Graphical User Interface (GUI) for Tyborg's StarkCovers program

Hold up! As of the StarkCovers 6.30.2009 release my gui is once again broke. I'm not doing this anymore. Sorry.

This tool should only be used with StarkCovers version 6.23.2009 or earlier.

Requirements:
1) StarkCovers by Tyborg
2) .Net Framework 2 installed
3) Download my StarkCoversGUI tool and extract it into the same folder as your StarkCovers.exe


Update:
If you already have my tool and you updated your version of starkcovers.exe, you will need to redownload my tool and replace the one you already have. Something was changed in the starkcovers 6.23.2009 version that broke my tool. I have fixed my tool in response to this change. Also, when you click preview you may see this:



Uncheck 'Always ask before opening this file' and click Run. This is part of the problem that occurred with the updated StarkCovers.exe. Windows see's the executable as a program 'from another computer' and does not trust it. This prompt is for you to give permission for starkcovers.exe to be run.

What's it for:
I've been using Media Browser on my new Windows 7 MCE machine. Media Browser is a free media aggregator plugin for Media Center. On the Media Browser forum I saw Tyborg's tutorial for StarkCovers in Media Browser. Tyborg's tool is very cool! After you download it, and extra the files, you run a batch file to modify your movie covers. Being new to all this, I didn't really know what the different options would look like (ex: clearcase, sidelogo, banner, etc). So I spent a good amount of time editing the command line, modifying a single movie cover, and then viewing it in Media Browser. I had to do this to see what I liked and how it looked in Media Browser.

I decided to make a GUI form for Tyborg's program. This GUI offers a couple of conveniences. You can select options, and then do a Preview to get an idea of what the cover will look like. Next, you can run it against a movie folder, or all your movies, by selecting the options, selecting the movie folder, and clicking run. This should be easier to deal with for people not familiar with command lines and such.

This is what the tool looks like:



Using:
After you have downloaded the GUI tool and put it in the same folder as your StarkCovers.exe, run the StarkCoversGUI.exe. This tool expects a "Sample" folder in the same directory it runs from. The first time you click Preview, if the Sample folder is not there, it will prompt you about it, and give you the option of automatically creating the folder.

Next, this tool expects there to be at least a folder.jpg file in the Sample folder. This is what the tool will use to generate previews. Copy the folder.jpg file from one of your movies and put it in the Sample folder, or, the tool will offer to download one into the folder for you (it's a 10,000 BC cover). Also, if you want to test with the mymovies.xml functionality, put one of the xml files in the Sample folder also, or, when you let it download the samples I posted, it will get a mymovies.xml for you.

Now the tool should be ready to go. Choose options and click Preview Cover button to get an idea of what the cover will look like. This just gives you an idea. The image has been shrunk and it may not look as good as it will in Media Browser. But, it give you an idea. Also, if you want to see a better image, click the Preview image and an unshrunk copy of the image will be shown.

If you want to use arguments I have not precreated checkboxes for, you can type them in the Arguements box. Both Preview and Run will use what is in the Arguments box.

If you want to change your sample cover, copy a new folder.jpg to the Sample folder. Whatever you want to use as your sample for previewing is obtained from the Sample folder.

When you are ready to apply the StarkCovers look to your movie covers, choose a Movie Folder. The path can be typed or browsed to using the Browse button. Choose the root folder of all your movies to have the StarkCovers look applied to all movies contained within. If you just want to modify one movie, choose its folder.

Once the options are selected, and the movie folder is selected, click the Run button and StarkCovers will run using the selected settings.

To undo, select the Revert back to folder.jpg options and run again.

To export settings to a .bat file, click the Make .BAT button.

Just a heads up, the conversion process can take a while. While it is running, the Run button will remain greyed out. When it is finished, you will see "Job complete" in the box at the bottom and the Run button will become available again.

Troubleshooting:
If you get the error "The application failed to Initialize properly (0xc0000135)" it means most likely you need to install .Net Framework 2 or update your .Net Framework 2 (service packs or updates).

