TVE Beta: Recordings causing problems with Windows Explorer

Channels DVR Server TV Everywhere
#101

OK....just discovered that IF i go into the DVR folder through the Linux OS that is installed on the server computer, Linux Mint 19.3...

I rename the file from .mpg to .mp4 or .mkv, Explorer no longer hangs or crashes.
(changing it to .ts does not work)

I can now right click fine, open the video file and it opens instantly.
It does try to load a thumbnail at first, but stops, so that still fails....but does not crash or freeze Explorer like before.

Can any one else confirm this with a known problem TVE channel for them?
For me, it is at least Nat Geo Wild.

I also was able to do the same thing with the secondary DVR i have setup, pull the drive, connect it to Linux computer, rename the .mpg to .mp4, and connect it to Windows computer, no more crashing. Rename it back to .mpg, it crashes.

So....maybe can Channels try infact, setting their internal ffmpeg to output .mp4, and maybe that will have the same result?

@tmm1 and other devs?

EDIT: Media info does have a line that say invalid file extension..but...if the file still work fine...who cares? though, the next logical question is, would that affect other things. I did rename one of the unaffected TVE files in the same fashion, did not seem to cause any issues.

mediainfo
mediainfo1089×461 98.6 KB

#102

I had forgotten that Channels DVR already id's these problem recordings.

If you look in the DVR log at the [MTS] statistics for the recordings, the ones with issues will have 'saw_pcr=false'.

2021/02/27 07:00:00.014164 [TNR] Closed connection to TVE-Comcast_SSO for ch6108 DIY
2021/02/27 07:00:00.057289 [MTS] Statistics for "TV/This Old House/This Old House S34E08 2012-11-24 Cambridge 2012 Plaster Shingles Radiant Heat 2021-02-27-0654.mpg": skipped=0 unhandled_packets=0 discontinuity_detected=7 transport_errors=0 invalid_pts=0 invalid_dts=0 saw_pcr=false saw_pmt=true highest_pts=334.179456

#103

Not a CDVR issue. I don't use CDVR to record any TVE channel. I still see this issue from a few channels that I an aware of - FXM, TVLAND, FreeForm are those I am aware of.
Essentially these recordings are corrupt causing Explorer to freak out. 7-Zip file manager has less issue when viewing these folders. There is a setting in Explorer "always show icons never thumbnails" I have not used it to try as a fix but it may work.
I have been trying without success to develop a script to handle the FFMPEG conversions for these recordings. I know those channels that I record from that have these issues so I manually run the conversion(s) before any of the other post recording processing runs and I use 7-Zip file manager to delete the original corrupted files.

#104

Interesting. What is your source for those channels, HDHR tuner?

#105

TVE is the source for those channels - that have the stream 0 issue.
So yes the fix is to record from another source - HDHR in my case.
If it was possible to script it all I would stick with TVE for all of it.

I am actually not even sure we can blame TVE and not the local CATV provider - I don't know the specifics of where "My" TVE streams originate.

#106

All TVE streams come from the respective channels' own websites. Their source/origin is separate from your cable/satellite/streaming provider.

2 Likes
#107

Technically this is a bug in Windows. The mpg files are valid and work fine in every other piece of software. If there was an easy fix on our side, we would have implemented it.

I would like to follow up with some of our contacts at Microsoft about this. It would be helpful to get some debug captures which I can share with them. When Explorer freezes, please click Windows key + F to open Feedback Hub and submit (explain how explorer is locking up when opening folders with certain types of mpegts files). Then share a link to your feedback report here and we will try to escalate it and get some guidance from the Windows team on how best to workaround this problem.

#108

I have already found and presented 2x workaround solutions on here....that work.
Remux the file after its recorded(100% works file is perfect afterwards) or save it as a .mp4 not .mpg(stops Explorer from crashing but still a "bad" file"

1 Like
#109

Not sure if that would work for me, as i have not enabled all that crap what is part of Win 10 telemetry and sending thing to MS sever. I also have a AGH DNS blocker that also block all the spying and data mining crap the OS has.

Something i will note, however, I have my old laptop, set for Windows Insider, getting Dev builds of Win 10....just to see what the future holds and see the changes they are making. Explorer on that , behaves a bit differently in this test case. In that, it just freezes the whole computer and does not auto recover, U can do Ctrl +Alt+Del and get that screen, up and load task mon, but Explorer will not force close and only a shutdown/restart can be done. So, somethings have been changed with Explorer already as they continue to make new win 10 builds...its dev code, so, of cource, not considered stable, but, worth mentining.

#110

If you submit to feedback hub from the insider build that will give us a lot of the information we need to get this resolved.

#111

I submitted feedback from my main laptop, but saw no link or way to share it. it just said submitted.

I try the same thing on the dev insider build...and computer won't load the Feedback up, cause its locked up, then it BSOD.

It hasnt been updated to latest dev build....will update and try again.

#112

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/130174-share-feedback-feedback-hub-windows-10-a.html

#113

Doesn't show anything there under my feedback
Maybe it takes a while to show up.

#114

As a workaround I use the following in a CMD file to handle the conversions:
for %%A IN (nameoffile*.ts) DO ffmpeg -i "%%A" -c copy "D:\recordings%%~nA.mp4"

Then as I said use 7-Zip file manager to delete the original file.

If there is a simpler/alternate method I am always looking to try something new.

#115

So...still not seeing my feedback.
I got confirmation via the Win notifications all the data was submitted...so it was not blocked by my DNS filter (I made sure the Win 10 block list was disabled too).

Screenshot 2021-02-27 (4)

#116

After I remux, I leave the original file and delete from within Channels.

1 Like
#117

I was able to submit Feedback and get a link from my Insider build laptop. no idea why it still will not show on my main laptop.

it made a link, but, it looks like u have to login as me to see it?

1 Like
#118

Seems like this has been a known issue in Windows for a long time.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files-winpc/windows-10-file-explorer-always-scans-a-ts-file-on/ddd6d412-ba2a-48c2-8fa2-64a9c07d502c?page=1

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/windows-10-hanging-when-selecting-large-ts/dfdc431d-6590-49dc-91f0-7c604da10fa3

#119

I looked into this today. Even if we update the PMT to remove the incorrect PCR pointer, Windows still tries to read the entire file trying to find a PCR and hangs Explorer until its done.

#120

I'm not sure if it's non-compliant or against specs to have the ts without a PCR. If so, then Discovery and any others doing this are to blame. Probably have as much luck getting them to admit and fix as it is to get Microsoft to fix the Windows Explorer issue.

Regardless, the issue is because of how Windows is parsing the file to look for stats like duration, dimensions, frame rate, etc. I don't know how Windows does the parsing.

All I know is if I remux with ffmpeg (ffmpeg -i "filename.mpg" -c copy "filename.ts") or save with my video editor, they both create the PCR that is missing and put it in the video stream PID where it belongs. (Not enough packets in an audio stream for the PCR)