How to Migrate Scheduled Recordings (Recording Schedule)

[JazJon]

I've been putting it off too, I think I'll wait until next week. I have fiends visiting this weekend and I'd hate to have the tv recordings and media center in general all messed up. (I use it for whole house itunes music etc too, so no time to rush a install/re-setup)
I'll post my results of using MCBackup when I finally rebuild

[tony_park]

Thanks Jon.

I'm hoping that the new dvblink software that is going into beta next week will help with the scheduled recordings backup, as they are changing the way the tuners work... time will tell


Tony

[acraigl]

I once used MCBackup and it did work, but a little too well. It is not a wipe/restore and when it was run more than once, it created dups of everything. Scheduled recordings, channels, etc. Either I was not careful, or there was an error, or something, but ultimately I just took photos of the series settings and did it manually. It forced you to clear out all the old shows that are no longer airing, or in my case, TONS of kids shows they no longer watch.

My opinion of this is the same as of Windows -- best to do a clean install.

[.Nico]

1. Backup the following folders from the existing installation: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
2. Install the new Windows 7 media center
3. Copy the files/folders from step 1 onto the new system
4. run the following command: C:\Windows\eHome\loadmxf.exe -i C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
5. download the latest EPG info from within media centre

.Nico

[STC]

Fantastic. That one is to be noted, thanks!

[WScottCross]

1. Backup the following folders from the existing installation: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
2. Install the new Windows 7 media center
3. Copy the files/folders from step 1 onto the new system
4. run the following command: C:\Windows\eHome\loadmxf.exe -i C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
5. download the latest EPG info from within media centre

.Nico

The path should be C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg2-0\backup\recordings. At least that's how it is on my machines.

[StumpyBloke]

If that does work then that's the dogs danglies!!!

[.Nico]

1. Backup the following folders from the existing installation: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
2. Install the new Windows 7 media center
3. Copy the files/folders from step 1 onto the new system
4. run the following command: C:\Windows\eHome\loadmxf.exe -i C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
5. download the latest EPG info from within media centre

.Nico

The path should be C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg2-0\backup\recordings. At least that's how it is on my machines.

Excusez moi, you're right! it can even be a subfolder of mcepg2-1 or mcepg2-2 depending the number of the tuner installed.

.Nico

[JazJon]

The following program worked perfect for me. (x64 too)

WMC7 TV Recording Schedule Backup

https://sites.google.com/site/wmc7tvseriesbackup/

I used Guide Tool for channel lineup, and the above for scheduled recordings.

My fresh system is up and running, I'm happy! (was easy/breezy)

[w84no1]

I used MCBackup with DVBLink Virtual Tuners and it worked perfectly. First, I backed up my recording schedule with MCBackup, then backed up my lineup with GuideTool. Next, I restored my lineup on my new machine with GuideTool, then restored my scheduled recordings with MCBackup. Haven't missed or added a recording in 2 weeks

[gpatlanta]

If that does work then that's the dogs danglies!!!

Haven't seen that one before, but I love it.

[GnatGoSplat]

1. Backup the following folders from the existing installation: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
2. Install the new Windows 7 media center
3. Copy the files/folders from step 1 onto the new system
4. run the following command: C:\Windows\eHome\loadmxf.exe -i C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
5. download the latest EPG info from within media centre

Does this no longer work in Windows 8.1 Media Center? Or is there another step I'm missing?
I get:
"Error: c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-0\backup\recordings does not exist or can not be opened for reading. Aborting."

The file path is correct and I used TAB key to make sure everything is spelled correctly.

[DavidinCT]

1. Backup the following folders from the existing installation: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
2. Install the new Windows 7 media center
3. Copy the files/folders from step 1 onto the new system
4. run the following command: C:\Windows\eHome\loadmxf.exe -i C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\backup\recordings
5. download the latest EPG info from within media centre

Does this no longer work in Windows 8.1 Media Center? Or is there another step I'm missing?
I get:
"Error: c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-0\backup\recordings does not exist or can not be opened for reading. Aborting."

The file path is correct and I used TAB key to make sure everything is spelled correctly.

Windows 8 media center is the SAME product as what is in Windows 7 besides some missing settings (that can be set via the registry manually).

