Tweak WMC Can't Change Guide Time Span

[WMCLives]

Two HTPCs, both Win 7. EPG123 installed on both, works GREAT. Thank you! Opened Tweak WMC, all guide parameters can be changed on one pc but on the other pc the guide time span cannot. I opened Turn Window features on and off and selected Media Features and turned off the Window Media Center check box. Rebooted. Turned media center back on, rebooted. Opened Tweak WMC but the guide time span still cannot be changed. .Net 4.6 on working pc, .net 4.8 on problem pc. Global cache problem??

Thanks.

[garyan2]

I don't think so. Removing WMC and adding back in should have cleared out any bad copies in the GAC. All other parameters change, though? Are you using any media center themes or something that could override that?

[WMCLives]

I'm of the mindset if it works don't mess with it. WMC is as Microsoft delivered it, no themes. Yes, all parameters can be changed, number of rows, etc. Didn't try the miniguide. I remember a program that tweaks windows and a program that changes the guide download time but I'm pretty sure that was with win XP.

[garyan2]

So when you change the guide span in the Tweak WMC form, and click [Update], does the time span return back to what it was? or does it stay where you left it?

[WMCLives]

On working pc I can change to 30, 210, min whatever. Other pc it's stuck at the Windows default.

[garyan2]

I'm missing something. Does the slider control to change the span not work? or does it return to 120 minutes?

[WMCLives]

Just tried the mini guide rows, that works. So everything can be changed with Tweak WMC except guide time span. The slider can be moved to any setting, it's the WMC actual guide time span that doesn't change. WMC is open, I click update on Tweak WMC, WMC closes and when opened again guide time span did not change. Also tried update while WMC was closed, no difference.

[garyan2]

And if you open the Tweak WMC form again, does it say 120 minutes, or what you tried to set it to?

[WMCLives]

What I tried to set it to

[garyan2]

Then the tweaks are successful in being applied, just your WMC is not reflecting that change... and only that change. I'm at a loss right now, there is nothing more EPG123 can do but I have no idea why WMC would refuse that particular change.

[WMCLives]

I appreciate your help, not just for this, but for all of the other hundreds of your posts that enabled me to keep WMC alive. This wouldn't be the first time I've come up against something befuddling with windows. I'll let the subconscious work on this one. Thanks.

[WMCLives]

Well, not content with leaving well enough alone... I poked around and found the resource hacker program on my pc. http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/#download. When checking its .ini file MRU List, found Microsoft.MediaCenter.Shell.dll. So at some point a few years ago I must have copied the .dll to the desktop to poke around. Don't remember what I did and if I copied it back to the windows folder. When I run Tweak WMC these three folder location MediaCenter.Shell.dlls get a current date and time so I guess Tweak WMC is making changes to them.

C:\Windows\assembly\GAC_MSIL\Microsoft.MediaCenter.Shell\6.1.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35
C:\Windows\ehome
C:\Windows\winsxs\msil_microsoft.mediacenter.shell_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.17514_none_529b6191f4228c10

[garyan2]

In that case, I would suggest you remove WMC, reboot, and add it back so you can get a fresh Microsoft.MediaCenter.Shell.dll file. We just did this to another machine that wouldn't take any tweaks, but it could be you made a change that blocks the timespan tweak. viewtopic.php?p=136598#p136598

[WMCLives]

Mentioned that I tried that in my original post. Not a problem, just some more info for you.

[garyan2]

Ah, so you did. Sorry... I'm still clueless and without any more useful ideas.

[WMCLives]

Found a modded copy of shell.dll in ehome folder from years ago, so I did try at some time to make a change. I did some renaming of shell files and tweak wmc read the old file fine. My guess is that the WMC app itself is blocking the time span change. Maybe I'll poke around in the registry. I'm also thinking that maybe enough time spent and time to move on. Anyway, EPG123 has been cleared of any blame. Time to enjoy a working guide, thanks.

[Space]

Long shot, but this person had a corrupted MediaCenter.Shell.dlls even after uninstall and reinstall of WMC. You can run:

sfc /scannow

to see if it reports a corrupted file. The thread below also has a copy of the file in case you need it.

viewtopic.php?t=6880

[WMCLives]

Got the shell.dll, what folders do I load it in?

[Space]

I believe it is in C:\Windows\ehome, just rename the existing one and put the new one there to replace it.

Did the "sfc /scannow" report that the file needed to be repaired?

[WMCLives]

Wow sfc /scannow generates a lot of log entries. Looks like it detected mediacenter.shell was different, but that was no surprise since tweak wmc has made changes to it. In any case, I got a new copy from your link and put that in ehome. The WMC guide changed back to default and tweak wmc read it with different parameters from what I was trying to set, So I opened tweak wmc and changed params and of course WMC guide reflected that, except for the guide time span. So a lot of time playing around but unfortunately no joy. Guess I'll poke around the registry, maybe compare the working pc to the non-working one.