Unable to Play issue on PCs running BitDefender Total Security (1 Viewer)

[BCEly]

Would appreciate it if someone could solve (or point me in the right direction to resolve) this issue.

I have “MultiSeat” MediaPortal 1.36 (x64) on two Windows 11 Pro (24H2) PCs and all works well and has been for some time.

I only use the setup for TV so no Music/Movies/Box Sets.

I have “TVS” (192.168.10.243) which is a headless PC and only runs the TV Server portion of MP. The client is “HTPC” and that’s connect to my main TV.

I’m introducing a third ‘Client’ for a TV in another room. This is also running Windows 11 Pro (also 24H2 with all updates installed).

On this new client, all aspects of MP work [can see recordings, TV Guide etc] but I can’t play Live TV or Recorded TV. I get the dreaded “Unable to play..” error.

The main/major difference is that TVServer and HTPC run Windows Defender whereas the new PC runs BitDefender Total Security. This appears to be the crux of it.

As a test, I did an MP installation on a fourth PC (also Win11 Pro (24H2) which also runs BitDefender, and got the very same issue.

I uninstalled BitDefender on that PC, rebooted and MP was able to stream Live TV & Recorded TV. Then I reinstalled BitDefender and found the same “unable to play” issue came back.

I have tried temporarily disabling the AV and Firewall aspects of BitDefender but still can’t stream.

If I start a manual stream on TVS, look in the logs to get it’s stream address and then open that in VLC on the ‘bad’ PC, it plays fine.

Am using the standard 554 port for the stream but have changed it to a different port number as part of my investigations and that hasn’t made any difference.

BitDefender does not appear to be logging any issue/suspicious behaviour, and I’ve added rules to allow MediaPortal.exe full access thru the BitDefender Firewall and added it as an allowed exception for the AV side of things.

Log files are attached but I basically get this in ‘mediaportal-error.log’;

[2025-09-27 11:11:25,958] [Error ] [MPMain ] [ERROR] - TSReaderPlayer: Failed to open file:rtsp://192.168.10.243:554/54785E64 :0x80004005
[2025-09-27 11:11:26,536] [Error ] [MPMain ] [ERROR] - TSReaderPlayer:GetInterfaces() failed

And this in ‘TSReader.log’;

[2025-09-27 11:11:25,370] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient::OpenStream()
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,370] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient::OpenStream(): create RTSP client, url = rtsp://192.168.10.243:554/54785E64
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,370] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient:tartBufferThread()
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,370] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient:tartBufferThread(): done
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,370] [0000000041D3EF10] [7694] - CRTSPClient::ThreadProc(): thread started, thread ID = 30356
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,447] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient::OpenStream(): duration = 4370.169922 s
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,449] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient::OpenStream(): created receiver for sub-session, medium name = video, codec name = MP2T, port = 60010
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,449] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient:etupStreams()
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,449] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient:etupStreams(): send RTSP SETUP
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,949] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient:etupStreams(): RTSP SETUP timed out
[2025-09-27 11:11:25,949] [0000000041D3EF10] [68b0] - CRTSPClient:hutdown()

Any help or pointers would be appreciated (except stop using BitDefender !! )

B

 

[CyberSimian]

Would appreciate it if someone could solve (or point me in the right direction to resolve) this issue.

I don't understand what Firewall settings are actually required, but this is what my Windows 7 HTPC uses:



I notice that there seem to be some duplicated entries, and also entries both with and without "x64". I suspect that that occurs because I originally ran 32-bit MP on this system, but changed to 64-bit MP last year. The duplicates could probably be deleted, but I don't want to risk ending up with a non-working system.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

 

[BCEly]

I don't understand what Firewall settings are actually required, but this is what my Windows 7 HTPC uses:

View attachment 217313

I notice that there seem to be some duplicated entries, and also entries both with and without "x64". I suspect that that occurs because I originally ran 32-bit MP on this system, but changed to 64-bit MP last year. The duplicates could probably be deleted, but I don't want to risk ending up with a non-working system.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK

Thanks - As I'm using Win 11 Pro and BitDefender, the firewall is kind dealt with differently but I do have this defined in BitDefender and like ai say I can read the TV Guide and list the recordings so I'm OK talking the the TV Server for that.

 

[BCEly]

An update..

Here are all the steps I’ve taken to help resolve this…..

I have tried disabling ALL modules in BitDefender Total Security and still get the issue with MediaPortal V1.

I have removed BitDefender Total Security from my PC and rebooted – The issue goes away, and I can play rtsp steams in MediaPortal V1.

I have reinstalled a trial version of BitDefender Internet Security – the issue comes back, and I can’t play rtsp steams in MediaPortal V1.

I have removed BitDefender Internet Security from my PC, rebooted, and installed AVG Free AntiVirus as a test – The issue goes away and I can once again play rtsp steams in MediaPortal V1.

I have then removed AVG Free AntiVirus and installed Avast Free Antivirus - I can still play rtsp steams as expected.

I have removed Avast and installed a ESET Essential trail on my PC – The issue goes away, and I can once again play rtsp steams in MediaPortal V1.

I have reinstalled my registered version of BitDefender Total Security – the issue comes back, and I can’t play rtsp steams in MediaPortal V1.

I have now tried this on three Windows PCs, 2x Win 11 Pro 24H2 and one Windows 10 Pro 22H2 – In all cases I’ve had the same results.

MediaPortal works 100% when alongside…

• Microsoft Windows Defender
• AVG Free Antivirus
• Avast Free Antivirus
• ESET Essentials Antivirus.

It DOES NOT work when installed alongside…

• BitDefender Internet Security
• BitDefender Total Security

So.... any ideas whjat to do next other than get the BitDefender support guys involved?

 

[CyberSimian]

MediaPortal works 100% when alongside…

I compliment you on the thoroughness of your investigations.
Unfortunately, I don't have any ideas what the problem might be.
Perhaps someone else will post with some suggestions.

-- from CyberSimian in the UK