Lost All Playlists

[mckyj57]

I have been using Hoster as a practice setup for over two years now. I have built a Playlist of about 200 songs that I practice at least occasionally, along with a couple of dozen other lists.

I have Hoster 3.318 on Windows XP.

Without changing anything else on the system, I re-imported a disk to rip at 192 from Hosters importer (versus other ripper --> 128M MP3+G --> Import to KMA).

When I did that, and tried to play the re-imported song from the existing instance I had ripped from, I got an error.

I exited Hoster to start over, hoping it would play the newly-imported file when I started it again. When I restarted, *all* my playlists were gone. Every one of them, about a dozen. No other files appear to be gone.

I searched the entire hard disk for *.hst files -- not a one. Where have they gone?

I would like to get my lists back. I have older backups that I can try and rebuild from, but it will be a pain. I don't use Hoster for gigs any more, so it's not like I lost my singer history or something. But I would like to get my lists back.

[ddouglass]

3.318 and 3.319 both were causing files to disappear, so MTU put out announcements and emails to not use these versions and came up with a version 3.321 to fix the problem. This was several months ago. If you go to the Support Downloads for Hoster you will still find a copy of 3.321 that you can download and install for free with your existing regcode.
Do a search in this forum there were a couple ways to try to recover your files listed in threads about this.

[mckyj57]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

3.318 and 3.319 both were causing files to disappear, so MTU put out announcements and emails to not use these versions and came up with a version 3.321 to fix the problem. This was several months ago. If you go to the Support Downloads for Hoster you will still find a copy of 3.321 that you can download and install for free with your existing regcode.
Do a search in this forum there were a couple ways to try to recover your files listed in threads about this.

Now we see the same old problem I have with MTU Hoster. Any time anyone reports a problem or makes a suggestion, the kneejerk reaction from people here seems to be to point fingers at everyone else and get defensive. If you look at the sticky thread about losing files, it reads like one big defense of MTU. It also says nothing about losing anything but KMA files, and intimates all the way through that Vista is causing it all.

I am not interested in reading through defense screeds -- I want a bug fix. I don't want ads for extra-cost things like SpinRite, and announcements how you are eligible to get a fix download if you bought on or after a certain date. And what is with a zillion sticky posts but not one on how to download the newest version?

I think the best thing for me to do is just finally give up on MTU. Every time I have a problem, it is a bad experience because everyone is so darned defensive. And because fixes are so darn hard to get, and because you have to beg for someone to allow you to install the darn thing. (Sometimes waiting a week or two for a response.)

[ddouglass]

I am sorry you feel that way. All I was trying to do was give you a way to get you playlists back. If you don't want help then don't post your problems here.
I was not defending MTU, but trying to point you to a solution. Hoster has been fixed, but there is no way for MTU to help you recover those lost files.
I have been working with computers for 40 years and most of the problems do come right back to the operating system either not installed right or not beening updated with fixes Microsoft puts out. Yes sometimes 3rd party programs do have bugs and cause problems, but Hoster cannot delete files and has no commands or utilities to do so. They did fix the problem and it was an operating system bug that they had to rewrite code to get around.
I am not sure why you say the fix is hard to get. It is still available for download and installs with your existing registration code with no need for intervention from MTU.

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by mckyj57

I have been using Hoster as a practice setup for over two years now. I have built a Playlist of about 200 songs that I practice at least occasionally, along with a couple of dozen other lists.

I have Hoster 3.318 on Windows XP.

Without changing anything else on the system, I re-imported a disk to rip at 192 from Hosters importer (versus other ripper --> 128M MP3+G --> Import to KMA).

When I did that, and tried to play the re-imported song from the existing instance I had ripped from, I got an error.

The reason for this is the entry on the playlist told Hoster to use the mp3g player built into the software but the file it tried to play was no longer mp3g. Each file type has its own player.

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by mckyj57

Now we see the same old problem I have with MTU Hoster. Any time anyone reports a problem or makes a suggestion, the kneejerk reaction from people here seems to be to point fingers at everyone else and get defensive. If you look at the sticky thread about losing files, it reads like one big defense of MTU. It also says nothing about losing anything but KMA files, and intimates all the way through that Vista is causing it all.

