[DISCUSSION] Patch WMC to run on Windows 10 final & possible alternatives

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by ricktendo64, May 8, 2015.

  1. crash2009

    crash2009 MDL Expert

    Dec 8, 2015
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    #8441 crash2009, Nov 6, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2017
    If you start reading around Oct 15, there are a few things suggested, that you could try. Maxifer or Actual Multiple Monitors, are 2 of them.
     
  2. StefanR

    StefanR MDL Novice

    Sep 6, 2015
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    Hi, I had a similar problem. I installed the V12 version and I noticed that I could not see the compatability tab on eshell.exe. My initial workaround was to copy ehshell.exe (I called the copy ehshell2.exe) and on this copy I could view the compatability tab, disable full screen optimisation, and then use this new copy to launch Media Center - it seemed to work OK.

    It took me quite a while to figure out that there must be something flagging the original ehshell.exe file as some form of protected system file. It then occured to me that it must have something to do with DISM. I proved this by uninstalling V12 and then installing 8.8.1 - suddenly I could access the compatability tab. However, this still froze, as if there were still remnants of the DISM install present (even though I used both the V12 and the 8.8.1 uninstaller).

    Fortunately, I had created a system restore point after the 1709 update but before installing WMC. I rolled back to the restore point, installed 8.8.1 and then set the compatibility - everything was OK.

    I hope this helps. I know you said you installed 8.8.1, but did you try to install V12 first?
     
  3. technodevotee

    technodevotee MDL Senior Member

    Sep 18, 2015
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    That is odd because I uninstalled v12 and installed v8.8.1 when upgrading and I don't have the compatibility tab.
     
  4. crash2009

    crash2009 MDL Expert

    Dec 8, 2015
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    #8444 crash2009, Nov 7, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2017
    On my Win10 Pro N, there are 2 ehshell's.

    This one has the Compatibility Tab...

    "C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-ehome-ehshell_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.16384_none_2a5eca38cdd677e8\ehshell.exe"

    This one does not have the Compatibility Tab...


    "C:\Windows\ehome\ehshell.exe"



    Ehshell003.jpg
     
  5. StefanR

    StefanR MDL Novice

    Sep 6, 2015
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    I get exactly the same if I install v12 - the copies in the WinSXS directory are (I think) part of the DISM install process.

    If I uninstall v12 (using the V12 uninstaller, followed by the v8.8.1 uninstaller), the entries in the WinSXS directory remain.

    If I install v8.8.1 it only installs a copy in the Windows\ehome directory, and this has the compatibility tab. I don't think there is any difference in the file installed, or the permissions, but I think it is something else that when you install via DISM, Windows views the ehshell.exe as a system file and will not display the compatibility tab.
     
  6. technodevotee

    technodevotee MDL Senior Member

    Sep 18, 2015
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    #8446 technodevotee, Nov 7, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2017
    I believe that the sxs folders are part of the side by side mechanism which allows the system to have multiple versions of the same software installed in such way that they don't conflict with each other. Office 2013 and Office 2016 for example.

    I don't understand the dism mechanism used by V12 or the implications of it but clearly it is different to how V8.8.1 works - which xcopies everything into the folders and adds the registry and schedule entries.

    I must be very lucky though because despite having set a 21 day defer on upgrades one of my PCs updated to 1709 this afternoon wiping out Media Center in the process!

    I restarted it and ran the V12 installer, imported the registry entries and fired it up.

    So far, I can't see any difference at all as far as Media Center is concerned.

    I just hope I'm as lucky with my Living Room PC.
     
  7. crash2009

    crash2009 MDL Expert

    Dec 8, 2015
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    I believe that there is NO Compatibility Tab on the ehshell within C:\Windows\Ehome

    I get the same results with Win10 Pro N 1607 14393 with WMC v8.8.1

    and


    Win10 10586 with WMC v12

    If you guys need to adjust the Compatibility settings.....try adjusting the Tab in the sxs folder

    If you dont know which version of ehshell you have.....check the date in ehshell properties, and compare the date with the WMC version's info on page 1 of this thread
     
  8. Zogg44

    Zogg44 MDL Novice

    Nov 6, 2017
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    Hello, my Win7 system recently died so I got a 7th gen NUC and installed Win 10 on it using the original DVD (build 10240) from 2015. I then installed the V8.8.1 pack from the first post. I'm using an HDHomerun Prime so I installed the driver from 2015 to get the HDHR service installed, ran the DCA app, and WMC found the tuners okay. I'm using a CableCARD in my Prime.

