Media Portal - SQL server configuration (password ??)

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aucklander

478 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#23389 27-Jun-2008 12:17

Hi!

I started with the installation as per the (very well done) tutorial mcraenz created. When I have to launch TV Server, which is right after all three icons show up on the desktop, I do NOT get the window shown in the tutorial (where I can scan for channels). I get a window asking me to select what type of SQL database I use. Then I have to select the server address and something-else, and username and password.

I can try to send a screenshot of that window, if necessary.

The username is "sa" by default, but I have no idea what password I need to use. I found out from the net that you are supposed to use the same username and password used during installation. But I did not install anything specifically. It was put there by Vista or maybe by Media Portal. When I started the installation, SQL Server was "installed" (marked with green on the check list).

I tried my system username and password, they are not accepted. That window has only "Test" and "Save" buttons. When I press "Test", the first part of the window, with the server adress and the other info, gets green but the lower section with username and password gets red. So I assume only the username / password is wrong, the adress is recognised.

How can I go around this? What password does it require? Can I uninstall this SQL and re-install it? Maybe it saves the password somewhere and re-activates it during next install?

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299 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#140889 27-Jun-2008 12:45

I'd say that the default SQL 2005 install is using Windows Auth rather than mixed mode - so you probably don't have a sa account set up.

Can you log into the SQL Server client via standard Windows authentication? If so then you can manually reset your sa password - but you might have to enable mixed mode authentication first: right click on server - properties -> security -> select mixed authentication mode -> set the password for sa.

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Little

83 posts

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#140890 27-Jun-2008 12:47

Isn't the default password "mediaportal"?

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Dingbatt

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#140894 27-Jun-2008 13:53

Little: Isn't the default password "mediaportal"?

Or possibly, if case sensitive

MediaPortal

It's a while since I installed but I do remember TV-Server not connecting to the database initially. The other thing is the UAC in Vista32. I have had a lot of trouble with it interfering.

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argo

87 posts

Master Geek
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#140907 27-Jun-2008 15:00

hi aucklander - just to let you know that this is not specific to your setup, I had exactly the same problem at exactly the same point in the tutorial. I gave up after trying every passwd combo so I'm no help there, but at least you know its not unique to your PC. Because mine was just a passing interest I went no further (loaded GBPVR instead), have you asked on the team-mediaportal forums for help?

BTW: I was loading MP inside XP SP2.

Disrespective

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#140928 27-Jun-2008 16:03

One way to get around this would be to uninstall MySQL or whichever it is you're using and then reinstall Microsoft SQL (from the hyperlink) and redo the installation. A few windows into the installation it will ask you for a password and login. This password is what you need to remember for the sa login.

I've done the installation of Microsoft SQL 4 times in the last few months now and each time it has asked for the password. I always do this as the first thing i install before MP. The new MP releases have the installer for SQL built in but i don't use it.

If you can't be arsed doing that, try changing the sa password by connecting to SQL with Windows Authentication - a local administrator account - then go to Security -> Logins -> sa -> password

And finally, Dingbatt is right, the default MP password is MediaPortal so if you can't login with this then you've got no option to reinstall or change the password.

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#140948 27-Jun-2008 17:13

Aucklander,

The simplest solution -if you don't already have it sorted- would be to uninstall, then reinstall you're preferred SQL Server. During the process a screen comes up with 'standard mode' & mixed mode'. It's the one with the SA set as user. You need to change this to mixed mode for Mediaportal TV Server to work. Just type in you're password. Then you type the password you used at this stage to get TV Server working when you first open TV Server configuration.

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Vorbis

176 posts

Master Geek

#140953 27-Jun-2008 17:39

Default password is indeed MediaPortal case sensitive!!

aucklander

478 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 11

#141037 28-Jun-2008 14:25

I gave up after trying "mediaportal" password, as it was not accepted. Then I tried the case sensitive version, and this is it!

However, I cannot get picture on any channels, once I change to a channel, the screen shows the first frame and freezes, no sound at all. I can switch to another channel, same thing: I get a static picture with no sound.

One more thing, which I am sure is extremely relevant for my problem: in the tutorial, there is a screen where you go in "Direct Show..." settings, and do the most important bit: tick the EVR option. Well... I do not have the "Direct Show Filter Control" tab, which gives me the EVR option once expanded !!

Do I have to install some other stuff? I looked on the net, briefly, and there is a lot of talk around this, but no download available.

Also, in the same configuring window, the Television tab, once expanded, gives me only one option on the next level, "TV Client". I do not get the "TV Post Processing" and "Teletext" tabs as shown in the tutorial.