If you right click on the start menu, select run copy in "c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-0\backup\recordings" does it show you the folder ? (this assuming 8.1, or in Windows 7 it's start and run)

If it does, show me the full command line your running...This still does work on 8/8.1

If your OLD PC is still up, just uses SEANSWMC backup, it's simple, quick and it does work....(just use show backups)

[GnatGoSplat]

I set up the tuner again and now it's mcepg3-1, but this is exactly what I entered:

Code: Select all

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>c:\Windows\ehome\loadmxf.exe -i c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHo
me\mcepg3-1\backup\recordings
Error: c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-1\backup\recordings does not exist
or can not be opened for reading. Aborting.

C:\Windows\system32>cd \ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-1\backup\recordings

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-1\backup\recordings>dir
 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 8EA3-F3EB

 Directory of C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-1\backup\recordings

07/18/2015  12:18 AM    <DIR>          .
07/18/2015  12:18 AM    <DIR>          ..
06/28/2015  07:09 PM            31,955 20150628_190952
06/29/2015  03:18 AM            31,955 20150629_031832
06/29/2015  03:22 PM            31,955 20150629_152154
07/17/2015  03:53 PM            12,532 20150717_155307
07/17/2015  09:01 PM            12,532 20150717_210109
07/17/2015  09:05 PM            12,644 20150717_210512
               6 File(s)        133,573 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  874,136,342,528 bytes free

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\eHome\mcepg3-1\backup\recordings>

When I do a dir, it shows the current files in it, and also the ones I backed up from before. There are no .mxf files in the folder. If I rename my files to .mxf, then there is no error, but my recordings didn't get added back in either.
It's the same PC, just the previous install got corrupted and wouldn't boot so I had to do a clean install.

[artm]

If your OLD PC is still up, just uses SEANSWMC backup, it's simple, quick and it does work....(just use show backups)

I just downloaded and ran Sean's program to backup the recording schedule to this file on my desktop:

WMC Recording Schedule Backup (Jan252017)-[182122].WMCsched

But how do I restore it to a different setup?

[artm]

I now see with loadmxf...but according to this site:

http://www.jamesrchadwick.me/2013/06/ba ... edule.html

...it says "assuming no hardware changes or driver changes between reinstalls" we can do this. So, does this restore work between different systems or not?

[sbaeder]

But how do I restore it to a different setup?

No, it has it's own ability to re-import the schedule after your all set up. Much easier than it appears

[DavidinCT]

If your OLD PC is still up, just uses SEANSWMC backup, it's simple, quick and it does work....(just use show backups)

I just downloaded and ran Sean's program to backup the recording schedule to this file on my desktop:

WMC Recording Schedule Backup (Jan252017)-[182122].WMCsched

But how do I restore it to a different setup?

Although you replied to a post from 2015. After you back up (using SEANSbackup and moving the backup to another computer or usb drive), nuke your system, reinstall Windows and setup tuners in WMC (DO NOT SCHCHEDULE ANYTHING TO REOCRD), once live tv is working. GO back into Sean's WMC backup, and an option will show up to restore. This program depends on No recording schedule. If it sees a recording scheuled, it does not allow you to restore.

Now, if your going from WIndows 7 to Windows 8.1, it does not work that way, If you go from Windows 7, it will restore on Windows 7. All it does is follow the manual backup above, if you open the file it creates, it's just the "recordings" file from above but, it's open and click program to do it.

I checked on this trying to get a restore from 7 to 8.1 and on the recording files (if you edit with a text editor) the versions of WMC are different (as they match the OS version), so if you take a older WMC files and restore it to a NEWER, it will not work.

And NEVER restore tuners... This is a very quick was to FORCE yourself to have to reset WMC....Trust me on this.

[artm]

So, the method works when going to an entirely new system? You say "nuke...and reinstall" suggesting on the same system. I'm forced to scrap my existing one (Intel HD3000) and install on a new with discrete graphics. Win7, same version on both.

[DavidinCT]

So, the method works when going to an entirely new system? You say "nuke...and reinstall" suggesting on the same system. I'm forced to scrap my existing one (Intel HD3000) and install on a new with discrete graphics. Win7, same version on both.

Nah, as long as it's the same version of WIndows that is what I mean. I could take it from a old dual core to a $1200 7 CPU with RAID drives and with the schedule it would not make a difference.

The Key thing is the version of Windows. Like I Said, going from WIndows 7 to 8.1 wont work. Althrough there is work-arounds to get it done.