File displayed in PictureBox control became locked

I came across this issue and found this MS KB document very helpful:

Image file is locked when you set the PictureBox Image property to a file (Article ID: 309482 )

I was displaying an image in a picturebox control and then I was trying to overwrite the file, and display a new image. I could not overwrite the file. I could not rename it or delete it either.

Using a Filestream instead of FromFile resolved the issue.

If you run into this problem check out the MS KB document linked above.

Tring out Media Browser on Windows 7

I just set it up. I brought up my extender and clicked Media Browser on the ribbon (or whatever it's called). I got this error: Access to the path C:/ProgramData/media browser/Styles_DoNotEdit.mcml is denied.

I figured the extender account probably need access to the directory. So on Windows 7 I right clicked Computer>Manage>Expanded Users and Groups, Clicked User, got the name of the extender account (the account with mcx in the name) and then went back to the C:/Programdata/media browser directory, right clicked, chose security, edit, clicked Add, and added the extender account. I gave it modify (I tried read and execute but that was not enough, it needs modify). If you add another extender to your Media Center, you need to repeat this process for the new MCX account on your Media Center.

Transcode 360 Installer Tool

New get you up and running quickly Transcode 360 installer tool download

New Version Available
There was an issue with the previous version. In the ServerAddress Reg Edit portion, it was filling in the box with IPv6 addresses in some cases. IPv6 addresses will produce an error like "A port was expected because of there is a colon present but the port could not be parsed". I wrote instructions below how to fix this, or you can uninstall the existing copy of the tool, download and install the new one, and just run the ServerAddress Reg Edit part again.

There was also an issue with one of the builds where it was not replacing the ffmpeg.exe properly. That has been fixed.

I also took out the .Net 1.1 checker and the files from the download. The tool is much smaller download now.

The latest build of the tool is 1.05

Introduction
There is more to getting Transcode 360 installed and working than just running that actual installer. This blog post outlines many of the steps required to get T360 up and running.

It's a bit tedious. Also, it's the number one reason people come to my blog - instructions on how to install T360.

I've made an installer tool that will take care of getting T360 setup for you. Basically, you should be able to run this tool and accomplish the same thing you would by reading the instructions and performing the different steps as you go.

You need .Net 2 Framework install to use this tool. If you don't have it you can get it here. I'm not sure, you may need to run Windows Update after the install and apply the .Net 2 service pack also.

The link to download the tool installer is at the top of this post.

When you open the tool, there is a link to instructions on the right. Have a look. The PDF version is much nicer on the eyes.

This tool is designed to get you up and running is you 1) are using Media Center 32-bit, 2) Have your movies stored on your Media Center. If you are using 64-bit, Transcode 360 probably will not work. If you are storing your movies on a NAS or another computer, you can still use this tool to get things setup, but you will need to go back and make some more adjustments for your enviroment. I have blog posts with instructions (and another tool).

Troubleshooting

When you try to watch a movie from your extender, and you get the error:
"A port was expected because of there is a colon present but the port could not be parsed."
It is probably that on the ServerAddress part, it used your systems IPv6 address, rather than the required IPv4 address. IPv6 addresses look like this xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx. To fix this you need to run the tool again, but only the ServerAddress Reg Edit part. In the box put your Media Center's IPv4 address in the box and click Run button. Reboot the Media Center and try your extender again. If you do not know you Media Center's IPv4 address do this:

1. Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt
2. At the prompt type: ipconfig and then hit Enter key
3. You should get some lines of information back. One will say IPv4 Address. Write down the address.
4. Go back and run the installer tool. Type the address you wrote down into the box, and click the Run button to the right.
5. Reboot the Media Center and try your extender again.

One of the builds of the tool did not replace the ffmpeg.exe correctly. If you download the posted version, you can click the button in the mencoder/ffmpeg part and it will fix the missing ffmpeg.exe file.

