No need for MyDVD, Nero works fine.

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interesting.

I'm gwanna hafta try that.

Thanks.

 

At first I thought the Driver-CleanTool and RegistryChecker
solved my problem, but then I ran into more videos that
would not load properly into NeroVision Express. Now I
believe those tools made no difference. Here's what I've
done:

I created a System Restore point before doing anything.
I then ran the Driver-CleanTool. It wanted to remove:

CDRAL.DLL
CDRALW2K.SYS
Service: CDR4_XP
Service: CDRALW2K

I left all items checked and selected "Clean". I then
ran the RegistryChecker, which reported no problems. Then
I rebooted.

Files that wouldn't load into Nero before doing all this
still wouldn't load.

However, in some cases, if I delete the file and transfer it
from my TiVo again, using the TiVo Desktop, the new copy
of the same recording would load correctly.

If I got back to the saved System Restore point, everything that
worked after running the tools continues to work. Everything
that failed even after running the tools continues to fail.

I've now done this several times. In some cases, files that
don't load correctly, when transferred again, will load correctly.

In all cases, the file will play properly in Windows Media Player 10.

Note that the TiVo Desktop does something to the file each time it
transfers it such that the file is different every time. I believe
this is due to the Digital Rights Management applied to the file.

It seems to me that Nero might have a data-dependent bug that causes
it to fail on some versions of the same data.

Here's something else I stumbled on...

I transferred 9 files from my TiVo. As each file started transferring,
but before it had completed, I added it to a Nero project. When all
files were done, they had *all* been correctly added to the project.

If I now start another project and load all the same files, 3 of them
don't load properly.

Again, it seems like there's a data-dependent problem that Nero
isn't running into when it loads only the partial file, but that
causes problems when the full file is loaded.

I seem to have a reliable workaround - loading the file as it's
transferring. If it works for anyone else, let me know. I'm going
to report all of this to Nero Support.

 

Yeah, I just tried the "load file while it's transfering" hack on a troublesome file, and it worked great.

Definitely plays like a Nero problem.

But whoever thought that up, thanks for the workaround.

 

As I was beginning to follow the "re-xfer .tivo files directly into nero" trick, I recalled wondering [while I was screwing around with codecs and xfers] last week if maybe the tivo desktop being open when adding the file to nero was a required combination, but spaced it out enduring one of the interminable “wait states”. I have tivo desktop/server/beacon set to NOT run when Windoze starts.
I now have a procedure that has "fixed" three .tivo shows that would repeatedly open garbled and one that I had already opened and burned!
---To clarify, no need to re-transfer, this is for .tivos that are already on your computer---.
As stated in previous posts: WinXP SP2, WMP 9, Cole2K codec pack for Ligos Indio 5.2, Nero 6.6.0.6, NVE 3.0.1.27, TTG 7.1a.

Regardless of weather[sp?] the .tivo opened clean previously, if you're faced with garbled playback in NVE3 try this.

Close NVE3, not necessary to remove the [garbled} project, don't save project when prompted.

It doesn't seem to matter if you do A or B first but do A and B before 3!!!

A. Delete the files in C:\Documents and Settings\<your user-name>\Application Data\Ahead\NeroVision\NVFACache\ (I assume you have already set explorer to show all files and folders [and such], system and hidden?).

B. Open tivo desktop.

3. Open NVE3, click Make Movie and Wallah!!! If you didn't remove your project you'll be prompted for your password and you can move on to the next time consuming step.
If you removed the project or are starting a new one click browse for media> "browse and add project" > don't forget to set "all file types"> enter password ... and marvel at how much faster it is to load a .tivo that won't turn out garbled!?!?

I’ll post again if this process begins to fail and will be happy to hear of your successes.

