C:\...\LocalService\Desktop error

[bgowland]

Over the past week I've wiped my HD, done clean install of XPSP2 + Updates + .Net Framework + TV card drivers etc. Clean install of GB-PVR 0.92.11 with old MDB (also from 0.92.11 install) copied back in. All is well on the analogue side with PVR350 & PVR500. I then downloaded the latest trial Showshifter and installed it and set the BDA Mux in Config.exe to SS.

Twice now, I have tried simultaneous recordings on digital channels (with my Nova-t cards). At the point where the recordings start, an error box appears on screen saying "The folder C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop cannot be found.....". At this point the GBPVRTray icon shows Red. The error box has an option to locate the folder - if I go through the motions, I can't find the folder (it doesn't exist) but if I then click 'Cancel' on the 'Browse for Folder' box, the recordings immediately start and the systray icon shows Green etc.

Anyone any ideas why this is happening? I've Google'd for the message but can't find anything relevant. This doesn't happen with the Cyberlink mux.

Cheers,
Brian

[sub]

Is it the same showshifter trial as you've used in the past. I wonder if they've change something about the SS mux?

[bgowland]

No - looking at my old HD it shows v3.11.xxxx for the MpgWriter.ax whereas latest version on new HD is v3.12.xxxx.

I'm trying a couple of things - the LocalService profile DOES exist but didn't have a Desktop folder as it is non-interactive - I've created a Desktop folder to see if that fixes it. If it doesn't, I'll set the gbpvr Recording Service to run as my logon account. It's almost as if something is attempting to create a temp. file or something although why it would use a Desktop folder is beyond me.

Cheers,
Brian

[bgowland]

The two programs are 'Far Flung Floyd' and 'Blood of the Vikings' both due to start at 18:00 with 1min pre-padding. The time 18:09 ties in with when I discovered the error box and cancelled out of the 'Browse for Folder' operation. The log shows both recordings kick in to life at that point.

[sub]

Its got to be the SS mux looking for C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop, but I dont know why or how to stop it.

[bgowland]

OK, when I created the C:\...\LocalService\Desktop folder I got a slightly different situation. Instead of the error box telling me it couldn't be found then giving me the option to click OK to browse for the folder, I simply got the 'Browse for Folder' dialog box straight away.

I couldn't browse for it as the LocalService profile folder is hidden but simply pointing the 'Browse for Folder' dialog at my logon account Desktop folder and selecting OK, started the recordings going OK.

Curiously, nothing appeared on my Desktop. I wonder what the heck this thing is trying to do!!! Bizarre.

Next step is to remove the System and Hidden attributes from the LocalService profile folder and if that doesn't work, I'll try running the Recording Service as me instead of LocalSystem.

[sub]

Ok, I'm backing away from my comment about it being the SS mux. This now sounds like the Nova-T 'Browse for Folder' thing that some users seem to report. Its not clear in my mind what the solution to this problem is though.

[bgowland]

It is the ShowShifter mux that is at the root of it...I've included a snippet of a RegMon trace.

The end of the lines show the value returned when reading the registry key for the SS Config directory. In this case it is the Desktop of the logon process that I told it to use earlier (and I no longer saw the error). If I edit this to be C:\...\LocalService\Desktop I get exactly the same errors as I originally saw.

All I can think is that after installing ShowShifter trial, I didn't actually run it and go through the initial configuration process and as a result this value in the registry was in a 'broken' state. As long as the value points at a valid path, the error doesn't appear - I've now set the value to the correct Config folder (as far as I can tell).

[sub]

Ah, good to know. This'll help answer a few questions in the future...

[bgowland]

One last thing (before we both get bored of this )

The ShowShifter app doesn't create the 'Config Directory' value in the registry at all. I did a full uninstall/re-install of SS, went through configuration, watched TV, recorded a bit of a programme blah blah. The value never appeared in the registry.

I then started a Quick Rec. in GB-PVR and instantly got the LocalService\Desktop error, I pointed the 'Browse for Folder' dialog at the right folder, the recording started and the 'Config Directory' value appeared in the registry. The SS mux creates it?

RegMon trace extracts included.

I'll shut up now.

Cheers,
Brian