Make These Vista Changes So Hoster 4 Will Run Correctly

Only Vista has these problems - XP users DO NOT need to make these changes

 

Print & Follow These Instructions

 

When upgrading from a Hoster version before Version 4.xx, you must make these changes or Hoster will not run correctly, will have unexplainable problems, and can even crash. These problems disappear when the changes below are made.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. DO ONLY what is stated here. For example, a knowledgeable MTU user, who did upgrades that prevented his computer from running, said; "I updated the Software items listed under Windows Custom Update, and the four Hardware items that appeared. The hardware updates caused ALL the problems I was having."

DO NOT install Microsoft Hardware Upgrades! If you see a Microsoft Hardware update, select to hide it. Then, immediately go to your Hardware Manufacturer's web site for the "hardware device" Microsoft reported an look to see if they have a new driver for YOUR hardware model."

Follow our instructions exactly. It is VERY RARE that anyone has a problem when doing their Windows Updates. If you do experience a problem, do a System Restore to reverse the Updates you have installed. It is best to do a FEW updates at a time, such as all for .NET or all for Windows Media Player, restart your computer, then do another related set, restart again, and follow this until all SOFTWARE Updates have been installed. Be SURE to do all updates BEFORE you install a major SR1, SR2 or SR3 upgrade. If not, you will have problems that are only fixed by doing a System Restore, or re-installing Windows (and every other program on that computer).

 
BEST SUGGESTION

Vista was NOT designed to run audio/video professional shows. Microsoft has recognized their GRAVE MISTAKE in releasing Vista at all, and is now testing Windows 7 to replace Vista.

RIGHT NOW, you can replace your Vista with XP. DO IT and save yourself a lot of grief. The problems you WILL experience running Hoster are NOT Hoster's fault, but rather your bad Vista. MTU is working already to be able to run with Windows 7 (expected release Jan 2010), but like every Microsoft OS release, Windows 7 can be expected to not work well until Service Release 1. Thus, installing Windows XP which is very stable is your best, professional solution.

 

NOTES:
"Click or Left click", move the mouse pointer over the indicated item and click the mouse left button.
"RIGHT click", move the mouse pointer over the indicated item and click the mouse right button.
"Double-click" move the mouse pointer over the indicated item and quickly click the mouse left button two times. If you don't click fast enough to open up what you are double-clicking, click two times again, but faster this time.

 

System Restore

If you have enabled System Restore in Windows, whenever you update Windows or install a new program, all the changes are saved and can be reversed back as many change levels as are saved.

 
 
How To Enable System Restore

If you have enabled System Restore in Windows, whenever you update Windows or install a new program, all the changes are saved and can be reversed back as many change levels as are saved.

  1. Click Window's Start button at the bottom left
  2. Click All Programs
  3. Click Accessories
  4. Click System Tools
  5. Click System Restore
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions to Enable Restore Points
 
 
How To Restore To A Prior Saved State
  1. Click Window's Start button at the bottom left
  2. Click All Programs
  3. Click Accessories
  4. Click System Tools
  5. Click System Restore
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to Restore my computer to an eariler time
 
 

STRONGLY SUGGESTED CHANGES

With the "standard" Vista setup, the video can get out of sync with the music and you may hear audio dropouts. These problems disappear when the changes below are made.

 
Install At Least 1.5GB Computer RAM

With Hoster 4.xx, the Vista upgrades and SP1, and 10,000+ songs in your Songs Database, your computer needs at least 1.5GB RAM to run safely and reliably. With insufficient RAM, you may be importing disc 670 and weird bad things start happening... for no apparent reason... out of RAM!

 
 
Processor Speed Should Be At Least 1.3GHz

Hoster 4.x requires at least a 1.3GHz SINGLE CORE processor to safely run all the new features in the new Show Display. Any Duo Core processor will work fine, regardless of its speed. Some Laptop or Shuttle computers may not allow installing a faster processor as the Power Supply may be designed to only power your existing processor and system. With upgrade parts and labor, it may be cheaper to replace the computer.

 
 
Hard Drive Free Space

Most computer users are not aware that Windows REQUIRES free hard drive space to perform "housekeeping" tasks to run reliably. Some experts say you need at least 25% free hard drive space. We are not sure, but at least 10% would be a minimum. Thus, if you have a 100GB drive, you need at least 10-25GB free. With a 250GB drive, you need 25-60GB free. If you see your hard drive light flashing a lot after 5 seconds when a new song starts playing, your drive may be "thrashing" due to not having enough free space. If you see this, add another hard drive (USB external is easy) and copy your KMA or other songs, videos, audio files to it so your C: drive has more free space.

 
 
SET THE RESOLUTIONS ON YOUR DISPLAYS

If not changed it can cause; 1) Lyrics to be out of sync with the audio, and 2) Graphics will draw with random errors (top half may not draw, top may draw very slow and be out of sync with the audio while bottom half draws fast, etc.).

