Beta 10063 - Completely UNUSABLE

[pblack00]

I've just downloaded and installed the next Beta release - 10063, and it is unusable on 2 platforms (Mac & Windows XP). Let me be more specific:

I First installed on my MacBook Pro - which has never had a problem running Boxee. I logged in with no problem, connected to a networked video source, and accessed several menus, with no problem. Then I tried to play internet content (from ABC) it played the first ad, then completely locked up my computer. Had to shut down to get back control. I then tried to watch a movie from a networked source, again Boxee completely froze only thing running was the horizontal loading bar...again had to shut down to get back control.

I then had a chance to install the Beta on my main HTPC a Windows XP, specs in my sig, I uninstalled the previous version (thought I had deleted the userdata folder) and installed the 10063 Beta. problems started as I started the program, the sound was strange, kept repeating one note of the startup diddy. Finally (after 25-30 seconds) a log in screen started, I attempted to input my information using the keyboard, but it would not accpet the input, I used the mouse, but it was running behind and I kept missing the letters (not exactly sure how to explain this), I finally got it all put in and logged in, again tried to play startup sound and took another 30-45 sec to show the startup screen. Everytime I pushed an arrow key the move sound, played 4-5 times. I was unable to set up a video source, and quit.

I then went back, uninstalled again, found the Userdata and deleted that and re-installed. This time the sounds were again off, but I was able to use the keyboard to input and it logged in quicker (but not very fast), I was ablet o get a video source put in, I tried to view a video, but it would not play any files.

I looked for log files, but no Userdata folder was created the last time I instlled it for Windows (and I can't find it on my Mac, if you can tell me where ti find it I'll post).

I really think Boxee is a great concept, great program, but this release has mad eit completely unusable for me. Hope this info is useful, I really want to use Boxee!!

pblack00

[judgeschambers]

Few things to note.

Not that this is acceptable, but I've found that for 15-30 minuts after installing Boxee, it will crash on XP. Especially if you add smb sources, it starts indexing AND you start to stream some video from the net. It crashed my Athlong 3600+ several times before I just let it sit for a spell to download all the apps and index. This has happened since Alpha.

Windows 7, works great. Same crashing issue upon first install, but not as bad. Now plays well.

This is Beta, so this is how we learn what's broke and how to fix it. Thanks for the feedback!

Marcel may want your Boxee.log located in your UserData file to see what caused the crashes.

[pblack00]

Love to give the logs, I have no userdata folder, I looked in the appropriate place, but there's nothing there?!?!?! Don't know if it's because it never fully started, but I got nothin...

[judgeschambers]

Love to give the logs, I have no userdata folder, I looked in the appropriate place, but there's nothing there?!?!?! Don't know if it's because it never fully started, but I got nothin...

What OS is missing the data folder?-Mac or XP. Can you restart Boxee and get it going so it creates one?

[pblack00]

Windows - No UserData folder, looked in Documents & Settings/Boxee - no folder

Mac - No idea where the folder is, have looked around, but can't find anything.

[gatherlight]

Windows - No UserData folder, looked in Documents & Settings/Boxee - no folder

Mac - No idea where the folder is, have looked around, but can't find anything.

On Mac, go to your User Folder/Library/Logs/boxee.log

[NomadDNA]

On Mac, go to your User Folder/Library/Logs/boxee.log
In my experience:
For windows, the boxee.log file is *always* present in its designated folder.

In Mac, you'll need to put the advancedsettings.xml file in your boxee folder before the boxee.log appears.

http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=377

[marcel]

Please rename your UserData and try again:

Mac
~/Library/Application Support/BOXEE/UserData/

windows XP
c:\Documents and Settings\<your windows user name>\Application Data\BOXEE\userdata

Then follow this thread to generate debug logs http://boxee.zendesk.com/forums/49599/entries/43963

[pblack00]

Thanks Marcel,

I'll do that this morning and post the logs.

[Kyusaku]

are hidden folders/system files set to visible in folder options on the Windows machine? This might be why you're having trouble finding it.

[judgeschambers]

Well, the Userdata folder is hidden by default on Windows. ;)

[Cacafuego]

In Mac, you'll need to put the advancedsettings.xml file in your boxee folder before the boxee.log appears.


boxee.log is always there but only logs error, warning, info, and critical messages. Advancedsettings.XML is needed to turn on Debug-level logging. Though that seems appropriate here :)

[pblack00]

OK, here's what happened. I created the file and started the Mac version, started up fine, found my networked files, played them fine - both .mkv and .avi. Tried an episode of Castle from ABC worked fine, except the screen was little strange during the commercial (not that I cared, but thought I'd report it). the show played great, no problems. Was able to use iPhone remote to control Boxee. Mac log included below.

XP version - not quite as good of luck. I started Boxee, the startup sound was again very off, kept repeating itself. Checked my video sources, all still listed, went to Movies and selected a movie, it took close to 2 minutes to play the movie, and then all I got was Audio and a white screen. I attempted a second video (one I had watched via VLC 2 days ago worked perfectly), again took 2 minutes to start and audio and white screen. When I attempted to stop the movie it froze up Boxee. Shut it down, and then attempted same test with Castle at ABC, search results did not appear for any shows, let it sit for 1 min. iPhone remote refuses to stay connected, so had to use keyboard/mouse to control. Also everytime a button is pushed (arrow key, enter, etc...) it plays the sound over and over and over...

I've attached both logs to this post.

[dickie]

Also everytime a button is pushed (arrow key, enter, etc...) it plays the sound over and over and over...

I ended up disabling the sound effects as others had mentioned it can cause problems with digital audio. I hadn't seen (or rather heard) the repeat issue until last night when I decided to go optical for the audio out vs HDMI.

Have you launched your default browser in XP, navigated to ABC and checked to see if you can view the content?

[pblack00]

Yes, I can watch content through Firefox...on another note, I have an XP desktop machine that I tried this on (a much newer one) and it worked perfectly! I'm starting to think that my specs on this computer might not be powerful enough to handle the update to Boxee....not exactly sure what I might do about that, but it's what I'm thinking...

pblack0

[judgeschambers]

Yes, I can watch content through Firefox...on another note, I have an XP desktop machine that I tried this on (a much newer one) and it worked perfectly! I'm starting to think that my specs on this computer might not be powerful enough to handle the update to Boxee....not exactly sure what I might do about that, but it's what I'm thinking...

pblack0

Yeah, I have an xp box that is slightly more powerful and beta kills it. Nothing plays and your vid card, like mine, does not offer GPU acceleration. So most playback inside boxee will be painful;)

[pblack00]

Hopefully the team can get things working again, my card won't even do Win7 so no love it I wanted to upgrade...I basically use Boxee to watch local content (not even HD) so I don't need a really beefy machine. at this point I might even consider going back to the Alpha so I can watch my content.