TiVo Desktop 2.6 Released

[ebf]

... I removed the folder from desktop and changed the "arrange icons by" from name to type, which still keeps them in numerical order in the folder, and and added the folder back to desktop. ...
When you added it back to TiVo Desktop and had *something* transfer, did it transfer into the same Now Playing folder? Just wondering if it is just the name of the Windows folder that groups them.

As for the failed transfers, the Desktop applications should have an on screen notice when there are problems. You can check the Desktop logs: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\TiVo Desktop\Logs

[cherry ghost]

When you added it back to TiVo Desktop and had *something* transfer, did it transfer into the same Now Playing folder? Just wondering if it is just the name of the Windows folder that groups them.


sorry, I had already deleted the partial recording I stopped(after noticing it was ep. 3) from the TiVo, thus eliminating the entire folder, before adding it back to desktop.

During second attempt(where ep. 2 was the first to transfer after sorting by type), I went into the folder and renamed everything except ep.2, since it was in progress. After ep. 2 finished, ep. 1 started and is currently transferring. We'll see what happens after that.

[Sandlapper]

Quick question everyone. I have 2 video podcasts I've selected to auto-transfer to my Tivo. Now the first time I selected the folder and "published" them the transfer went through, but I haven't seen it transfer anything new over on its own. Anyway to see when its supposed to or tell it to check everyday, etc?

[jsquid001]

I am starting to get a little frustrated. It didnt help that somehow I got lost in Tivo support void and eventually disconnected.

I have desktop plus all set up and set some web season passes from my Tivo(s). I can see in the C:\Documents and Settings\...\Local Settings\Application Data\TiVo Desktop\Downloads folder there is about 7 gigs of content but nothing on my Tivo.

What gives? I keep thinking there is something very simple I am missing.

[ebf]

I am starting to get a little frustrated. It didnt help that somehow I got lost in Tivo support void and eventually disconnected.

I have desktop plus all set up and set some web season passes from my Tivo(s). I can see in the C:\Documents and Settings\...\Local Settings\Application Data\TiVo Desktop\Downloads folder there is about 7 gigs of content but nothing on my Tivo.

What gives? I keep thinking there is something very simple I am missing.
Are you trying to transfer from the PC, auto-transfer from the PC, or transfer from the TiVo? More info would help...

[jsquid001]

It is selecting a web cast from Tivo in this order:

Tivo Central
Find Programs
Download TV, Movies, & Web Videos
Browse Other Videos
select a web cast that has a computer icon to the right
Select "Download This Program"
screen shows "Make Sure Your PC connects to Tivo Service" (my PC is always on and always connected).
Press Select to Continue
Press Download as Planned.

A while later the video shows up in the downloads folder on my PC with the registry name but never gets sent to my Tivo.

[Solver]

I am starting to get a little frustrated. It didnt help that somehow I got lost in Tivo support void and eventually disconnected.

I have desktop plus all set up and set some web season passes from my Tivo(s). I can see in the C:\Documents and Settings\...\Local Settings\Application Data\TiVo Desktop\Downloads folder there is about 7 gigs of content but nothing on my Tivo.

What gives? I keep thinking there is something very simple I am missing.

Is there anything in your TiVo's To Do List history?
What type of files are in the download folder?
What type of computer are you using?
Try using the Tivo's Desktop LogFinder to turn on logging and look for the text,"fail".

Note: As a workaround, you can copy the files in the download folder to another folder and add that folder to the Tivo Desktop video option. Then on the bottom of your TiVo's Now Playing list you should see these video files on your computer and be able to play them. Don't use autotransfer and NEVER add the download folder.

[jsquid001]

Is there anything in your TiVo's To Do List history?
What type of files are in the download folder?
What type of computer are you using?
Try using the Tivo's Desktop LogFinder to turn on logging and look for the text,"fail".

Note: As a workaround, you can copy the files in the download folder to another folder and add that folder to the Tivo Desktop video option. Then on the bottom of your TiVo's Now Playing list you should see these video files on your computer and be able to play them. Don't use autotransfer and NEVER add the download folder.

I don't think Web videos are listed in the Tivo to do list
I did look through the logs and the transfer logs had the following:

Info |Authorization |TiVoTransfer |12:26:36 AM 1972402|1280 |requesting authorization, challenge: Digest realm="TiVo DVR", nonce="47f3433c7fcc4e5abe7f22b6f0aeba1f2bc037df", qop=auth
Info |Http |TransferServic|12:26:36 AM 1972402|1280 |Last Response: 401
Info |Http |TransferServic|12:26:36 AM 1972415|1278 |Last Response: 200

I assume that the 401 means that Tivo did not authorize the desktop which seems strange. I am able to perform manual transfers just fine but I re entered the media access key just to be sure.

Bottom line, everything up the the point of moving the web videos to my Tivo is working like a champ. I request the videos from my tivo, my tivo desktop gets the request, downloads and transcodes the video into MP4 files, gets them cued up for transfer (according to the server logs) and then the process ends.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

As a last resort I could use the work around of making the download folder on the PC published through the Tivo desktop but I still have hope that I can get this thing to work as advertised :)

[SMWinnie]

I had to reboot my box yesterday after everything slowed to a crawl. According to the Task Manager, the TiVo Server executable was using 1.5GB of memory...

