WMC Stopped Working - muliple times

Mike88

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WMC Stopped Working - muliple times

#1

Post by Mike88 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:41 am

WMC has been trouble free for years - until tonight when it missed 4 scheduled series recordings. Every week I go over the schedule & make sure everything is OK and all of these were set to record.

Went to watch one in progress but it did not show up in recorded programs & neither did another one that was being recorded. However the EPG did show the orange dot that both were scheduled. The 2 earlier recordings were also nowhere to be found.

Tried to start recording from the current time, but every time I clicked on the “Record” button I got the message “WMC has stopped working”. This happened 3-4 times & therefore was not able to get even a partial recording.

Out of the 4 missed programs only 1 shows up in history. It shows up 3 times, once it said the recording was cancelled with no explanation given & twice that I deleted it from the recording schedule. Apparently it got deleted somehow when I was trying to get the recording started again,

I went to the EPG for next week, selected the program, clicked on the “record” button and got the “WMC stopped working” message again. Tried again & got the message again. IOW I could not setup a recording.

A few days ago I did Windows Updates. Not sure if that affected anything. But I restored back to a couple weeks ago & was able to set up the deleted series recording, so that’s a good start. Guess I’ll see what happens later on.

Has anyone had problems after doing the latest Windows Updates?

Alan G

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#2

Post by Alan G » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:25 pm

I installed the new security update when it showed up on my computer the other day. WMC has not shown any of the problems you note and I recorded several shows since the update was installed. I am running EPG123 as my program guide but assume that should not make any difference.

Mike88

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#3

Post by Mike88 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 7:26 pm

WMC recorded a program very early this morning. Based on that it's working, but will wait I see what happens tonight.

Sancho

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#4

Post by Sancho » Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:17 pm

Mine was OK after the Security update (installed on Monday the 8th): recorded three manual recordings just fine over night last night. After today's additional updates (optional .NET and recommended .NET Security update), manual recordings will not set (Record button in WMC just flashes, but recording not set), and trying to set a recording via the Guide causes WMC to crash. The latter (crash) did not happen on a different HTPC, though the inability to set a manual recording manifests itself there, too.

After a System Restore from today's date on the HTPC with both problems, NO problems scheduling manual recordings or from the Guide.

Time to test which update caused this. I'll update if I have anything new.

Well, after a reboot of the second HTPC, I was able to set a manual recording, which started just fine. Scheduling via the Guide still works. NB: I did reboot the other HTPC first and confirmed the problem and crash before doing a System Restore.

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#5

Post by Sancho » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:22 am

Can't edit the above post...

I reinstalled all three updates separately (Malicious Software..., 2018-01 .NET Security..., and .NET Framework 4.7.1...), rebooting and testing after each. No more problems. So, no clue what was causing them, but something was.

HTH.

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#6

Post by joesc » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:04 am

Sancho, did you happen to check CPU utilization before and after you installed the patches? I'm wondering if you have seen any slowdowns.

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#7

Post by Sancho » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:46 am

joesc wrote:Sancho, did you happen to check CPU utilization before and after you installed the patches? I'm wondering if you have seen any slowdowns.
Sorry, no. I started with the basics, and fortunately ended there. Hard to believe that CPU utilization would cause those particular problems. Since I'll be checking for any recurrences, I'll keep in mind to monitor it over the next few days as I test.

Is it the rumors about the Security updates for Spectre and ... the other one that have you asking? If so, I read a post in this forum that dispelled that. YMMV, of course.

Mike88

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#8

Post by Mike88 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:46 am

The 2 programs scheduled to record last night (1-10-2018) did get recorded.

I did a Windows Update on 1-8-2018 & 1-9-2018. The Win7 HTPC update history shows these latest ones:
Malicious software update January 2018 KB90830
2018-01 NET Framework KB4055532
MS NET Framework 4.7.1 KB4033342
2018-01 security update KB4056894
2017-11 NET Framework KB4049016
2017-12 security update KB4054518
Update for Windows KB2952664
Malicious software update December 2017 KB90830

I restored back to the end of Dec 2017. The installed updates only show "Update for Windows KB2952664" from the above mentioned ones.

Windows Updates now shows I have 5 updates waiting:
2018-01 NET Framework KB4055532
2018-01 security update KB4056894
MS NET Framework 4.7.1 KB4033342
Update for Windows KB2952664
Malicious software update December 2017 KB90830

Now to figure out what update, if any, caused the problem.

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#9

Post by wilme2 » Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:47 am

Security updates definitely screwed up my WMC DVR - last recording 1/8 and while it shows it is recording new shows - no files are created. A manual recording from guide causes WMC to crash...

Trying updates, but the .Net update did not fix it. Looking...

