booting PC with MBServer and MBT installed

[zakraket 3]

Most of the time when I boot my HTPC, on which I have MB Server and Media Browser Theater installed, MBT seems to start earlier than MB Server, in which case I get presented with the "connect to server" screen.

Both are in the startup-folder, MBServer is also checked for "run server on startup" under advanced.

Is there a way to prevent this? Or maybe I should install a different way

[JohnnyM 40]

I ran into a similar issue and install a program called "Startup Delayer" where you can configure the server to start and then have MBT start like 2 minutes later.

 

Johnny

[A8HTPC 38]

you can do this too with Task Scheduler, though it won't work for "services". I have MBS start as a service

[Ghostm 74]

You could just do this?

 

Borrowed this from my xbmc days. No extra programs required.

 

http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_for_Windows_specific_FAQ#Upon_booting.2C_start_XBMC_with_a_delay

Edited April 7, 2014 by Ghostm

[Xzener 729]

I had an issue where the server was starting before the NIC card was ready. Created a .bat file to delay startup. Works a treat.

[zakraket 3]

tnx for the replies. A late response from my side due to travelling.

 

The -d X option doens't work for me: the -d X is removed from the link after reboot. I'll probably have to try the .bat file.

 

Surely there must be more people with this issue, or are there few that use server and Theater on the same PC?

[A8HTPC 38]

Do this and don't worry about anything else. This can work for both MBS and MBT but in your case, use it for MBT. You can use it for both if you wanted to just don't delay the server

 

1. Go To Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Task Scheduler

2 In the left pane click on Task Scheduler Library. Then in the right pane, click on Create Task (Not Create Basic Task)

3. A window will pop up, Type in a name for the task (ex. MBT Media Browser Theater)

4. Click the TRIGGERS Tab, in the drop down dialog box for "Begin this task" select at Log on or at Start up. Which ever works for you.

5. CHECK the "Delay Task For" and in the drop down box select an option that works for you. Or you can type in your own custom setting (Ex. 5 seconds, 10 seconds etc. ). Click OK

6. Click on ACTIONS tab. In the Program Box browse to the location of MBT. Most of the time its in (C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Theater\System\MediaBrowser.UI.exe) so you can copy and paste this address and just insert your user name Click OK

7. Click on SETTINGS tab. UNCHECK "Stop task if running longer than:"

 

Remove MBT from the start up folder. 

 

Now MBT will start up after a certain amount of seconds you specify. Which will allow it to start AFTER MBS

Edited May 4, 2014 by A8HTPC

[bluemonkey07 590]

Most of the time when I boot my HTPC, on which I have MB Server and Media Browser Theater installed, MBT seems to start earlier than MB Server, in which case I get presented with the "connect to server" screen.

Both are in the startup-folder, MBServer is also checked for "run server on startup" under advanced.

Is there a way to prevent this? Or maybe I should install a different way

So you're trying to start MBS twice at startup?

[ebr 16176]

So you're trying to start MBS twice at startup?

 

No, all the checked option will do is create the shortcut he noted was there.

[KPH123 5]

I had the same issue.  I simply unchecked auto-run at startup in the MBT general settings and set a launch program shortcut on the Harmony remote labed "MBT".   After a short delay after reboot, I manually start MBT via remote if I want to immediately use MBT (I also have an "exit" program shortcut on the remote).   

 

If MBT is the primary program one uses on the HTPC where the server is installed and one always wants MBT to auto-start, then automatic options with delays buit in such as the one A8HTPC (and others) suggested likely make the process once set even easier over the long run (set it and forget it). 

[Ghostm 74]

I just realized my xbmc hack does not work as reported above already.

 

I wonder how hard it would be for the team to add under "auto run at startup" option in the general settings a "delay startup in seconds" tab to prevent this issue. My server and mbt are on different pc's but my solid state drive seems to load mbt well before my nic is ready, and if mbt does not see a server your greeted with a setup screen.

 

I know the team is busy with many other things, but it wouldnt be a bad idea imo provided its not difficult.

For now Im going to try A8HTPC method. 

[A8HTPC 38]

Or have a way for MBT and SERVER to communicate with each other and server will tell MBT to start up after server is initialized.

 

I do believe there are options in task scheduler to have a tast start after network is initialized.

Edited May 8, 2014 by A8HTPC

[zakraket 3]

@A8HTPC: your sollution works perfectly. I really could have come up with this myself but it's perfect I set the delay to 30sec to be sure

[A8HTPC 38]

  You could also try adding a task for the server and having it load at "start up". This will start MBS before windows logs on to a specific user. Then create another task for MBT and have it load at "log on" which will load MBT when any or a specific user logs on. In theory, this should work too without actually adding a time delay to the task.

