Desktop 2.5.1 convert for iPod stuck at 99%

[Gizmometer]

Frequently, but not consistently, TiVo Desktop Server will indicate that the video conversion is at 99%, but it will never complete, nor will it crash, or fail. It just keeps running and hammering the CPU. The file appears to be complete and can be played just fine, though it remains as a hidden file in the Portable Media folder. This leads me to suspect the failure has more t do with importing into iTunes, but I can't find any sort of logging, or any kind of process detail to attempt to diagnose the problem. Could someone with TiVo Desktop experience offer me any advice? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Gizmometer]

I've found that after removing Videora, this problem has not reappeared.

[Gizmometer]

I spoke too soon. It happened again last night. I've made no changes to the machine in weeks. I can't figure out what the cause could be, but I'm pretty confident it has something to do with the converting sub-application. Why can't the TiVo Desktop service include a watchdog to monitor progress, and include a force-cancel if progress is stalled for a timeout period?

[lougarcia222]

Giz,

Any progress on your issue? I have the same issue with my setup (TiVo HD, Dell Laptop, TiVo To Go, Microsoft Zune).

I find if I go into the folder where the transcoded file is kept and alter the properties (i.e., right click on the file, choose properties and uncheck the "hidden" checkbox), reboot the laptop, then right click on each show in Tivo To Go and select "Convert for...", it resumes transcoding.

It is a bit frustrating that I can't figure out why it does this, but at least I've got a process that works to restart without losing anything...

Please let me know if you found anything...

Lou

[Gizmometer]

So far, I haven't been able to fix it. Your solution is pretty similar to mine: I just change the file property from hidden, and copy it into iTunes manually, since the progress stalls at 99% which is good as done.

But the truth is, I gave up on TiVo Desktop Plus. It would fail in the way described in this thread all too frequently, and worse, the h.264 conversion would take up 100% of the CPU, no matter how the application was configured. Instead, I switched to using an old Mac Mini and the Elgato Turbo.264. I wrote a couple of Applescripts to automate the conversion, and have only had one small problem so far. It's been a lot more reliable than TiVo Desktop Plus ever was, and my CPU is never locked up, and so the PC and Mac Mini are constantly useful, even while video is being converted.

[lougarcia222]

Do you think switching codecs to MPEG-4 rather than H.264 might help? I'm going to try it and run with it for a while and see what happens...