid key is because no dialog shows up.

[korben_dallas]

Originally Posted by michelkenny

I figured out what the problem is here. When you are almost at the end of the trial period a dialog pops up on the screen when you start the service ("You only have xx days before your trial runs out"...). Since the service by default can't "interact" with the desktop, the dialog is hidden but it just sits there waiting for a response and eventually the service startup times out, giving the error. As soon as you allow it to interact the service starts and the dialog pops up. The reason why this doesn't happen on a fresh install or with a valid key is because no dialog shows up.

You should email that one to support@freytechnologies.com (or support@sagetv.com ?) to let them know.

[michelkenny]

Done!