Hangs at "INITIALIZING DIRECTX" (1 Viewer)

[mpab]

I have a can install of MP 1.1.1 on a clean install of W7 (fully updated). My PC specs are at the end of the message.

I used to have a Celeron with Intel graphics that fared terribly slow with the menus et al. This was on XP. This new setup (which I salvaged) is much more powerful, being able to run through the menus and play 720p and even 1080p sometimes. This was under XP, which I dropped because no matter what I did, videos would play perfectly in anything but MP, which displayed two images side-by-side in black and whita and with some kind of a scan stripe between both images regardless of the type of file. It didn't matter whether I used ffdshow or not.

My problem now is that MP hangs at the "initializing DirectX" message. I've looked aroun for solutions, but the cases don't match my log report nor my version of MP or Windows.

The log is as folows:

2010-10-21 21:15:17.896484 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: MediaPortal v1.1.1.0 is starting up on Windows 7 [6.1.7600.0]
2010-10-21 21:15:17.896484 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Last install from WindowsUpdate is dated 2010-10-20 21:05:18
2010-10-21 21:15:17.896484 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Using Directories:
2010-10-21 21:15:17.896484 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Base - C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Log - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Log
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Skin - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Skin
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Language - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Language
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Database - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Database
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Plugins - C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Plugins
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Thumbs - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Thumbs
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Cache - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Cache
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Weather - C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Weather
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: CustomInputDevice - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\InputDeviceMappings
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Config - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: CustomInputDefault - C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\InputDeviceMappings\defaults
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: BurnerSupport - C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Burner
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Installer - C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Installer
2010-10-21 21:15:17.912109 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Assembly creation time: 01/10/2010 5:35:54 (UTC)
2010-10-21 21:15:17.927734 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Set current directory to: C:\Program Files\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal
2010-10-21 21:15:17.958984 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Windows Media Player version 12.0.7600.16667 installed
2010-10-21 21:15:17.958984 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Loading localized Strings - Path: C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\Language Culture: Language: Prefix: False
2010-10-21 21:15:18.021484 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Loading strings file: strings_es.xml
2010-10-21 21:15:18.115234 [Info.][SplashScreen(3)]: Version: Application 1.1.1.0
2010-10-21 21:15:18.740234 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Loading strings file: strings_en.xml
2010-10-21 21:15:18.740234 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: String not found, using English: 107776 : (My ) Tetris
2010-10-21 21:15:18.740234 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: String not found, using English: 107900 : Dialog Text
2010-10-21 21:15:18.821289 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Checking for running MediaPortal instance
2010-10-21 21:15:18.822265 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Deleting old log\capture.log
2010-10-21 21:15:18.833007 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Checking skin version
2010-10-21 21:15:18.905273 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Not enough permissions to enable/disable the S3 standby trick
2010-10-21 21:15:18.919921 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Load key mapping from C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\keymap.xml
2010-10-21 21:15:18.941406 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Init playlist player
2010-10-21 21:15:18.943359 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Main: Init players
2010-10-21 21:15:18.979492 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Thumbs: MediaPortal is using high quality thumbnails
2010-10-21 21:15:19.137695 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: D3D: Starting fullscreen
2010-10-21 21:15:19.141601 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: D3D: Client size: 1280x720 - Screen: 1280x720
2010-10-21 21:15:19.151367 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: d3dapp: Graphic adapter 'SiS 661FX' is using driver version '6.14.10.3900'
2010-10-21 21:15:19.152343 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: d3dapp: Pixel shaders supported: 0 (Version: 0.0), Vertex shaders supported: 0 (Version: 0.0)
2010-10-21 21:15:19.158203 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Creating DirectX9 Ex device
2010-10-21 21:15:19.174804 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Exception ystem.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: o
at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetIUnknownForObjectNative(Object o, Boolean onlyInContext)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.CreateDirectX9ExDevice(CreateFlags createFlags)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.InitializeEnvironment()
2010-10-21 21:15:19.176757 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: Exception :Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: o
2010-10-21 21:15:19.177734 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: site :IntPtr GetIUnknownForObjectNative(System.Object, Boolean)
2010-10-21 21:15:19.178710 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: source :mscorlib
2010-10-21 21:15:19.179687 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: stacktrace: at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetIUnknownForObjectNative(Object o, Boolean onlyInContext)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.CreateDirectX9ExDevice(CreateFlags createFlags)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.InitializeEnvironment()
2010-10-21 21:15:19.198242 [Info.][MPMain(1)]: D3D: Exception:
2010-10-21 21:15:23.307617 [Info.][FilterChecker(5)]: FilterChecker: Found quartz.dll from 19/12/2009 located at C:\Windows\system32\quartz.dll
2010-10-21 21:15:23.307617 [Info.][FilterChecker(5)]: FilterChecker: Version of installed quartz.dll: 6.6.7600.16385​

