WMC only running in background, won't open

ThoseEyes · 06 Jun 2015

I've been using WMC for years, and Sony's Giga Pocket before that, but when MS decided to withdraw support for Win7, all kinds of problems began.
What's important here is that I can't reliably open WMC. For a while I could do a system restore which would allow me to open it, but now even system restore doesn't work so I've had to restore from a disc. There have been a series of annoyances, including being told that I wasn't running authentic Windows 7 (I am, and it goes away when I restore from disc), to having video conflicts in Firefox (I've reinstalled FF, Shockwave etc).
Regarding media center specifically, programs I've scheduled as series are recording, and I can watch them utilizing VLC, but obviously if I can't open it, I can't program it.
I've considered replacing it with other programs (Media Portal or MythTV), but couldn't seem to get them set up and wound up deleting them.
TIA

Indianatone · 08 Jun 2015

Sounds to me like Media Center is the least of your problems. You have error after error. 2 possibilities, 1 Viruses and Malware and or 2 a defective hard drive causing errors. Download this programs free trial and post a screen shot:

Download Hard Disk Sentinel

ThoseEyes · 11 Oct 2015

I'm really sorry I didn't respond to your kind reply before now. No good excuse, just an apology.
Almost every time I sat down to that machine, I was running Malwarebytes, CCleaner and Advanced System Care, so I was relatively sure the issue wasn't malware of some kind. Frankly it seemed like it was timed to MS deciding to withdraw support for Win7 and trying to push us into using Win10. I wouldn't have had an issue with that, except that I've been using a computer as a DVR for more than 15 years and I didn't want to relinquish that capability.
I've been toying with it, trying one thing or another, for the better part of a year now.
Last week I tried Glary Utilities 5. I don't know if that's what made the difference, or if MS did something, but some things are better. Not everything, but some of it. For example, Media Center is running just fine, but Media Player hasn't been opening.
There are any number of positive signs though, not the least of which is that Windows Updates are apparently all up to date. I had been getting some of them, but the majority were failing. Also, the Get Windows 10 icon just showed up on the taskbar.
In the meantime, I got deal on a Tivo Roamio<G>.

Layback Bear · 11 Oct 2015

Advanced System Care and Glary Utilities 5 could of cause your problems.

Advanced System Care from IObits for sure destroys computer systems.
Removing such programs doesn't help because it leaves the damage it done behind.

Lets start with something basic. Complete this tutorial by Brinks and post it here.

Windows Genuine and Activation Issue Posting Instructions

ThoseEyes · 11 Oct 2015

Code:

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-73CQT-WMF7J-3Q6C9
Windows Product Key Hash: KaFG+RmurcM3ZxzWyfEP9WtPUJw=
Windows Product ID: 00359-OEM-8992687-00010
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003
ID: {FBD1D098-BF3F-42ED-8792-8EB7B39C5D4B}(1)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.150722-0600
TTS Error: 
Validation Diagnostic: 
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 109 N/A
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{FBD1D098-BF3F-42ED-8792-8EB7B39C5D4B}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010300.1.0.003</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-3Q6C9</PKey><PID>00359-OEM-8992687-00010</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-936460903-1662828138-813934271</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>HP-Pavilion</Manufacturer><Model>BK173AA-ABA HPE-240f</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>American Megatrends Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>5.13</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="6"/><Date>20100303000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>2FA23E07018400FC</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Pacific Standard Time(GMT-08:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM><OEMID>HPQOEM</OEMID><OEMTableID>SLIC-CPC</OEMTableID></OEM><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514

Name: Windows(R) 7, HomePremium edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channel
Activation ID: d2c04e90-c3dd-4260-b0f3-f845f5d27d64
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00359-00178-926-800010-02-1033-7600.0000-0392010
Installation ID: 021523946440218545091111359840771986317636289914862424
Processor Certificate URL: SpcService Web Service
Machine Certificate URL: RacService Web Service
Use License URL: UseLicenseService Web Service
Product Key Certificate URL: PkcService Web Service
Partial Product Key: 3Q6C9
License Status: Licensed
Remaining Windows rearm count: 3
Trusted time: 10/11/2015 4:47:18 PM

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: N/A
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: MgAAAAEAAAABAAEAAQADAAAAAwABAAEAln2wLXbIgojeK8QxYj0CTN/GuL9mBCYCXF0=

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes
Windows marker version: 0x20001
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: yes
BIOS Information: 
  ACPI Table Name	OEMID Value	OEMTableID Value
  APIC			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  FACP			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  HPET			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  MCFG			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  SLIC			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  OEMB			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  SSDT			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  GSCI			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC
  SSDT			HPQOEM		SLIC-CPC

wasnotwas · 13 Oct 2015

ThoseEyes said:

Frankly it seemed like it was timed to MS deciding to withdraw support for Win7 and trying to push us into using Win10. I wouldn't have had an issue with that, except that I've been using a computer as a DVR for more than 15 years and I didn't want to relinquish that capability.

I have Media Center running on a Windows 10 box. Live TV, epg, scheduled recording OK (here in UK). Ten forums thread -

Microsoft's discontinued Media Center suite can now unofficially... - Windows 10 Forums

ThoseEyes · 13 Oct 2015

ThoseEyes said:

I'm really sorry I didn't respond to your kind reply before now. No good excuse, just an apology.
Almost every time I sat down to that machine, I was running Malwarebytes, CCleaner and Advanced System Care, so I was relatively sure the issue wasn't malware of some kind. Frankly it seemed like it was timed to MS deciding to withdraw support for Win7 and trying to push us into using Win10. I wouldn't have had an issue with that, except that I've been using a computer as a DVR for more than 15 years and I didn't want to relinquish that capability.
I've been toying with it, trying one thing or another, for the better part of a year now.
Last week I tried Glary Utilities 5. I don't know if that's what made the difference, or if MS did something, but some things are better. Not everything, but some of it. For example, Media Center is running just fine, but Media Player hasn't been opening.
There are any number of positive signs though, not the least of which is that Windows Updates are apparently all up to date. I had been getting some of them, but the majority were failing. Also, the Get Windows 10 icon just showed up on the taskbar.
In the meantime, I got deal on a Tivo Roamio<G>.

The day after I made the post above, there was a MS update which required a reboot. I'm back to WMC not opening. System restore won't complete.
I have tried to update to Win10, it downloads, but won't install.

Layback Bear · 14 Oct 2015

I see nothing wrong in your log. I also have a friend take a look and the log is fine.

Once you have used

Advanced System Care and Glary Utilities 5 the first thing that comes to mind is removing both of them and then go back to a
Restore Point before you had either installed. Then run SFC /SCANNOW as per this tutorial by Brink and see if that works for you.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Let us know if it works.