TV Guide NEVER EVER worked

[aab1]

I know there's a TV guide in Beyond TV, but in the years I've been using BTV accross all the different versions that were released and accross all the different computer's I've had, the BTV TV guide NEVER EVER worked not even once!

I can't be the only one with this problem, especially since I had it accross different computers and versions of BTV.

The exact problem is that I can get into the guide, but as soon as I press up/down/left/right (it may be only left/right that causes this also), the entire guide goes bananas and scrolls back and forth non stop making nothing readable as all there is is rapiudly scrolling text that won't stop moving.

There's not a single time this hasn't happened, why put a broken guide and leave it broken accross so many versions of the software? It's obvious there are MAJOR bugs in the guide screen.

[tscales]

Well, if you're the only person having this problem, then it appears that it must be something local to you. I've been a member here for years and have never heard (or experienced) this problem.

Have you tried a different computer? If you're still using the identical configuration, then it is likely a hardware problem.

Could you detail your specs so we could try to help? My guess is the keyboard, but that is a guess.

[mayhem70]

You probably should turn your key repeat rate down. It sounds like you have heavy finger and are sending a bunch of commands.

[haus]

I certainly appreciate your frustration, but for those of us who have been using BTV for many months or even years and have never seen/experienced/heard of this problem, how about posting your operating system, version of BTV, what remote you are using (Firefly mini? Firefly? Hauppauge with how many buttons? Girder? Anything else using the remote? Running media portal or any other system front ends?). To me it sounds like a remote issue. Have you tried other remotes? What happens when you use the keyboard arrows (I mean on a real hardwired PS/2 port keyboard) to navigate the guide screen? If it works there, then we might be closer to understanding the root of the problem.

There are almost always simple troubleshooting steps you can take to attempt to isolate the issue. There may in fact be some odd software glitch on your machine caused by (for example) other software you install on all your systems that have had this problem. But hardware failures are usually much easier to diagnose (exception: intermittently faulty motherboards/chipsets, etc.) because you can try alternatives without changing too many variables. I'd be trying keyboards and other remotes first to see if I could isolate the issue. If it occurs no matter what method you use to move around the guide, then something weird is going on with BTV. But at first blush, with only the limited info you provided in this post, it sounds like you're running another front-end like Media Portal and you've got weird USB/X10 drivers installed or Girder for your Firefly remote, and something in the guide screen is causing IR commands to be repeated infinitely.

Edit: oops, I assumed the OP was using a remote, when that was not specified. Well, if the OP is using a keyboard, what happens when a remote is used (essentially my question in reverse)?

[Rita]

What you're describing sounds like a stuck key. Are you sure you're pressing each key only once and not holding it down?

I've been using BTV since before it was called BTV, for over 4 years on countless PCs ranging from a 900Mhz AMD to a Core 2 Duo, using multiple keyboards, several ATI TV Wonder remotes, an X10 remote, a Firefly mini and a Gyro remote with no issues. Based on your description I would first suspect the keyboard or remote you're using. Have you tried different keyboards/remotes?

[mayhem70]

You might want to gander at his prior posts.

[aab1]

tscales: As I said I've had many different PCs over the years, all of them had this issue in beyond tv.

It is definately not the keyboard, I can 10000% garantee that, no need looking there (it's more than obvious this is NOT the problem).

mayhem70: From the symptoms it cannot be a keyboard problem.

haus: I have Windows XP SP 2, The latest beyond TV (4.7.1), I'm using a Thermatake Media Lab remote, but this occurs no matter which input device I use, which is why it cannot be the keyboard or remote, regardless of the input device I use, the program goes bananas when I press left or right, another fact that proves it is not the keyboard or remote is that this occurs ONLY on the guide page and NOWHERE else either in Beyond TV or Windows.

Rita: Again, it cannot be a keyboard or remote.

Thanks for the help, hopefully we can find the cause of this insane problem.

[aab1]

Update: Another fact that it's not the keyboard or remote is that causing this is that it repeatedly alternates between moving left and right, as soon as I press either left or right, on ANY input device, the BTV guide screen starts moving left and right non stop until I exit it.

