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How to get Sonic CD/DVD burning software to create a log file for debugging

MSDN Blogs > Aaron Stebner's WebLog > How to get Sonic CD/DVD burning software to create a log file for debugging

How to get Sonic CD/DVD burning software to create a log file for debugging

17 Nov 2005 9:43 PM
  • Comments 22

I learned a cool trick last week that might be useful if you are running into issues while using the built-in Sonic CD/DVD burning software in Media Center 2005.  The following steps will enable creation of a log file for debugging purposes:

  1. Click on the Start menu, choose Run and type notepad %windir%\ehome\createdisc\soniclog_mce.log
  2. Click Yes to create a new file in this location
  3. Close Notepad and click Yes to save the file

Once you have created this file, any subsequent times that you use Sonic burning functionality inside of Media Center, it will write to this file.  This file has to already exist before Sonic will write to it however, so it will not log any error information until you manually go and create a new file with the expected name in this location.

If you run into any issues with CD/DVD burning, please create this log file and include it when contacting me or your customer support representative.  I'd also encourage you to open up the log file and take a look at it yourself as well.  There are some errors that have relatively simple workarounds that can be determined simply by looking at the error log information.

Hope this helps....

 

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Comments
  • James
    18 Nov 2005 4:36 AM
    Very useful when troubleshooting...the log name "soniclog_sbeserver.log" also creates a logfile when added to the CreateDisc directory. Not nearly as much useful info as the one you mentioned though.
  • Cal
    27 Nov 2005 2:50 PM
    Useful troubleshooting log tip.

    I used to be able to write DVDs until I installed rollup 2, now I always get the text below, even though I have a CD writer with a blank CD and a DVD writer with a blank DVD installed. They both work fine from Nero.

    ==> SonicDiscWriter.CanProceed.get: [19:48:39] ==> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia
    [19:48:39] ..> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia found 0 optical device(s)
    [19:48:39] ..> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia found 0 drives w/ project compatible media.
  • kaviarasu
    30 Jan 2006 4:49 PM
    since the error is not resolved my me
  • 31 Jan 2006 2:08 AM
    Hi Kaviarasu - I am confused about your scenario. What are you trying to do when you receive this error message, and what product is it related to?
  • 5 Apr 2006 2:52 PM
    Hey Aaron,
    Hoping that you can help me out here - since installing Rollup 2 I can no longer burn video dvds from recorded TV files (using the More Programs Create DVD sonic encoders thing)
    I always get the error message:

    "UNSUPPORTED FILE TYPE

    One or more of the files you have selected is not a supported file type and cannot be added to the list."

    I am in the UK and the recorded tv shows are all freeview (digital terrestrial).
    On the support site article 905942 mentions this exact error but says it is due to the tv show being from a different region - this isn't the case as PC and Media Centre is all set for UK and everything else works OK.

    I created the log file as you described above and the important bits of the log seem to be:

    10:58:05] !!>Got errorAssetAdding_CantDecodeVideo exception for "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Recorded TV\American Dad_BBC TWO_22_10_2005_22_25_02.dvr-ms throwing ExceptionType.eUnsupportedFileException.
    [10:58:05] Unknown HRESULT value

    This same error happens on all recorded TV shows(including tv shows recorded before and after update to rollup2) but not wmv video files.

    Sorry for the long sob story but I am going crazy tryigng to fix this and uninstalling rollup2 has left me in even more of a mess.  My PC seller has no idea and although I can find similar reports on UK forums noone has any solution it seems.

    many thanks, hoping you can help
    Ken

  • Max
    21 May 2006 6:31 PM
    Can not get the software to bur video DVD, no menu item in XP MCE
  • 21 May 2006 7:46 PM
    Hi Max - Can you please try out the suggestion listed at http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/01/16/513655.aspx to try to restore the menu item for Burn CD/DVD within Media Center?
  • 22 May 2006 4:48 AM
    Just an update on my previous post - issue of not being able to burn recorded tv to dvd has been fixed with the April update to RollUp 2.
    ta
    ken
  • steve
    7 Jun 2006 2:13 PM
    Ken, could you advise me please. I have been having the exact same problems. Do I just update on the windows website?

    Thanks, Steve.
  • steve
    7 Jun 2006 3:32 PM
    I have completed all the updates without sucsess, can anyone help? Exactly the same problems as Ken had.

    Thanks.
  • 8 Jun 2006 5:09 AM
    Hi Steve - can't think what it is then - I installed the April 2006 Rollup 2 update and it worked.
    The below is from the Elonex website (who make media centre PCs) and outlines a way to solve this problem.  This reg fix was out before the April rollup 2 update but I didn't try it.  Might be worth a look and trying?
    Would suggest back up of reg before doing so and obviously it was designed to work before the April update so not sure if it works once you have the APril update already installed?
    __________________________
    TID781 15/03/06 MCE2005 unable to burn Recorded Digital TV to a DVD.