I have both TD2.6+ and pyTivo installed. Anybody ever see something like this before?

[subat0mic]

after much fiddling, i finally installed microsoft messenger, after which webvideo and video folders both started working for me (go figure). I got maybe a few days where subscriptions worked and downloaded to the tivo.

2 days ago I signed up for several webvideo season passes, and by today, none have downloaded to the tivo.

I wish tivo desktop had a list of what it thinks are the subscriptions, what's pending, what's failed, etc... the application just silently fails, and i don't know why without running through the logs which aren't very clear. a simple "pending" and "history" list in the TDplus would be an obvious feature here! :)

Anyway, anyone have their TDplus stop working?
All I changed was I removed every mp3/picture/videofolder from TD, and started up pyTivo to run along side of TDplus, because it serves those things better... basically I'm leaving TDplus up solely for webvideo.

I'm at the point where I'm simply waiting for pyTivo to catch up to TD (with webvideo subscriptions). TD has been very unreliable.

If you have any suggestions, lay it on me, otherwise, i'm kinda done with TD as soon as pyTivo supports webvideo fully (i read they're working on it (http://pytivo.krkeegan.com/tivo-desktop-2-6-t193.html))...

[Rich8899]

It really blows me away that Tivo has the nerve to charge $25 for a piece of software that has more problems than solutions.

I'm thankful that Web videos worked right off the bat for me and I guess the subscription option was worth the $$ but it would be nice to have one piece of software serve up Audio, Video, and pics as advertised.

I am not a newbie to the HMO functionality. Here's my progression:

Started with Java HMO - loved it for what it was. No problems.

Galleon - Also a great piece of work but I disliked the interface as well as the amount of overhead it consumed. My primary focus, at the time, was just serving up MP3's so Galleon seemed a bit top heavy.

I was started using Tivo.net for video transfers to my Tivo and TD for transferring files from my Tivo and everything was fine on the video side but I wanted a better audio service.

I loaded Audio Faucet and I was very excited with its iTunes based interface and play list functionality. Down side is its requirement to run iTunes when serving audio to Tivo. Another show stopper for me was its inability to play playlists in shuffle mode <if anyone can tell me how to do this - please do>.

Then TD 2.6 was released with its Web casts. I thought what the heck, maybe Tivo fixed it and I will finally be able to have one app do it all. I shelled out the $$ and was happy with the Web cast functionality (been a while since I've seen Kevin Rose on the "medium" screen). So I moved on to Photos - works great! I then tried music. It also works and with the addition of TiviTunes (www.maximized.com/shareware/tivitunes) has the ability to play my iTunes playlists in random! Very cool. Definitely the best $5 I've spent. On to the video function - Ouch

Tivo.net has always worked for me. (http://sourceforge.net/projects/tivodotnet) Great app! Simple and functional. Can TD just do this one little task? I want to watch my PC based videos, regardless of type or size, on my TV. In TD 2.6+, it doesn't work for me.

When I pick the video file from Now Playing, it starts to transfer and then fails and leaves a useless message in the Recording History telling me that the transfer failed and to try again.

What kills me is that I can transfer files from my Tivo to the PC and I can transfer files from my PC to my Tivo with Tivo.net but not with TD 2.6+

So this adventure to find the Killer HMO app has turned into a multi year hobby. I guess I will try PyTivo. I'm not as much angry as I am disappointed with Tivo.

Thanks to the community! Without all of you "wicked smaht" people, I'd only be watching CSI, skipping commercials, and remaining completely ignorant to the true power of that box with the little antenna guy.

[rainwater]

Tivo.net has always worked for me. (http://sourceforge.net/projects/tivodotnet) Great app! Simple and functional. Can TD just do this one little task? I want to watch my PC based videos, regardless of type or size, on my TV. In TD 2.6+, it doesn't work for me.

This because TiVo Desktop 2.5, 2.5.1, and 2.6 do not work on Vista when using GoBack. If I were you I would demand a refund. It is a shame that TiVo is letting people buy the Plus version knowing full well that one of the main features of TiVo Desktop doesn't work. The main reason to buy the Plus version is to get transcoding of video files. And this part does not work on Vista. How they can continue to sell this product without a disclaimer is very surprising to me.

[Rich8899]

This because TiVo Desktop 2.5, 2.5.1, and 2.6 do not work on Vista when using GoBack. If I were you I would demand a refund. It is a shame that TiVo is letting people buy the Plus version knowing full well that one of the main features of TiVo Desktop doesn't work. The main reason to buy the Plus version is to get transcoding of video files. And this part does not work on Vista. How they can continue to sell this product without a disclaimer is very surprising to me.

I'm actually on XPSP2 and I bought "plus" to expand the web casts and hoped that since it's been a few years, Tivo would be putting out a quality product. My bad.

[rainwater]

I'm actually on XPSP2 and I bought "plus" to expand the web casts and hoped that since it's been a few years, Tivo would be putting out a quality product. My bad.