By the way my screen res is 1280x1024 (that's an unusual 5:4 and not 4:3 or 16:9, could this be the cause?)

[tscales]

No, as I've used it on that resolution many times. Something is causing keyboard or mouse input. It's external to BTV. It has to be or you wouldn't be the only one reporting it.

I went through your old posts and several times you mentioned everything was perfect. As far as I can tell, this is the first time you've reported this.

Try this, assuming you have a second PC and a home lan.

Download BTVLink and install it on another PC. See if the guide works on that machine. If it does, it is a hardware problem on your server.

[myktek]

try disabling the remote software for your remote, also, what kind of keyboard do you have? does it have special keys on it? like logitech's have play, ff, rw, etc....disable software for it and see...

[jkirk]

try a wired keyboard (if this is not one already) if it works with a wired keyboard there might be interference.

[aab1]

Originally Posted by tscales

No, as I've used it on that resolution many times. Something is causing keyboard or mouse input. It's external to BTV. It has to be or you wouldn't be the only one reporting it.

I don't have another PC other than a Pocket PC.

Again as I said it's more than obvious it's NOT a keyboard or remote problem, I've posted enough evidence to 100% eliminate this possibility as the cause of the problem.

What it looks like is happening is that it's trying to move the guide left to get the right side of the selection to fit on screen, but then it cuts off the other side and then moves it back to get it to fit, then it cuts off the other side again and it does this endless back and forth dance. Again I'm pressing only either left or right yet the program does both, it also ONLY does it in THAT section of BTV, NOWHERE else.

[richt]

A couple random thoughts. The best thing to do is test different variables. I have seen each one of these things cause problems that they never should have.
If you are using a specilized keyboard driver, uninstall it.
Try a different keyboard.
If you are using a specialized mouse driver, uninstall it.
Try a different nouse.
Uninstall the remote and driver software.
Off hand question - What type of video card are you using?

Another idea - Take a look at what other programs are running that are not part of the default windows install and shut them down one by one to see if they are causing the issue. The thing to remember is that if no one else is reporting the problem, then it has to something different about your set up that no one else has seen. patience and testing each item one by one will narrow it down.

[tscales]

Originally Posted by aab1

I don't have another PC other than a Pocket PC.

Again as I said it's more than obvious it's NOT a keyboard or remote problem, I've posted enough evidence to 100% eliminate this possibility as the cause of the problem.

What it looks like is happening is that it's trying to move the guide left to get the right side of the selection to fit on screen, but then it cuts off the other side and then moves it back to get it to fit, then it cuts off the other side again and it does this endless back and forth dance. Again I'm pressing only either left or right yet the program does both, it also ONLY does it in THAT section of BTV, NOWHERE else.

Unfortunately, you may believe you've posted proof, but none of us see it. You're confident, but it still doesn't work, so entertain the idea that we could be right.

Uninstall the remote. Plug in a bone stock generic keyboard. Unplug the mouse. Get to the absolute minimum and see what happens.

I do NOT believe it is BTV or more than just YOU would be having the problem.

[mayhem70]

Originally Posted by aab1

tscales: As I said I've had many different PCs over the years, all of them had this issue in beyond tv.

It is definately not the keyboard, I can 10000% garantee that, no need looking there (it's more than obvious this is NOT the problem).

mayhem70: From the symptoms it cannot be a keyboard problem.

haus: I have Windows XP SP 2, The latest beyond TV (4.7.1), I'm using a Thermatake Media Lab remote, but this occurs no matter which input device I use, which is why it cannot be the keyboard or remote, regardless of the input device I use, the program goes bananas when I press left or right, another fact that proves it is not the keyboard or remote is that this occurs ONLY on the guide page and NOWHERE else either in Beyond TV or Windows.

Rita: Again, it cannot be a keyboard or remote.

Thanks for the help, hopefully we can find the cause of this insane problem.

I'm still befuddled that you haven't opened a trouble ticket if you have had this issues for years...been able to repro this across all off your machines...and that absolutely sure that an input device is not causing it.

I'm more interested in how you can discount the keyboard so easily. Because the only other thing I could think of that could cause inputs like that is a keylogger app.