| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
pwreimers
Replay user
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 62
Location: Salt Lake City
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject: DVArchive "loses" the .ndx file |
 |
|
Shows that were previously downloaded to DVArchive are not loaded because the program cannot find the .ndx (and sometimes the .xml) file, so the show is not loaded.
I keep having to delete shows I have recorded and subsequently transferred to the computer hard drive, only to have DVA lose the file. 
 Where do these files go, anyway? Can I take other .ndx or .xml files, rename them and have everything work properly? Is there some other recovery prospect? Why do they get lost?
Thanks! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
TakeTheActive
Planet Master
Joined: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 576
Location: Central Jersey, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:20 am Post subject: Re: DVArchive "loses" the .ndx file |
|
|
| pwreimers wrote: | | Shows that were previously downloaded to DVArchive are not loaded because the program cannot find the .ndx (and sometimes the .xml) file, so the show is not loaded... |
DVArchive is *SUPER* reliable!
If it originally downloaded a show to your PC from a ReplayTV, *ALL* of the files *WERE* there when the download completed.
| pwreimers wrote: | | ... Where do these files go, anyway? ...Why do they get lost? |
Use Windows Explorer SEARCH on 'Local Harddrives' and see if you can find them. If they're 'GONE', it has *NOTHING* to do with DVArchive.
| pwreimers wrote: | | ...Can I take other .ndx or .xml files, rename them and have everything work properly? Is there some other recovery prospect? |
No.
_________________
Low Post Count != Low Knowledge ergo High Post Count != High Knowledge 
Sig LINKs |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pwreimers
Replay user
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 62
Location: Salt Lake City
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 6:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
It has been my experience that DVArchive is quite reliable.
I am not looking at DVA for an explanation for what I observe on my pc: there are times when I close DVArchive (using file->quit), and either reboot the pc or reopen DVArchive. Subsequently, shows that were loaded before are not loaded due the the .ndx file getting "lost" in pc-limboland.
I am suspicious something is wrong in the pc, actually. I just cannot figure what to look for and was seeking help. Excuse me for asking...I know I have low post count and am lowly in knowledge.
Yes, I used Windows Explorer SEARCH to find the 'missing' files.
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TakeTheActive
Planet Master
Joined: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 576
Location: Central Jersey, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:44 am Post subject: Hide-N-Seek... |
|
|
| pwreimers wrote: | | ...Excuse me for asking...I know I have low post count and am lowly in knowledge... |
Please RE-READ my Sig Line MORE CLOSELY.
| pwreimers wrote: | ...there are times when I close DVArchive (using file->quit), and either reboot the pc or reopen DVArchive. Subsequently, shows that were loaded before are not loaded due the the .ndx file getting "lost" in pc-limboland.
I am suspicious something is wrong in the pc, actually. I just cannot figure what to look for and was seeking help.
Yes, I used Windows Explorer SEARCH to find the 'missing' files... |
Did you ever find any?
Some other thoughts:- How many PATHS do you have defined at:
File -> DVArchive Properties -> Storage -> Local Guide Paths?
.
- VERIFY that all FOUR files (EVT, MPG, NDX, XML) are there *IMMEDIATELY* after the DVArchive download (IME, they *HAVE* to be or DVA wouldn't report a SUCCESSFUL DOWNLOAD). [WAG]
.
- CHECK the Windows Explorer RECYCLE BIN *DAILY* for the missing files. [WAG]
.
- CHECK the Windows Event Logs *DAILY* for the missing files. [WAG]
.
- Install DVArchive on ANOTHER PC and see what happens.
_________________
Low Post Count != Low Knowledge ergo High Post Count != High Knowledge
Sig LINKs |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pwreimers
Replay user
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 62
Location: Salt Lake City
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well, it has been a while, but I did discover WHY DVArchive "loses" these files...well, to be accurate I found out WHEN.
For whatever reason, after a SYSTEM RESTORE operation, some files are not maintained... the .xml and .ndx files being among the files that are "lost" and DVArchive cannot load the affected shows...
Regards,
Pete |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TakeTheActive
Planet Master
Joined: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 576
Location: Central Jersey, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 3:49 pm Post subject: I Find It Difficult to Put the Blame on Microsoft... |
|
|
| pwreimers wrote: | | ...For whatever reason, after a SYSTEM RESTORE operation, some files are not maintained... the .xml and .ndx files being among the files that are "lost" and DVArchive cannot load the affected shows... |
Although all of my experience is with Win2K (and earlier) and GoBack, I find it difficult to put the blame on WinXP (and later) SYSTEM RESTORE.
Microsoft LINKs: | Microsoft Support wrote: | System Restore can make changes to Windows system files, registry settings, and programs installed on your computer. It also can make changes to scripts, batch files, and other types of executable files on your computer. Personal files, such as documents, e‑mail, photos, and music files, are not changed.
For example, if you download a personal file, such as a photo from a digital camera, on a Friday and then restore your computer to the state it was in two days earlier on Wednesday, the photo will still be on your computer.
