Hi,

 Hate that my first post here has to be asking for help, but I'm hopeful this is the best place for this type of problem.

I did a new install of xp mce2005 and during the MC setup and choosing to use the tv program guide, most times it freezes after I enter the zip code or if that works it then freezes when I select my dish network location. I don't even want to use the guide, but if I don't the channel list only goes up to 200 and I would have to enter all the channels above that manually.

PC is connected to a router w/high speed Internet. My router is set up with assigned ip's, but I left 1 open address in the range of ip's. Another words the ip's that are assigned to pc's are ending with 114, 115, 116, the range of ip's in the router is set to 114 to 117, thinking the mce connection would use the 117 as its not assigned to any pc. I'm not sure if this is problem.

There has been times it has connected after entering the zip code and it listed my area's available choices, ...if it wasn't connected, I don't think it would be able to see the list of my areas satellite choices. Once I select my area's dish network choice, it freezes up and never downloads the program guide. It also has locked up right after choosing the program guide agreement. So I don't know what else to try. And to make it easier, I've even tried to connect directly to the modem, but with same results. There is no firewall installed except for microsofts and no changes have been made. All windows updates have been installed including update rollup2 and sp3. Then all other MC updates have been done.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance. 

Update: I have gone and added all 52 channels that mc didn't show that I have. Why one has too enter the channel number twice is beyond me, but once I got into a rhythm, it went pretty fast. I did a system recovery to just before setting up MC, as this is a new build and with ghost I made system images along the way and made a backup just before trying to setup mc. It still won't download dish network channel guide. This time around I tested the connection, and it reported good so its not a router / network issue. Why it freezes after selecting my local dish provider and I also tried dish USA, I can't figure it out. Maybe its no longer available, ...dunno.

 So I went ahead and added the 52 channels and so when I channel up and down, all channels are seen. I still would like to figure this out, at one point I might want to use the guide, but as of now it just freezes up when I choose my provider. I've bookmarked this thread and will check it often for any idea's you might have.

Thanks for reading and if you can offer any suggestions, please do.

I've had good luck with MC questions here at the green button in the past, but this one I just don't know.

Do you have dot net v4 installed? It's seem to break various things in MCE2005, including the guide. If its installed try uninstalling and re-running Media Center setup.

Yes, I do have dot netframework v4 installed. I beleive I installed it due to a programs reqeust, however it requested that 3.0 or higher be installed, so I went with ver4. I will remove v4 (if possible, otherwise will do a system image restore to prior point of v4 install) and will try running the tv-program guide setup again in MC.

 Thank you so much for posting Zuikoholic, I'll report back after uninstall of net framework v4 and retry MC guide setup.

It should fix it - the symptoms you describe match exactly.

If it does, add your name to the list of people reporting it at this link - https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/594777/net-4-and-mce2005-epg-download

The more people that reports it, the more likely it is that MS will believe it and maybe even do something about it. 

bb193

It should fix it - the symptoms you describe match exactly.

If it does, add your name to the list of people reporting it at this link - https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/594777/net-4-and-mce2005-epg-download

The more people that reports it, the more likely it is that MS will believe it and maybe even do something about it. 

 First thanks to  Zuikoholic for his posting THE FIX !

I am happy to say after un-install of .net framework v4 (both parts) I was successful in downloading the guide without issue. Had to redo the channels I view, but this went very fast and it was easier to un-check all channels first, then select the channels I view. Awesome, I'm very pleased to have the guide working.

I set it up to manually download only, I hope this works as I recall the PC waking up every night around 3 am and downloading the guide then. I have seen a post/blog where it describes how to change the time, but I would have to find it again, but if it does download only when I choose too, there should be no problems.

 To whomever found this issue with .netfw v4, I and I'm sure many owe you a debt of gratitude! Thank You!

@bb193

Thanks for your links, since I have a @live and @passport accounts, I will gladly report this via the link you have provided. Thanks posting as this is definitely a problem. I haven't found a program that demands v4 framework, but I'd imagine it's just a matter of time and then what are we to do ???

I had read a post on the linked page where a poster stated he would turn off ehreceiver in task man then run the guide, ...don't know if this works, but it's something one might try if they are forced to use .netfwV4.

Thanks Again, I'm so glad I posted here first !

You are a Fantastic bunch of Media Center Pro's!

@bb193

Would it help in posting over at Microsoft Connect thread the workaround to this issue? For people reading the thread, the fix will be easily found by un-installing .net framework ver 4, but maybe if something is posted to the "work around" tab/section, it might alert MS a little quicker to the thread/problem. ...Just an idea as I have no experience with that forum.