I am not interested in reading through defense screeds -- I want a bug fix. I don't want ads for extra-cost things like SpinRite, and announcements how you are eligible to get a fix download if you bought on or after a certain date. And what is with a zillion sticky posts but not one on how to download the newest version?

I think the best thing for me to do is just finally give up on MTU. Every time I have a problem, it is a bad experience because everyone is so darned defensive. And because fixes are so darn hard to get, and because you have to beg for someone to allow you to install the darn thing. (Sometimes waiting a week or two for a response.)

Every owner of record was sent an email warning of this and advised to stop using it. Folks who ignored the warnings did so at their own peril.

I am not interested in reading through defense screeds -- I want a bug fix.

That's what 3.321 is.

[Beavis]

Originally Posted by mckyj57

Now we see the same old problem I have with MTU Hoster. Any time anyone reports a problem or makes a suggestion, the kneejerk reaction from people here seems to be to point fingers at everyone else and get defensive. If you look at the sticky thread about losing files, it reads like one big defense of MTU. It also says nothing about losing anything but KMA files, and intimates all the way through that Vista is causing it all.

I am not interested in reading through defense screeds -- I want a bug fix. I don't want ads for extra-cost things like SpinRite, and announcements how you are eligible to get a fix download if you bought on or after a certain date. And what is with a zillion sticky posts but not one on how to download the newest version?

I think the best thing for me to do is just finally give up on MTU. Every time I have a problem, it is a bad experience because everyone is so darned defensive. And because fixes are so darn hard to get, and because you have to beg for someone to allow you to install the darn thing. (Sometimes waiting a week or two for a response.)

you my friend are a CLOWN !

no ones perfect ! especially Microsoft !

[mckyj57]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

I am sorry you feel that way. All I was trying to do was give you a way to get you playlists back. If you don't want help then don't post your problems here.

I am hoping that someday, somehow, I will have a trouble-free interaction with MTU and their support. You can't email them any more, you have to post here. So this is their official way to do things. There is no other place to go.

I was not defending MTU, but trying to point you to a solution. Hoster has been fixed, but there is no way for MTU to help you recover those lost files.

How can I know that Hoster has been fixed? They never said what the problem is, nor what they did to fix it. The version I am supposed to upgrade from was supposed to be the fix for problems in 3.316 or 3.317 (I believe). And nowhere does my problem appear in the lists of things that are fixed by 3.319-21a.

I have been working with computers for 40 years and most of the problems do come right back to the operating system either not installed right or not beening updated with fixes Microsoft puts out. Yes sometimes 3rd party programs do have bugs and cause problems, but Hoster cannot delete files and has no commands or utilities to do so.

Sure it can delete files. Not only that, it did. Not only that, it can make system calls that delete files just like every other program using the libraries it uses.

They did fix the problem and it was an operating system bug that they had to rewrite code to get around.

I simply don't believe that. I am on XP, and if XP was deleting files willy-nilly then there would be a stink like you can't believe. If it was a bug in XP, the fix announcement should state what that bug is and what was done to work around it. There is no such information given.

I am not sure why you say the fix is hard to get. It is still available for download and installs with your existing registration code with no need for intervention from MTU.

It is hard to get because I have no idea what my qualifying date is exactly. It requires registrations and "phone home". And because it isn't done automatically as virtually every other piece of software is today. The several times I have done or tried to do it before, I had to wait for divine intervention which was slow in coming. It is never just "click here to upgrade", which just about everything is these days.

Now bear in mind that I am not talking about you or other individuals, I am talking about MTU.

I have been working with computers for 30 years, and programming them for 20. I know that if you point fingers at other things then issue a fix, it means either 1) you don't really know what is going on or 2) you are not willing to admit you can make a mistake. I personally can make and have made plenty of mistakes, and when I screw up I say "I screwed up".

Nothing in the 3.318 / 3.319 post says anything about deleting playlists. It says nothing about what the problem really was, nor even that there was a programming error. It points fingers in every which direction and talks about things that have nothing to do with the problem. It intimates that Vista is the problem, and I don't use Vista.

I had already gone through all the changeLogs for 3.xxx versions, and searched the forums before posting. Nothing said anything about deleting files on XP. There were some mentions of deleting folders and possibly KMA files, and mentioning Vista, but nothing describing my particular problem at all.