    But, when I try to watch a DRM channel I get "System Files Modified: Critical Windows Media Center files that are required for video playback have been replaced... use System Restore."

    Since I'm trying to use CableCARD, should I be installing an earlier version of the WMC pack? Also, I can't install the MPEG2 decoder from the MS store (it says I need a device with more features) so I'm thinking I have a software mismatch somehow.

    Should I update to the Win 10 1511 build or install an earlier WMC version? Although looking at MSDN the 1511 version was updated Apr 2016 so that might have disabled CableCARD support?
     
  9. crash2009

    crash2009 MDL Expert

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    #8449 crash2009, Nov 8, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2017
    Look in my Signature.....You might need LAV. I think you all ready ran DCA and PlayReady

    Also read the Readme and WorkAround files in your WMC install Package....I think System Files Modified is mentioned there.
     
  10. Bigal

    Bigal MDL Member

    Mar 4, 2011
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    Just an observation that has been overlooked.
    The first post is not view-able to non members.
    "You need to login to view this posts content."
    Could this be changed.
    So the above is not viewable
     
  11. crash2009

    crash2009 MDL Expert

    Dec 8, 2015
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    Yeah but, did you see that moon tonight?
     
  12. tdulcet

    tdulcet MDL Novice

    Aug 9, 2015
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  13. lachape_one

    lachape_one MDL Novice

    May 17, 2016
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  14. Singingwolf

    Singingwolf MDL Novice

    Oct 9, 2017
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  15. Singingwolf

    Singingwolf MDL Novice

    Oct 9, 2017
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    OK that will be my final option - will try a clean image first. Thanks
     
  16. StefanR

    StefanR MDL Novice

    Sep 6, 2015
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    Possibly. On one of my machines, I went back to the restore point I created after updating to 1709 but before installing WMC. I then used the 8.8.1 uninstaller, just to make sure everything was clean, rebooted and then ran the 8.8.1 installer. After that I could change the compatibility options on ehshell.exe and after disabling full screen optimisation the problems of running WMC in full screen mode were gone.

    On a second machine, which did not have a restore point created, I rolled back the 1709 update, which put the machine back at 1703, reapplied the 1709 update and then used the 8.8.1 uninstaller / installer to set up WMC. This also worked OK for me.
     
  17. lachape_one

    lachape_one MDL Novice

    May 17, 2016
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    On my desktop PC Fall Creators Update, Windows Media Center (8.8.1) works like a charm, with display res 2560x1080, full screen mode OK, recorded TV OK, live TV OK (French TNT), MKV OK
    BUT the issue seems ton happen only with some laptop or tablet pc (SP4...) users with very high resolution
     
  18. technodevotee

    technodevotee MDL Senior Member

    Sep 18, 2015
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    #8459 technodevotee, Nov 10, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2017
    @lachape_one

    Does the recording indicator in the notification area come on and stay on when recording for you?

    Two of my PCs are now running MC on FCU (one with V12 and one with V8.8.1) and they both work fine except that the recording indicator sometimes doesn't come on and if it does, it only stays on for a short time.

    I was hoping that I wouldn't need to use the work around recently provided by member @StefanR as all of my PCs did that for a while after the last upgrade and magically fixed themselves.
     
  19. lachape_one

    lachape_one MDL Novice

    May 17, 2016
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    Nope unfortunatelly. But it doesn't bother me too much because my main media center PC to record tv shows is still on Windows 7

    I Think it is. Killing Windows Media Center seems to be their principal target now, its "infinitesimal" users seems to disturb them so much, this is getting ridiculous
    If T-S or another dev can't help us, I think this time we are near of the end of the adventure on Windows 10, I hope not !!!!