Blank main window and the "Object reference not set to an instance..." error

[Johnmen]

I have been frustrated in getting the GBPVR running on both my laptop and my desktop PC. I have the known error "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" and the main window shows nothing but a red cross.

I have consulted the "Troubleshooting FAQ" in the wiki webisite and tried adjusting all possible decoders with no luck at all. It is not the plug-in that is causing the problem as I have disabled all of them and still unable to see the main window.

I searched the forum and followed one of the thread to upgrade my video card driver, and still no luck after that.

The same blank main window issue happens to two of my computers which have rather different specs (one HP laptop with ATI video card, one desktop with Intel GMA video card).

I don't seem to have anything wrong with the MPEG-2 decoders on both of my computers as I have been using the Media Portal fine on them, and I can play almost all available video format files.

The common things between those two computers I can think of are:
1. Windows XP pro with SP3
2. .Net Framework 2.0 with service pack 1

I would really appreciate if someone can shed some light on how to get it working on my computers.

Regards!
Johnmen

[McBainUK]

At a guess it may be your graphics card's are underpowered. If you zip and attach your log files, they may provide some useful info.

C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\logs\PVRX2.exe.log

[Johnmen]

My laptop's video card is ATI Mobility FireGL 5000, designed for CAD stuff, doesn't look like it is underpowered.

Forgot to mention I have another computer that uses Intel Extreme Graphic video card running the GB-PVR fine without any display issue. It does have a little higher specs but all of them are way over the minimum requirements of GB-PVR. That third computer I intend to use it as a TV server (it runs Windows Server 2003 R2 with SP2), and my two problematic computers are used as clients.

Those log files don't reveal anything to me, I have searched them all and couldn't find any error from them. Here is one example of PVBX2.exe.log:

2008-08-27 22:09:11.750 VERBOSE [1] installDirectory is C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\
2008-08-27 22:09:11.750 VERBOSE [1] configurationFile is config.xml
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/DatabaseConnectionString
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/DatabaseConnectionString : Data Source=".\gbpvr.db3";Version=3;New=True;
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/DatabaseIdentityQuery
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/DatabaseIdentityQuery : select last_insert_rowid()
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] databaseConnectionString is Data Source="C:\Program Files\Devnz\GBPVR\gbpvr.db3";Version=3;New=True;
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/DatabaseProviderFactory
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/DatabaseProviderFactory : System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteFactory
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] ...using System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteFactory DB Provider Factory
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/LoggingLevel
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/LoggingLevel : Debug
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/LoggingForceFlush
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/LoggingForceFlush : true
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/LoggingMaxSize
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/LoggingMaxSize : 1000000
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/LogSQL
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/LogSQL : false
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/AntiAlias
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/AntiAlias : true
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/EPGProcessingMode
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/EPGProcessingMode : normal
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/TvShape
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/TvShape : 16x9
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/DefaultStartupOptions
2008-08-27 22:09:11.781 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/DefaultStartupOptions :
2008-08-27 22:09:11.796 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/StartOnSecondMonitor
2008-08-27 22:09:11.796 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/StartOnSecondMonitor : false
2008-08-27 22:09:11.796 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/RendererX2
2008-08-27 22:09:11.796 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/RendererX2 : VMR9 Custom
2008-08-27 22:09:11.937 VERBOSE [1] getValue cached value: /settings/RendererX2 : VMR9 Custom
2008-08-27 22:09:11.937 VERBOSE [1] getValue cached value: /settings/RendererX2 : VMR9 Custom
2008-08-27 22:09:12.421 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/WindowedMode
2008-08-27 22:09:12.421 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/WindowedMode : true
2008-08-27 22:09:12.468 VERBOSE [1] CheckForMultipleInstances()
2008-08-27 22:09:12.468 VERBOSE [1] This is the only instance
2008-08-27 22:09:12.500 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/MiscMediaDirectory
2008-08-27 22:09:12.500 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/MiscMediaDirectory : .\media
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/Culture
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/Culture : default
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/PVRX2FriendlyName
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/PVRX2FriendlyName : PVRX2
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/ScreenSaverEnabled
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/ScreenSaverEnabled : true
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/UseSkipKeysForPageUpDown
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/UseSkipKeysForPageUpDown : false
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/ActiveSkin
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/ActiveSkin : blue
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue cached value: /settings/ActiveSkin : blue
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/ClientMode
2008-08-27 22:09:12.859 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/ClientMode : true
2008-08-27 22:09:12.875 VERBOSE [1] getValue cached value: /settings/ClientMode : true
2008-08-27 22:09:12.875 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/ClientModeUseFileSharing
2008-08-27 22:09:12.875 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/ClientModeUseFileSharing : false
2008-08-27 22:09:12.875 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/ClientRemoteServer
2008-08-27 22:09:12.875 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/ClientRemoteServer : 172.23.1.2
2008-08-27 22:09:12.875 VERBOSE [1] getValue() loading new key/value into cache: /settings/ClientRemoteDirectory
2008-08-27 22:09:12.875 VERBOSE [1] getValue: /settings/ClientRemoteDirectory : \\172.23.1.2\gbpvr
2008-08-27 22:09:13.765 VERBOSE [1] OnPaint()
2008-08-27 22:09:29.593 VERBOSE [1] ShowMouse ref=0

[Jaggy]

Those log files don't reveal anything to me, I have searched them all and couldn't find any error from them. Here is one example of PVBX2.exe.log:

If you want sub to have a serious look it always pays to include your logs, what you & I can see in logs & what sub can see are often two totally different things.

[whurlston]

Does it work if you turn off client mode?

[Johnmen]

That is righ, I am attaching log files now. Hopefully Sub will have a bit of time to go through them.

[sub]

I think you've your client setup set incorrectly. I dont think its managing to find the \\172.23.1.2\gbpvr\gbpvr.db3 file it needs.

[Johnmen]

Thanks Sub! I didn't share the \\server\gbpvr folder for client to access, and that is the problem that is causing the blank window.

The installer of GB-PVR didn't do the sharing for me and I didn't realise that needs to be shared.

There is a security related question here:
the PC client runs under the credetial from the client PC, when it attempts to access to the gbpvr.db3 file, it will by default try the anonymous access I guess. That will require the server to share that file anonymously to the network for all clients to work properly. Is my understanding correct?
If so, that would be a bit hassle as not all server are sharing files anonymously.