Fixing the sports plugin

[Crash2009]

I just did a fsutil in Win10 x64 (10586) using TestRights RunAsAdmin

Code: Select all

c:\Windows\System32>fsutil hardlink list "C:\Windows\ehome\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll"                                                                                                  \Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_MSIL\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports\v4.0_6.3.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll                                                         \Windows\ehome\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll                                                                                                                                               \Windows\WinSxS\msil_microsoft.mediacenter.sports_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.16384_none_7a737a79cb9f2148\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    c:\Windows\System32>

Doesn't mean anything to me. You?

[DavidinCT]

I just did a fsutil in Win10 x64 (10586) using TestRights RunAsAdmin

Code: Select all

c:\Windows\System32>fsutil hardlink list "C:\Windows\ehome\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll"                                                                                                  \Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_MSIL\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports\v4.0_6.3.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll                                                         \Windows\ehome\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll                                                                                                                                               \Windows\WinSxS\msil_microsoft.mediacenter.sports_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.16384_none_7a737a79cb9f2148\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    c:\Windows\System32>

Doesn't mean anything to me. You?

I know if I did something special at some point I did have it showing on my HTPC but, it didn't work (it opened but, had no data on it), I think the KEY is in Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.UI.dll.

Maybe it's on 8.1 where I had it installed, I have a dual boot with 8.1, I'll check that out...

I'm wondering if someone jumpped in to help with a programming skill set, that it might be easier to create a new one. Micrososft disabled it, so you now you need go through their code to figure out WHERE they disabled it, just to enable it to see where the feeds come from.

Edit: Interesting....

Opening C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\Packages\SportsV2\SportsTemplate\FoxSports.sdp with Notepad++ opens a XML file for the most part and at the top of it REM'ed out, is...

<!--
FOXSports Data Provider Definition

This file contains the definition of the FOXSports Data Provider, it
includes the list of all the feed, templates, etc. need to render the
sports portal using fox. All image,template,xslt references in this file
are assumed to be packaged in the data provider dll. All of the text fields
are assumed to be string references in a string table.

-->

[jachin99]

1.Riddle me this. DO you have the Sports strip with everything there in WMC ?
2.This is the question if anyone has the "scores" showing up, even if it does not fully work (isn't that what we are after ?)

1. Yes, under my sports strip, I have on Now, which works, and shows an RSS feed at the bottom, on later, which does not work, players, scores, and leagues if i remember correctly. If need be, I can try to host these files somewhere, and let you download them. I'm not sure if the link inside the start menu will register if I do it that way though.
2. In almost every other strip, I get a loading message but nothing happens.

[jachin99]

Under C/Microsoft/Ehome there is also a Micrsoft.sports.dll

[DavidinCT]

Under C/Microsoft/Ehome there is also a Micrsoft.sports.dll

under Windows\ehome I have a Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.dll not a Micrsoft.sports.dll, the last modified date on the file is 11/20/2010.

The key is somewhere in the DLL files... there is something blocking it from showing... it's just the KEY to make it show...

I've tried on 3 computers now, with Media Center studio and Sports strip is checked but, the strip never shows. Hmmmm... I tried my 8.1 machine too, same resuit.. Even the registry key says that it's enabled but, never shows up for me

I know I had it showing at one point, I wish I knew the combo to enable it.

[jachin99]

Your right, I was reading that wrong. I'm wondering exactly how mine showed up now. there must be some script within media center studio that tells it to run setup when i hit restore defaults. How could you tell its the key even if you find it.

[jachin99]

This might help also, but its something i found on stack exchange that I haven't tried myself in order to extract a key from a program,
Using PowerShell, you can execute this statement:
([system.reflection.assembly]::loadfile("c:\MyDLL.dll")).FullName
The output will provide the Version, Culture and PublicKeyToken as shown below:
MyDLL, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=669e0ddf0bb1aa2a

[DavidinCT]

Your right, I was reading that wrong. I'm wondering exactly how mine showed up now. there must be some script within media center studio that tells it to run setup when i hit restore defaults. How could you tell its the key even if you find it.

Did that as well on Media Center studio, no change, did it on 2 of the machines.

Be lucky you have it now, as all it will take is a guide update and it will go away...

This might help also, but its something i found on stack exchange that I haven't tried myself in order to extract a key from a program,
Using PowerShell, you can execute this statement:
([system.reflection.assembly]::loadfile("c:\MyDLL.dll")).FullName
The output will provide the Version, Culture and PublicKeyToken as shown below:
MyDLL, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=669e0ddf0bb1aa2a

Not sure that will help, you need to see the code in it to find out what creates it and where it comes from.

This might not be an easy task and might be above my skillset on this one. At some point it's called to a DLL file (one of the ones we discussed in this thread), this generates the thread and the icons, as these are just XML files (MCCL), and when you open them, it queries a webfeed, and formats the data, that is why when it DID work, it took about 2-3 seconds for it to work. THe problem is, when Microsoft killed it, they didn't remove the files, they changed part of the code somplace just to hide them or disable looking for it. This is the first step for most people, if we can get it to show for everyone, people might be interested in this subject.