However, if you install a photo viewing program on a Friday and then restore your computer to the state it was in two days earlier on Wednesday, System Restore will uninstall the program, and you won't be able to use that program to view photos. |
TBD...
I'll keep reading though... 
_________________
Low Post Count != Low Knowledge ergo High Post Count != High Knowledge
Sig LINKs |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hdonzis
Moderator
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 5646
Location: San Antonio, TX
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 4:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I agree with TTA, system restore should not remove files. However, it might change some registry information that DVA is using such that DVA decides that it needs to get rid of those files...
Henry
_________________
Here's my Poop |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TakeTheActive
Planet Master
Joined: 11 Mar 2004
Posts: 576
Location: Central Jersey, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:32 pm Post subject: WAG? False Hopes?? WinXP (or later) Volunteers??? |
|
|
| hdonzis wrote: | | I agree with TTA, system restore should not remove PERSONAL files... |
SYSTEM files - Yes; PERSONAL files - No.
| hdonzis wrote: | | ...However, it might change some registry information that DVA is using such that DVA decides that it needs to get rid of those files... |
I dunno Henry. Gerry *ALWAYS* made a point of stating that DVArchive was "OS-non-specific".
Granted, until someone else besides pwreimers:- Creates a WinXP (or later) 'Test Environment'
- Creates a RESTORE point
- Downloads a show or two via DVArchive (might be interesting to run a subsequent experiment with WiRNS)
- Verifies the existence of the 4 requisite files per show
- Executes a SYSTEM RESTORE to the RESTORE point from #2
- Verifies the disappearance of 1-3 of the previous 4 requisite files
...we can't really say for sure, but...
Tomorrow, if we DON'T have the forecast ~12-18" of snow to shovel, I'll try to remember to launch REGEDIT on my Win2K Pro DVArchive Server and see what I can find.
_________________
Low Post Count != Low Knowledge ergo High Post Count != High Knowledge
Sig LINKs
Last edited by TakeTheActive on Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pwreimers
Replay user
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 62
Location: Salt Lake City
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
One note that I remember regarding the files: I believe they were all related to recently-created (this same morning) shows.
I am in the process of transferring all my VHS tapes. I transferred them overnight, all from yesterday's recordings.
I had a snag and wanted to restore to yesterdays created restore point. The shows that were transferred overnight were the shows that did not load properly. Upon 'undoing' the last restore point, all the shows loaded okay.
I can't say I want to test the theory, but I just might...
Regards,
Pete |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hdonzis
Moderator
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 5646
Location: San Antonio, TX
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: WAG? False Hopes?? WinXP (or later) Volunteers??? |
|
|
| TakeTheActive wrote: | | hdonzis wrote: | | ...However, it might change some registry information that DVA is using such that DVA decides that it needs to get rid of those files... |
I dunno Henry. Gerry *ALWAYS* made a point of stating that DVArchive was "OS-non-specific". |
Gerry can't control how Java works on Windows! That is under the control of the Java VM itself. And, it is OS specific how Java stores application preferences. Grant it, DVA stores its own personal preferences in its own XML files, but Java is still doing some behind the scenes stuff. If you ask Java to store stuff for you, then it uses its own OS specific way of doing it...
Henry
_________________
Here's my Poop |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hdonzis
Moderator
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 5646
Location: San Antonio, TX
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: WAG? False Hopes?? WinXP (or later) Volunteers??? |
|
|
| TakeTheActive wrote: | Granted, until someone else besides pwreimers:- Creates a WinXP (or later) 'Test Environment'
- Creates a RESTORE point
- Downloads a show or two via DVArchive (might be interesting to run a subsequent experiment with WiRNS)
- Verifies the existence of the 4 requisite files per show
- Executes a SYSTEM RESTORE to the RESTORE point from #2
- Verifies the disappearance of 1-3 of the previous 4 requisite files
...we can't really say for sure, but... |
Well, I've certainly had to use restore points before, as I am sure have several users out there, and I've never lost ANY files at all, including DVA files...
Now, whether I had downloaded shows between restore points, I can't say for sure. But, since DVA gives an immediate warning message when it loads if any of the requisite files are missing, you'd think that others would have noticed this...
Henry
_________________
Here's my Poop |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hdonzis
Moderator
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 5646
Location: San Antonio, TX
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| pwreimers wrote: | | I had a snag and wanted to restore to yesterdays created restore point. The shows that were transferred overnight were the shows that did not load properly. Upon 'undoing' the last restore point, all the shows loaded okay. |
One would have to wonder where the XML and NDX files went after the restore such that they could come back after undoing!
It's certainly possible that Windows System Restore thinks that those XML and NDX files are system files (certainly possible for XML, however, NDX appears to be some kind of database file extension). I wouldn't think that Windows would be messing with XML files at all! They are certainly all over the place!
Henry
_________________
Here's my Poop |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
