WMC reports GuideNotConfigured when using Click-to-Record

[12noon]

This may not be something you're interested in, but I think you're in the best position to answer my question. I'm using WMC's click-to-record API to tell it to record a specific program, and it's returning the error GuideNotConfigured. Of course, my guide IS configured (with EPG123) but it's not Rovio. I'm pretty sure WMC is reacting to the fact that I'm not using Rovio, because it works on my other WMC that IS using Rovio. If that's the case, how do I convince it that the EPG is configured even though it's not using Rovio? (I sure hope it's possible, otherwise, I've just wasted two months of work.) If it'd be useful, I can send you a console app that submits a C2R file using this API.

[garyan2]

I think I will need a copy to try and see what is going on. I can't think of anything right off hand that would make it think the guide is not configured... maybe some registry key somewhere.

[12noon]

That was my thought as well. Maybe it's storing whether or not the user accepted the Rovio TOS? I just have no idea where.

I've attached a zip with a console app that takes a path to a C2R file (an example of which I've also attached). Then it submits a click-to-record request using the data in the C2R file and outputs the results. You'll, of course, need to change the title, start time (UTC), and callsign to match whatever lineup you're using. Please let me know if you need anything else. I appreciate your help!

[garyan2]

What OS version is your machine that is not working?

[12noon]

Ah, sorry. Both of my WMCs are Windows 7 Home.

[garyan2]

On the machine that says the guide is not set up, change the following registry key:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\ProgramGuide
"fPrivacyLevel"=dword:00000002

This is the same as if you went to settings->General->Privacy->Privacy Settings and enabled the 'Use the Guide and send information to Microsoft to improve the quality and accuracy of the service'. I had disabled this option because, well, I don't like being snooped on and EPG123 removes any benefit from allowing it. Unfortunately, in order to use the c2r the option needs to be enabled.

[12noon]

Nice, that does it. (Now I just have to figure out why WMC schedules the recording for the SD channel instead of the HD one that is specified exactly in the C2R request. Grr.)

I don't enjoy the snooping either. It's a shame MS decided to join those two options. Obviously, Typecast won't just change that value without getting permission from the user (or just make the user do it in WMC themselves). Thanks for digging into it so quickly!

Update: Ah, it's because the HD channel has about three days fewer listings than the SD channel, so WMC turned it into a keyword search. Now if SchedulesDirect would only respond to the question I posted about this three days ago...

[garyan2]

The process literally just looks at the registry entry, so you could record the current value, change it to at least '2', do your thing, and restore the original value with WMC none the wiser.

[12noon]

Ha. Cool.