I Have a working Vista/BRP/EPG system!!

[petethegeek]

I have a working Vista RC2 system, including an EPG system using BladeRunnerPro and XMLTVNZ.

A lot of people have been posting about this and it wasn't easy!!

The problems with the existing BRP setup not working were this:

3 main issues:

Problem: Bladerunner uses dlls: epehg.dll etc in windows\ehome, these changed (or at least permission did) from mce2k5->vista, but the guide.bin format hasn't.
Solution: simply take a copy of the complete ehome directory from a working MCE2k5 w/bladerunner installaion.

Problem: the Bladerunner install modifies some registry settings, but these are changed by the guide setup wizard in Vista Media Center
Solution: When the Installer gets to the "Terms of service" screen, modify the registry to the appropriate settings (using the Free*EPG installer + regedit) before continuing

Problem: the eHome directory has special permissions and the Media Center worker process has difficulty accessing files there when getting the guide
solution: set up the guide in a localy hosted web page with IIS. this has the advantage of allowing multiple media centers to use the same guide.

Here is a (partial) guide:

• BEFORE INSTALL:Copy the entire windows\ehome directory from your working MCE2k5 w/Bladeruner to somewhere else (different local hard drive..)
• Install Vista, drivers, ffdshow etc.
• Install IIS (Control Panel, Programs, Windows Features)
• (reboot)
• copy your old ehome directory to c:\inetpub\wwwroot
• copy just your BladeRunnerPro to c:\windows\ehome
• open IIS administrator (Control Panel, classic, Administrative tools)
• browse in left hand pane and right-click, convert to application
• Close IIS
• right-click on the c:\Inetpub\wwwroot\ehome directory and modify permissions to give everyone permission, especially the IUSR IIS worker process user.
• Modify the windows firewall exceptions to allow http, https traffic
• Create bat file: c:\Inetpub\wwwroot\ehome\BladeRunner\GetGuide.bat
  c:
  cd \Inetpub\wwwroot\ehome\BladeRunnerPro
  rem XMLTV grabber stuff start - put your own xmltv stuff in here
  cd GuideData
  xmltvnz.exe listing2.xml -seconds -days 7 tv1 tv2 sky_tv3 sky_c4 sky_maori sky_prime
  cd ..
  rem end xmltv grabber
  bladerunner.exe
• Right-click on the bat file and "Run as Administrator"
• Check to see it worked, by checking the c:\Inetpub\wwwroot\ehome\BladeRunnerPro\GuideData\ guide.bin file. It should be >10Kb and have a date of a few minutes ago.
• we now need to mod a couple of files that are automatically updated by BladeRunner whenever it is run. I'm doing this manually every time at the moment, but it should really be scripted, replace "mce-pc" with your pc name:
  C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\ehome\BladeRunnerPro\Native\Get TVMetaServicesInfo.html
  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  <ServiceMetaInfo xmlns="http://data.tvdownload.microsoft.com/TVServices.Platform.XDS/1.0">
  <SessionToken>00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000</SessionToken>
  <Service name="EPGService" defaultScheme="http" serverName="mce-pc" serverPort="80" hostName="mce-pc" hostPort="mce-pc" path="ehome/BladeRunnerPro/Native">
  <Interface name="GetHeadendList" scheme="http" subPath="GetHeadendList.html" />
  <Interface name="GetEPGDataMetaInfo" scheme="http" subPath="GetEPGDataMetaInfo.html" />
  </Service>
  </ServiceMetaInfo>
  C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\ehome\BladeRunnerPro\Native\Get EPGDataMetaInfo.html
  <?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
  <EPGMetaInfo xmlns="http://data.tvdownload.microsoft.com/TVServices.Platform.XDS/1.0">
  <URL>http://mce-pc/ehome/BladeRunnerPro/GuideData/guide.bin</URL>
  <EncryptionKey xmlns="">Leave!</EncryptionKey>
  <Hash xmlns="">Leave!</Hash>
  </EPGMetaInfo>
• Test use your browser to go the files:
  http://mce-pc/ehome/BladeRunnerPro/N...aMetaInfo.html
  http://mce-pc/ehome/BladeRunnerPro/N...adendList.html
  http://mce-pc/ehome/BladeRunnerPro/N...vicesInfo.html
  http://mce-pc/ehome/BladeRunnerPro/GuideData/guide.bin
• Here is the bit I have yet to perfect, although I've managed it twice on 2 seperate builds: configuring the guide using Set Up Guide Listings .
  The order of these I'm not sure of yet, but I've used:
  -deleting the c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\ehome\EPG directory (media center closed)
  -doing a complete setup using the epg*stream setup wizard
  -using regedit to change the discSvc value to "http://mce-pc/ehome/BladeRunnerPro/Native/GetTVServicesMetaInfo.html" and the country to nz. The country MUST match your old PC!!
  NB to make the last 2 things work, you have to do it half way through the Guide Setup, on the screen after the "Guide Privacy" acceptance screen.
  
  Sorry I can't be more specific than that, but I'm sure someone will come up with the proper sequence.

Disclaimer: I admit that this is a real 'hack' and is far from optimal. I'm sure that you don't need the entire ehome directory for examle, just the epg*.dll s probably.
I've used the "BladeRunner" and "XMLTVNZ" and the "EPG*STREAM" software without express permission of the original authors. I hope this is ok.