I had it fully working, and even the On NOW, was pretty cool.. as it would show sports games across top with scores and current standings, you could just click on it and start the channel. It was pretty awesome in it's hayday...sigh...

[jachin99]

Maybe I should take a step back, and make sure we are on the same page. From what I gather, you have not been able to install the sports strip or view it in any way since we started this converstaion. Is that right or wrong? I currently have two separate WMC 7 machines showing the sports strip, and they each act the same. One machine has ROVI for guide data, the other has EPG123. On both machines, I got the sports strip by running the Media Center Studio Fix, then opening Media Center Studio, changing the theme, then saving and closing MCS, then Reopening MCS, and restoring defaults, something you have not been able to reproduce. Before we can worry too much about finding feeds, etc we should probably come up with a way for others to get their own sports strips back, using media center studio or otherwise.

I also have visual studio 2015 but my development experience is limited to Notepad, or sublime text. When I open dlls, and other files I see a message at the top that the file cannot be viewed in DOS mode, and about half of the text is scrambled. What version of media center studio are you running? Maybe mine is different.

[DavidinCT]

Maybe I should take a step back, and make sure we are on the same page. From what I gather, you have not been able to install the sports strip or view it in any way since we started this converstaion. Is that right or wrong? I currently have two separate WMC 7 machines showing the sports strip, and they each act the same. One machine has ROVI for guide data, the other has EPG123. On both machines, I got the sports strip by running the Media Center Studio Fix, then opening Media Center Studio, changing the theme, then saving and closing MCS, then Reopening MCS, and restoring defaults, something you have not been able to reproduce. Before we can worry too much about finding feeds, etc we should probably come up with a way for others to get their own sports strips back, using media center studio or otherwise.

I also have visual studio 2015 but my development experience is limited to Notepad, or sublime text. When I open dlls, and other files I see a message at the top that the file cannot be viewed in DOS mode, and about half of the text is scrambled. What version of media center studio are you running? Maybe mine is different.

Media Center studio BETA version 0.0.6.5 (is there a newer one ?)

My HTPC wont run MCS for some reason, it's on 7 but, it just crashes. NEver really trouble shot it, My VM has it on it, and it's the same version, I'll get the MCfix on it but, dont thinkg that will help too much

[jachin99]

I always run both the fix, and MCS as Admin. I'm away from my machine right now so I can't say for sure what version I use but i do know its beta. When I get time, I'm thinking I'll upload my C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\Packages and try to share it with you. I would feel better if I could find a way to make an installer but I'm not that good yet, and sharing the file is easier right now. I took someone else's C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\Packages folder in order to get netflix back so if it worked for that, it might work for this.

[DavidinCT]

I always run both the fix, and MCS as Admin. I'm away from my machine right now so I can't say for sure what version I use but i do know its beta. When I get time, I'm thinking I'll upload my C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\Packages and try to share it with you. I would feel better if I could find a way to make an installer but I'm not that good yet, and sharing the file is easier right now.

UAC is off on both VMs.... and I run them as an admin anyway..

Let me try your process, I got a VM with the fix, MCS with a theme and let's see what happens...no internet on it.

On my VM (2nd VM I tried), it does show up, FINALLY. Let me see if I can get my other VM to work (cant do it till later).

The nice thing about VMs, they are portable... It's just a 10gb Windows 7 vm...

[DavidinCT]

Now doing a full C: drive search for *.MCML to see what comes up now that wmc...nope, nothing, did a search for *scores* (one of the items in WMC) and nothing. It must create it dynamicly...This is not going to be easy in anyway... just like I thought...

It might be easier creating a new program...sigh...

[jachin99]

What do you mean by it creates it dynamically? Does it extract a file, and spread its contents throughout multiple folders?

[jachin99]

I found this in Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.DLL. Sorry about the formating but its all I have right now.

*Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Operating System > 9Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft Corporation
6.1.7601.17514 D ?d:\w7rtm.public.x86fre\internal\strongnamekeys\fake\windows.snk MediaCenter Sports Portal & !Windows MediaCenter Sports Portal X Rehshell,PublicKey=0024000004800000940000000602000000240000525341310004000001000100b5fc90e7027f67871e773a8fde8938c81dd402ba65b9201d60593e96c492651e889cc13f1415ebb53fac1131ae0bd333c5ee6021672d9718ea31a8aebd0da0072f25d87dba6fc90ffd598ed4da35e44c398c454307e8e33b8426143daec9f596836f97c8f74750e5975c64e2189f45def46b2a2b1247adc3652bf5c308055da9 Y Sspconfig,PublicKey=0024000004800000940000000602000000240000525341310004000001000100b5fc90e7027f67871e773a8fde8938c81dd402ba65b9201d60593e96c492651e889cc13f1415ebb53fac1131ae0bd333c5ee6021672d9718ea31a8aebd0da0072f25d87dba6fc90ffd598ed4da35e44c398c454307
e8e33b8426143daec9f596836f97c8f74750e5975c64e2189f45def46b2a2b1247adc3652bf5c308055da9 X Rspfeeds,PublicKey=0024000004800000940000000602000000240000525341310004000001000100b5fc90e7027f67871e773a8fde8938c81dd402ba65b9201d60593e96c492651e889cc13f1415ebb53fac1131ae0bd333c5ee6021672d9718ea31a8aebd0da0072f25d87dba6fc90ffd598ed4da35e44c398c454307e8e33b8426143daec9f596836f97c8f74750e5975c64e2189f45def46b2a2b1247adc3652bf5c308055da9 TWrapNonExceptionThrows€ž.€„System.Security.Permissions.SecurityPermissionAttribute, mscorlib, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089TSkipVerification ˆyçL 9 hå hÕ RSDSd/ÈhÇH·w‡¨Âæ] Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.pdb

