Hoster Shutting Down - Stopped Working: Upgrade DirectX and WMP

[kod]

I have the full blown version of Hoster. MTU released 4.21 yesterday afternoon in an attempt to resolve the stopping problem.

Since I don't know anything about Hoster Lite, I don't know if this update applies to it. I downloaded it yesterday before I went to do my show.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by Ed Beram

sorry to hear you are having the same problem, however the more we get this info out there the sooner the problem can be solved by the great minds at mtu. i didn't even know a 4.21 version came out, mine is 4.20. also do you have hoster full or hoster lite? mine is "lite" and i wonder if one has more problems than the other. ah, the good old days of xp, rarely did i have these quirky problems with xp. of course i want to get the bugs out of the faster compuer since it searches, loads, imports etc so much faster.
Ed

Yes this update would apply to Hoster Lite as well. They are the same program with certain functions removed from the Lite version. So give it a try and see if it helps.

[Ed Beram]

simple question dale. you seem like a very dedicated and knowledgable guy. i have seen your name for many years on these posts. you are a big supporter of mtu and you make it known that you niether work for the company nor have a vested interest in it, i accept that as truth. it is a curious thing though, and perhaps you can shed some light on your ever-present place on this mtu community site. why so diligent and loyal to mtu? ive never heard a bad word about the company from you. only defensive replies. i almost don't want to direct questions to you anymore because i get the feeling that you are more interested in mtu image damge control than in being agreeable that mtu is a buggy product with absolutely no customer bedside manner. i have made metion in the past that no software compant should ever take a customers money and release a version that is incompatable with windows vista or windows 7. mtu has been using the excuse that its windows fault and yet you sell the software that won't work well with it. very bad business in my book. shame on me for putting up with it. the best thing you guys have ever produced is 3.321 with XP. i have two of thse dinosaurs in my arsenal and won't part wit them. but you are not keeping up with the times. we as customers have to hunt around for old XP computers that don't have the speed and ram we really need in the modern world and are scared to death to give upour old gear and software because you keepselling software that is not perfected. im disgusted at this point. i have been very loyal, 6 years, but i am about to jump ship and if you are not careful others will surely follow...comment on this truth??

[billyo]

Ed, what version of WMP are you using?, if it's v12,i read that wmpv12 has issues w/W7, is there a way you can downgrade to WMPv11, i don't have W7, so i am not sure if your pc/laptop came with WMP v12 or if you can downgrade..just trying to help...i think that Hoster v4.21 works w/wmp certain version..

[Ed Beram]

im unaware of wmp, dont know what it is. i have windows 7, i5 processor, 4 gig ram dell studio xps and hoster lite?? not understanding your email, can you explain
ed

[billyo]

i read somewhere in the forum that Hoster works best with a certain version of WMP..( i might be mistaken ), but i also read that wmp has some issues with w7, like music stopping, or music kept going after turning off, most likely yours came with wmpv12..i best guest is maybe just wait for anyone in the forum to figure out the solution for your problem, i dont wanna give you any thing( suggestion ) that might add to your problem..

[Roy Dennis]

Originally Posted by Ed Beram

im unaware of wmp, dont know what it is. i have windows 7, i5 processor, 4 gig ram dell studio xps and hoster lite?? not understanding your email, can you explain
ed

wmp is Windows media player, I have version 12 on my Windows 7 home premium laptop and it runs without any of the issues pointed out in this thread.

Roy.

[MackieRocks]

I'm having and have been having the same problem for some time now. Normally it's after the song finishes except for last night, it stopped during the song. First and only time. I'm running a Dell Experion 1545 and have well over 50% C drive available. It's not a big problem, just frustrating.