Error.log is:

2010-10-21 21:15:19.175781 [ERROR][MPMain(1)]: Exception ystem.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: o
at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetIUnknownForObjectNative(Object o, Boolean onlyInContext)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.CreateDirectX9ExDevice(CreateFlags createFlags)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.InitializeEnvironment()
2010-10-21 21:15:19.177734 [ERROR][MPMain(1)]: Exception :Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: o
2010-10-21 21:15:19.178710 [ERROR][MPMain(1)]: site :IntPtr GetIUnknownForObjectNative(System.Object, Boolean)
2010-10-21 21:15:19.179687 [ERROR][MPMain(1)]: source :mscorlib
2010-10-21 21:15:19.180664 [ERROR][MPMain(1)]: stacktrace: at System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.GetIUnknownForObjectNative(Object o, Boolean onlyInContext)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.CreateDirectX9ExDevice(CreateFlags createFlags)
at MediaPortal.D3DApp.InitializeEnvironment()
2010-10-21 21:15:19.198242 [ERROR][MPMain(1)]: D3D: Exception:​

I don't know what the exception refers to.

What can it be?

Thanks

MediaPortal Version: 1.1.1
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3 Wide+
Windows Version: Windows 7 Ultimate
CPU Type: Intel Pentium 4 @ 3.00 GHz
HDD: 40gb + external 2TB
Memory: 1.25GB DDR
Motherboard: ASRock P4S611
Video Card: SiS 661FX
Video Card Driver: 6.14
Sound Card: Creative Audigy 2 Notebook ona a PCMCIA-to-PCI adapter
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card:
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
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:
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: Zaapa
TV: Samsung SyncMaster P2370HD
TV - HTPC Connection: Sub-D

 

[romuz]

Its possible that your video SiS 661FX not enough for MediaPortal. Video card should be fully Dx9 compliant and consists 128+ MB memory.

 

[mpab]

Its possible that your video SiS 661FX not enough for MediaPortal. Video card should be fully Dx9 compliant and consists 128+ MB memory.

It would be possible if it hadn't worked smoothly under Windows XP, which I uninstalled only because of perhaps a codec issue. MP also worked, alas slowly, with an Intel PCI IGP w/32mb shared memory.

 

[Eeyore]

I am having the same intermittent issue on my Asus EB1501 (Atom). about once or twice per week on boot up it hangs at 'Initializing DirectX'. If I put the PC to sleep (via the remote), then wake it up, it works fine.

 

[bs123]

Just maybe something to look at...
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/newcomers-forum-240/mediaportal-will-not-start-60843/

 

[DMember 49125]

If you have a solid color as wallpaper, run this hotfix: The Welcome screen may be displayed for 30 seconds during the logon process after you set a solid color as the desktop background in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2 or just pick an image as wallpaper.

 

[MelDi]

I had the same problem about 2 months back with MP hanging at the "initializing DirectX" message. The solution for me was to re-download and install DirectX again, despite the fact it still appeared to work perfectly with every other program.

 

[Eeyore]

I solved the issue on my Atom client with a combination of setting a desktop picture (one of the defult Windows Aero themes) and using a 5 second startup delay in MediaPortal config.

thanks for the tips guys.