Windows Media Player hangs on TiVo recordings

amjones · 08-06-2012, 06:59 AM

I used to be able to play my Tivo recordings using WMP, now it just hangs and must be killed.

Any suggestions on how to debug this?

Windows 7 64 bit
WMP 12 (the latest)

-Alan

jcthorne · 08-06-2012, 11:47 AM

Decrypt and save the recordings in .mpg format rather than .tivo Then just about any player on any computer will play them.

amjones · 08-06-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcthorne

Decrypt and save the recordings in .mpg format rather than .tivo Then just about any player on any computer will play them.

Thanks, how do I decrypt it? I tried that tivodecode program and could not get it to work (it would just hang).

wmcbrine · 08-06-2012, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amjones

Thanks, how do I decrypt it? I tried that tivodecode program and could not get it to work (it would just hang).

There's no visible output after the title banner, in normal operation, and it can take several minutes to run. Check the disk for a large and growing file before you decide that tivodecode isn't working.

amjones · 08-07-2012, 09:12 AM

Thanks, I'll try again when I get home. Windows was popping up the dialog "tivodecode appears to no longer be working", and I thought I checked task manager, didn't see tivodecode using CPU. But I'll try again.

jcthorne · 08-08-2012, 07:01 AM

I prefer to use tivodecode from inside kmttg. Makes the whole download, convert etc much easier.

lrhorer · 08-08-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcthorne

I prefer to use tivodecode from inside kmttg. Makes the whole download, convert etc much easier.

+1

I also run comskip and output to .prj file for later processing using VideoRedo.

amjones · 08-10-2012, 08:59 AM

OK, I downloaded kttmg, looks like a great program. When I try to decode I get:

>> DECRYPTING C:\Users\Alan\Documents\My TiVo Recordings\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).TiVo ...
C:\kmttg\tivodecode\tivodecode.exe --mak MAK --no-verify --out "C:\kmttg\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).mpg" "C:\Users\Alan\Documents\My TiVo Recordings\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).TiVo"
tivodecode failed (exit code: 10 ) - check command: C:\kmttg\tivodecode\tivodecode.exe --mak MAK --no-verify --out "C:\kmttg\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).mpg" "C:\Users\Alan\Documents\My TiVo Recordings\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).TiVo"
TiVo Private Data : Unmatched Stream ID: No error
ts_handle_tivo_private_data failed: No error
processing frame: No error
Encryption by QUALCOMM

moyekj · 08-10-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amjones

OK, I downloaded kttmg, looks like a great program. When I try to decode I get:

>> DECRYPTING C:\Users\Alan\Documents\My TiVo Recordings\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).TiVo ...
C:\kmttg\tivodecode\tivodecode.exe --mak MAK --no-verify --out "C:\kmttg\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).mpg" "C:\Users\Alan\Documents\My TiVo Recordings\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).TiVo"
tivodecode failed (exit code: 10 ) - check command: C:\kmttg\tivodecode\tivodecode.exe --mak MAK --no-verify --out "C:\kmttg\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).mpg" "C:\Users\Alan\Documents\My TiVo Recordings\UFC Ultimate Insider (Recorded Jul 31, 2012, FUEL).TiVo"
TiVo Private Data : Unmatched Stream ID: No error
ts_handle_tivo_private_data failed: No error
processing frame: No error
Encryption by QUALCOMM

That's because you have Fast Transfers enabled in TiVo Desktop which downloads TS .TiVo files which tivodecode can't handle. Re-download again with kmttg and then the decrypt will work.

amjones · 08-10-2012, 10:44 AM

Great, thanks, I'll try that.

I have some downloads which are no longer on the TiVo -- do I have any options for decoding these fast transfers?

moyekj · 08-10-2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amjones

Great, thanks, I'll try that.

I have some downloads which are no longer on the TiVo -- do I have any options for decoding these fast transfers?

Yes using VideoRedo. If you don't have that software you can download and register a fully functional and free trial version which can decrypt those TS .TiVo files. If you decide to buy that software kmttg has option to use it for decrypting .TiVo files instead of tivodecode so that fast transfers can still be used.

amjones · 08-10-2012, 03:44 PM

OK, I was able to convert a Tivo recording using kttmg.

But WMP still hangs. I don't recall the last time it worked but it was months ago.

Suggestions?

moyekj · 08-10-2012, 04:03 PM

Once decrypted there are many other media players that can handle playback. I would suggest using VideoLan VLC for example which has its own self-contained codecs so you don't have to mess with Windows codec nonsense (WMP relies on several Windows codecs and you probably have something messed up there).

amjones · 08-14-2012, 05:23 PM

Thanks again, VideoLan VLC worked great for playback.

jcthorne · 08-22-2012, 06:56 AM

I think WMP ships in a corrupt state.

waynomo · 09-20-2012, 09:28 AM

Just wanted to chime in here that I am having the same problem. WMP used to work fine. (A month or two ago.) Tried to play a .tivo file yesterday and a MS error message window popped up.

I did uninstall the WMP updates, reupgraded, and reinstalled Windows Essential Codec (WEC) and still not working.

I do have kmttg installed so I can decode and play on VLC if I want. I just don't want to always decode.

FYI - I am able to play .tivo files with the version of Media Player Classic that was installed with WEC.

If you install WEC beware of the messages when you install. It wants to install a bunch of hideous stuff. The messages are a bit tricky. It looks like the want you to accept the standard TOS messages you get with other software. i.e. if you decline it won't install. But that is not the case. Decline the dreck.