SageTV Service crashes after Windows XP autoupdate

[techtips]

I received the Windows XP autoupdate for WMF (Windows Meta File) during the night lastnight and awoke to SageTV service crashing about every 2 or three minutes. Nothing else has changed that I am aware of. The error points to a module "MpegDeMux.ax". I have reloaded SageTV 4.1.3 which reloaded and registered the module, but am still encountering the errors.

My System is:

AMD Sempron 2800+, ECS MB w/1Gig Ram 120 Gig System Drive, 120 Content Drive.

Avermedia 1500 MCE
Plextor PX-TV402U

2 DirecTV Receivers Controlled Via Serial

2 SageTV MVP Extenders

Windows XP SP2
Trend Micro Client/Server Suite SMB

[JonTom]

After the WMF update, I couldn't play videos anymore. I got a directx error when using VMR and a 'couldn't play video' error when using overlay. No change when I switched to various renderers, etc. I tried updating directx and upped to the newest Java, no joy.

So I System Restored to before the update and all is well.

[EasyDoesIt]

After the WMF update, I couldn't play videos anymore. I got a directx error when using VMR and a 'couldn't play video' error when using overlay.

Same here unfortunately. The WMF fix broke it. It's just one thing after another. AARRRGH! Hopefully someone will come up with a solution soon. I use W2K and 'roll-back' is not an option.

[techtips]

I have restored to two different previous restore points and still have the error. I have also reinstalled SageTV (not a clean Load from cold) which replaces the MpegDeMux.ax file.....all in vain. I still have the problem.

I am in the process of loading the latest Virus definition from Trend, but this is starting to look real bad. The service only runs at best for two or three minutes before it crashes. All MVP reset, all recording is hosed. All I know is that it work last night at midnight, the Update from Microsoft came in at 3am and it has not worked all day.

I am a bit frustrated to say the least, this needs to be more reliable.

-danny

[techtips]

I am at a loss for words. The problem continues and I have no other errors, not in the OS not any other applications, crap I cannot even finish this message for the popup Service failure errors. I have attached an example screen capture of the error.

I have spent endless hours getting everything working to the family's liking, have spent hundreds of dollars on software and hardware, completely rewired the communications in the house to facilitate centralized MCE, and now for some reason I am backed against the wall. I have no redundancy plan.

Okay I will quit whining, it all rolls down hill. I beleive I will fireup another XP machine and load Beyond TV or anything else just to get something going.

Oh yeh three service failures during the time it took to write this post.......

Future anything but SageTV customer,

[flavius]

The only machine where I have automatic update turned on is the kids box.

I have used Beyond TV for several years. It's no different in that regard, believe me, and you might run into a host of other problems.

I'd recommend patching up that new box up to that wmf update, don't install any other software. Then install Sage 4.1.4b. Keep it as *vanilla* as you can, no recording to network shares, andsoforth.

Does that work?

[basset]

Hi,

Fortunately I'm not sharing the pain since I leared a long long time ago that you disable auto updates on your HTPC ... something to keep in mind.

Unfortunately I do not have a solution for you ... but sometimes (at least on XP) there is a way to "uninstall" hotfixes etc. when you go to add / remove programs. Check there .. just maybe there you can remove this fix ... if not .. sorry

Also .. it might be that the microsoft fix actually broke something ... it will not be the first and probably not the last.

It's not nice to blame SageTV for a fix from Microsoft that breaks things that used to work ...

I'm sorry for your pain.

Basset

[techtips]

Unfortunately this was not a Hotfix, thus is not listed in the add/remove programs. Not pointing fingers at anyone oither than myself for being so stupid to:

1. Enable Auto Update within XP
2. Put my faith in SageTV software so much as to rewire the home and leave no contingency plan.
3. Be so smug as to see everyone elses problems, have a few minor hiccups but nothing major and think I have no problems.
4. Sell the two Tivos

I should be working in my CCIE Lab but now find myself taking the box to minimum configuration loading another with 4.1.4b (I cannot find) and working from there. At this point it is do something and see if that fixes it, sort of a passive approach but what else are you going to do. Maybe I start pulling cables in the basement again.

[flavius]

http://www.sagetv.com/beta.html has the beta. Opus4 has this link is his signature.

