Problem: Can't generate TV show thumbs

[Andrew H]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.3.0 RC3
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo wide
Windows Version: WinXP-Home/SP2
CPU Type: AMD BE-2350 (X2)
HDD: Various -- 2.4TB
Memory: 2 x 1GB
Motherboard: Abit AN-M2HD
Motherboard Chipset: NVidia
Motherboard Bios: V15
Video Card: On-Board Nvidia 7050PV
Video Card Driver: 163.71
Sound Card: On-board
Sound Card AC3: On-board Optical out
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: ATi HDTV-Wonder
1. TV Card Type: ATSC/NTSC + A/V
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR-1600
2. TV Card Type: ATSC/NTSC
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply: Antec 430W
Remote:
TV: Sony VPL-AW15
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI 1280x720

I used to could generate TV thumbs back in 0.2.2.0 but now get a message in the log that it doesn't find the TV thumb, attempts to create it and then that it couldn't create it. I use a projector so my selection is for the highest resolution thumbs. Any clue as to why it can't? Is this a bug or an issue with my setup? I'll post a log file later...

[rtv]

Depends mostly on the recording format. The log might be helpful here...

[Andrew H]

Yeah... I'll post the log soon but it seems to go looking for the thumb, can't locate it and tells DvrMsImageGrabber to create one... then it says it did not create one.

What is this ImageGrabber? I'm USA, NTSC and have a PJ -- so I've asked for large, high quality images. Loading the "Release" of 0.2.3.0 hasn't helped.

[Andrew H]

Here's the log I promised.

[rtv]

Do those files play with WMP? Do you have Haali Media Splitter installed?

[Andrew H]

YES. I'm assuming you mean the dvr-ms 'recorded TV' files. I've had the Haali splitter installed and uninstalled. I have had no issue playing the recorded files whether it be via MP, WatchHDTV, or WMP. I did find an old thread addressing memory leaks and the DVRMSImageGrabber here and here from earlier this year. I suspect their issues had been fixed as I had thumbnails being generated back in 0.2.3.0 RC1 & RC2. (I KNOW they used to work, just can't say how long ago.)

What's your thoughts on the Haali splitter?

[rtv]

Originally Posted by Andrew H

I suspect their issues had been fixed as I had thumbnails being generated back in 0.2.3.0 RC1 & RC2. (I KNOW they used to work, just can't say how long ago.)

What's your thoughts on the Haali splitter?

Well nothing has been changed there at all therefore my guess is that something on your system had changed which doesn't allow the grabber to "build the graph" for the recordings anymore.

[Andrew H]

So do I need the Haali splitter installed/how configured, and what else to get things working again?

[Andrew H]

UPDATE: Thumbs are now being created and the only thing I can attribute it to is I used a utility to lower the merit of MPV-Decoder to do not use. This allowed WMP-11 to start using my NVidia Purevideo codec and viola` -- MP now creates the thumbs! I may have uninstalled MPA & MPV decoders on my last machine BECAUSE I use AC3Filter and the MPV would always squish 16:9 images into a 4:3 box.... so I may have uninstalled them.

I wonder if my now jerky TV playback is related to vsync on the NVidia driver, or some hard-coded call to MPV.

UPDATE: Read my post here to see how I eliminated my jerky playback. Hint: C'N'Q

[user_99]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.3.0
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo
Windows Version: WinXP-Pro/SP2
CPU Type: Intel P4
HDD: Various -- 750 GB
Memory: 2 x 1GB
Motherboard: Asus P4C800E
Motherboard Chipset: Intel
Motherboard Bios: latest
Video Card: Nvidia 7600
Video Card Driver: 163.71
Sound Card: On-board
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppauge PVR-350
1. TV Card Type: PAL
1. TV Card Driver: hcw2_4_23257pp2
2. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR-1300
2. TV Card Type: PAL
2. TV Card Driver: v40a-2
3. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR-1300
3. TV Card Type: PAL
3. TV Card Driver: v40a-2
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply: Antec 450W
Remote:
TV:
TV - HTPC Connection:

I've the same problem - get a message in the log that it couldn't create TV thumbs: [Info.][PoolThread17]: DvrMsImageGrabber: failed to create thumbnail for ....

System is fully patched and I don't use any SVN version. With 0.2.3.0 RC1 all works fine. Any idea?