    Symptoms: In Media Center 2005, when attempting burn Recorded Digital TV to a DVD, the burn process fails to start reporting "unsupported file type - one or more of the files you have selected is not the supported file type and cannot be added to the list"

    Cause: Registry settings for the Sonic Prime Time application were not modified as required following Rollup2 update

    Resolution: Update the registry as follows:

    Click on the following link TID781_sonig.reg

    http://www.elonex.co.uk/techsupport/Technical_tid/TID781_Sonic.reg

    Click Run on the pop up message Do you want to Run or save this file?
    Click Yes on the pop message Are you sure you want to add the information in .....TID781_sonic.reg to the registry?
    Click OK on the pop up message ....TID781_sonic.reg has been successfully entered into the registry.
    Open Media Center and test by burning a DVD from the Digital recorded TV files.
  • 9 Jun 2006 1:02 AM
    Hi Steve - What is the exact error you're seeing in your Sonic log file (created using the steps at the top of this blog post)?  One common solution I've seen is to uninstall the Sonic Encoders, and then re-install it using the "full" install option instead of whatever the default is.  Some computer manufacturers pre-install the Sonic Encoders package but do not install the entire package and that can cause problems with Media Center video DVD burning.
  • 30 Aug 2006 12:17 AM
    Aaron,

    I am unable to create a DVD in media center 2005 as the program ("powered by sonic solutions") hangs at 3% completion.  I created a log, as you suggested.  The info accumulated until the time it hangs is below.  What does it all mean?

    Thanks in advance...

    SonicListMakerApp Log started at: 8/29/2006 8:47:57 PM
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.Initialize   - Shutting down server if required
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.ShutDownSBEServer   - shutting down server
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.ShutDownSBEServer   - Checking if SBEServer.exe is running8/29/2006 8:47:57 PM
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.ShutDownSBEServer - Killing running SBEServer.exe8/29/2006 8:47:59 PM
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.Initialize   - Done Checking if SBEServer.exe8/29/2006 8:47:59 PM
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.Initialize   - flagging that DeviceManager needs to be intialized
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.Initialize   - Initialization complete
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.CanProceed
    ..>SonicDiscWriter.CanProceed - initializing device manager
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.CanProceed.get: ==> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia found 2 optical device(s)
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia found 1 drives w/ project compatible media.
    true
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: Unknown
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: Unknown
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedFormat.get
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedFormat  returning: 88
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedFormat.get
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedFormat  returning: 88
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: Unknown
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: Unknown
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedFormat.get
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedFormat  returning: 88
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: Unknown
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: Unknown
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: Unknown
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia found 2 optical device(s)
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.FindUsableDevicesWithMedia found 1 drives w/ project compatible media.
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.set: VideoDVD
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.set:    _burnDevice set to null, _discBurner disposed.
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.set:    looking thru drives for media that matches _discFormat
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.set:    found _burnDevice: E
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.set:    _discBurner is new VideoAndSlideshowBurner(kDVDVideoAndSlideshow)
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.set: must fit property set
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: false)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeCapacity.get: 00:00:00
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeUsed.get: 00:00:00
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: false)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.IsBlank.get: True
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: false)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeCapacity.get: 00:00:00
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeUsed.get: 00:00:00
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: false)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedMediaTypes.get: 3
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedMediaTypes.get: 3
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SupportedMediaTypes.get: 3
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.ItemAdded:   Enter
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.ItemAdded:   calling AddItem
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem: C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
    Logging Item:
     Title=The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02
     Filename=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
     ByteSize=5105975919
     MediaType=Videos
     Duration=01:36:38.9990000
     Name=The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
     ChildCount=0
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.AddVideoItem: The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
    AddVideoItem got an item with non compliant asset type. file: The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms, asset type: Videos, should have been: RecordedTV
    Unknown HRESULT value
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.ProcessList:  GetDiskFreeSpaceEx() returned: 146858954752 free bytes in C:\WINDOWS\ehome

    Sent exception to EventLog: Exception occurred:
    excp'n type: Microsoft.MediaCenter.AddIn.DiscWriter.FitToDiscListMakerException
    excp'n msg: C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
    No stack trace available.

