Share same media library for all computer users: won't work anymore. Need light.

[RickWakeman]

Hello,

I was using Winamp 5.5.7.2810, and both users on the computer would see the same library. I could add filters etc., and when my wife logged on to her profile, she would see the changes, etc. Everything fine.

Then I installed something that caused Winamp to stop working, and I couldn't fix that.

So I then I downloaded Winamp 5.6.1.3133, removed the old Winamp and installed the new one. I had also copied the Media Library settings, which I copied in to the new installation.

But now, when my wife logs on and opens Winamp, no songs appear in the Library. So then I added them in Winamp (she logged in). But as soon as Winamp is closed and started again, there are no songs in the library again!

Strange, that only happens when she's logged in. Add musics. Re-start winamp. Library empty.

From her profile, I ran Winamp as my user name (admin privileges), and the Library loads and works fine.

So I tried removing the paths.ini file, so that Winamp would keep the settings in the program folder, but it made no difference.

Then I edited paths.ini and set it to:

code:


[Winamp]

inidir=%ProgramFiles%\Winamp

cwd=%ProgramFiles%\Winamp

But it still won't work when she runs Winamp.

Then I edited the folder settings of the Winamp folder, and gave her full access rights. But it didn't help either.

Everytime she runs it, the media library is empty. But the media folder is still there in the configurations.

Now something very strange: the gen_ml.ini file shows two sets of configurations (following the [gen_ml_config] tag: the first set has the original configurations, with all the intelligent filters I created. The second section show settings that are being created everytime Winamp is ran.

I edited the file manually, and removed the second set of configurations, to try and make Winamp show the filters etc. But as soon as anyone (admin or not) runs Winamp, a new set of configurations are appended to the gen_ml.ini file.

I've searched all around this forum and can't find a solution.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Using Windows XP Sp3.

Thanks a lot!

[DJ Egg]

Hi

On WinXP, you can just delete paths.ini and settings & database will be written to/read from %ProgramFiles%\Winamp for all users by default.

(Note, ref for other users on Vista/Win7, you would either need to edit admin rights for %ProgramFiles%\Winamp so all users have write/modify access, or set paths.ini to a shared folder with write permissions, eg. inidir=C:\Users\Public\Winamp and then copy all the config files over...)

If the problem persists, please attach your gen_ml.ini file.
I'm not sure if I understood what you meant about "two sets of configuration".

[RickWakeman]

DJ Egg,

The ini file starts with "[gen_ml_config]" on line 1. Then on line 167, there is "[gen_ml_config]" again, followed by configurations.

If I erase line 167 onwards, and keep only the first group of settings, as soon as I run Winamp it appends "[gen_ml_config]" and all the other settings again from line 167 onwards. If I run Winamp again, it doesn't add it again.

It's like it doesn't like the first part, so it creates a new group of settings.

See below.

Thanks a lot.

code:


[gen_ml_config]

reindex_534f=1

view_autoadd_pos=1

query1_name_utf8=Audio

query1_val_utf8=type = 0

query1_mode=199425

query1_meta=metB817.vmd

query1_image=101

query2_name_utf8=Clima 01

query2_val_utf8=comment HAS "tranquil" AND comment NOTHAS "boring" AND filename NOTHAS ".mid"

query2_mode=1

query2_meta=met7F89.vmd

query2_image=101

query3_name_utf8=Clima 02

query3_val_utf8=comment HAS "tranquil" OR comment HAS "moderate" AND comment NOTHAS "boring" AND filename NOTHAS ".mid"

query3_mode=1

query3_meta=metA0DF.vmd

query3_image=101

query4_name_utf8=Clima 03

query4_val_utf8=comment HAS "moderate" AND comment NOTHAS "boring" AND filename NOTHAS ".mid"

query4_mode=1

query4_meta=met1EE3.vmd

query4_image=101

query5_name_utf8=Clima 04

query5_val_utf8=comment HAS "moderate" OR comment NOTHAS "boring" AND filename NOTHAS ".mid" AND comment HAS "fast"

query5_mode=1

query5_meta=met7963.vmd

query5_image=101

query6_name_utf8=Clima 05

query6_val_utf8=comment HAS "fast" AND comment NOTHAS "boring" AND filename NOTHAS ".mid"

query6_mode=1

query6_meta=metE528.vmd

query6_image=101

query7_name_utf8=Clima 06

query7_val_utf8=comment HAS "fast" or comment HAS "heavy" AND comment NOTHAS "boring" AND filename NOTHAS ".mid"

