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MediaPortal Install Guide - Page 21

post #601 of 1429
6/2/09 at 4:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by blazed View Post

thanks for the great info. this is what i would like to do with media portal.
1. have thumbnails (for movie covers) with a little information about the film. .
2. use WMC or WMP11 for mkv files using the motion script found here:

media portal would allow me to do this right?

1. Yes the program itself will use imdb scraper to get covers, plot and cast details. There are plugins available which will also do this (but more comprehensively). You can use a variety of databases, depending on yr needs.

2. No need to use an external player and script to adjust refresh rates. MP has an in-built refresh rate changer that allows you to specify how it adjusts the rate for your LCD.
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post #602 of 1429
6/2/09 at 6:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by etheesdad View Post

1. Yes the program itself will use imdb scraper to get covers, plot and cast details. There are plugins available which will also do this (but more comprehensively). You can use a variety of databases, depending on yr needs.

2. No need to use an external player and script to adjust refresh rates. MP has an in-built refresh rate changer that allows you to specify how it adjusts the rate for your LCD.

lets say i wanted to use the scripts with mpc anyways. i would still be able to do it right?
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post #603 of 1429
6/3/09 at 5:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by blazed View Post

thanks for the great info. this is what i would like to do with media portal.
1. have thumbnails (for movie covers) with a little information about the film. .
2. use WMC or WMP11 for mkv files using the motion script found here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...e=3&highlight=

media portal would allow me to do this right?

For question 1 I have to wonder if you even read the first post in this thread.
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post #604 of 1429
6/3/09 at 8:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by blazed View Post

lets say i wanted to use the scripts with mpc anyways. i would still be able to do it right?

yes
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post #605 of 1429
6/3/09 at 9:26am
Finally got around to installing it a couple days ago. I'm very impressed with it. Installation went really smoothly, and it was very simple to add some movies and TV shows that I already had installed on there. I haven't completed the installation and setup my TV card yet, but at least we can use MediaPortal to watch our existing shows.

Has anyone else had the problem of 16:9 shows being flagged as 4:3 and therefore being played with black bars on all 4 sides?
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post #606 of 1429
6/5/09 at 5:58am
"Flagged" ??? Do a right click on the display and use a different Aspect Ratio! These are adjustable during every video and in the respective sections under MP-configuration. Or are you using that MPV video decoder -- it's been known to be buggy.
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post #607 of 1429
6/6/09 at 11:44am
Thanks, Andrew. I went back and looked at the specific shows, and they were letterbox 4:3 shows. I just switched to the zoom aspect ratio, and all is well. I added the aspect button as a shortcut on my Harmony remote, so it'll be really easy from now on.
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post #608 of 1429
6/6/09 at 2:25pm
Glad to help... just be sure ZOOM doesn't over-do it... it may be Normal, Original, or Stretch that you need to fill the full screen without losing content along the edges. Just be sensitive that Zoom may not always be the correct selection.
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post #609 of 1429
6/6/09 at 7:58pm
Ok...

First, from what I can see, I'm going to like the flexibility and power of MediaPortal if I can ever get it running. Currently, it seems to be very sluggish...like molasses sluggish. At this point, I've not been able to get ANY of my music to play either.

I'm running Win7 RC 32bit, 4gigs of RAM and have the Intel 9550 Quad. I see that there are people running on Win7...is there anything special you did to get that working properly?

I have the Antec Fusion Remote case and I'm having a devil of a time with iMon and iMedian as well but that's another thread entirely. However, if any of you have in tidbits of wisdom you'd like to share to help me get it working, I'd appreciate it. I know the IR is working as I can power the system with the remote and so far, that's the only "remote" function that works at all.

Anyway, I'm going to keep reading and trying to figure it out. Suggestions are welcome
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post #610 of 1429
6/6/09 at 8:26pm
Thread Starter 
Just wanted to let everyone that I updated the guide on the first page to reflect the new software versions.

I finally got around to upgrading to MediaPortal 1.0.2 last night and I find it's a lot snappier than before and uses about 200MB less virtual bytes of memory upon start-up.
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post #611 of 1429
6/7/09 at 10:17am
Welcome Paul -- I recall your ID from the past -- HomeTheaterForum, perhaps? Glad to see you're still active in this hobby! As far as MP, I've been using it for nearly 2 years now and while the development has its ups and downs (seems they do a major release ONLY to find bugs similar to those they'd fixed in earlier ones showing up again) I still find it's a robust, multi-functional application. I think the 'bugs' are a function of improved/updated software development, interchangability, implementing broader-scoped SQL instead of locally managed databases, etc.

I'm on XP but there are many using Win-7... browse the MP Forum for some references, and I also have seen a major thread taliking about setting up the iMon although I can't say it was there or here. I'm sure it's a function of setup why you're having sluggish performance. I'd suggest tackling the MP install, codecs and such... then add the remote-control functionality. As the OP just stated (above) MP 1.0.2 is quite fast (not sluggish)... oh... do you have TV-Service running? How about the SQL database? Many have reported sluggishness when the SQL isn't running (e.g. the First Time you have to begin the TV-Service with a login to your SQL, then SAVE at the pop-up).

