MVPServerChecker is released

[zehd]

I've just released a little program that helps hide the GB-PVR MediaMVP Server window that occasionally pops up.

example:
http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php?t=22404

It also checks to see if the server is even running, (might have crashed or something) and restarts it...

It's a very low CPU use program that seems to work well for me and my three PVRs

Check it out...

MVPServerChecker

PS, One fix for the Server box popup is to have the GB-PVR Recording Service NOT interact with the desktop. Unfortunately, that's not an option if you are also using HIP, as it relies on the service interacting with the desktop.

[jksmurf]

I've just released a little program that helps hide the GB-PVR MediaMVP Server window that occasionally pops up.

I tried this before, and it's a neat app, but I have request (see below). I'd turn off the "interact with desktop setting", but then (like HIP) the MVPTrayIcon doesn't work at all. Sub reckons it could be better implemented, but the author seems to have gone AWOL.

It also checks to see if the server is even running, (might have crashed or something) and restarts it... It's a very low CPU use program that seems to work well for me and my three PVRs

Low CPU is good. What I would like though, is to turn off the "interact with desktop setting" and have MVPServerChecker still watch AND to have it REPLACE the MVP TrayIcon Utility to show the status, using the same 3 icons (red/blue/green) as I have used with MVPTrayicon for a year. Any chance of that? That way I can biff MVPTrayicon (which has been very very useful) but using it seems to conflict with another program I have AND it means I always get those Black Boxes when I alt-tab.

k.

[zehd]

I tried this before, and it's a neat app, but I have request (see below). I'd turn off the "interact with desktop setting", but then (like HIP) the MVPTrayIcon doesn't work at all. Sub reckons it could be better implemented, but the author seems to have gone AWOL.

Low CPU is good. What I would like though, is to turn off the "interact with desktop setting" and have MVPServerChecker still watch AND to have it REPLACE the MVP TrayIcon Utility to show the status, using the same 3 icons (red/blue/green) as I have used with MVPTrayicon for a year. Any chance of that? That way I can biff MVPTrayicon (which has been very very useful) but using it seems to conflict with another program I have AND it means I always get those Black Boxes when I alt-tab.

k.

When I first wrote this, I was battling the same issue that you are. In my conversation with sub, he suggested that I have Peter, the author of HIP, change his code so that it would use a different 'session' and not rely on 'interact with the desktop'. As I had just requested Peter to add support for multiple STBs, I felt awkward to ask for yet another modification. I also did not really understand what sub was suggesting...

It was my belief that the problem could have been controlled from subs side, and yet he seemed to not want to go there.

So I created this work around. It is designed very specially to leave HIP, GB-PVR and Windows (Interact with Desktop) in their defaults...

I use the MVPTrayIcon, HIP, GB-PVR Recording Service 'Interacting with Desktop' and MVPServerChecker. I have no problems.

Was there yet another app that you are having trouble with; conflicting with the setup?

[jksmurf]

Interesting stuff..

I use the MVPTrayIcon, HIP, GB-PVR Recording Service 'Interacting with Desktop' and MVPServerChecker. I have no problems.

Was there yet another app that you are having trouble with; conflicting with the setup?

Yes. Having now "done a zehd" and reinstalled the entire WinXP Pro + GBPVR afresh, I think I have isolated the issue (prog) causing the Config Lockup. It is Spampal. I am still working on this as we speak (as such), but with it uninstalled no lockups (although of course I get the Boxes). Install it, Config Lockups.

k.

[sub]

When I first wrote this, I was battling the same issue that you are. In my conversation with sub, he suggested that I have Peter, the author of HIP, change his code so that it would use a different 'session' and not rely on 'interact with the desktop'. As I had just requested Peter to add support for multiple STBs, I felt awkward to ask for yet another modification. I also did not really understand what sub was suggesting...

It was my belief that the problem could have been controlled from subs side, and yet he seemed to not want to go there.

No, that was not something I could control from the GB-PVR. It was something the HIP author would have need to fix.

Basically HIP.exe runs as a user process in their session when the user logs in. When you use HIPSend.exe to change channels, it transfers the channel number and other command line parameters to the main HIP process using the clipboard (WM_COPYDATA), then the main HIP process does the actual IR blasting. This is never going to work from the recording service, which runs as a different user account/session, unless the service is running with the 'interact with desktop' feature enabled (which is only available when using the 'localsystem' account). There is no way GB-PVR can work around the fact HIP is using the clipboard to transfer data - the only person that can change this is the author of HIP.

Building anything that requires 'interact with desktop' is considered bad these days. Microsoft has been advising against it for a couple of years, and its not even possible in Vista.

GB-PVR doesnt require 'interact with desktop' for any of its own functions, but HIPSend and the MVP Tray Status thing are two external components people are known to use that require it. Neither of these are of my making, and not something I can fix. The author of these would need to change them themselves. In the meantime, dont think about upgrading to Vista anytime soon...

Make sense?

[zehd]

No, that was not something I could control from the GB-PVR. It was something the HIP author would have need to fix.

Basically HIP.exe runs as a user process in their session when the user logs in. When you use HIPSend.exe to change channels, it transfers the channel number and other command line parameters to the main HIP process using the clipboard (WM_COPYDATA), then the main HIP process does the actual IR blasting. This is never going to work from the recording service, which runs as a different user account/session, unless the service is running with the 'interact with desktop' feature enabled (which is only available when using the 'localsystem' account). There is no way GB-PVR can work around the fact HIP is using the clipboard to transfer data - the only person that can change this is the author of HIP.

Building anything that requires 'interact with desktop' is considered bad these days. Microsoft has been advising against it for a couple of years, and its not even possible in Vista.

GB-PVR doesnt require 'interact with desktop' for any of its own functions, but HIPSend and the MVP Tray Status thing are two external components people are known to use that require it. Neither of these are of my making, and not something I can fix. The author of these would need to change them themselves. In the meantime, dont think about upgrading to Vista anytime soon...

Make sense?

Yes, as a matter of fact. I may be able to have that chat with Peter after all...

I also hope that MajorHostility (author of the MVPTrayIcon) will join us again soon...

And you've just given me another reason to hang back on upgrading to Vista

Thanks

[sub]

Building anything that requires 'interact with desktop' is considered bad these days. Microsoft has been advising against it for a couple of years, and its not even possible in Vista.

In HIPs defense, being able to be run from a service as a different user account was probably not one of the original goals of HIP, but it is obviously being used like this, which is why it would benefit from using a different data transfer mechanism (sockets etc).

[zehd]

It was my belief that the problem could have been controlled from subs side, and yet he seemed to not want to go there.

No, that was not something I could control from the GB-PVR. It was something the HIP author would have need to fix.

At the time, I thought it might have been easier to make the server boxes hide a little better (while in 'Interact with Desktop')

All MVPServerchecker does is it watches for the windows and hides them, something I thought could have been in the GB-PVR code straight off...

But I understand the issue better. I do like the idea of following the model that Microsoft is using and wishing us to employ...