Set For Computer Monitor:

  1. Right click on the Desktop where there are no icons
  2. Left click Personalize
  3. Double left click Display Settings
  4. Make sure that your Resolution is set correctly for Monitor

    • This setting depends on your computer, but Hoster is designed to run on 1024x768 or HIGHER
    • Insure your colors are set at 16 bit, NOT 32 bit
  5. If you have a TV/Singer's Second Monitor

    • Left click Monitor 2 to select this monitor
    • Set the resolution slider to higher than 800x600 or your colors will not be correct
  6. Left click Apply and OK to close the dialog and save your new settings
 
 

POSSIBLE REQUIRED CHANGES

We say "possible" here because it depends on your computer and what types of files you want to play.

 
TURN OFF USER ACCESS CONTROL (UAC)

If you use an external USB hard drive for your imported KMA files, the Songs Database will NOT find your files unless UAC is disabled. This is a Microsoft Access Database tool limitation, not a Hoster bug. The majority of Hoster users run with UAC disabled and have not reported any problems.

Also, Vista housekeeping tasks can interrupt your show at any time unless you disable UAC.

  1. Left click the Start Menu
  2. Left click Control Panel
  3. Double (left) click User Accounts
  4. Left click the bottom item that states Turn User Account control on or off
  5. When the dialog comes up stating Windows needs your permission to continue click Continue
  6. Now un-check the check box beside Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer
  7. Now click Ok
  8. When asked to Restart, wait until you have done all the changes on this page, then restart.
 
 
TURN OFF VISUAL EFFECTS

If left on it can cause; 1) The audio can sound distorted, 2) There can be a delay for songs to start playing, and 3) Lyrics can be out of sync with the audio.

  1. Left click the Start Menu
  2. Left click Control Panel
  3. Left click Classic View on the left hand side
  4. Left double click on System
  5. Left click Advanced system settings on the left side
  6. When the Dialog comes up stating that Windows needs your Permission to continue click Continue
  7. Left click the Advanced Tab
  8. Left click the Settings button under the “Performance” area
  9. In the “Visual Effects” tab, left click Adjust for best performance
  10. Scroll the very last item on the List, and put a check beside Use visual styles on windows and buttons
  11. Click Apply and OK
  12. Restart Vista now or after installing Hoster 4
 
 
SET WMP SPEED AND TURN OFF VIDEO ACCELERATION

If not set as below; 1) Microsoft's own WMV video files may play Audio only with no Video, or 2) not play at all.

  1. Left click the Start Menu
  2. Left click on Windows Media Player
  3. Right click the Menu Bar to the left of Now Playing
  4. Left click Tools then Options…
  5. Click the “Performance” Tab
  6. Left click Choose connection speed: and set it to LAN (10 Mbps or more)
  7. On this Tab, UN-Check the Turn on DirectX Video Acceleration for WMV Files
  8. Close Windows Media Player
 
 
ALLOW WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER TO PLAY LOCAL FILES

It must be set as below or Video files will not play at all.

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Left click the Tools Menu at the far Right Side
  3. Left click Internet Options
  4. Left click the Advanced tab
  5. Scroll down to the Security section
  6. Left click Allow active content to run in files on My Computer and Allow active content from CDs to run on My Computer
  7. Restart Vista now or after installing Hoster 4
 
 
TURN OFF THE WINDOWS SIDEBAR

If left on it can cause; 1) The audio sounds distorted, 2) There can be a delay for songs to start playing, and 3) Lyrics can be out of sync with the audio.

  1. Left click the Start Menu
  2. Left click All Programs
  3. Left click Windows sidebar (find it on the right side of your Desktop
  4. Right click on the Widows Sidebar
  5. Left click Properties and un-check Start Sidebar when Windows starts
  6. Restart Vista now or after installing Hoster 4
 
 
TURN OFF VISTA "AERO THEME"

If left on it can cause; 1) The audio can sound distorted, and 2) Lyrics can be out of sync with the audio.

NOTE: This only applies to:

  • Vista Home Premium
  • Vista Ultimate
  • Vista Business

NOTE: If you have an NVIDIA GeForce 8200M graphics card (value line, shared memory card that is not capable of displaying Aero) you will not see the Aero Theme to disable. Don't worry, its already removed/disabled by this card's video drivers.

All other Vista versions do NOT have the Aero Theme to disable.

  1. Right click on the Desktop where there are no icons
  2. Left Click Personalize
  3. Double left click Window Color and Appearance and un-check Enable transparency
  4. Open the "Classic" appearance properties
  5. Choose either “Windows Vista Basic”, “Windows Standard” or “Windows Classic”
  6. Restart Vista now or after installing Hoster 4
 
 

Close This Screen And Return To The Hoster Installation Program