Web videos use the transcoding portion of Plus. The only reason Plus is required for Web videos is because of its ability to transcode videos. TiVo has been selling TiVo Desktop to Vista users for a long time before they added web videos, btw. I seriously hope TiVo will put up some type of notice on their site about Vista incompatibility. Otherwise, in my opinion, they are stealing money from their loyal users knowing full well the product doesn't work as advertised.

[jsquid001]

I wanted to post an update regarding getting the web videos to work with Plus. After 2 hours with Tivo tech support that involved removing, cleaning, re-installing, rebooting (desktop as well as the Tivos), etc, I now have web videos working.

The funny thing was that the Tivo rep argued with me insisting that the desktop cannot download web videos. After some education about 2.6's new features, he put me on hold for 5 minutes where he must have gotten a download of how it works after which we began to solve the problem.

The only quirk now is that I still have 2 listed of every video in my published directory.

[HerronScott]

This because TiVo Desktop 2.5, 2.5.1, and 2.6 do not work on Vista when using GoBack. If I were you I would demand a refund. It is a shame that TiVo is letting people buy the Plus version knowing full well that one of the main features of TiVo Desktop doesn't work. The main reason to buy the Plus version is to get transcoding of video files. And this part does not work on Vista. How they can continue to sell this product without a disclaimer is very surprising to me.

Rainwater,

I'm not having any problems with GoBack on my 2 Vista PC's and my 2 Series 3 TiVo's (with either 2.5.1 or now 2.6). This is with Desktop Standard and not Plus though so are you saying it only doesn't work for material that needs transcoding?

Scott

[rainwater]

I'm not having any problems with GoBack on my 2 Vista PC's and my 2 Series 3 TiVo's (with either 2.5.1 or now 2.6). This is with Desktop Standard and not Plus though so are you saying it only doesn't work for material that needs transcoding?


Yes, that is what I am saying and it has been confirmed by everyone on this forum except 2 people who say it doesn't affect them. If you are only transcoding small files, you will not see this problem. But any files 1gb or larger will fail if they are a non .tivo file.

[TrueTurbo]

Yes, that is what I am saying and it has been confirmed by everyone on this forum except 2 people who say it doesn't affect them. If you are only transcoding small files, you will not see this problem. But any files 1gb or larger will fail if they are a non .tivo file.

Can you give me a link to a video file I can grab from the web so I can test if my environment fails like you say yours does? So far, everything I've tried with TD+ 2.6 on Vista and TiVoHD has worked flawlessly. However, I have to admit I don't send 1GB or above files back to my TiVo. I do regularly grab files up to 8GB from my TiVo through TD+ 2.6 to Vista and this process is working flawlessly.

[armooo]

I am working on the webvideo season passes for pyTivo now. I hope to get at least the download now stuff working this weekend. I already have a web interface to manualy push videos to the tivo.

It took a week longer than I hoped but pyTivo can now download your webvideo requests made from the tivo interface.

[jhimmel]

The only quirk now is that I still have 2 listed of every video in my published directory.

Did you publish from your "My Tivo Recordings" folder? Is so, that's why. The "My Tivo Recordings" folder is published automatically. If you add it to the video tab, you will get dupes.

[subat0mic]

you rock armooo, I will try when i get home.


edit:
note, I found that TD starts serving up webvideo content again once I added 2 video folders, may work with 1 as well, but I didn't try.
(if you remember my earlier post, webvideo subscriptions had completely stopped when I removed all video folders from TD).

It's crazy, the strange bugs this software has...

[geoman47]

I was started using Tivo.net for video transfers to my Tivo and TD for transferring files from my Tivo and everything was fine on the video side but I wanted a better audio service.


I'm considering downloading a TiVo Server Replacement because TiVo Server just seems too slow to load (I just tried the clear cache suggestion earlier in this thread - that may help), and just wondering if there is something better? My TiVo.net, Galleon, or TD?

I'm mainly interested in download time from TiVo to PC. I have TiVoHD, so I want to minimize the time it takes to download HD shows to PC.

Thanks in advance.

[Sandlapper]

Quick question everyone. I have 2 video podcasts I've selected to auto-transfer to my Tivo. Now the first time I selected the folder and "published" them the transfer went through, but I haven't seen it transfer anything new over on its own. Anyway to see when its supposed to or tell it to check everyday, etc?

Anyone?

[CuriousMark]

Anyone?

It just works for me. When I fire up the computer and launch iTunes I see iTunes grabbing podcasts. Later I see them appearing on the Tivo.

I am not sure what is wrong with your setup though. Maybe if you post a lot more detail it will trigger some folks to chime in with ideas.

[Sandlapper]

It just works for me. When I fire up the computer and launch iTunes I see iTunes grabbing podcasts. Later I see them appearing on the Tivo.

I am not sure what is wrong with your setup though. Maybe if you post a lot more detail it will trigger some folks to chime in with ideas.

I honestly don't know what other info I could post. It just stops working. :confused:

[ebf]

Try reconnecting your TiVo Desktop with your tivo.com account. Sometimes Desktop forgets the account username and password.