[ddouglass]

Originally Posted by Ed Beram

simple question dale. you seem like a very dedicated and knowledgable guy. i have seen your name for many years on these posts. you are a big supporter of mtu and you make it known that you niether work for the company nor have a vested interest in it, i accept that as truth. it is a curious thing though, and perhaps you can shed some light on your ever-present place on this mtu community site. why so diligent and loyal to mtu? ive never heard a bad word about the company from you. only defensive replies. i almost don't want to direct questions to you anymore because i get the feeling that you are more interested in mtu image damge control than in being agreeable that mtu is a buggy product with absolutely no customer bedside manner. i have made metion in the past that no software compant should ever take a customers money and release a version that is incompatable with windows vista or windows 7. mtu has been using the excuse that its windows fault and yet you sell the software that won't work well with it. very bad business in my book. shame on me for putting up with it. the best thing you guys have ever produced is 3.321 with XP. i have two of thse dinosaurs in my arsenal and won't part wit them. but you are not keeping up with the times. we as customers have to hunt around for old XP computers that don't have the speed and ram we really need in the modern world and are scared to death to give upour old gear and software because you keepselling software that is not perfected. im disgusted at this point. i have been very loyal, 6 years, but i am about to jump ship and if you are not careful others will surely follow...comment on this truth??

Ed, I am a retired Electronics and Network Engineer so I think I have some experience with computers to be able to help people work through their problems with Hoster and their computer.
I have been helping people in this forum since I began using MTU's programs back in 2004. I was asked to be a Beta Tester in 2007 and have been testing the programs for MTU ever since along with some other great people. In 2009 MTU asked me to moderate these forums and help them with the administration of them.
I am not nor have I ever been an employee of MTU. Yes I am friends with the people at MTU and no you will not hear a bad word in here from me about MTU.
As I said I have been a Beta Tester for a long time and I know how long and hard both MTU and we Beta Testers have worked to make sure the programs work before putting them out. Hoster version 4.0 through 4.20 had all been put through rigorous long testing. Every additional portion of this program that has been added was run through testing along with all other functions to make sure nothing was broken by the new additional code. This has been done on a large variety of computers and on all three operating systems. No one ever had a stoppage problem or a sync problem of the kind you guys have reported. But believe me I have never worked with any program that doesn't wind up out for production without at a couple bugs regardless of how much testing gets done.
I try not to be biased as you say I am, but 99% of the time it usually is a setting or or configuration of the computer or operating system. This is why I usually try to go through all of those steps before I report the problem up the ladder to MTU.
Just FYI for you, I use all my computers with 4.20 and XP Pro and have never had any problems with it, so 3.321 isn't the last good version where XP is concerned. Also XP can be installed on any computer as long as you have a legal copy and those are still available.
I understand your frustration, but how can you say this problem is or isn't fixed if you aren't going to try 4.21?
What I find slightly hard to understand is you complain about MTU's programs, but you take it that Microsoft has produced a perfectly functioning operating system when they have never had one work correctly the first time yet.

[kod]

Last night (Saturday Night - 5/29) I picked up an additional weekly show and I started at about 8:30 pm with BA playing. Hoster shut down after the very first song had played. I did not turn the BA on any more...

I started my show at 9 pm and Hoster shut down four more times during the night. Fortunately it was at the end of a song each time. The audience never knew anything was happening, but it's frustrating!

Especially since it was my first night at a new gig...

[Ed Beram]

doug i appreciate the reply. im also glad you understand my and other hoster users frustrations. when vista came out the whole pc world didn't like it. its sluggish and quirky, no argument here. but...pointing the finger at the os is still not the way to do business in my book. you could have said we only have hoster available for xp users...thats all folks!! or if you found your software compatable with mac, again..thats all folks. but not, it may work , may not ,your guess is as good as mine and by the way will that be check or credit card. i really don't want to jump ship but at times over the past few years i have been so frustrated between vista and now widows 7 incomatability that i have been very close to jumping. you won't miss a beat by losing me or even a few dozen customers but down the road it may come back to haunt mtu since kj's know each other and word circulates in chat rooms and other well published circles. i will wait and see if the bugs are out for another week or so and if the reports come in postitively of course i will opt to continue being loyal to the comany.
thanks, ed

[MackieRocks]

I've gotta say... I personally appreciate all the volunteer work that Dale puts into a product he believes in. I personally will put up the the little problems and frustration from time to time knowing that we have a person like Dale that is dedicated to making sure our shows run well. THANK YOU DALE!! MTU ROCKS!!!!!!!

[Roy Dennis]

I 2nd that.

Roy.