query7_mode=1

query7_meta=met55AF.vmd

query7_image=101

query_num=22

visible=1

lastprefp=1

bgrescan_do=1

tvrating=7

tvpp=0

recent_limitnd=30

last_view=Local Media/Romanticas

ldivpos=235

mlv10_01=Local Media,0,1

mlv10_02=Playlists,0,2

mlv10_03=Bookmarks,0,3

mlv10_04=History,0,4

mlv10_05=nowplaying_svc_101,0,5

mlv10_06=podcast_svc_720,0,6

mlv10_07=addons_svc_102,0,7

mlv10_08=om_svc_777,0,8

mlv10_09=ml_devices_root,0,9

mlv10_10=_ml_disc_D,0,10

mlv10_11=_ml_disc_D,0,11

mlv10_count=10

mw_xpos=179

mw_ypos=176

mw_width=978

mw_height=760

attachlbolt=1

scandirlist_utf8=C:\MEDIA\Musica

addinbg=0

lastcdprefp=0

extractpath=C:\MEDIA\Musica

extractfmt2="<Artist>\<Album>\<Trackartist> - ## - <Title>"

tagcomment="Ripped by Winamp"

trackoffs=1

extract4cc=541144141

upd_tagz=1

recent_limitlt=1306058701

recent_col_lp=111

recent_col_count=70

recent_col_title=238

recent_col_len=42

recent_col_filename=285

recent_lastquery=

extractplfmt2="<Artist> - <Album>\<Artist> - <Album>"

bm_col_title=400

bm_col_filename=240

query8_name_utf8=Clima 07

query8_val_utf8=comment HAS "heavy" AND comment NOTHAS "boring" AND filename NOTHAS ".mid"

query8_mode=1

query8_meta=met1239.vmd

query8_image=101

query9_name_utf8=Romanticas

query9_val_utf8=type = "0" AND comment HAS "romantic"

mlv10_12=_ml_disc_D,0,12

query9_mode=1

query9_meta=met2597.vmd

query9_image=101

query10_name_utf8=Cristãs

query10_val_utf8=comment has "Christian"

query10_mode=1

query10_meta=metC5C5.vmd

query10_image=101

show_albumgain=0

trackplays_wait_secs_lim=5

trackplays_wait_percent_lim=50

autoaddplays=1

query11_name_utf8=Cristãs Lentas

query11_val_utf8=type = "0" AND comment HAS "christian" AND comment HAS "tranquil"

query11_mode=1

query11_meta=met27B5.vmd

query11_image=101

query12_name_utf8=Legal MP3

query12_val_utf8=type = "0" AND filename ENDS "mp3" AND comment HAS "legal"

query12_mode=1

query12_meta=met7060.vmd

query12_image=101

query13_name_utf8=NOT legal MP3

query13_val_utf8=type = "0" AND comment NOTHAS "legal" AND filename ENDS "mp3"

query13_mode=1

query13_meta=metB7FD.vmd

query13_image=101

query14_name_utf8=Recently Added

query14_val_utf8=lastupd > [4 days ago]

query14_mode=1

query14_meta=metB827.vmd

query14_image=104

query15_name_utf8=All MP3 (- voice)

query15_val_utf8=filename ENDS "mp3" AND comment NOTHAS "voice"

query15_mode=1

query15_meta=metD471.vmd

query15_image=1

query16_name_utf8=MIDI Files

query16_val_utf8=filename ENDS ".mid"

query16_mode=0

query16_meta=met199D.vmd

query16_image=101

query17_name_utf8=Video

query17_val_utf8=type = 1

query17_mode=0

query17_meta=metC7E9.vmd

query17_image=102

query18_name_utf8=Most Played

query18_val_utf8=playcount > 0

query18_mode=0

query18_meta=metD7BB.vmd

query18_image=103

query19_name_utf8=Recently Played

query19_val_utf8=lastplay > [2 weeks ago]

query19_mode=0

query19_meta=metC7F9.vmd

query19_image=105

query20_name_utf8=Never Played

query20_val_utf8=playcount = 0 | playcount isempty

query20_mode=0

query20_meta=metB836.vmd

query20_image=106

query21_name_utf8=Top Rated

query21_val_utf8=rating >= 3

query22_name_utf8=Album

query22_val_utf8=type = 0

reindex_561=1

query21_mode=0

query21_meta=metC808.vmd

query21_image=107

query22_mode=262

query22_meta=met31B3.vmd

query22_image=101

querydelay=250

noshowadddlg=1

[gen_ml_config]

reindex_561=1

view_autoadd_pos=1

query1_name_utf8=Audio

query1_val_utf8=type = 0

query1_mode=1

query1_meta=met1B48.vmd

query1_image=101

query2_name_utf8=Video

query2_val_utf8=type = 1

query2_mode=0

query2_meta=met2B1A.vmd

query2_image=102

query3_name_utf8=Most Played

query3_val_utf8=playcount > 0

query3_mode=0

query3_meta=met1B57.vmd

query3_image=103

query4_name_utf8=Recently Added

query4_val_utf8=lastupd > [3 days ago]

