Getting *.divx or *.avi to transfer to TiVoHD.

[W Auggie H]

I have 2 TivoHD boxes connected via Ethernet to my home network. I have struggled to get different video formats to transfer back to my TiVo from my computer. In theory, with the PLUS add-on to the TiVoDesktop I should be able to transfer *.divx files to my TiVo. But in practice I am not successful. The TiVoHD box can see the file(s) but when I attempt to transfer I just get an error message in the ToDo list. The error or message is not very detailed.

Is there a magic set of setting I need to use when I convert my files to *.divx? Has anyone had success with this? Is there a detailed post I can read on this specific subject? Thanks for your time.

[ajayabb]

You should try Pytivo. It utilizes Ffmpeg and can transfer just about any video file type.

http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=328459

[W Auggie H]

I know there are developers that have created streamers and other apps to do this. I really would like to know why TiVoDesktop is not working the way it is stated to work.

Even though I am a geek, I would really rather not have to mess with:

In order to run pyTivo you will need:

1. A compatible TiVo (Series2 or later)
2. A Python interpreter
3. FFmpeg
4. The pyTivo script
5. The Python Imaging Library -- if you plan on using the photo plugin.

[phox_mulder]

I know there are developers that have created streamers and other apps to do this. I really would like to know why TiVoDesktop is not working the way it is stated to work.

Even though I am a geek, I would really rather not have to mess with:

You really don't have to mess with anyhing.
Everything you need is included in the PyTiVo release.

Older versions needed some tweeking done to the config file to get it to work in very basic mode.
Newer versions don't.


phox

[W Auggie H]

Well I took your advice and gave Python and pyTivo a try. I hate to admit that I could not get pyTiVo to install. I installed the latest version of Python but the pyTivo installer couldn't see it. I was hoping this would work but I just don't have time to hunt down the answers. I got dizzy trying to find a concise windows step-by-step. If I am not looking the right place please let me know.

[W Auggie H]

I think Apple spoiled me because they made it way to easy to install apps on my iPhone. :)

[Iluvatar]

Well I took your advice and gave Python and pyTivo a try. I hate to admit that I could not get pyTiVo to install. I installed the latest version of Python but the pyTivo installer couldn't see it. I was hoping this would work but I just don't have time to hunt down the answers. I got dizzy trying to find a concise windows step-by-step. If I am not looking the right place please let me know.

You may have used an older version. That one is notorious for giving new users issues with the latest Python version.

Try this version http://pytivo.krkeegan.com/download.php?id=114&sid=bba29c26ecfcd0759fed26be4760baca . It is a Windows installer version of wgw's Pytivo build. It recognizes Python 2.6 just fine.

[W Auggie H]

I tried that one and I still get a message saying that Python is not installed. After I install Python, do I need to run anything for the install to see it? Is the install just checking a path?

[CuriousMark]

I tried that one and I still get a message saying that Python is not installed. After I install Python, do I need to run anything for the install to see it? Is the install just checking a path?

Depending on which method you chose to install Python, you may need to follow the directions on the python installation site for adding environment variables to your system.

[cr33p]

I think I had a similar problem with my latest install of Pytivo as well, supposed to run off the latest python, however after atleast an hour of pulling my hair out I was able to check the pytivo.py file and noticed it was targetting python25 and not python26, so it wasnt recognizing that python was even installed, I just swapped the 5 for a 6 and bingo it launches just fine.

Check the pytivo.bat file line 37 make sure it says python26
then check the pytivoservice.ini file line 5 make sure its python26 as well

Hope that helps.

PM me if you need more help, I can send ya a copy of my config file as well

[MasterCephus]

Are you using Vista?

If so, you need to follow these directions when installing python on a Vista box:

Vista Note

Administrators installing Python for all users on Windows Vista either need to be logged in as Administrator, or use the runas command, as in:

runas /user:Administrator "msiexec /i <path>\<file>.msi"

NOTE: You have to use the runas command if you aren't LOGGED in as Administrator...

This allows everyone to see the installation. I think what happens is that pyTivo is looking for a specific place in the registry to find the python installation and if you don't do the above, it will not place the entries in the proper place.

I had the same problem and once I did this, it worked fine.

BTW, this is just one reason why I really do not like Vista :)

[Rdian06]

Are you using Vista?

If so, you need to follow these directions when installing python on a Vista box:

NOTE: You have to use the runas command if you aren't LOGGED in as Administrator...

This allows everyone to see the installation. I think what happens is that pyTivo is looking for a specific place in the registry to find the python installation and if you don't do the above, it will not place the entries in the proper place.

I had the same problem and once I did this, it worked fine.

BTW, this is just one reason why I really do not like Vista :)

Actually, I think krkeegan fixed that. His Windows installer skeleton I adapted for Python 2.6 compatibility had both HKLM (per machine install) and HKCU (per user install) registry checks to locate the python executable.

W Auggie H problem appears to be different. He's running Vista on an AMD64 cpu and the AMD64 version of Python 2.6 which appears to use the same registry entry as Python 2.6 32bit. I offered some suggestions over on the pyTivo forum, but he hasn't answered back so I assume he figured it out.