Client boot into GBPVR-work with PVRX2?

[fray_bentos]

This was first posted in General Discussion but it turned into more of a support question, so i've re-posted it here to hopefully get it sorted (hope that's ok).


I am trying to make a GBPVR client (PVRX2 1.0.16) boot straight into PVRX2 using the advanced method listed on the Wiki and initially posted on this thread about booting straight into GBPVR.

The client is XP and the server Vista home both on a wireless home network (There is a mismatch in client and server versions, client:1.0.16 and server: 1.2.9). (Sorry i'm not using the most recent versions, i havent had chance to upgrade yet. She is threatening to make me buy a standard tv recorder if i miss any recordings for her and i darent risk it!)

When PVRX2 is manually started the setup works fine using file sharing and has done for some time. I've followed the steps in the wiki so that GBPVR is the shell but PVRX2 starts with an unhandled exception (copy of the error in the attached file).

I thought it might be that the client tried to contact the server before it had an ip address (was DHCP) so i set fixed IP's for the client and instead of the server name in config i've used the IP.

So what i would like to know, is anyone using PVRX2 with this boot into gbpvr method? Does it still work. Or can anyone suggests why it isn't working for me?

Thanks, andy.

[stustunz]

probably tried to log on before network adapter has started properly

[martint123]

Yes, possible. In my startup script for my clients I ping my router 10 times. If it is there then it doesn't take long, if it doesn't respond it takes much longer and give XP time to settle down.
e.g. ping 192.168.1.254 -n 10

[fray_bentos]

martin123, is this a batch file in the startup directory, or a startup script in gbpvr? Do you do anything to 'hide' xp or are you not bothered by this?

[pgoelz]

Note that I have discovered that you can ping by computer name. This means that you do not have to use a fixed IP address.

I use "ping xxxx" where xxx is the computer name as reported by MS networking. I do NOT add any pathnames. It works perfectly, even after lengthy suspend on the server and hibernate on the client. Sometimes I do have to launch it twice though... it is possible that the server does not wake up quite fast enough to respond to the ping request before the ping times out. I'm still looking for an easy way to add a definable delay between the magic packet command and the ping command. But at least this way, if the server is not responding, it does not try to launch GBPVR.

I use it in a batch file that sends a magic packet to the MAC address of the client NIC (also does not require a fixed IP address), then pings the server by name, examines the errorlevel parameter and aborts without starting GBPVR if the errorlevel is not 0. I suppose I could get fancier and add a specified number of retries.....


I launch this batch file manually from a shortcut on the client (my laptop) but I don't see why you could not launch it from the STARTUP folder.

Paul

[martint123]

martin123, is this a batch file in the startup directory, or a startup script in gbpvr? Do you do anything to 'hide' xp or are you not bothered by this?

It is just a batch file that I use to start up pvrx2 on my main client - just to prevent the red X.

I'm not worried about XP leftovers on the screen as I only use the PC client for "shack" use and mainly for searching and tagging shows to record rather than full time viewing.

Main family viewing is via PCH and/or MVP's.

[fray_bentos]

Thanks for the input from everyone. I think getting a client to boot into GBPVR without any trace of Windows doesnt look worth doing for the moment, i might try it on the server when i get round to connecting it to a tv.

For the moment I'll concerntrate on getting multiple recordings working and streaming live tv to the client - luckily i dont think these should cause any problems, just need to experiment.