How can I have SageTV startup with Windows in System Tray w/ AboveNormal CPU Priority

[mkanet]

I can't figure out a way to get SageTV to start up in the System Tray with AboveNormal.

It seems like SageTV will only start up in the system tray with it's fixed command in the Windows registry. If I change that command, sageTV changes it back when SageTV starts up.

The best I can do is have SageTV start up with windows with AboveNormal priority, BUT NOT in the Windows system tray; which is not good enough

[GoldenTiger]

Anyone ever figure this out? Even if you can tell me how to make it startup as AboveNormal CPU priority and then minimize it to the tray, I'd be happy ! Also, is there a way to get the recording service to this state as well, or do services take priority already under Windows XP?

[sleonard]

Well the first one could be done with Girder but that costs money and is a complex program for that one task.

There is no need for this w/ the service. The service has no UI whatsoever and no tray icon niether. A service is an application that start as if it is part of Windows. You do not need to even logon because all services are already running. This makes it nice when your server reboots unexpectedly. Without Sage as a service, you would have to be present to logon and start Sage manually. Not easy to do when your at work and your favorite show needs to be recorded in 1/2 hour.

[GoldenTiger]

My TV tuner is on a normal desktop that I use. I just want to set it to above-normal or make sure the service is on that (I have that enabled already) to ensure that recordings do not get damaged due to insufficient CPU time being devoted to them.

[sleonard]

As long as you are using hardware encoders such as Hauppage PVR 150, 250, etc. you shouldn't need worry about insufficient cpu time damaging recordings. Hardware encoders use very little CPU, most all the work is done on the card. I have 3 PVR 250's in my 2.4 GHz server and use <20% of my CPU when all 3 are recording. Even with all 3 recording, ShowAnalyzer marking commercials in one recording (only does one at a time), and streaming to 3 clients, I still have plenty of CPU to spare.

[GoldenTiger]

I am using a hardware encoder (PVR-USB2). Good to know about the recordings . I sometimes play a MMORPG that I like to watch TV next to, however, and without setting GBPVR's client at least to AboveNormal priority, the videos can't play properly when I am dual-logging the MMORPG client (two copies). That's why I want to know how to make it startup with that, so I don't have to change it manually every time I start Windows.

[sleonard]

Ah, yes. Games will suck up the CPU and make video playback difficult or video playback sucks up CPU and makes gameplay difficult, depends on how you look at it. You won't be able to use the service then and I don't know how to have any app start up with a changed priority. Sorry.

[nielm]

in Sage Detailed Setup/advanced, set Load at Windows startup to 'No'

shutdown Sage
Edit sage.properties
set property:

ui/startup_type=2

create a file in Sage home directory called startsage.bat, containing:

start "sage" /abovenormal "C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\SageTV.exe" -startup

create a shortcut to that batch file in your start menu/programs/startup folder (you might want to set the shortcut to start minimised to avoid popping up a command window)
Run that shortcut as a test, and check in task manager that sage is abovenormal priority.

(the -startup parameter means use the ui/startup_type to determine how to start, and the value 2 means system tray, 1 means full screen).

[GoldenTiger]

Thanks so much! Going to try that now!


EDIT: A winner is you! It worked .