PS...Several people have inferred that they had trans-coding or file saving times of mere minutes? Is that possible? It seems every time I edit or save to DVD it takes a 1 hour movie ~1.5hrs. Am I doing something wrong/the hard way? I have a 3Ghz P4 with 1M of cache and a gig of ram, so it ain't for lack of muscle. At this rate I'm not sure I have enough life left to archive all my stuff, 'course if I run out I suppose the archival is moot...

Happy Trails!

 

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Do you actually have to transfer the .tivo file directly to the computer you intend to edit it on? I transferred a 1gb show from my tivo to my Mac and then transferred the file to a WinXP machine. When I try to open the file on the WinXP machine I get the following error.

I have checked to make sure that my MAK is set correctly. It is possible that the file became corrupted in one of the two transfers I guess. Anyone else seen this error?

Also, this is the first file I have worked with. I will try another tonight and see if I get the same result.

 

I'm pretty sure that the problem is having the Mac in the loop. As long as it's in the TTG/.tivo format it's not consumable on the Mac

 

I was thinking the same thing, but I dont know why it would matter. I mean, the file was transfered to the mac and then off of it, I dont see how it could be the problem.

Thanks for the reply, i'm going to try a direct transfer from the tivo to the WinXP PC tonight.

 

Just tried this on a garbled one, but I'm afraid it made no difference for me :-(

Even tried having the file open and playing in WMP, but no dice.

Anyone else egot this procedure to work for them?

 

So far, I've only had the "add to NVE while the Desktop's still downloading it" technique work.

1) Start the transfer with Tivo Desktop
2) Immediately head into NVE3, add the file
3) Wait for the download to complete
4) At this point, the video was easily playable, but only the first couple minutes worth (however many had transfered by the end of step 2)
5) Exit and restart NVE3 without removing the program. Drag and drop from the projects window to the video timeline. I played a bunch from various points along the timeline - looked good.
6) Burn

 

Blanking out that folder totally worked for me.

All the projects now work like a champ...

You basically have to bring EVERYTHING in, delete the folder.

Enter the password.

Go back into Express.. and POOF it works..

(Did you see the new POOF?)

 

It's hard to imagine we could be seeing such inconsistent results... It's as though this whole process isn't quite ready for prime time! ''

I did have a particularly stubborn file I was dealing with earlier, but after several garbled loads in NVE3 what finally worked was:

Not removing the file from the "my media files" window, close NVE3, don't save.
Close Tivo desktop then proceeded with with steps A, B, and 3.

Anything to be gained by going over our respective setups? There's got to be just some little thing that's preventing yours from acting like mine.
Other than long term testing, I feel I can get it to fail consistently and then correct it by doing A>B>3. Seven failed files seven successes, I think I've got a valid work-around...for me

I'll keep an eye on this thread in-case I can add anything to the discussion.

CAUTION: All rules are subject to change with out notice...you've been warned.

 

I tried this too. It didn't work for me.

 

This really does seem like it's some "whatever happens to be laying around in a random bit of memory" bug in NVE.

Clearing the cache forces it to re-analyze the file. So does downloading a new copy. Seems like the common thread is finding new and exciting ways to tell NVE "You got it wrong; try again."

 

Exactly.

Hopefully everyone who is having this problem is reporting it to Nero, so they'll
understand it's not just me (or you) and will be more likely to look into this and
hopefully fix it. That's techsupport@nero.com.

 

Yeah, I reported it.

Not that I've heard back from them.

 

First, since I bought & paid for Nero with my DVD burner, I thought I'd try it before buying Sonic MyDVD (expensive!!), and I have been reading and re-reading the forums while I waited and waited and waited for TTGO. (I signed up on Jan 6th(?), and it showed up Sat Feb 5.

I already have a DVD recorder that I use when TiVo is scheduled to record something, and a second program is on at the same time. And I use it to archive programs to watch on my other TV, where I have no TiVo.

I am very disappointed with the whole process, so far.
A 1 hour program took 1 hour & 3 minutes to transfer through a wired Ethernet connection to my PC.