    ==> SonicDiscWriter.ItemAdded:   Exit
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.FitToDisc.set: True
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.ItemAdded:   Enter
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.ItemAdded:   calling AddItem
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem: C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
    Logging Item:
     Title=The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02
     Filename=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
     ByteSize=5105975919
     MediaType=Videos
     Duration=01:36:38.9990000
     Name=The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
     ChildCount=0
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.AddVideoItem: The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
    AddVideoItem got an item with non compliant asset type. file: The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms, asset type: Videos, should have been: RecordedTV
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem   _byteUsed: 4605083648 [4.288818359375Gig]
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem   _timeUsed: 01:36:38
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem   _itemUsed: 1
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem    estimated temp storage: 5114638315 [4.76337812375277Gig]
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.ItemAdded:   AddItem returned
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.ItemAdded:   Exit
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: true)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeCapacity.get: 00:00:00
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeUsed.get: 01:36:38
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: true)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.SelectedFormat.get: VideoDVD
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: true)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeCapacity.get: 00:00:00
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeUsed.get: 01:36:38
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: true)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: true)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeCapacity.get: 00:00:00
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.TimeUsed.get: 01:36:38
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.PreferredStatusFormat.get: StatusFormat.Time; (FitToDisc: true)
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusAsPercentage.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.StatusIsRemaining.get: false
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.OrderIsImportant.get: true
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.Launch
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.Launch
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.Launch: ListMakerList contains:
        Filename: C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms, MediaType: Videos, ByteSize: 5105975919, Duration: 01:36:38.9990000
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.Launch: starting thread
    ==> SonicListMakerApp.ProcessList
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.RecheckMediaAndFormat
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.Burn
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.Burn _progressCoefficient: 528
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.Burn _discFormat: VideoDVD
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.Burn    setting styleset: Symphony, stylename: Symphony, _stylesLocation: C:\WINDOWS\ehome\CreateDisc\Styles\
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.OrderIsImportant.get: true
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.Burn   order was important, so re-adding items.
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.RemoveAllItems
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem: C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
    Logging Item:
     Title=The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02
     Filename=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\My Documents\My Videos\Edited Videos\The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
     ByteSize=5105975919
     MediaType=Videos
     Duration=01:36:38.9990000
     Name=The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
     ChildCount=0
    ==> SonicDiscWriter.AddVideoItem: The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms
    AddVideoItem got an item with non compliant asset type. file: The Cheetah Girls 2_DISNP_25_08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms, asset type: Videos, should have been: RecordedTV
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem   _byteUsed: 4605083648 [4.288818359375Gig]
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem   _timeUsed: 01:36:38
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem   _itemUsed: 1
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.AddItem    estimated temp storage: 5114638315 [4.76337812375277Gig]
    ..> SonicDiscWriter.Burn   calling burner.BeginBurn() for disc titled Cheetah Girls 2
    OnMessage: [Preparing] #-90603
    ==>OnMessage_PhaseChanger changing phase to 1 based on burn-state ID: -90603
    OnMessage: [Adding  The Cheetah Girls 2_DI ... 08_2006_19_58_02.dvr-ms] #-41002
  • 2 Sep 2006 4:20 PM
    Hi MBernstein - I'm not sure what would be causing that type of error.  I noticed that the file you are trying to burn is in a folder named "Edited Videos."  Media Center does have some problems trying to burn files that have been edited (such as to remove commercials, etc).  I'm not sure if you've done that with this video though.  If you have, I would suggest trying to use an external DVD burning program instead of Media Center to try to burn it.  You may also want to try to uninstall and reinstall the Sonic Encoders software.  The program for this is named SonicEncoders.msi and should be found somewhere on your original installation media from your computer manufacturer.

    Hopefully this helps.
  • 10 Sep 2006 2:11 PM
    Aaron,

    I am having some trouble burning since I did the update rollup 2.  I was able to burn everything perfect before the update and now I get a failure message after about 90 seconds. "Create failure:  An error has occured in creating the CD/DVD."

    The log says "Invalid media type"  But I had no trouble before the rollup and I have also used 5 different types and brands of media all with the same results.  The log below is just the end showing the error.  TIA

    [1:06:39 PM] OnMessage: [copying %0] #-10002
    [1:06:39 PM] OnMessage: [Preparing] #-90603
    [1:06:39 PM] ==>OnMessage_PhaseChanger changing phase to 1 based on burn-state ID: -90603
    [1:06:39 PM] OnMessage: [Adding King of the Hill_WZTV_08_09_2006_17_30_02.dvr-ms] #-41002
    [1:07:08 PM] OnMessage: [scanning movie] #101
    [1:07:16 PM] ..> SonicDiscWriter.Burn error occured. handler.GetBurnStateIDNumber(): 16, text: 'invalid media type. throwing ListMakerException
    [1:07:16 PM] ==> SonicListMakerApp.GetFreeHDSpace is called for path: C:\DOCUME~1\Jason\LOCALS~1\Temp\
    [1:07:16 PM] Total number of free bytes: 36612329472
    [1:07:16 PM] ==> SonicListMakerApp.ProcessList:  GetDiskFreeSpaceEx() returned: 36612329472 free bytes in C:\DOCUME~1\Jason\LOCALS~1\Temp\
    [1:07:16 PM]
    Sent exception to EventLog: Exception occurred:
    excp'n type: Microsoft.MediaCenter.AddIn.ListMaker.ListMakerException
    excp'n msg: invalid media type
    No stack trace available.

    [1:07:16 PM]
    Sent exception to EventLog: Exception occurred:
    excp'n type: Microsoft.MediaCenter.AddIn.ListMaker.ListMakerException
    excp'n msg: invalid media type
    StackTrace
      at Sonic.MCE.PlugIn.SonicListMakerApp.ThrowLMException(ExceptionType inExceptionType, Exception inInnerException, String inExceptionMessage, String inDevComment)
      at Sonic.MCE.PlugIn.SonicDiscWriter.Burn()
      at Sonic.MCE.PlugIn.SonicDiscWriter.ProcessList()

    [1:07:16 PM] ..> SonicDiscWriter.ProcessList complete   progress indicator was: 0.01184729 setting to 1.0
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