When I post a fix to a problem with something I write, I include a link to a fix. And if some information is needed to install the fix, like purchase date, I state how you can find that out. Most importantly, I describe the defect in the program and state what happened to cause the fault. None of that is present in the sticky thread here, which makes me wonder why it is sticky.

I originally purchased Hoster in November of 2005, I am pretty sure. But beyond that I don't really know. I may have upgraded in December of 2006 or so, but I couldn't tell you for sure. Am I supposed to write a note to myself to note the date? I found my original install email, and nowhere does it say "note this date, you will need it for future upgrades". If they are checking such things, there should be that date in the About for the program, one would think. When I go to Help --> About Hoster, it gives me no help on how I find out whether I am eligible to upgrade. When I click check for updates, nothing there tells me whether I am eligible. The last time I just tried to install it, I was down for a week waiting for a support response as it wiped out my authorization to run it on that computer.

I am just frustrated because every time I try to interact with MTU, it is never as simple as "We screwed up, here's the fix. We apologize for your trouble." And it always involves people chiding me that I somehow should have done something to avoid the problem.

I have spent almost a thousand dollars with MTU, and I am not happy. I don't use the software anymore for gigs because it lagged badly in feature set, obviating my investment. I have had hassle after hassle trying to figure out how to upgrade and install, manually reentering the same old name, address, and email a dozen times, when nowadays the standard is "click this link".

[mckyj57]

Originally Posted by Beavis

you my friend are a CLOWN !

no ones perfect ! especially Microsoft !

I absolutely agree that no one is perfect. Which is why you shouldn't try to pretend that they are by pointing fingers at Microsoft instead of fixing problems.

[Beavis]

do you really think its easy what MTU does ??

do you think everyone in this world has the exact same computer, with the exact same operating system ????


trust me, when ever there is a problem, 8 out of 10 times its a microsoft update that installed and you didnt even know it.


my personal computer i reformat every six months because Microsoft is such lame software ! it is so unstable.

everytime microsoft has a problem, the last thing they are doing is getting right on the problem !!

the last thing microsoft has to do is keep your business !! they could care a less about you !!! they have you whipped !


be thankful you dont have to lug all those disc around !

until microsoft came out with vista, hoster had no problems like they are having now!

i find that 4.03 runs pretty good on XP !

[mckyj57]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

Every owner of record was sent an email warning of this and advised to stop using it. Folks who ignored the warnings did so at their own peril.

I didn't receive such an email to my knowledge. If one was sent, certainly the problem that caused such an extraordinary response should be detailed in the changelog. I don't see it there, at least not talking about deleting files. I see something talking about "restoring to reliability" but nothing saying this is a critical upgrade that all users should perform.

That's what 3.321 is.

I would appreciate it if you can point me to the ChangeLog entry describing where it fixes problems with deleting random files during normal operation. I see mentions of KMA files on Vista, or on upgrade or install. But I see nothing in red describing a critical upgrade regarding data loss.

[Beavis]

http://forum.mtu.com/showthread.php?t=9859




http://forum.mtu.com/showthread.php?t=9827

[mckyj57]

Originally Posted by Beavis

http://forum.mtu.com/showthread.php?t=9859




http://forum.mtu.com/showthread.php?t=9827

You post links to threads I mention already having read.

[Beavis]

if your serious about doing karaoke commercially, you need to be a part of this forum and come here every day! no software is flawless.

dale helps countless people here and to knock him just isnt right.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by mckyj57

I am hoping that someday, somehow, I will have a trouble-free interaction with MTU and their support. You can't email them any more, you have to post here. So this is their official way to do things. There is no other place to go.

You can email them through the Support page on the website. It is a Support email and creates a ticket for support to work on.

Originally Posted by mckyj57

How can I know that Hoster has been fixed? They never said what the problem is, nor what they did to fix it. The version I am supposed to upgrade from was supposed to be the fix for problems in 3.316 or 3.317 (I believe). And nowhere does my problem appear in the lists of things that are fixed by 3.319-21a.

Microsoft doesn't tell you anything either other this is a security update for XP or a program.

Originally Posted by mckyj57

Sure it can delete files. Not only that, it did. Not only that, it can make system calls that delete files just like every other program using the libraries it uses.

I simply don't believe that. I am on XP, and if XP was deleting files willy-nilly then there would be a stink like you can't believe. If it was a bug in XP, the fix announcement should state what that bug is and what was done to work around it. There is no such information given.