query4_mode=0

query4_meta=met1B67.vmd

query4_image=104

query5_name_utf8=Recently Played

query5_val_utf8=lastplay > [2 weeks ago]

query5_mode=0

query5_meta=met1B77.vmd

query5_image=105

query6_name_utf8=Never Played

query6_val_utf8=playcount = 0 | playcount isempty

query6_mode=0

query6_meta=met1B86.vmd

query6_image=106

query7_name_utf8=Top Rated

query7_val_utf8=rating >= 3

query7_mode=0

query7_meta=met1B96.vmd

query7_image=107

query_num=7

visible=1

last_view=Local Media

ldivpos=135

mlv10_01=nowplaying_svc_101,0,1

mlv10_02=Local Media,0,2

mlv10_03=Playlists,0,3

mlv10_04=addons_svc_102,0,4

mlv10_05=om_svc_777,0,5

mlv10_06=podcast_svc_720,0,6

mlv10_07=ml_devices_root,0,7

mlv10_08=Bookmarks,0,8

mlv10_09=History,0,9

mlv10_10=_ml_disc_D,0,10

mlv10_count=10

mw_xpos=301

mw_ypos=29

mw_width=978

mw_height=760

[DJ Egg]

Hmm, weird.

Your wife's profile definitely has write/modify access to "C:\Program Files\Winamp"?

Did you delete paths.ini yet? And if yes, does the problem still persist if you start with your original gen_ml.ini again?

Your gen_ml.ini is referencing two different sets of .vmd files.

query1_meta=metB817.vmd
query1_meta=met1B48.vmd

Do both these files exist in the "C:\Program Files\Winamp\Plugins\ml" folder?

I can probably provide a fixed-up gen_ml.ini for you once I know which is the right set of .vmd files to link to...

The problem might be happening because I don't think you can/should use %ProgramFiles% in paths.ini
It would need to be C:\Program Files\Winamp, or wherever winamp.exe resides (which is the default path anyway if paths.ini doesn't exist).

[RickWakeman]

DJ Egg,

Answering your questions:

Your wife's profile definitely has write/modify access to "C:\Program Files\Winamp"?

Well, yes and no: I had given her full control of the Winamp folder and sub-folders. But now, as I tried opening all the folders as her, it stopped at the ML folder and at some of the other plugin folders. Strange, because I has set it recursively. I did it manually on the Plugin folders, and now she has access. And as soon as I opened Winamp, the library was there.

But the Intelligent Filters I had setup (and appear in GEN_ML.INI) aren't listed. And the GEN_ML.INI file was again appended with the second section.

Did you delete paths.ini yet? And if yes, does the problem still persist if you start with your original gen_ml.ini again?

Yes, I deleted it again now. Still symptoms as above: Library now there, but filters not, and GEN_ML.INI getting second section appended (I had deleted it once again before erasing PATHS.INI)

Your gen_ml.ini is referencing two different sets of .vmd files

query1_meta=metB817.vmd
query1_meta=met1B48.vmd

Do both these files exist in the "C:\Program Files\Winamp\Plugins\ml" folder?

Yes, they're both there. In fact, there are 78 MET*.VMD files in the folder (!), plus another two .VMD files. What are the VMD files? They seem to be a replication of the GEN_ML.INI files

The ones you mention above are listed below. Notice that one is 0Kb length. I imagine that has to do with her not having access to the folder and the file not being written to

code:
C:\Arquivos de programas\Winamp\Plugins\ml\met1B48.vmd

C:\Arquivos de programas\Winamp\Plugins\ml\metB817.vmd

And finally,

It would need to be C:\Program Files\Winamp, or wherever winamp.exe resides

I had tried that earlier on. But it didn't work.

Let me get the INI file you sent me and test.

And, before I finish, I would like to publicly thank the authors of HxD Hex editor: I had lost the text I typed in this form, but HxD allowed me to open the browser process in RAM and copy all the text I lost.

[DJ Egg]

Here's your gen_ml.ini using the original set of .vmd files (assuming they definitely exist).

Extract it from the zip to the "C:\Program Files\Winamp\Plugins" folder.

______________________________

[RickWakeman]

Originally Posted by DJ Egg

Here's your gen_ml.ini using the original set of .vmd files (assuming they definitely exist).

Extract it from the zip to the "C:\Program Files\Winamp\Plugins" folder.

______________________________

IT WORKED!

THAAAAANNNKKKSS!

Can you explain exactly what was the problem?

[DJ Egg]

Ahh, ok. Glad to hear it worked.

So... inidir=C:\Arquivos de programas\Winamp (if using paths.ini)

.vmd files are just media library view config files which store data for column sizes/positions etc.

As for the cause of the problem, I'm not 100% sure, but it sounds like one or all of a permissions issue, a bad paths.ini config, or a corrupt gen_ml.ini

Main thing is that it's now fixed. Yay!