What am I missing to get the MP working? The 2x ffwd speed available in Powercinema is driving me crazy... is really useless. TBH, this is the main reason to switch to MP...

Dingbatt

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#141055 28-Jun-2008 17:00

So initially you were asking about getting SQL/TV-Server operating correctly. I assume it works okay now? and you have tuned in the relevant channels etc? What happens when you preview them from within TV-Server Config? Do they display?

What you appear to be talking about now is in the MediaPortal Configuration program, is that correct? Maybe if bits are missing you need to reinstall the TV-client bit.

What H264 codec are you using?

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1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#141060 28-Jun-2008 17:25

Do you use Ghost or any other form of partition imaging? If so, I would recommend to revert to any earlier image & reinstall Mediaportal totally. I think something has conflicted in the programme. you may find it easier to just redo the install. It happens; more than occaisionally with M$, I'm afraid.

If you don't have any form of hard drive imaging software, I seriously recommend you get one. It will save major time over the long run, especially if you're a tinkerer. They say Acronis True Image (think thats its name) is a good one. I still use an older version of Ghost (ver. 3).

You might also consider saving the install programmes (ie. vcredist_x86.exe, sqlexpr32.exe (Microsoft)) to you're HDD & install them prior & separately. I prefer to let install managers do the minimal amount of automatic configuration. Just my personal preference.

aucklander

478 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 11

#141107 28-Jun-2008 20:55

I think I got MP finally working, somehow. All channels working except TV3. If I switch to TV3, all I get is a frozen screen with no sound. From that moment, there is no control on MP. I cannot change channels, cannot to anything. except pressing green button to close the application.

If I restart, all channels work ok again, except TV3 which crashes MP every time. I did not try to play with recordings yet... you first learn to walk and later to ride a bike, right?

I still have one major issue: I have Powercinema working very well. I wanted MP only for the higher ffwd speed. Now, Powercinema does not work anymore. It launches and all "sections" work ok except TV, where it doesn't do anything. Absolutely nothing, it ignores the TV selection completely. But I can see the previously recorded shows. I believed is TV Server, running in the backround causing the problem so I ended the process in Task Manager. No improvement, Powercinema looks damaged for good.

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Dingbatt

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#141187 29-Jun-2008 12:07

What's your CPU usage like in MP? I don't use powercinema but aren't there work arounds required to get it to use hardware acceleration? I'm just wondering if MP isn't using hardware acceleration with the powercinema codec and so when you select TV3 it pushes the system beyond the limit of its resources. If that is the case, have you got another H264 codec loaded you can select in MP?

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aucklander

478 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 11

#141193 29-Jun-2008 12:34

I plyed with various codecs combinations and it appears to be working now, except TV3 and C4 which have stuttering, mostly every 5 sec. If I let it run on TV3 for a while, like 20-30min, it gets much better, stutters only briefly every 2 minutes or so. Picture quality on TV3 is decent (what I mean, it can be much, much worse), so the deinterlacing is done correctly, I think...

CPU usage in MP is 40% on any channel. With PowerCinema with HA enabled I used to get 12-18% (higher value on TV3, of course).

mcraenz

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#141200 29-Jun-2008 13:07

Run MediaPortal (Or any other media app) in non-fullscreen; while playing TV (or any other video file) use graphedit to "connect to remote graph" and see for sure what codecs are being used.

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aucklander

478 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#141408 30-Jun-2008 10:54

mcraenz,

I will try that.
Is there any way to select what file to open in MP?
In Powercinema there is one option to navigate through your HDD structure and select what file you want to play. If the file cannot be played it is not shown on the screen. MP has only the option to play the shows recorded by itself, is this right?

I tried to move a show recorded with Powercinema into the "recording" folder where MP saves the recordings. It does not show up on the list when I play recorded shows.

All recordings have an ".xml" file attached, with the same name as the recording. I also noticed the content of that file is also identical for all the recordings, exactly the same size. So i created a copy with the same name as the Powercinema recording i moved into that folder. The trick did not work, the "moved" file does not show up in the list with available recordings, so I cannot play it.

I assume the ".xml" files are all identical due to the fact that I do not have the EPG set up. All my recordings have the same name. I identify them only by the second column where I see the recording date and start time. Why is the name the same, and not containing (at least) channel name? Do I really need to buy the soft allowing me to download the EPG files? The system knows the channel you record from, both for manual and scheduled recordings, why is the channel name not shown in the recording name?

EDIT : I just found this: http://users.vic.chariot.net.au/~mitreski/mediaportal%20codec%20guide%20v.2.pdf
It appears to explain how you can play any file with MP !!!

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