[billyo]

same here. some of us will be lost and wouldn't know what to do if he's not around

[ddouglass]

You guys are going to embarass me.

[MTUSUPPORT]

I agree with what these guys have said about Dale for sure.

I am trying to work with the programmer on these issues. So I am going to be trying to reproduce the problems stated, normally if I can do this, then he can figure out a way to fix it.

If not, we may need to be able to come into some of your computers that are having the problem through a remote assistance program I have.

Also, we do appreciate every single customer that we have. We also take every new feature into consideration rather it is from a customer who just purchased the product yesterday, or a customer as you that have been around for years.

[kod]

Bryan,

Since I don’t live that far away and have been to MTU for your help before, I will be glad to come again and you can have hands-on with my laptop.

To explain my visit to MTU, I was starting new with Hoster and my problem was the dual monitor setup. I was completely new to Windows 7 and therein was my problem.

I dropped in unannounced and Bryan graciously spent about 1½ hours of his time with me getting me setup and working with me to teach me how to set up my laptop and how Hoster works.

I was very surprised at how laid back Bryan was and how willing he was to help me. This speaks well for him and MTU’s customer service. His young daughter was out of school sick that day and he was babysitting her in his office. This is my kind of man!

As for Dale, I read a lot of posts in my search for help in learning Hoster. I told Bryan during my visit that in my observation, Dale was the most knowledgeable responder I had seen and his responses were quick and were very easy to understand.

My belief is that the MTU staff is trying very hard to resolve this problem. If you know anything about computers, you know that software problems are not always solved over night. I’ve been into computers for 24 years and believe me I know! I’ve had virtually had every version of Windows that there has ever been, and every one of them had bugs!

It is also my belief that if we give MTU time, they’ll resolve it. I love Hoster and I’m here for good!

[Susan Waites]

Ok I am downloading 4.21 now I will try it tonight and see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed....I am with everyone else I appreaciate Dale for all the help through the years. I have been using MTU products since 2002. And will keep using them.

[Musicman51]

I to appreciate all the hard work dale does here. Thank You very much for your continued help and support, i really appreciate it.

With that being said, i can also understand Ed's frustration, and think he has some very valid points. I have been with mtu since 2001, own all their software products, not just hoster. Hoster can be very frustrating at times, and costly to those users who continuly have interrupted shows. I have stopped doing the upgrades for the most part on hoster. I have followed every upgrade, just to realize a trade off, from one upgrade to the next. And the latest downgrade of features for us lite users was the last straw for me.

Microstudio is another problem child right now for 64 bit. Can't write a backup disc, or a finished product from KHpro if you have 64 bit. So i cannot upgrade my old 32 bit XP workhorse which is going on 6 years old. Dell has sky rocketed the price of their 32 bit computers, knowing guys like me, have no choice if we want to continue with some software. So there is enough blame to go around. So far...i'll stay with mtu like i have for going on 10 years now. Do i recommend hoster?...at this point, yes. We'll see how we do in the months to come.

Like i said, i'm a little p'eed with the fact us lite users have now lost out on the features, the standard hoster users get. Wasn't that way from the start. If i ordered the full hoster version, it would be a waste of money, and i'm not making any with karoke right now. No idea what i'd do with the second copy of hoster anyway.....but i don't own the company. God Bless

[Ed Beram]

music man, nice to hear honest input. i feel as though i have crashed a party on this forum. i said all along that i thought dale was a knowledgable and upstanding guy but just wanted to know his affiliation status with mtu all these years but can see that i have stepped on many toes. i don't apologise for my inquiry but do apologise if i have personally offended dale with my curiousity or the manner in which i wrote the post. i still feel as i mentioned in previous posts that the flaws encountered by us users have to be addressed. if we don't air these concerns they'll never get fixed, so i will continue to bring them to light in the future. i have also stated that i have made a good living over the years with hoster and prefer not to jump ship. the frustrations are still there but have been eased by my last conversation with bryan at mtu. he has assured me that they are working through these bugs and i believe he's not trying to appease me. i am still going to wait to download 4.21. i was going to do it yesterday but just felt the need to wait a bit longer.