Vista Upgrade and Tivo Desktop Problem

[babest]

I have just upgraded my Windows XP to Vista and I am having problems with my Tivo Desktop:

When I try to run Tivo Desktop, I get the message:
"Beacon Service Not Running"

When I try to run Tivo Server, I get the message:
"The specified service does not exist as an installed service"

I have re-installed Tivo Desktop from the Tivo website and I have reset Tivo network on my Humax Series II, but I am still getting the same errors on my PC. I was able to connect to Tivo and it updated my information on the Tivo Box.

Any ideas?

Regards,
Bruce

[jcopin]

i get that too

really annoying

practically the only thing that wont work for me under vista

anyone have any ideas?

[jbdecker]

I'm having the same problem. Fortunately, we run windows and will no doubt have a fix soon. :-)

[swankmaster_d]

I posted a list of steps I took to get it all working in another thread. I copied it below, since I don't have enough posts to link to it. Hope it helps.

WORKAROUND: Vista /tivo togo problem, tivo can't see computer/server
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been frustrated with this whole thing for a while, as I'd put Vista Business x64 on my machine several months ago when it was released.

I'm running Vista Ultimate now (x86), and I finally have TivoToGo/Desktop/Server all working. It was a combination of solutions I found on a number of different forums and sites.

Notes: Some of this may have been completely unnecessary or pointless, but I'm just happy I got it working, so I'll share everything I remember.

1) Of utmost importance, disable User Account Control on Vista, if only temporarily. Also, disable your anti-virus/security program temporarily
2) Look at your Policy settings, via Start/Run/secpol.msc. Truth be told, I don't know much about some of the policies in there, but Vista does a half-decent job explaining a few of them. Make sure your user account and/or group is allowed to do pretty much anything on the machine.
***NOTE: Security policies are not accessible in this manner on Vista Home Premium (and I'm guessing Vista Home Basic). If anyone knows how to access them on those versions, do tell! (my laptop runs Home Premium, for now, and it's driving me crazy)
3) Uninstall TivoDesktop, if it's still installed.
4) I restarted my computer, just out of precaution.
5) Navigate to your TivoDesktop setup file (and yes, I am running 2.3a).
6) Set the Compatibility to Windows XP SP2 (Right-click/Properties/Compatibility Tab) for yourself and all users.
7) Re-install by right-clicking and selecting 'Run as Administrator'
8) Setup as normal
9) You will still (and always, until it's fixed) receive the '...not installed as a specified service' error when you click on the 'Server' menu item in Tivo Desktop. However, you can access Server Properties by right-clicking your Tivo Icon, and selecting "Properties". Having installed with the steps above, this was the first time the "Properties" window actually showed my server as running.
10) VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure your Tivo and PC are running on the exact same network. Crazy as that sounds, I have both a wired and wireless connection to the same Netgear router. Many times, I'll disable one or the other, for various reasons. In my case, my Tivo connects wirelessly and only sees my PC when my wireless connection is enabled.

On one other note, I'd struggled with not being able to change my TivoToGo Files folder on my PC, getting the same error message with regard to Tivo Server when I'd try. Another forum pointed me to the registry entry for the active folder (HKCU\Software\TiVoDesktop\Modules\TiVoNowPlaying\Config ), which you can easily change (standard warnings about monkeying with the registry apply).

Hope this helps some people who, like me, couldn't find a complete set of steps to get it functioning, at least. My many thanks to those who discovered these steps and posted them here or in other forums first.

[Jersey Devil]

I am running Vista Home Premium. Tivo 2.4 refuses to install, saying that the program "requires XP with SP2 or later". This sounds like a fix that must be done by Tivo so the prog recognizes Vista.

Strangely enough though, Tivo 2.3 installed without any problems. I have UAC disabled, right clicked on the install file for Tivo, made it "xp compatible" and ran the file in Vista as Administrator. Tivo To Go could instantly "see" my Tivo DVR but I got a "no server installed" message on my computer. I went to Tivo server properties by right clicking on Tivo, clicked on the Access Control tab and changed the preconfigured setting from "any connected to my home/local network" to "only those which I select" and checked the box showing my Tivo. Now my Tivo DVR sees my computer as well and everything seems to be running fine.

My guess is that the added security measures in Vista will not allow a blank check as to what devices can share with your computer but requires specific permissions unless your Vista is configured as a "public place" network, which I assume most people would NOT do unless they want to communicate files and info with others in places like coffee houses, colleges and public parks.

[justinb181]

I have followed the above steps, and i can transfer from the tivo to my Vista Ultimate PC, but on the tivo S2DT box i can see my computer but when i select it from the now playing list it tells me that

"PC's Now playing list could not be displayed because there was an unknown error"

Anyone have an idea whats causing this?? UAC is off, firewall is Off

**EDIT**
I actually re did the EXACT instructions above and I now can not see the computer at all any more on the TIVO.

I have no security enabled anywhere whichi s troubling enough. NO UAC, No firewall, and i am on the "same network" as the tivo.

Any clue what i can try now??

***Edit #2***
I am now able to see the computer again after I rebooted the computer (didn't work) and then restarting the beacon after pausing the server. Then i restarted the server and the pc poped up on the now playing list. Now when i select the PC icon it tells me the same error as before that there is an unknown error.

There is a valid file in the directory, i changed the tivo directory to C:\Users\username\My Tivo Recordings and i verified that it was correct in the registry.

I can also still tranfer files from the tivo back to the pc, just not the other way around.

Any clues??? I am trying to get this fixed before the weekend.

[justinb181]

I am also able to view photos from my pc on the tivo, only thing that is not working is being able to see the files in my pc video play list, i keep getting the list could not be displayed because there was an unknown error...

this is so frustrating

[justinb181]

no one has any ideas????