[confirm] MiniDisplay plugin locking the cd/dvd drive (1 Viewer)

[greybox]

Any a new cd/dvd is recognized only after I close and restart MP. I've been having this problem for a long time and I hoped this will be resolved with clean install. Well, time came and I did clean intall of MediaPortal 1.1.0 RC 1, but the problem is still there. I disabled autostart, I tried different disks, different drives, different motherboards, I tried XP and Windows 7 - same result. I don't know how else can I troubleshoot the problem. Without MediaPortal disks in the drive are recognized without any problem. It looks like the old problem reported here:

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/mediaportal-plugins-47/mp-locking-cd-dvd-drive-2661/


MediaPortal Version: MediaPortal 1.1 Latest Beta/SVN
MediaPortal Skin: Blue3Wide
Windows Version: Windows XP Professional
CPU Type: Intel Pentium 4 1.87GHz
HDD: WDC SATA-2 80GB; Samsung SATA2, 750GB; Blu Ray drive: LiteOn iHES108
Memory: 4GB DDR2
Motherboard: Intel DP35DP
Video Card: ASUS GeForce 9600GT Silent 650MHZ 512MB 1.8GHZ DDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV
Video Card Driver: Latest
Sound Card: IDT High Definition
Sound Card AC3: Optical out
Sound Card Driver: Latest
1. TV Card: Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1800, PCIe
1. TV Card Type: analog, ATSC
1. TV Card Driver: Latest
2. TV Card: Twinhan AD-SE200 (1028), PCIe
2. TV Card Type: DVB-S
2. TV Card Driver: Latest
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: FTA/Cable/OTA
HTPC Case: Custom
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: Universal, URC 200
TV: Samsung 58" 1080p Plasma HDTV (PN58B530)
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI/HDMI
Mini Display: Matrix Orbital GX graphic LCD display

 

[markius]

I'm trying to reproduce this. I have MediaPortal running, I insert a CD into the drive, I can still access the CD from outside of MediaPortal.

Am I missing something or is your system behaving differently to mine?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

I cannot reproduce neither.

Could you list plugins you have enabled, the obvious ones are burner, MovingPictures with DVD enabled, still no problem accessing dvd from windows.

 

[pilehave]

No problems here either.

 

[greybox]

In my case if I insert the disk while MP is running, I cannot access it from MP, I cannot access it from windows, IT IS LOCKED. If I close MP, I immediately gain access to the disk contents from windows. Then I run MP and I can access it from MP and from windows. Maybe it has something to do with other programs, I don't know, but it only happens with MP running. Like I said, I tried different motherboard, drive, disk and the operating systems, same result. My other older PC is fine, no such a problem. I don't use moving pictures, I don't use burner plugins. Look at my log to see if it helps. I am probably the only one reporting this, but maybe there is a program that tells me what particular program/process locks my drive while MP is running.

This is not the end of the world and the workarond is to close MP before inserting a new drive, but it is a shame to see this and let it go, and also a challenge to find out what is happening. I know there is a program that tells you which program locks a particluar file, but I could not find a program that tells what process/program locks the drive to start with. If my log is not enough, maybe someboedy can recommend some troubleshooting steps?

 

[pilehave]

So, to reproduce this, the procedure is:

- empty drive
- run MP
- insert disc
- try to access disc from Windows

Or?

 

[markius]

When you say it's locked, could you be a bit more specific? Do you see an error message or prompt when you try to access the drive from WIndows Explorer? What error messages do you see (if any) inside MediaPortal?
Your CD/DVD drive is on Z:, right?

 

[greybox]

I will give you more clues, details and steps to reproduce the problem. MP is running. I insert any disk (data, audio cd) into my drive Z: - nothing happens and should not because all autoplays are disabled in Windows via Microsoft TweakUI and Media Portal configuration program. Then I open windows explorer in another window (I have a dual monitor, but I don't think it matters). Navigate to drive Z:, get a message: Please insert a disk into drive Z:. Run DOS command prompt, type: "dir z:", get a message: "The parameter is incorrect". Close Media Portal with, like as I said, the disk in the drive. Navigate to drive Z: and I can see my folders and files on the drive, and "dir z:" from command prompt - I get the directory of my CD. Run Media Portal with the disk in the drive - now I can see the drive contents in MediaPortal, in Windows Explorer and from DOS prompt. Using computer management I change Z: to H:. In MediaPortal I remove Z: from the folder list in Pictures, Video and Music modules and disable Automatically Add Optical Drives. Run MP, insert the disk, cannot see the disk in drive H: until MP is closed. Change the drive letter back to Z: and enable Automatically Add Optical Drives. Drive Z is automatically added to MP folders, but the problem persists. Looks similar to the problem reported in 2005 (see the link above).

===========

I have some news. I started disabling all active plugins one by one and narrowed down the problem to ... Minidisplay Plugin. Thanks, Ray, for the tip! Disabled Minidisplay Plugin and the problem is gone. Enabled - and it is back again. I use Matrix Orbital GX minidisplay and I love this plugin. I don't know if the testers can enable this plugin to try to reproduce the problem. I will try as well on my other PC which doesn't have the minidisplay. I guess I should ask chemelli to help.

 

[riksmith]

Changed the title to reflect the actual problem.

 

[chemelli]

I think the problem can be on the specific driver used, because MiniDisplay ( configured as SoundGraph driver ) and current MP svn don't show this behaviour.

Simone