 Thanks to Everyone Here at The Green Button, great place with great people ready to help. I would say problem solved, but its really just a workaround as it's just a matter of time before a program demands .net framework Version 4 to be installed, and then what are we to do???

 Awesome Forum, Keep Up the Great Support! ...So glad I posted here first!

Thanks guys! This issue was giving me such a headache. I was about ready to give up and do a fresh install of Windows MCE until I found this thread at the last minute.

Everything works great now!

To reiterate, the solution was to uninstall Microsoft .NET Framework v4.

Thanks again!

OMG, Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

For days I have been struggling with why my Media Center was freezing up when I tried to access the Electronic Program Guide.  After reading your fix, I removed a recently installed .NET Framework 4.0 download/install, and Media Center once again worked fine.

About 4 days ago, I had to reinstall my Windows XP Media Center Edition OS.  After downloading and installing all the Microsoft updates after that OS reinstall, I inadvertently chose to download and install .NET Framework 4.0.  When I launched Media Center after that, and went through the Media Center initial setup procedure, when I got to the screens where you're asked to identify your cable service provider so that it can download the appropriate EPG, Media Center just froze.  I struggled with this problem for two days -- reading countless websites and forums, trying to figure out what was wrong.

I am very perturbed that Microsoft Support / Knowledge Base does not have this problem and solution listed in their system.  I spent hours and hours trying various things that I thought might be causing the problem.

SFNiceGuy

OMG, Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

For days I have been struggling with why my Media Center was freezing up when I tried to access the Electronic Program Guide.  After reading your fix, I removed a recently installed .NET Framework 4.0 download/install, and Media Center once again worked fine.

About 4 days ago, I had to reinstall my Windows XP Media Center Edition OS.  After downloading and installing all the Microsoft updates after that OS reinstall, I inadvertently chose to download and install .NET Framework 4.0.  When I launched Media Center after that, and went through the Media Center initial setup procedure, when I got to the screens where you're asked to identify your cable service provider so that it can download the appropriate EPG, Media Center just froze.  I struggled with this problem for two days -- reading countless websites and forums, trying to figure out what was wrong.

I am very perturbed that Microsoft Support / Knowledge Base does not have this problem and solution listed in their system.  I spent hours and hours trying various things that I thought might be causing the problem.

Happy to hear you found this thread and it solved your problem. I went through the same thing you did. I reinstalled XP MCE and installed all windows updates including net4 and when I went to setup the guide ran into all kinds of problems. Spent a lot of time trying to fix, but it wasn't until I posted this here on the green button forum did I get it resolved.

Awesome Forum!

If you haven't already, please post to this web-page using the link below to inform MS of your problems and what fixed it. It will help MS move faster to resolve this issue as its just a matter of time before a program needs net4 to be installed on your PC. You will need to create a @live, or @hotmail email account (very easy) if you don't have one already. For more info read this entire thread.

https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/594777/net-4-and-mce2005-epg-download

MCENutz

If you haven't already, please post to this web-page using the link below to inform MS of your problems and what fixed it. It will help MS move faster to resolve this issue as its just a matter of time before a program needs net4 to be installed on your PC. You will need to create a @live, or @hotmail email account (very easy) if you don't have one already. For more info read this entire thread.

https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/594777/net-4-and-mce2005-epg-download

Thanks -- I did in fact already do that.

SFNiceGuy

MCENutz

If you haven't already, please post to this web-page using the link below to inform MS of your problems and what fixed it. It will help MS move faster to resolve this issue as its just a matter of time before a program needs net4 to be installed on your PC. You will need to create a @live, or @hotmail email account (very easy) if you don't have one already. For more info read this entire thread.

https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/594777/net-4-and-mce2005-epg-download

 

 

Thanks -- I did in fact already do that.

 Awesome, Thank You SFNiceGuy for going that extra mile, I hope it will make the difference!

Thnx

OMG - I don't think I can type THANK YOU enough.  I use MC to TiVO and haven't been able to for  awhile, couldn't figure out what had changed then I saw this thread.

 Thank you, you guys are awesome.

Same problem- media center freezes after entering zipcode during live tv guide installation.

Tried uninstalling .net4 (extended and client) got to next screen then froze again.

Re-installed .net

Froze at zipcode

Solution:  Got out of full screen mode- sized window to 1/4 screen. - Install finished (gotta love Microsoft).

P.S. I'm also using homerun tuner

 Same as the rest above, XP Media center hangs, black screen on resume from S3, etc. uninstall NET Framework 4.0 and all issues resolved.