PowerDVD8 and BluRay not working

[ChickenSoup]

I am running at 2217a and haven't had a problem. My firefly works with the same configuration. I did find I had to run the app identifier again to get the new id. Although, this could have been due to all the major reinstalls that I had to do to get PowerDVD working for me.
I have noticed this oddness that I have posted in another thread:
PowerDVD Launches when None set to launch on DVD button

[Junior]

I did have to run app identifier again to change the ATL code but the odd thing is that even the keyboard does not control powerdvd when playing a Blu-Ray disc. Only the mouse will work. What's weird is that I have some control until a movie starts.

For example: I just bought The Dark Knight and I can open, play, pause, switch from a window to full screen and back to a window while the copy warnings and ratings scenes play before the movie starts. As soon as the actual movie starts playing I lose control.

I read somewhere on the AVS forums that other people had the same experience with the keyboard not responding. I guess I'll have to try re-installing powerdvd to see if that fixes things.

[ChickenSoup]

Well, I assume that since the Firefly is working that I have keyboard control as I never really do use the keyboard. Beyond that, since I got your configs for PDVD it has worked great. Thanks for putting those together and posting them!


Also, I went from PDVD 8 build 2021 to build 2217a. Shouldn't have any effect, but you never know with this PDVD software.

And for your information, this is my system specs if it helps to troubleshoot.

Athlon 4850e
780G Mobo
Radeon HD 4650 (Catalyst 8.11 driver - 8.12 has issues with playback on some movies, and 8.11 does too but is workable)
Lite-On DH4O1S Blu-ray

[richt]

I scrapped BMB and started using EventGhost. It responds faster and is fully configurable once you figure it out. Got PowerDVD8 Ultra working quickly.

[Junior]

I never use the keyboard either. The firefly remote is just mapping keyboard commands to buttons on the remote so, if the keyboard commands don't work neither will the firefly remote.

I put in a support ticket with cyberlink and they gave me a list of things to do to remove powerdvd and re-install it that included running the microsoft cleanup tool, removing a bunch of registry entries and deleting folders. I re-installed version 2021 as they instructed and everything was working good. I then upgraded to ver. 2217a as instructed and guess what, no dice, things didn't work again.

I'm going to stay with 2021 for now since I don't really need the 1080/24p or intel G45 improvements that 2217a supports anyway.

BTW, I'm using a Radeon HD 4670 w/8.12 drivers and haven't noticed any trouble.

[ChickenSoup]

That sounds like the same list of things they had me do, which at the end of the day ended up being more of a manual uninstall and then a reinstall from the steps they gave me. I think they still have some work with PowerDVD 8 and blu-ray playback.

Also, are you Vista or XP? I am running Win XP SP2.

[Junior]

I've been running Vista home basic on my HTPC since it came out and it's been pretty solid for me.

[oceanborn]

The problem I have is this, when I install it initially (not sure which build it is) the application asks me to upgrade to the latest patch otherwise Blu-ray disks don't play AT ALL

When I do go to their website and patch the application to build 2705, it no longer responds, so I launch app identifier again to see what's up...so it gives me the classname correctly
but the "file name" field is totally empty! and I guess this is the reason why firefly doens't work...
anyone have any ideas on why?

[oceanborn]

Originally Posted by ChickenSoup

Sweet! I found a solution to my final problem. If I put the path to the PowerDVD executable into a batch file, and bind the batch file to the button, then focus is put in PowerDVD and the Firefly functions work as the should.

I'm having the same problem as u...pardon the noob here, but can you describe your steps in detail so I can correct my problem as well...not sure exactly how u did it.....thnaks in advance for your help

[ChickenSoup]

Originally Posted by oceanborn

I'm having the same problem as u...pardon the noob here, but can you describe your steps in detail so I can correct my problem as well...not sure exactly how u did it.....thnaks in advance for your help

Looks like you posted a while ago but, i thought I would reply anyways. I had actually scrapped the batch file idea after I found I needed to do more than just start powerdvd maximized. It turned out that I needed to reboot every time I wanted to watch a Blu-ray movie. Instead I found that if I adjust my video hardware acceleration down and then up a notch, I could accomplish the same as a reboot. So, I turned to VBScript and the wounderful power of Sendkeys. This is however beyond the topic here... All you need is the part of the VBScript that launches PowerDVD.

Steps:
1. Make sure your system is set to view file extions.
2. Create a new text file and rename it to StartPowerDVD.vbs
3. Edit the vbs file in notepad and add the following lines:

'Program: StartPowerDVD.vbs
'Purpose: Start PowerDVD maximized
'Note: in VBScript, a apostrophy (') will comment out a line.
 
Const MAXIMIZE_WINDOW = 3
Const TO_ORIGINAL_SIZE = 1
 
 
'Start Program (PowerDVD) Maximized.  Make sure the path is correct!
WshShell.Run Chr(34) & "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD8\PowerDVD8.exe" & Chr(34), MAXIMIZE_WINDOW

I have also attached the script. make sure the path goes to the PowerDVD8.exe file.

Now we bind the vbs to the Video Button:
1. Browse to c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SnapStream\Firefly\Profiles
2. Open Global.xml
3. Find the Section: <Actions Button="Video" Description="Beyond Video">
4. Change the next line so the "Program=" points to the vbscript file.
5. Restart the Firefly services.

You should be in business!


Also, if you notice in the attached file, there is some code refurring to a program called "mouseclick.exe" I added this to move the mouse pointer off to the lower right corner of the screen so I never see it pop up during movies. I you are interested in this, follow the link below to download it.

Link to MouseClick installer

Good Luck! Sorry i didn't see your post sooner.

[duldogri]

Originally Posted by oceanborn

I'm having the same problem as u...pardon the noob here, but can you describe your steps in detail so I can correct my problem as well...not sure exactly how u did it.....thnaks in advance for your help

Glad to hear you're using this: I plan to keep it much more aggressively up-to-date than has been the case in the past, but don't hesitate to let me know if you find errors or need clarifications.