Nero took 3+ hours to process the file.
My DVD burner would take 15 minutes or so to burn the file (which I haven't done yet, since it was really late last night when NVE finished with the conversion).

I'm not even sure right now where I stand in the DVD creation process.
I have an MPEG file of the show, but it's not in the usual type of style/format as the DVD files are set up (i.e. VOB files).

So, I may not be done with file conversions. Right now, the tally stands at about 4 1/2 hours to process & burn the file, IF the file is ready to burn to DVD now.

I can do a TiVo to DVD recorder burn in real-time + 5 minutes (programming & setup of the two units). The only disadvantage of this route is both units are busy for that time. TTGO leaves TiVo free to play **and** record more stuff. But using TTGO ties up my PC forever. (2.5 Ghz P4, with 768Mb RAM, tons of disk space.)

So, I am not sure I'll use TTGO if this is the best I can manage, speed-wise.
Couple of conclusions (tentative so far):
I love TiVo (no doubt at all on this).
TiVo blew it on TiVoToGo. The priority list & rollout was/is a disaster.
The file formatting/encoding is a nightmare.
Trying to force users to buy Sonic's product is just wrong.
Dropping a file in a weird format from the transfer is unfortunate, as it makes life difficult.
It's a good thing they're not charging extra for the service.
I won't be buying Sonic. I don't like what I hear on these forums about Sonic being unreliable. Plus it's too expensive.
I'm glad I didn't rush out and buy new versions of software or hardware to use this, because it's been a disappointment.

I appreciate all the help, effort and explanations everyone here has made in figuring this whole thing out. I'll keep fiddling with the product, and hopefully either Tivo or some really smart person will find a SIMPLER, QUICKER and LEGAL way to get the transferred files ready to burn.

I don't know why TiVo went this route, other than trying to prevent mass-lawsuits from the MPAA, TV studios & essentially everybody in the TV broadcast business. The Fair Use concepts & court rulings should entitle us to tape/record stuff for our own non-profit use. It should have been easier than this.

But for me, I'm going back to transferring TiVo recordings to my DVD recorder.

Jason
P.S. Anybody has a SIMPLER way that stays within the spirit of the DCMA, you can e-mail me at jpn2579@houston.rr.com

 

I can help you on the Quicker & Simpler method. Quicker as in I can take a 1 hour long .TiVo file, edit out the commercials, and be burned to DVD in less than a half hour. Now, is my method legal? According to TiVo, probably not. But trust me, it's not that i do it this way so i can distribute/share my .TiVo files with everyone all over the internet. I do it this way because my time is valuable to me, and i want a great quality end result.

 

Really - quicker AND simpler? I would love quicker, but everything I've read so far seems to require more computer knowledge than I have.

 

Yes I would love to hear what you do to get this done. I use a probably not legal method to get mpeg files, but I still havent found a decent app to edit the video. Feel free to PM me.

 

I downloaded a trial of NVE3. At first playback was garbled even during the preview. I don't know if I was doing it wrong by choosing "Make DVD" right away, instead of "Make Movie" first. So I followed the instructions here (erase cache, make movie, etc.) and that worked. One show burned to DVD and currently watching it. So far, so good. Another show played okay during the preview so I assume that will be good on DVD, too.

One step I found that you have to do is that the show you want to burn MUST BE listed in My Media Files. If it's garbled, then you follow the instructions already mentioned. You don't need to delete or remove the show from My Media Files. I guess this allows NVE3 to re-examine the file and make it useable. But the show HAS TO BE in My Media Files.

The only problem I have is how hard it is to work with the file. Editing and removing commercials was a pain. The load time to get to another point in the timeline was the most annoying. Is this how it's going to be? Will converting the .tivo file to .mpg or .avi first before editing be easier and quicker? I'm so used to Adobe Premiere with its smooth navigation and scrolling through the timeline.

Thanks