Will WebGuide work with Windows 7

No. I asked the developer and he said no.

System specs of my iRacing machine

Computer:
Computer Type ACPI x64-based PC
Operating System Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
OS Service Pack Service Pack 1
Internet Explorer 7.0.6001.18000
DirectX DirectX 10.0

CPU: Type DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo E8500, 3800 MHz (9.5 x 400)

Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (2 PCI, 3 PCI-E x1, 2 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)

Motherboard Chipset Intel Eaglelake P45

System Memory:
4096 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)

DIMM1: Corsair XMS2 DHX CM2X2048-6400C4DHX 2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-18 @ 400 MHz) (4-4-4-13 @ 270 MHz)

DIMM3: Corsair XMS2 DHX CM2X2048-6400C4DHX 2 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-18 @ 400 MHz) (4-4-4-13 @ 270 MHz)

BIOS Type: Award Modular (09/22/08)

Display:
Video Adapter ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series (512 MB)
Video Adapter ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series (512 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon HD 3650 (RV635)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon HD 4870 (RV770)
Monitor Acer AL2216W [22" LCD] (LA10C0414030)
Monitor Generic PnP Monitor [NoDB] (H9NQ700481)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ ATI RV635 - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ ATI RV770 - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card


Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH10 Family 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 2 - 3A26
IDE Controller Intel(R) ICH10 Family 4 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 - 3A20

IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Disk Drive LaCie Group SA LaCie FW800 Disk drive LUN 0 IEEE 1394 SBP2 Device (232 GB)
Disk Drive ST3300622AS ATA Device (300 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA-II)
Disk Drive WDC WD3200AAKS-00B3A0 ATA Device (298 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive _NEC DVD_RW ND-3550A ATA Device (DVD+R9:8x, DVD-R9:6x, DVD+RW:16x/8x, DVD-RW:16x/6x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW)
Optical Drive LITE-ON DVDRW LH-20A1H ATA Device (DVD+R9:8x, DVD-R9:8x, DVD+RW:20x/8x, DVD-RW:20x/6x, DVD-RAM:12x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)

Network:
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)


Peripherals:
FireWire Controller Texas Instruments TSB43AB23 1394A-2000 OHCI PHY/Link-Layer
USB1 Controller Intel 82801JB ICH10 - USB Universal Host Controller
USB Device Logitech Driving Force GT USB

DMI:
DMI BIOS Vendor Award Software International, Inc.
DMI BIOS Version F10
DMI System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
DMI System Product EP45-DS3R
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
DMI Motherboard Product EP45-DS3R
DMI Chassis Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
DMI Total / Free Memory Sockets 4 / 2

Transcode 360 and Windows 7

I got an email from someone who gets this error when trying to use Transcode 360 1.6.3 with Windows 7 Windows 7 RC (build 7100):

MceUiAddIn.Launch
System.Exception: Unable to queue video file for transcoding and streaming. At
Transcode360.AddIn.NewModule.TranscodeAndPlayMedia(String filePath, Int64 timestamp)
at Transcode360.AddIn.NewModule.Launch(AddInHost host)

I downloaded and installed Windows 7 RC (Build 7100). First I installed MyMovies 2.54. I then set the folders for MyMovies to watch and let it build the database. I followed my own instructions for setting up Transcode 360.

I'm running t360 as a service, and because I am not trying to access movies stored on other machines I let the service run as the Local System account. I did the Network registry update, and I updated the mencoder.exe.

I tested from my Xbox 360 and from MyMovies choosing Watch Stream, t360 fired up and transcoded the movie. In other words, it worked fine.

I have seen on other blogs and forum where other people are having problems with Windows 7 and T360. I thought I would be able to replicate the problem and troubleshoot it.

So I am posting this in hopes of discovering what is different between my setup, and that of others, that is causing issues for others. The only difference I see between my setup and the person that emailed me is our extenders. Mine being an xbox, and his being a Linksys.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions feel free to post them in the comments section.