MP / Powerscheduler / Standby & Hibernation issues

[moviebuff03]

Area: Media Portal Program
MediaPortal Version: 0.2
MediaPortal Skin: MCE 16:9
Windows Version: Windows XP MCE (SP2) + Rollup 2
.NET CLR Version: 2.0.50727
DirectX Version: 4.09.00.0904 (9.0c)
Audio Codec: MPA Audio Decoder
Video Codec: MPV Video Decoder
CPU Type: Intel Pentium 4 - 3.00GHz
Memory: 1 GB DDR
Motherboard: MS-6788 (MICRO-STAR INC.)
TV Card Model: Hauppauge Win Nova-T
TV Card Type: DVB-T
TV Card Driver: 2.105.23074.0
TV Card Model: Terratec Cinergy 1400
TV Card Type: DVB-T
TV Card Driver: 5.0.17.0
TV Card Model: Videomate Compro DVBT300
TV Card Type: Hybrid DVB-T + Analog
TV Card Driver: 1.3.3.9 (BDA)
Video Card Model: Sapphire Radeon 9600 Atlantis AGP (256 MB)
Video Card Driver: 8.241.0.0 (Catalyst 6.6)
Video Card Resolution: 1216x692 (DVI>HDMI)
Video Render Type: VMR9
Audio Card Model: M-Audio Revolution 7.1 (SPDIF)
Audio Card Driver: 5.10.0.5052

I apologise for writing another thread about Powerscheduler (MP plugin). It is affecting recordings and MP, but don't know where to go and solve what's causing the problem.

Here are the settings:
MP 0.2 has the plugin enabled to the default settings with forced shutdown (although I haven't a clue what this really means) and Suspend, although also tried Hibernation.
Under the power settings in Windows Control Panel I have enabled 'Hibernation'
BIOS was setup to S3 prior to installing MCE. S4 is NOT an option on my Mobo. Am I right in thinking I only have the option to Standby and not Hibernation??

Problems:
MP puts PC into Suspend or Hibernation ok (HDDs stop), but the case fan continues, the screen goes blank (as if power off) and the iMon VFD freezes, but remains powered.
As per the plugin settings, Powerscheduler always tries to shutdown after the 3 minutes...but I end up with the above.
I have to press the reset button to restore the PC from suspend mode (it comes back to where it closed down).
Some recording do not start, or I end up with just 38 - 39 seconds of recordings. Some are missing completely.

So from what I've seen, it seems that it can't go into suspend completely, without something preventing it. From suspend works, but only by pressing the reset button (even if recordings are scheduled).

MP logs do not appear to show anything obvious. I am wondering if anyone else has encountered this scenario and how it was overcome. Any thoughts would be gratefully received!

On the plus guys, it just remains for this and frequencies issue with my Nova-T card and I have MP working 100%. What a great achievement for the developers and what a great learning ground these forums have become...

[samuel337]

It seems that its not going into S3 standby state. Looks like something resembling S1 or S2 I think.

Download this app:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/products/Oem...cpi/dumppo.exe

And run it in a command prompt by typing:
dumppo admin

Then post your results here.

If your Min sleep state is not S3, then that's probably causing the problem as Windows thinks it should try an earlier sleep state. Execute this in the command prompt to change it:
dumppo admin minsleep=s3

HTH

Sam

[moviebuff03]

Samuel,
Thanks for your reply.

My settings were as follows:
Admin policy overrides
Min sleep state - S1
Max sleep state - S4 - hibernate
Min video timeout - 0
Max video timeout - -1
Min spindown timeout - 0
Max spindown timeout - -1

I followed your advice and changed the min sleepstate setting, which now reads S3.

I have tried and let Powerscheduler suspend and hibernate from MP (forced shutdown ticked), but I suffer the same problem. Windows shows the 'hibernating' screen and then freezes. The sys fan remains on, but the HDDs sound like then stop.

My way out of it is still restoring via the reset button. It takes upto 35" to fully restore the system.

MP in the log is not happy with this and reports DirectX error and Exception ...Error in application.

Any further advice please?

[samuel337]

Just out of interest, can you suspend or hibernate your computer using Windows when MP is not running?

Sam

[moviebuff03]

Hi Sam,
I have tried directly from Windows and the machine gets stuck on the Hibernating screen, which is now leading me to believe that it's a Windows problem...

I have all XP/MCE patches + SP2 installed, tried a Windows reinstall, removed MP, along with checking my BIOS settings, which is set to S3 and APM enabled.

I'm gonna try restoring the PC from True Image and see if that has any results...

I am lost as where to go from here!

Darren

[samuel337]

Hmm... could be drivers (especially USB devices) or running applications or something else. Can't really help you any further, there's a lot on google about this sort of problem, but its really just a trial and error thing.

There use to be an application in win98 that helped by telling you what causes the problem, but there isn't an xp version. Maybe try the system log and see if there's anything in there?

Sam

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by moviebuff03

I am lost as where to go from here!

Check your BIOS settings - for my PC (from memory!) there were 2 states that I could set for "standby" mode - and I think they corresponded to S1 or S3.

It sounds like your PC is currently set for S1 mode and should be changed in the BIOS to S3 mode for standby...

[moviebuff03]

Yes, me again.
What a great start to the week, with nothing on the HTPC going right.

I've tried the dumppo test and changed the setting to s3. I decided to reformat the drive and reinstall Windows. I now have a brand new copy of MCE and it's fine with standby mode and hibernation. It will now only return to normal state with the power button. It seems to have lost complete control of the USB Microsoft Remote Control, although it recognises it in Device Manager and it allows the system to switch off, but not on.

I know this is strictly a Mp forum and not Windows, but any other suggestions would sort me out. I can't help think it might be the BIOS, but there aren't that many settings in the APM screen. Would updating my BIOS change anything, although I have to say it's worked fine in the past.

[samuel337]

Go into Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager, find the MCE remote receiver device (something along the lines of Microsoft eHome receiver), right-click and select properties, then in the power management tab, ensure that the device is allowed to wake computer from standby.

Sam

[moviebuff03]

I've just checked and there is no such tab!

The system does seem to be responding again and the mouse (PS/2) will bring it to life, so its got to be something between the BIOS and Windows USB. I have enabled USB s3 resume in the BIOS.