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millenium7
2009-03-22, 14:30
I've built a little HTPC box running a very stripped out version of windows (weighs in at 230mb, but I run the same thing on my main PC with no problems), XBMC and some 3rd party 360 controller driver.
The computer boots windows then silently runs XBMC without shelling anything else so explorer, nothing. Now the problem is if I try and add another folder from my computer on the network it takes a good 30 seconds or so to open up my computer's (My computer = my main desktop PC, not the HTPC box) folder list. If I don't save the folder there and then as another source I won't be able to access my computer again. It'll show up in the XBMC network browser but clicking on it does nothing at all. The only way I can add another folder is if I restart the HTPC, or manually add it via IP, folder name and a user name, even though any networked computer is authorised to access my files, not just a local user account. But if I don't input all 3 fields it just says the location cannot be reached
Once i've added the source I can browse it but again it takes a good 30 seconds or so to actually open the folder. Raw network speed is fine I can stream anything, its just the resolution of my computer's folders that seems to take forever.

My computer is connected via Wireless to a router (100% quality, never drops a packet)
HTPC is connected via 100mbit LAN to same router
Both computers can ping and essentially access each other just fine
Both computers can access the internet just fine
Both computers running stripped out versions of Windows XP pro SP3
No network firewall


Didn't have this problem when I first built the HTPC and for a good month or so after that, but it's been sitting for a while and I now have this problem. So i'm not sure which computer the problem lies with. There could be a lot of different causes so I guess the best course of action would be to first check if I have all user access settings correct and all network services running. But i've given up on network problem solving since windows 98se so I wouldn't really know where to start and what should or shouldn't be running

Hitcher
2009-03-22, 14:49
Are you using the latest SVN build?

millenium7
2009-03-22, 15:12
Are you using the latest SVN build?

i upgraded to krickers latest build, made no difference

Bill48105
2009-03-22, 18:54
Hi,
I've had the same thing happen with all the recent builds. I am pretty sure it happens if my IP has expired & it takes too long to acquire a new one before XBMC loads (shortcut in startup). I have a feeling XBMC doesn't look for IP changes once it is open. I've been meaning to enter in a static IP but haven't got around to it because it happens so rarely.
Bill

Bill48105
2009-03-23, 08:29
OK after some testing today I have found that my problem was indeed my IP expiring & it taking too long to get an IP before XBMC loads. (There is no IP shown in System Info on Settings section.) I must then either exit XBMC & run it again & an IP is shown & I can get to network shares or reboot, which is what I end up doing because my remote can't control windows right now & no keyboard/mouse hooked up so easiest to just reboot. I have confirmed that once XBMC is loaded it will not detect IP changes. If I boot up with network cable unplugged & XBMC loads no IP is shown. I plug in the cable & wait awhile for it to obtain an IP & XBMC still shows no IP & will not connect to shares until exit/run or reboot.

Since changing my IP to a static IP I have not had the trouble but I suspect it can't be too uncommon for DHCP obtained IP's to expire (some routers default to only a few hours) and XBMC to either think there is no IP on bootup as an IP is obtained or if already loaded not detect that it has changed if the router forces a change. Probably not a top priority for the XBMC team but maybe something to put on the to-do list
Bill

millenium7
2009-03-23, 17:38
ah makes sense. I'll give it a try later on and repost

millenium7
2009-03-28, 16:47
alright I tried it and no dice, same crap. I'm going to rebuild the HTPC with something a bit more reliable (hard drive is dying) and not quite literally made out of a cardboard box with cutouts for fans, cards and cables. In the meantime i'd like to get the software side sorted

I realise this is an XBMC forum but what are the pro's and con's vs other media center products? windows media center seems to be quite popular. Ideally i'd like to strip it down as much as possible to run just on a USB stick with no fiddling around with drivers, 3rd party software, codecs etc. Just burn or extract to a location and fire it up, thats it. XBMC works very well but even it has to run off an OS so requires an OS to be installed followed by dicking around with removing the default shell and replacing it with XBMC etc....