I wouldn't pull any cables just yet.

[EasyDoesIt]

Originally Posted by basset

... but sometimes (at least on XP) there is a way to "uninstall" hotfixes etc. when you go to add / remove programs. Check there .. just maybe there you can remove this fix ... if not .. sorry
Basset

Sometimes those pesky trees blocks the view of the forest....
The WMF update was a hotfix (at least for W2K) (K912919). MS indicates this particular hotfix can indeed be uninstalled thru the control panel... so that's what I did. Worth a try and beats a wipe/reinstall of the OS. The good news is that it appears to have worked! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Automatic Updates is NOW DISABLED on the server. Another life lesson learned. Thanks for the headsup Basset.

[basset]

Whoohoo !!

[ke6guj]

I guess I got lucky then. I woke up Friday morning with the notification that XP was updated with a security update and had restarted. Sage still runs just fine.

[techtips]

Thanks for the words of wisdom EasyDoesIt!

It does not showup as a hotfix in add and remove programs for XP and as I stated before, I rolled back to a previous restore point. I am on technet now trying to see how to remove. The only thing that I am finding is utilizing the restore point method which does me no good. I have blown the file MpegDemux.ax away in the file structure and within the registry and the service runs without fail, however you get a Sage.Playbackexception error and you cannot display video. I have since reloaded 4.1.3 and have the same problem.

[flavius]

There's a pretty good chance, that the more things you try, the more damage you do to the registry which truly is the root of (almost) all evil in this world...

[techtips]

I know what you mean digging deeper and deeper.....
If I try nothing, then I know my outcome. Maybe spending another $200 loading Microsoft MCE or Beyond maybe the best option, cut my losses...
or get the "rabbit ears" out.

One last thing, Technet says the only way to remove within XP is via Add/remove programs, since I ran Restore point I do not see within Add/remove. I restore back to the original and still do not see there. I went to the MS update Website and it verifys that the hotfix was download last night. Weird?? I think I will download the Hotfix again then remove from Add/remove.

Even better Idea would be to load the Linux version of Sage except it only supports Hauppauge and recompiling Linux to get the drivers working would not be a good thing, especially now that I have a cowboy attitude with this problem.

[stanger89]

Two things I will probably never trust:
Windows Automatic Updates
Windows Sytem Restore

I've had Windows updates go bad in the past, in the future if one goes bad, I want to be darn sure it was my fault, not for some stealth install to surprise me. Actually about the only time I run Windows update is on a fresh install.

As for system restore, I just don't trust it to cleanly remove stuff. That's what Acronis True Image is for.

[stevech]

For my office PC, I am on XP SP1 with Norton AV. I use Outlook (not outlook express) as my mail client with some security updates for it. I use Firefox, never IE. I decline all Microsoft update sh*t because they always break 3 fixing 1.

My office computer is stable and has been so for a LONG time.
My HTPC and home automation PCs don't update.

[stevech]

I am on XP SP1 with Norton AV. I use Outlook (not outlook express) as my mail client. I use Firefox.

I decline all Microsoft update sh*t because they always break 3 fixing 1, an inevitable consequence of trying to have 10,000 code-monkeys in Redmond coordinate among themselves.

My computer is stable and has been so for a LONG time.

[Enormous]

Hey techtips...

At first I did not see the Hotfix listed in my Add/Remove list either, but then I checked the box at the top that says "Show Updates", and there it was! Hope that works for you as well...

[techtips]

All is well now almost 12 hours from the fiasco. Here is what I did.

Apparently there were two updates last night, WMF update and .Net Framework 1.1. I blew both of those away. I also blew away all traces of Sagetv including the directories and every entry in the registry ( I had a good incremental backup from Friday. I then rebooted and reinstalled Sagetv 4.1.4 once installed reloaded the Sagetv directories only from backup.

It worked, something got hosed, bigtime during the Update and I can see from analysis of the event log that it happen within a few minutes of the update. I also took the advice and picked up a copy of Acronis True Image from Newegg ($29 downloadable) and am now making a image of the C: drive next make an image of SageTV for a backup.

This has been bitter sweet, but now I contimplate how to make things more stable.