[solved] Deleting recordings is sometimes not possible (1 Viewer)

[struppi21]

Deleting recordings sometimes doesn't work.
Neither the 0 button nor the Info/Delete button works.
Nothing happens at all with either option.

If I watch a recording and then go back to the Recordings view, deleting works as it should.
I think I first noticed this behavior with version 1.37.
I never had this problem before.

Could someone please look into this?
Thank you in advance.

 

[CyberSimian]

Deleting recordings sometimes doesn't work.

The logs show that there is a file permission error. As I understand it, files are written in the recordings folder by TV Server, which operates under its own security identity. When you try to delete a recording from the MP client, you are using the security identity of the logged-on userid. So, two different identities.

There might be complicating factors such as using a different folder for each tuner, and these folders don't all have the same security permissions. Or perhaps you are trying to record directly to a NAS, again with mismatched security permissions. Or perhaps you are trying to delete a file which is still recording, or which is being viewed by another MP client on your home network, or which is in use some other software that you run on your system.

It would be worthwhile checking that the permissions are correct for the recording folder(s) on your system; see this post.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[struppi21]

Thank you very much for the quick response.

I checked the permissions for the “Recordings” folder.
The “Administrators” and “Users” groups have full access.
The only thing I noticed was that the folder owner was a user who no longer exists.
I have now changed this to the currently logged-in user.
However, the problem persists.

I have only one folder for recordings from all tuners and a single-seat configuration.

I'll try to describe the behavior in more detail.
1. I launch MediaPortal.
2. I launch Live TV.
3. I go to “Recordings.”
4. I try to delete a recording.
It doesn't work.
5. I start playing a recording.
6. I return to the “Recordings”.
7. I try to delete the same recording as before.
It works!
After the first playback, I can also delete all other recordings.
Before the first playback, I cannot delete any recordings.

I can reproduce this behavior every time I start MediaPortal!

Since deleting works after playback, I don’t think this can be a permissions issue at filesystem level.

 

[CyberSimian]

Entries in the logs indicate that the deletion failed because the file was being used by another process (but the logs do not identify which process).

Some people use programs such as RoboCopy to copy files from the recording folder to a different folder (often on a NAS), or run programs to convert the TS file to a more efficient data format. Are you doing anything like this?

One behaviour that I have noticed on my system is that TV Server or the MP client generates thumbnails for recordings. While this is happening, the files will be locked, and so inaccessible to the deletion process. Your log files show that the Thumbnail processor is doing that for 261 recordings. Even worse is that it seems to repeat this each time TV Server starts. Maybe this is normal, but it suggests that the thumbnails are not being stored (so TV Server tries to recreate them). You could try disabling thumbnail creation in "TV Server Config" and "MP Config" and seeing if that makes a difference.

It is also possible that the recordings database has been corrupted. To create a new one is rather tedious:

• Copy the entire recording folder to a different location (can be the same disk or a different disk).
• Use "Windows Explorer" to delete everything in the recording folder.
• Start the MP client and use the "Clean-up recordings" button in the left side menu of the "Recorded TV" panel.
• Exit the MP client.
• Copy the recordings back to the recording folder.
• In "TV Server Config", use "Database Import" in the "Recordings" section to add the recordings to the database.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[struppi21]

Hello CyberSimian,
Thank you very much for your dedication.

Some people use programs such as RoboCopy to copy files from the recording folder to a different folder (often on a NAS), or run programs to convert the TS file to a more efficient data format. Are you doing anything like this?

No, I don't touch the recorded files.


Stopped creating thumbnails in MP and MP-Server.
– No change

Then recreated the image database as you described.
– No change

I still have to watch a recording before I can delete.

I have attached a new log collection showing that at 6:37 p.m. I unsuccessfully attempted to delete a recording, then played it back, and successfully deleted it at 6:38 p.m.

Best Regards
Achim

 

[CyberSimian]

The logs show the same file permissions error as before. There probably is an explanation for it, but I don't know what that explanation is.

I am sorry, but I think that you will have to wait to see if someone who views this thread recognises the problem and posts the explanation of how to fix it.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[struppi21]

I was just tinkering with a few settings in the MediaPortal configuration and am happy to have found the cause of the problem.
Disabling the option "Single seat setup: force RTSP usage" under "TV/Radio", "Advanced Options" resolved the issue.

After I disabled this option, I was able to delete the recordings the first time.

@CyberSimian
Thanks to your suggestions, I took another look at the settings and was finally able to find the cause.
Thank you very much