Yet another person needing help with DVD folder playback...

[t4uecker]

hi there -

i've had various problems with my sagetv setup over the past several months and so decided just to re-start from scratch, with a brand new install of the basic sagetv software on a clean computer. i have the sagetv software running on a pc (which also has my video material stored on it) and primarily access it through a couple of hd extenders.

the good news is that the system is much more stable than before. the bad news is that for some reason i can't play back dvd folders, which i could before. (i had sagemc installed in the past but am currently running just the standard interface...don't know if that makes any difference).

i've done some searching on the forum and have tried the following suggestions:

1. changing the "detailed setup - video / audio" settings so that everything is set to "Default" (except the mpeg4 playback, which is set to SageTV Player"

2. in that same menu, changing the mpeg2 video decoder filter to ffdshow. it's all now back to "Default" in every setting where that's an option.

3. in one of the threads i found when doing a search, it suggested disabling the sage server, which i also tried with no luck.

originally, i got a sage.playbackexception: error (-4, xxxxxx) or something like that stating that it couldn't render the video portion. when i changed a couple of the settings (as mentioned above) i started getting a different error: sage.playbackexception: ERROR (-1,0x0): There was an problem using DirectX for playback..." it suggested that i reinstall directx, which i did (latest version...9.0c), to no avail.

i have no problems playing the same dvd folder through the dvd player application on an imac that i have connected to my home network, if that's of any use in diagnosing the problem.

i'd appreciate any help or suggestions...i feel like i'm "this close" to getting everything working properly and stably. thanks!

[Opus4]

DVD folder structure is covered in Appendix I of the PDF manaul.

Originally Posted by t4uecker

1. changing the "detailed setup - video / audio" settings so that everything is set to "Default" (except the mpeg4 playback, which is set to SageTV Player"

You need to choose a DVD-capable decoder in the DVD section of Detailed Setup.

And, if you are trying to play the DVD on a client, the import dir has to be a UNC path or mapped drive letter (service can't use mapped drivers, though, so use UNC paths) so the client can access the files directly.

- Andy

[t4uecker]

Originally Posted by Opus4

DVD folder structure is covered in Appendix I of the PDF manaul.

Yup...I think I'm okay there, mainly because the folder structure hasn't changed since I reinstalled sage recently, so I'd think it should still work fine, no?

You need to choose a DVD-capable decoder in the DVD section of Detailed Setup.

I just installed the Intervideo DVD Xpack and then selected it as the "MPEG2 Video Decoder Filter", and the "MPEG2 Audio Decoder Filter" in the Video/Audio submenu; and I also selected it as the "DVD Video Decoder Filter" in the DVD section. Still getting the DirectX error.

Also, I tried changing the "DVD Video Rendered" in the DVD menu to "overlay" (the Intervideo one wasn't listed as a choice there...just overlay or Directx9). If I do that, I get the sage.PlaybackException: ERROR (-4,0x80040217) instead o the DirectX error.

Should I just backup my sage.properties and wiz.bin / wiz.bak files and reinstall?

Also, is there any use having ffdshow installed? If not, I'd like to remove it, since I'm trying to keep my system as clean as possible.

And, if you are trying to play the DVD on a client, the import dir has to be a UNC path or mapped drive letter (service can't use mapped drivers, though, so use UNC paths) so the client can access the files directly.

For now, I'm just trying to get it to work on the PC running the Sage software...I figure I'll troubleshoot the client stuff once I get it working on the PC. Hopefully that's a reasonable approach.

[gplasky]

At this point uninstall the ffdshow and then reboot the computer. As long as Intervideo is chosen as the DVD decoder it should play them fine.

Gerry

[t4uecker]

okay, installed the full windvd and it seems to be working...for now...on the pc at least. will test the extenders later.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by t4uecker

okay, installed the full windvd and it seems to be working...for now...on the pc at least. will test the extenders later.

Extenders do not care about what decoder you are using so as long as the ripped DVD's do not have any encryption, then they should play fine.