Dual boot (1 Viewer)

[VdR]

Does anybody have any experience with running two versions of MP in a dual boot set up?

I'm the one user that is still running version 0.2.2.0. The family found version 0.2.3.0 to have many more bugs and 'forced' me to go back to 0.2.2.0. The problem now is that I cannot really test newer versions without upsetting the family.

So, I'm planning to add a second HDD, install a second instance of XP and the latest version of MP.

I'm already sharing music and movies from a media server (Dell GX270 with 3x 500 GB HDD on a Gigabit LAN, nicely tucked away in the attick) so no issue there.

TV is bit more complicated.

The ultimate plan is to use this media server also as the TV server, but for now I will have to leave the tuner cards (2x Black Gold DVBT) in the MP machine in the living, so they can be used by either of the dual boot systems. That should work without a problem?

I'm not sure if I can share recorded TV. I can use the same folder for recorded TV for both instances of MP but will this work? I beleive MP keeps it's own database of recorded TV (at least I regularly see a difference between what MP shows as recorded TV programs and what is indeed in the recorded TV folder). I would have to synchronize the recorded TV databases everytime I switch systems, is that possible?

Anybody any experience, suggestions or warnings?

A big thanks to the devs for the work being done to make MP stable and bug free. It is the best!

 

[VdR]

Then I will just have to try. The HDD is in, so as soon as I have a little time on my hands ...

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Sorry VDR saw your original post, just could not give any reasonable answer.

Your right, the databases are the biggest problem, i know of no easy way of switching from my Vista drive to the xp one without having to use TVServers config to update the recorded folder contents (use the same folder) and have found no free easy to use software that could do this for you (lots of nice expensive sql management programs that will).

You need something that would automatically copy the latest referenced db only, otherwise it could be a total shambles regarding recordings\epg\schedules etc to be able to work.

 

[VdR]

I spend a lot of time on this this weekend and made some progress.

Unfortunately when I wanted to add the second HDD to mt HP z552 I found out that the MB has four locations for SATA connectors, but that only one is actually fitted ... bravo ASUS you must have saved a fortune here ... So instead I have been connecting and disconnecting HDDs to proceed.

I set up the new HDD with three partions to be future proof. Two boot partitions, where I can use one for the current version and one for the development version. And one data partion to share.

I have done a clean install of XP professional with all drivers and requirements for MP on both boot partitions.

I have installed MP 1.0.0.0 RC2 on one of them. I set up to use the TV server and no HD content. Installation and setup is a blast. Compliments to the development team!

Just for fun I also setup an MP 1.0.0.0 RC2 client on my development PC and it works great including TV.

I'm still not ready to move over though. Biggest problem now is the TV guide. On the HTPC WepEPG does not seem to work. On the client WepEPG works but I still do not have a guide. I'll post a seperate threat to ask for help.

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After a lot of fiddeling I fixed the TV guide issue.

But know that I have a TV guide, I have no TV anymore and get a 'MediaPortal has crashed unexpectedly' message all the time (are there expected crashes to come as well?).

Anyway, time is up. I spend two full days trying to make this work, it will be a while before I can make that kind of time again. Back to the original HDD with good old stable 0.2.2.0 again for a while.


VdR