One final hint:
To get Vista to automatically log on at startup, Windows-R (Run)
type in without the quotes "control userpasswords2"
uncheck the box "Users must enter a name and password to use this computer"
enter your password and reboot


Pete

[Astrotoy7]

nice work

still requires alot of fiddling. For those of us with less smarts and less free time, good ole Free EPG v1.1 takes about 2 mins and a couple of mouse clicks to set up

cheers
Astro

[larsdk]

Hey

good work

I have also been trying a little with ISS and stuff, but I didn´t think about the Dll files you mention

thanks a lot, I will try it out

Regards
Lars

[petethegeek]

nice work

still requires alot of fiddling. For those of us with less smarts and less free time, good ole Free EPG v1.1 takes about 2 mins and a couple of mouse clicks to set up

cheers
Astro

True, but being from NZ, I'm kinda without the extra options like icetv that the aussies have.

It is still VERY messy and only really provides a couple of hints to overcome some issues. It would really be much easier if we could all gt native EPGs Grrrr.

[tyronne27]

hey pete,

nice work around for the solution the only problem I have had is that getting vista to run the bladerunner.exe crashes imediately no matter what permission settings are set to it. anyone had a similar problem?

would like to get oztivo working as I'm using austar and fta is there another solution to bladerunner in vista that will work with oztivo?

[petethegeek]

hey pete,

nice work around for the solution the only problem I have had is that getting vista to run the bladerunner.exe crashes imediately no matter what permission settings are set to it. anyone had a similar problem?

would like to get oztivo working as I'm using austar and fta is there another solution to bladerunner in vista that will work with oztivo?

You're not trying to run Vista 64bit are you? What Vista build? Do you have the .net framework 1.1 installed?

I might be able to help with a bit more info.

[tyronne27]

am running x86 version, did install .net 1.1 + SP1.

the oztivo grabber works perfectly fine. free*epg works fine. ffdshow is installed and works. these are the only current apps installed.

I have disabled the UAC and windows firewall. (am currently behind a good hardware firewall)

have noticed tho when installing free*epg, it does change the discsvc reg key, however when you press F5 to refresh it goes back to the MS original. ?? as long as you dont fresh the registry it stays there after a rebooting several times

appreaciate any thoughts..

[tyronne27]

am also getting this event log error, which isnt really usefull

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 15/10/2006 5:06:26 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: cheyenne-vista
Description:
Faulting application BladeRunner.exe, version 3.5.0.0, time stamp 0x44964e7b, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, time stamp 0x00000000, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x00000000, process id 0xcb8, application start time 0x01c6f02c9ceafec6.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Application Error" />
<EventID Qualifiers="49152">1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2006-10-15T07:36:26.000Z" />
<EventRecordID>612</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>cheyenne-vista</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>BladeRunner.exe</Data>
<Data>3.5.0.0</Data>
<Data>44964e7b</Data>
<Data>unknown</Data>
<Data>0.0.0.0</Data>
<Data>00000000</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>00000000</Data>
<Data>cb8</Data>
<Data>01c6f02c9ceafec6</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

[petethegeek]

am also getting this event log error, which isnt really usefull

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 15/10/2006 5:06:26 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: cheyenne-vista
Description:
Faulting application BladeRunner.exe, version 3.5.0.0, time stamp 0x44964e7b, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, time stamp 0x00000000, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x00000000, process id 0xcb8, application start time 0x01c6f02c9ceafec6.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Application Error" />
<EventID Qualifiers="49152">1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2006-10-15T07:36:26.000Z" />
<EventRecordID>612</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>cheyenne-vista</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>BladeRunner.exe</Data>
<Data>3.5.0.0</Data>
<Data>44964e7b</Data>
<Data>unknown</Data>
<Data>0.0.0.0</Data>
<Data>00000000</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>00000000</Data>
<Data>cb8</Data>
<Data>01c6f02c9ceafec6</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

I'm using BladeRunnerPro v3, not 3.5. Maybe that's the difference?
Is this the only app you are gettig errors for, or are there other issues?
I'm running Vista RC2, what build are you using?

[petethegeek]

am running x86 version, did install .net 1.1 + SP1.

the oztivo grabber works perfectly fine. free*epg works fine. ffdshow is installed and works. these are the only current apps installed.

I have disabled the UAC and windows firewall. (am currently behind a good hardware firewall)

have noticed tho when installing free*epg, it does change the discsvc reg key, however when you press F5 to refresh it goes back to the MS original. ?? as long as you dont fresh the registry it stays there after a rebooting several times

appreaciate any thoughts..

I've found that vista "faults over" to the microsoft default epg server if it has connection issues with the alternative you've provided.
Did you run the free*epg installer at the right place during the guide set up wizard? It needs to be the screen after the terms of service screen.

[tyronne27]

I'm using BladeRunnerPro v3, not 3.5. Maybe that's the difference?
Is this the only app you are gettig errors for, or are there other issues?
I'm running Vista RC2, what build are you using?

ahh, ok I'm using brp3.5, will download v3 n give it a go. am using RC1, RC2 was only just released and my bandwidth wont take anymore . apart from that everything else is quite stable. just immature drivers. but hey, it isnt a release OS yet.

[tyronne27]

I've found that vista "faults over" to the microsoft default epg server if it has connection issues with the alternative you've provided.
Did you run the free*epg installer at the right place during the guide set up wizard? It needs to be the screen after the terms of service screen.

re-install free*epg again and it is holding. must say I do like the new MCE interface, much better for widescreen LCD's.