And it was the system call that they pointed too that was creating the problem. Since they were not aware of the problem in this call then it happened. Most people would not know what they were talking about if they did.
Even though most of those that had the files deleted were using Vista there were also those using XP who were having the same problem. Just because playlists were not named as missing does not mean those people didn't also lose some of those. Not everyone saves Playlists.

Originally Posted by mckyj57

It is hard to get because I have no idea what my qualifying date is exactly. It requires registrations and "phone home". And because it isn't done automatically as virtually every other piece of software is today. The several times I have done or tried to do it before, I had to wait for divine intervention which was slow in coming. It is never just "click here to upgrade", which just about everything is these days.

If you go to the website and sign in to your account the information is there. Gee then I guess Microsoft's Activation and Validation is all done virtually??? Change something major on your computer and see how virtual it is. Change it twice and you have to call to get a new Activation code.

Originally Posted by mckyj57

I originally purchased Hoster in November of 2005, I am pretty sure. But beyond that I don't really know. I may have upgraded in December of 2006 or so, but I couldn't tell you for sure. Am I supposed to write a note to myself to note the date? I found my original install email, and nowhere does it say "note this date, you will need it for future upgrades". If they are checking such things, there should be that date in the About for the program, one would think. When I go to Help --> About Hoster, it gives me no help on how I find out whether I am eligible to upgrade. When I click check for updates, nothing there tells me whether I am eligible. The last time I just tried to install it, I was down for a week waiting for a support response as it wiped out my authorization to run it on that computer.

If you go to the website and sign in to your account the information is there.

[bigjohn]

Well guys vista is causing a lot of problems for everyone and MTU has told us to go back to xp kinda i dont use vista and wont for some time like maybe sp2 or sp3 lol. I had problems with 4xxx on xp also and i know all machines are made up different so tell us the best way to setup windows for a dedicated hosting machine nothing else installed but hoster if thats best. But I will tell you this I would never just install upgrade and think its will work fine again. I would have till now and I also know there is a lot going on in this upgrade. even files that were imported from zips wow what a mess to clear up now. anyway will fix it all up as we go i guess. tell singers im sorry but working on it. lol life is short take it easy all you hoster guys and gals

[gd123]

My first clue...oh...I already said that.

In all seriousness, when I read that that the KMA Header was being updated (changed), and, that certain KMA imported trks needed to be "Converted," before performing any "Upgrade," I would have made a Complete BACKUP of my KMAs in case anything went wrong after the Upgrade.

This would include Backing UP any .Hst files, et cetra/ et all.

Come on guys, 4.0 was a M A J O R Upgrade!

Any and all problems reported since the 4.0 release, could have been resolved by going back to 3.321 and overwriting KMAs with the Backup KMAs. End of story.

With 20 years Computer experience, I'm sure you must have tried to see if your deleted .HST files were in the RECYCLE BIN.

It was MTU who made the decision to "support" VISTA, and, after 6 months, was still at it.

Oh, by the way, NEVER EVER discard a previous VERSION OF HOSTER, as MTU NEVER MAKES THEM AVAILABLE AGAIN.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by gd123

NEVER EVER discard a previous VERSION OF HOSTER, as MTU NEVER MAKES THEM AVAILABLE AGAIN.

This is because they fix things and they go. A stable vesion of Hoster 3 (3.321) is always available.

Go to:

http://www.mtu.com/upgrades/hoster.htm

and note:

"Hoster 3.321a - To install and run requires that you have bought Hoster 3.x or an upgrade AFTER May 30, 2006"


Versions before that could cause problems for the user. This is why thay are not available. Why would anybody want to use an older version that may cause the problem?


Jim

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

the best way to setup windows for a dedicated hosting machine nothing else installed but hoster

Not true, I have more software on my test machines than you can name. Everything from Blackberry to Smartboard and I have no problems running Hoster 4.X. I also use 512 megs of ram.

How well Hoster runs is depenant on how the computer is set up, not on how many programs are installed.

Jim

[gd123]

This is because they fix things and they go. A stable vesion of Hoster 3 (3.321) is always available.

This is not true for ALL releases.

If a NEW feature is added, it doesn't mean that the previous version had a BUG or was UNSTABLE.

Besides, some BUGS are VERY USEFUL in previous versions.

I have ALL the versions...backed up on several HDs.