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

Thanks, so it is stored in mcepg3-0.db, being a developer i'll look how to acces it, probably sqlite or sqlserver database, if Kevin has more info it would be blad to hear.

 

If you don't want to use EPG123 and its restore feature as @acer-5100 suggested, the best approach for advanced scenarios is probably to do it programmatically, using the public WMC .NET APIs. I haven't tested it, but should be something like this:

Code:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>net48</TargetFramework>
    <LangVersion>11</LangVersion>
    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
    <RuntimeIdentifier>win7-x64</RuntimeIdentifier>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <PropertyGroup>
    <AssemblySearchPaths>$(AssemblySearchPaths);$(SystemRoot)\ehome</AssemblySearchPaths>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="BDATunePIA" />
    <Reference Include="mcepg" />
    <Reference Include="mcstore" />
  </ItemGroup>

</Project>

Code:

using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide;
using Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store;

using var algorithm = SHA256.Create();
using var store = ObjectStore.Open(providerName: "Anonymous!User", password: Convert.ToBase64String(
    algorithm.ComputeHash(Encoding.Unicode.GetBytes(ObjectStore.GetClientId(createIfMissing: true)))));

using var channels = new MergedChannels(store);
using var lineups = new FavoriteLineups(store);

var lineup = lineups.First(lineup =>
    lineup.IsAutoGenerated &&
    lineup.IsMostViewedLineup &&
    lineup.BaseLineup is not null &&
    lineup.BaseLineup.Name.Contains("DefaultLineup"));

lineup.AddChannel(/* the channel you want to add, taken from the "channels" collection */);
lineup.Update();

That said, why not creating a custom favorite lineup directly from WMC (Settings -> TV -> Guide -> Edit Favorite Lineups)? You can give it the name you want and easily select the channels that will be attached to that collection.

 

Actually a great idea, now why didn't i think of that myself
I have channels in categories per country, Belgium, UK, Holland but most of the time i use 'most used', but indeed i can create another one that contains those channels too.

 

I though you were aware of that, but i thought you would prefer the automated version.

Maybe I'm biased because in start menu I find way more useful the frequently access list than sticking links manually...

P.S. perhaps, funnily enough, I have a close friend which is definitely a delphi wizard, and has spent 3/4 decades coding in Pascal/Delphi &C. Now he is forced to work with .net because a new client, and he isn't the happiest person in the world.

I guess it's your turn

 

Nah i'll keep using Delphi until i retire and beyond, which is in 2026 already.

 

You guys are lucky: we only have ~30 terrestrial channels here, so no need for favorite lineups at all with so few channels

(on a more serious note, .NET has changed quite a lot since it was open-sourced by MSFT. It's really a great platform to work with in 2023)

 

I'm used to keep the list small from NPVR and or DVBlink (which is way easier than from WMC itself), then, with the latest H265 development, I have configured everything before your nice tool, so adding every channel was a lot of work so I further reduced the list to the channels I *really* watch, so over my 350 channels I selected about 40 of them.

Aside the normal change of habits that are usually unpleasant especially for non teenagers, he don't blame the environment/language per se, he blames more inconsistencies in documentation, and things that are supposed to work but actually aren't, because small quirks that long time .net coders learned over the years, and are used to, while he has to learn them quickly and all at once, to go ahead in his project

Just my (second hand) 2 cents.

 

Yeah, every platform has it own learning curve but MSFT has been investing a lot of time in the docs lately and many of the pitfalls you describe have been eliminated or more clearly documented.

That said, we mentioned .NET, but if C#, F# or VB.NET are not your cup of tea and you're a PowerShell fan, using the MCE .NET APIs is not terribly complicated (which is not surprising since PS is based on .NET Framework or .NET Core for the most recent versions):

Code:

using module C:\Windows\ehome\mcepg.dll
using module C:\Windows\ehome\mcstore.dll

using namespace System.Security.Cryptography
using namespace System.Text
using namespace Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store
using namespace Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide

$algorithm = [SHA256]::Create()
try {
  try {
    $store = [ObjectStore]::Open("Anonymous!User", [Convert]::ToBase64String(
      $algorithm.ComputeHash([Encoding]::Unicode.GetBytes(
        [ObjectStore]::GetClientId($true)))))

    try {
      $lineups = [Lineups]::New($store)
     
      foreach ($lineup in $lineups) {
        Write-Output $lineup.Name
      }
    }
    finally {
      $lineups.Dispose()
    }
  }
  finally {
    $store.Dispose()
  }
}
finally {
  $algorithm.Dispose()
}

 

What about porting Windows 7 flavour to 8/2012?

 

Out of curiosity, what would be the point of doing that?

 

Because for example 8 Enterprise have some features that Pro with Media Center doesn't

 

Which features? You can always install enterprise and SKUwitch to WMC, or (never tried that combination personally) you should be able to SKUwitch to 7 Enterprise that is WMC enabled (I feel dumb but I discovered that only recently)

 

Does prowmc product policies will break some Enterprise features (such as sideloading Metro apps, Windows To Go, AppLocker, DirectAccess, BranchCache, Subsystem for Unix-based Applications, and etc that 8.0 Pro with Media Center lack)?

 

I'm afraid I never used a single one of this list, except win2go just for couriosity a decade ago.

As usual the best way to test your personal needs is to test personally

 

Also does Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials exist? As I see only Storage Server 2012 R2 Standard and Workgroup, so, which one is the best for WMC?

 

Yes I used it for years. It's practically a server standard with a different branding

WMC run more or less the same in any windows.

So choose the windows you like/need and then install WMC on top of it.

 

I think features like Bitlocker TO GO, Applock, Brandcache, Domain Creation, etc are exclusive to enterprise SKU. Plus, im not sure if novice user can have an understanding of using tools like skuswitch.
Wish there'a a patched WMC for Windows 8 RTM Enterprise and possibly for Vista Enterprise as well apart from the 8.1's one which can be used to deploy it in 8.1 Enterprise and in Newer Windows.

 

I see. But im sure someone out there, and possibly many companies rely on these features. so i believe its essential to have these features intact since it can benefit someone or many ppl.

 

Can you send me storage server 2012 r2 essentials in DMs? Because I can only find storage server 2012 r2 standard and workgroup (or one of them is the one which is essentials?)

 

Download the standard or the essentials. To do what you want to do either are both fine.

The download links @ tecus for WSSe images seem dead (looks like they sell just Linux NAS now)

wsse_atom_v2.2_en_20160104.iso

wsse_w5810_en_20151231.iso

Feel free to find them by yourself, if you have time to waste.