[davesurfer 18]

Do this and don't worry about anything else. This can work for both MBS and MBT but in your case, use it for MBT. You can use it for both if you wanted to just don't delay the server

 

1. Go To Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Task Scheduler

2 In the left pane click on Task Scheduler Library. Then in the right pane, click on Create Task (Not Create Basic Task)

3. A window will pop up, Type in a name for the task (ex. MBT Media Browser Theater)

4. Click the TRIGGERS Tab, in the drop down dialog box for "Begin this task" select at Log on or at Start up. Which ever works for you.

5. CHECK the "Delay Task For" and in the drop down box select an option that works for you. Or you can type in your own custom setting (Ex. 5 seconds, 10 seconds etc. ). Click OK

6. Click on ACTIONS tab. In the Program Box browse to the location of MBT. Most of the time its in (C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Theater\System\MediaBrowser.UI.exe) so you can copy and paste this address and just insert your user name Click OK

7. Click on SETTINGS tab. UNCHECK "Stop task if running longer than:"

 

Remove MBT from the start up folder. 

 

Now MBT will start up after a certain amount of seconds you specify. Which will allow it to start AFTER MBS

 

Thanks for these instructions. But what is the exact link to Media Browser Classic? It's a plugin for Media Center, so what do I put? I have C:\Windows\ehome\ehshell.exe /nostartupanimation /entrypoint:{CE32C570-4BEC-4aeb-AD1D-CF47B91DE0B2}\{FC9ABCCC-36CB-47ac-8BAB-03E8EF5F6F22} in the shortcut for MBC, but when I put the ehshell.exe in there and the arguments as the /nostartup etc. It loads Media Center but then says "Invalid Application" Unable to launch "media browser 3" for some reason. I've even tried to load this as a script command. Thanks for any help?

Edited May 25, 2014 by davesurfer

[davesurfer 18]

Thanks for these instructions. But what is the exact link to Media Browser Classic? It's a plugin for Media Center, so what do I put? I have C:\Windows\ehome\ehshell.exe /nostartupanimation /entrypoint:{CE32C570-4BEC-4aeb-AD1D-CF47B91DE0B2}\{FC9ABCCC-36CB-47ac-8BAB-03E8EF5F6F22} in the shortcut for MBC, but when I put the ehshell.exe in there and the arguments as the /nostartup etc. It loads Media Center but then says "Invalid Application" Unable to launch "media browser 3" for some reason. I've even tried to load this as a script command. Thanks for any help?

 

OK! I know how to fix all this crap. So I don't think the delayed task is a good idea, for me anyways. Why not start the MB server as a Windows service instead of the tray startup? This loads before Startup Folder items. So I set the MB Server service to automatic, put back the MBC shortcut into the Startup folder, restarted and VOILA, MBC starts fine with no errors and quickly as the server service is already loaded. Tadaaa! 

[ebr 16176]

Just make sure the service is running under proper user authority.

 

Also, automatic updates for the server won't work when running as a service.  Just FYI.

[davesurfer 18]

Just make sure the service is running under proper user authority.

 

Also, automatic updates for the server won't work when running as a service.  Just FYI.

 

Good to know. Will I get any notification of an update for the server?

[crh66 0]

OK! I know how to fix all this crap. So I don't think the delayed task is a good idea, for me anyways. Why not start the MB server as a Windows service instead of the tray startup? This loads before Startup Folder items. So I set the MB Server service to automatic, put back the MBC shortcut into the Startup folder, restarted and VOILA, MBC starts fine with no errors and quickly as the server service is already loaded. Tadaaa! 

 

Agreed, davesurfer's solution (MB as a service plus MBT in Startup Folder) works best for me.

 

Although the task manager solution works, on my setup you have to click in the MBT window after it runs to make it active (initially the task manager has focus). I know it's a minor issue but I still find it annoying...

[tmservo 2]

What I'm more interested in is setting up my Win8.1 box to just auto-login and go straight to MBT fullscreen for high WAF.

[crh66 0]

What I'm more interested in is setting up my Win8.1 box to just auto-login and go straight to MBT fullscreen for high WAF.

 

My dedicated win 8.1 htpc has one user account and no password... auto-login on reboot and straight into MBT (davesurfer's solution) for maximum WAF

[A8HTPC 38]

Window is shelled on my PC. When window starts, MBT starts instead of explorer.exe. Real nice, though its not bullet proof, couple minor issue doing it that way. I used a program called Instant Sheller.