AA360751

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#10

Post by AA360751 » Fri Jan 12, 2018 4:27 pm

same issue
WMC stopped after loading last update

m100

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#11

Post by m100 » Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:09 pm

Same problem here, no recordings possible either scheduled or manual since the 10th January

The updates were applied at around 5am on that date, the first failed recording was scheduled at 6am

Updates applied 10th January 2018

Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2007 (KB4011606)
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB4011201)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3 (KB4011607)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3 (KB4011605)
2018-01 Security and Quality Rollup for .NET Framework 3.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1 on Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 for x64 (KB4055532)
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - January 2018 (KB890830)

Uninstalling all does not return WMC functionality :wtf:

Sancho

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#12

Post by Sancho » Fri Jan 12, 2018 11:41 pm

m100 wrote:Same problem here, no recordings possible either scheduled or manual since the 10th January

The updates were applied at around 5am on that date, the first failed recording was scheduled at 6am

Updates applied 10th January 2018

Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2007 (KB4011606)
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB4011201)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3 (KB4011607)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3 (KB4011605)
2018-01 Security and Quality Rollup for .NET Framework 3.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1 on Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 for x64 (KB4055532)
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - January 2018 (KB890830)

Uninstalling all does not return WMC functionality :what the heck:
Hmmmm, not good. Did you uninstall the updates individually, or did you try a System Restore? I only did the latter on the one HTPC that had the problem, but it did *seem* to help.

wilme2

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#13

Post by wilme2 » Fri Jan 12, 2018 11:42 pm

Funny thing is that Live TV can be paused, but no real recordings. Any ideas? I may have to restore from backup (Norton Ghost)...

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Mike88

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#14

Post by Mike88 » Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:13 am

m100 wrote:Same problem here, no recordings possible either scheduled or manual since the 10th January

The updates were applied at around 5am on that date, the first failed recording was scheduled at 6am

Updates applied 10th January 2018

Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel Viewer 2007 (KB4011606)
Security Update for Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB4011201)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3 (KB4011607)
Security Update for Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3 (KB4011605)
2018-01 Security and Quality Rollup for .NET Framework 3.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1 on Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 for x64 (KB4055532)
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - January 2018 (KB890830)

Uninstalling all does not return WMC functionality :what the heck:
I don't have Office on the HTPC & therefore don't have those updates.

But what we do have in common are those last two:
2018-01 Security and Quality Rollup for .NET Framework 3.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1 on Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 for x64 (KB4055532)
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - January 2018 (KB890830)

I did not uninstall my latest updates, I used the restore back to an earlier date process. You might try that.

I'm going to create a restore point & re-install the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - January 2018 (KB890830).
I would think that seems like a pretty harmless update. Will see what happens,

m100

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#15

Post by m100 » Sat Jan 13, 2018 7:39 am

The office upodates were uninstalled all as one, the other two individually. Scheduled backups (using acronis) after 10th January did not run this week either.

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#16

Post by Sancho » Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:47 pm

IF WMC uses the Task Scheduler (would make sense), it sounds like something in one of those updates, on some platforms, temporarily messed up the Task Scheduler. System Restore and re-installing updates one at a time (no Office updates here, either) had my main HTPC was back to normal.

Mike88

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#17

Post by Mike88 » Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:33 pm

Sancho wrote:IF WMC uses the Task Scheduler (would make sense), it sounds like something in one of those updates, on some platforms, temporarily messed up the Task Scheduler. System Restore and re-installing updates one at a time (no Office updates here, either) had my main HTPC was back to normal.
You have reinstalled the updates without a problem? Were they the same ones that System Restore got rid of? I ask because I have one less update, a NETFramework one, to install now than my Update History shows was previously installed.

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#18

Post by Sancho » Sun Jan 14, 2018 12:55 am

Mike88 wrote:
Sancho wrote:IF WMC uses the Task Scheduler (would make sense), it sounds like something in one of those updates, on some platforms, temporarily messed up the Task Scheduler. System Restore and re-installing updates one at a time (no Office updates here, either) had my main HTPC was back to normal.
You have reinstalled the updates without a problem? Were they the same ones that System Restore got rid of? I ask because I have one less update, a NETFramework one, to install now than my Update History shows was previously installed.
Yes, and yes. I did the Security Roll-up update on Mon. the 8th. I did the other three (Malicious Software Removal, .NET Security, and .NET 4.7.whatever) on Wed. the 10th. After noticing the scheduling problem, I did a System Restore choosing the most recent available (from the 10th). After that, and probably an additional reboot, I installed those three updates (as provided by Windows Update) individually, in that order, rebooting after each, and testing scheduling recordings (manual and via the Guide) after each update. Never saw the problems again.

My Windows Update history shows all three of those installed twice. I can only assume the System Restore did not alter the history. As I said, after the Restore, Windows Update again offered all three, so they must have been uninstalled.

HTH.

wilme2

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#19

Post by wilme2 » Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:31 am

I had to restore from backup. I reimaged from an early December file and then disabled automatic updates. A few weeks from now I will try Windows updates again, but for now...

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Mike88

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#20

Post by Mike88 » Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:15 pm

The Update History seems to stay the same, IOW nothing gets deleted when you restore. Checking the Installed Updates shows what’s still on the PC.

I installed the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool & the recordings worked.

The Update for Windows KB2952664 was already installed in July 2017. This seems to work similar to the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool where the number stays the same but the date changes. Googling shows this related to updating to Win10, or sort of automatically doing that update. So I hid this update.

Now the system showed only 2 Updates waiting:
2018-01 security update KB4056894
2018-01 Security for NET Framework KB4055532
(The MS NET Framework 4.7.1 KB4033342 did not show up)

Installed the 2018-01 security update KB4056894, rebooted, tried a couple scheduled recordings & they worked.

Then installed 2018-01 Security for NET Framework KB4055532, rebooted, tried a couple scheduled recordings & they worked.

At this point all is good.

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