Just wanted to welcome you... I'm sure I'll see you over on the MP forum :-)
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post #612 of 1429
6/7/09 at 11:09am
I am trying to download the MPCVideoDecoder and install it. When I attempt to install and register it, I get an error, with an error code of 0x800700005. A quick google search indicates it is probably an access denied error. Any ideas how to get this to work?
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post #613 of 1429
6/7/09 at 11:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by yobrigidey View Post

I am trying to download the MPCVideoDecoder and install it. When I attempt to install and register it, I get an error, with an error code of 0x800700005. A quick google search indicates it is probably an access denied error. Any ideas how to get this to work?

In order to register MPCVideoDecoder you must do it via the command prompt running as administrator.
I had the same error message this morning when trying to register it via the run command.

Not sure if it matters but I'm running Windows 7
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post #614 of 1429
6/7/09 at 4:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Hornfeck View Post

Welcome Paul -- I recall your ID from the past -- HomeTheaterForum, perhaps? Glad to see you're still active in this hobby! As far as MP, I've been using it for nearly 2 years now and while the development has its ups and downs (seems they do a major release ONLY to find bugs similar to those they'd fixed in earlier ones showing up again) I still find it's a robust, multi-functional application. I think the 'bugs' are a function of improved/updated software development, interchangability, implementing broader-scoped SQL instead of locally managed databases, etc.

I'm on XP but there are many using Win-7... browse the MP Forum for some references, and I also have seen a major thread taliking about setting up the iMon although I can't say it was there or here. I'm sure it's a function of setup why you're having sluggish performance. I'd suggest tackling the MP install, codecs and such... then add the remote-control functionality. As the OP just stated (above) MP 1.0.2 is quite fast (not sluggish)... oh... do you have TV-Service running? How about the SQL database? Many have reported sluggishness when the SQL isn't running (e.g. the First Time you have to begin the TV-Service with a login to your SQL, then SAVE at the pop-up).

Just wanted to welcome you... I'm sure I'll see you over on the MP forum :-)

Hey Andrew!

Yep, I was at the HTF for quite a while...came in to that place from Steve T's "DVD Resource Page" back in say...'98/99???.

I haven't posted there for quite a while but I still drop in every now and again for research.

I'll give MP Forums a shot...just wanted to try here since this seems to be a rather definitive source of info. I do the the TV stuff and the SQL Database going but I haven't messed around with it enough to really know. I'll download the new version and give it a shot.

As to the Imon/Imedian thing, it's been rather frustrating as I can't figure out what's causing the problem but that's an entirely different discussion and I don't want to muddle this thread...I'll keep digging to see if I can find a solution.

I'll see you around.
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post #615 of 1429
6/7/09 at 5:33pm
I followed the instructons on a 32 bit Vista Home Premium SP2 OS system with a TV tuner. MP ran slow, did not respond correctly to the wireless mouse or keyboard, and could not recognize the TV tuner, even though Windows Media Center and its native Hauppauge interface do. So now I have uninstalled it.
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post #616 of 1429
6/7/09 at 5:43pm
Sorry. There are many who run just your setup with great success... I am an XP/SP3 user with both an ATi HDTV-wonder and Hauppauge 1600 and it runs fine.

What were you looking for in MP that you loaded it -- something you don't like or have in your Windows Media Center? MediaPortal take just a bit of time to setup -- especially scanning the channels! Plan on 30 minutes from install to get it all running... after you download and install the .net
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post #617 of 1429
6/7/09 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Hornfeck View Post

Sorry. There are many who run just your setup with great success... I am an XP/SP3 user with both an ATi HDTV-wonder and Hauppauge 1600 and it runs fine.

What were you looking for in MP that you loaded it -- something you don't like or have in your Windows Media Center? MediaPortal take just a bit of time to setup -- especially scanning the channels! Plan on 30 minutes from install to get it all running... after you download and install the .net

I was looking for a program, be it MC or MP that allows easy playback of files not just on the host PC, but over a network. We have avi, mp4, even DVD files on a network NAS drive. MC can choke on that, and MP never saw the network.
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post #618 of 1429
6/7/09 at 6:05pm
Unless I'm mistaken, MP installs as a server/client and 'seeing' network files is a matter of adding their folder to the Videos section under MP-Config. Then you goto My-Videos inside MP and you see the folders... click into the folder and you'll see the files, click and they play!
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post #619 of 1429
6/7/09 at 7:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Hornfeck View Post

Unless I'm mistaken, MP installs as a server/client and 'seeing' network files is a matter of adding their folder to the Videos section under MP-Config. Then you goto My-Videos inside MP and you see the folders... click into the folder and you'll see the files, click and they play!

I tried this and MP could not see sub directories of a Video directory on either of two NAS 1Gb drives we have while MC sees them fine. I would have had to add many one at a time, whereas MC sees all of them when on the parent directory.
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post #620 of 1429
6/8/09 at 6:30am
I'm presently using MPC-HC as an external player over MP 1.0.2
I'm using Vanilla theme with MyMovie and MyTvseries plugins.