[DavidinCT]

I found this in Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.DLL. Sorry about the formating but its all I have right now.

*Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Operating System > 9Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft Corporation
6.1.7601.17514 D ?d:\w7rtm.public.x86fre\internal\strongnamekeys\fake\windows.snk MediaCenter Sports Portal & !Windows MediaCenter Sports Portal X Rehshell,PublicKey=0024000004800000940000000602000000240000525341310004000001000100b5fc90e7027f67871e773a8fde8938c81dd402ba65b9201d60593e96c492651e889cc13f1415ebb53fac1131ae0bd333c5ee6021672d9718ea31a8aebd0da0072f25d87dba6fc90ffd598ed4da35e44c398c454307e8e33b8426143daec9f596836f97c8f74750e5975c64e2189f45def46b2a2b1247adc3652bf5c308055da9 Y Sspconfig,PublicKey=0024000004800000940000000602000000240000525341310004000001000100b5fc90e7027f67871e773a8fde8938c81dd402ba65b9201d60593e96c492651e889cc13f1415ebb53fac1131ae0bd333c5ee6021672d9718ea31a8aebd0da0072f25d87dba6fc90ffd598ed4da35e44c398c454307
e8e33b8426143daec9f596836f97c8f74750e5975c64e2189f45def46b2a2b1247adc3652bf5c308055da9 X Rspfeeds,PublicKey=0024000004800000940000000602000000240000525341310004000001000100b5fc90e7027f67871e773a8fde8938c81dd402ba65b9201d60593e96c492651e889cc13f1415ebb53fac1131ae0bd333c5ee6021672d9718ea31a8aebd0da0072f25d87dba6fc90ffd598ed4da35e44c398c454307e8e33b8426143daec9f596836f97c8f74750e5975c64e2189f45def46b2a2b1247adc3652bf5c308055da9 TWrapNonExceptionThrows€ž.€„System.Security.Permissions.SecurityPermissionAttribute, mscorlib, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089TSkipVerification ˆyçL 9 hå hÕ RSDSd/ÈhÇH·w‡¨Âæ] Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.pdb

Yea, I was looking through them in Notepad and Notepad++ I saw some of the same and even where it calls the MCML files.

It's displayed via Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.UI.dll or Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.DLL and those Dll filees create the sports menu. How they are called and how they create them, I have No idea. I am NOT a programmer, I understand some basics but, when it comes to this, I have no idea.

I do know that changing the data source would not be easy in this case. You would need to uncompliple these files, change the data, re-compile them and PREY WMC will use them. As Microsoft secures it's Windows files with a certificate, with out that protected path, it might not even run after all that.

We need someone with some strong programming skills to take a look over these files and see if this CAN even be done.

You could start looking over the Media Center SDK and maybe create a new one ? (I think it would be easier here)

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/librar ... 18424.aspx

[jachin99]

I just saw found this on an old cnet page, maybe you could find it in VISTA

Microsoft has licensed the rights to sports content from Fox Sports, CBSSports.com (owned by CBS, parent company of CNET News), and MSNBC.com.

The new sports channel goes live Thursday and is available in Windows Vista Home, Premium, and Ultimate. The new channel will only be available in the United States and will not be available for Windows 7 beta users.

[DavidinCT]

I just saw found this on an old cnet page, maybe you could find it in VISTA

Microsoft has licensed the rights to sports content from Fox Sports, CBSSports.com (owned by CBS, parent company of CNET News), and MSNBC.com.

The new sports channel goes live Thursday and is available in Windows Vista Home, Premium, and Ultimate. The new channel will only be available in the United States and will not be available for Windows 7 beta users.

I can check it (I have a Vista VM) but, I dont think it will change anything if they are being created from DLL files, it does not create a MCML, it works directly fom the DLL.

I'll check when I get home tonight... I dont have very high hopes tho.

[jachin99]

I don't either. I think I'll just post my folders up, and you can down load them, and try. I wouldn't worry about the machine being hooked up to the internet either, because all of mine have been.

[Crash2009]

I think we need a little shot of Graznok. He always seems to find the ON switch in the Hex.

Open Microsoft.MediaCenter.Sports.DLL with the Hex Editor.