The movies and tv episodes plays great but when the feature ends and I get back to Media Portal I have a popup that appears saying : Unable to play, video: xvid audio: mp3

Anybody has a clue as to how I can correct this?
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post #621 of 1429
6/8/09 at 6:52pm
damaster... have you seen this?

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/co...-vc-1-a-44614/

it looks interesting
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post #622 of 1429
6/8/09 at 9:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gohanix View Post

damaster... have you seen this?

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/co...-vc-1-a-44614/

it looks interesting

I most definitely have and I give credit to hoborg over at the MP forums for putting it together. However, I am one who is against any type of self-installing codec packs. I like to have total control of the codecs on my HTPC and their priorities. Last thing I want is to have to debug issues caused by too many codecs with conflicting priorities.
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post #623 of 1429
6/9/09 at 7:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nosferax View Post

I'm presently using MPC-HC as an external player over MP 1.0.2
I'm using Vanilla theme with MyMovie and MyTvseries plugins.

The movies and tv episodes plays great but when the feature ends and I get back to Media Portal I have a popup that appears saying : Unable to play, video: xvid audio: mp3

Anybody has a clue as to how I can correct this?

Maybe one of these threads will help: 1 & 2.
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post #624 of 1429
6/9/09 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by daMaster View Post

I most definitely have and I give credit to hoborg over at the MP forums for putting it together. However, I am one who is against any type of self-installing codec packs. I like to have total control of the codecs on my HTPC and their priorities. Last thing I want is to have to debug issues caused by too many codecs with conflicting priorities.

+1

I install Haali splitter, madflac decoder and my h264 decoder and that's it. Nice and clean.
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post #625 of 1429
6/9/09 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul E. Fox, II View Post

As to the Imon/Imedian thing, it's been rather frustrating as I can't figure out what's causing the problem but that's an entirely different discussion and I don't want to muddle this thread...I'll keep digging to see if I can find a solution.

I've tried using MP on both Vista and Windows 7 RC but with a Microsoft remote controller. While running Vista, all I had to do was configure MP to use a MCE remote and everything worked fine. But in Windows 7 when I tried the same solution, MP only recognized a few of the commands.

I did a little googling while writing this reply and although I wasn't able to find the post that helped me with the instructions (since then, I've changed hardware and went back to Vista), I do remember the solution for me under Windows 7 was to use the "IR Server Suite" plugin for MP with it's default settings.

Maybe this could work for you as well.
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post #626 of 1429
6/9/09 at 7:14pm
Question - I just ordered the parts for my HTPC, and was planning to run MediaPortal on Vista. The tuner card I ordered is the Avermedia Duet (A188). Will they play nice together?

And yea, I probably should have asked this question before hitting the purchase button, but I've never been all that good at resisting temptation
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post #627 of 1429
6/10/09 at 9:26am
diud a fresh install yesterday.

here are my issues

1) for some reason when wathcing a movie ion mp.. and i skip 3 min for ex.. it skips and then my kb is unresponsive. i have to force mp to shutdown.

2) i'm not getting 5.1 sound. i'm outputing through HDMI. i have the 9300 nvidia chipset (asus p5n7a-am)
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post #628 of 1429
6/10/09 at 9:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gohanix View Post

diud a fresh install yesterday.

here are my issues

1) for some reason when wathcing a movie ion mp.. and i skip 3 min for ex.. it skips and then my kb is unresponsive. i have to force mp to shutdown.

Have you reported this bug over at the MP forums? I think I actually have the same issue as well. I'll try it out and report back.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gohanix View Post

2) i'm not getting 5.1 sound. i'm outputing through HDMI. i have the 9300 nvidia chipset (asus p5n7a-am)

Not enough info. What audio decoder are you using? Did you select the right audio renderer in MP config? Try this: http://www1.sapphiretech.com/us/prod...und_output.pdf
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post #629 of 1429
6/10/09 at 11:50am
i have not reported it, as the same kb on xp and win7 worked just fine.

as for prob #2... i'm using directsound nvidia hdmi output (something liek that).
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post #630 of 1429
6/10/09 at 6:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gohanix View Post

i have not reported it, as the same kb on xp and win7 worked just fine.

as for prob #2... i'm using directsound nvidia hdmi output (something liek that).

So I tested out the first issue: I have something similar but maybe not the same thing. When I start some 1080p video files MediaPortal loses keyboard focus even though I have it set to "Always on top". My remote continues to work however the keyboard and the numeric buttons on the remote stop working. I have to hit ALT+TAB on the keyboard to give MP focus and then everything works fine.

Directsound Nvidia HDMI output sounds like the right choice for the audio renderer. Did you check the instructions in the PDF I linked? Also, which audio decoder are you using? AC3Filter? Do you have it set to "Use SPDIF", in other words have it set to just pass the signal straight through to the renderer and not decode it?
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