Failed to run HC even though path is correct

[spyhawk]

After updating to 1.05.1, and running prepare with HC016A, I suddenly got this encoder error upon encode: "Failed to find and run encoder. The path may be incorrect. Aborted." I checked many times and the path is correct. I also ran Matrix Editor and it is able to select HC and encode a segment.

I even tried to uninstall and then do a full clean install, which automatically puts HCbatch.exe in HC Encoder folder. Select HC mode and rerun prepare and encode, and this error appears again. So I select CCE, and it's able to encode. I also replaced with previous versions and it can't run HC now. So what could go wrong here?

[spyhawk]

There MUST BE something that Rebuilder cannot find HC.

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling v1.01 (comes with HC015) and it still gives the same error. I even did an uninstall, clear all references of Rebuilder including email in the registry, reboot, and reinstall, still the same error. Tried a working path on different drive, and no luck. I tried CCE, QuEnc, Rejig, and they work fine, except any version of HCbatch now. I never have this problem before.

The only thing that I get it to run is 1) via Matrix Editor, and 2) if I run HCbatch manually, but it'll be a pain as there are many segments for me to enter the parameters. Even tried on a different unprocessed source as well. I'm clueless now.

[Rockas]

Can you post your Rebuilder.ini file?

[skipper152]

I think I had a similar problem with one of the previous releases of dvd-rb. But I wasn't sure if it was a dvd-rb problem or my machine (it really needs to be reformatted!)
I made a directory under my c drive HC (C:\HC), then copied the hcbatch.exe into it. If it wasn't named that I just named it that. I think this was with one of the hcbatch 16 tr2. Basically no fancy names. And I'm not sure if that time that the 16 tr2 was really supposed to be used with dvd-rb.
Opened up dvd-rb, went into settings, pointed hc to where the new hcbatch.exe was. Exited out of dvd-rb, then restarted dvd-rb and everything was fine...

[spyhawk]

[Options]
Mode=5
OneClick=0
ReduceOpt=1
NoWarn=1
AdditionalOutput=1
LogFile=1
QuEncHQ=1
EncoderMinimized=1
RemoveDTS=0
HC_Quality=3
HC_Matrix=1
HC_VBR_Bias=20
SkinVersion=10
Skin=Rockas Original
QuEncodeType=0
DVD_Label=SKELETON_KEY
DVD_Name=SKELETON_KEY.ISO
DCPrec=0
Backcolor=14215660
CCE=3
vts_min_size=1
TargetSectors=2256422
HalfD1=0000000
Convert_16_9=0011000
DisableInterlace=0000000
MainMatrix=Encoder Default
LowMatrix=QuEnc Lower Bitrate (QLB)
VLowMatrix=BACH1 by Dogg
ExtraMatrix=Same as Main Feature
MovieOnly=0
AudioDub=0
iDCT=5
ProCoder_Quality=4
ISO_Output=0
Completed=4
GOP=0
ConvertToYUY2=1
[Paths]
QuEnc=C:\DVD Installed Tools\DVD-RB PRO\Encoders\QuEnc\QuEnc.exe
ReJig=C:\DVD Installed Tools\DVD-RB PRO\Encoders\ReJig\ReJig.exe
HC=C:\DVD Installed Tools\DVD-RB PRO\Encoders\HC Encoder\HCbatch.exe
ProCoder=C:\DVD Installed Tools\DVD-RB PRO\Encoders\EclPro\EclPro.exe
DECOMB=C:\DVD Installed Tools\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\Decomb521.dll
MPEG2DEC=C:\DVD Installed Tools\DVD-RB PRO\DGDecode.dll
Working=H:\DVD-RB_WORK\
Output=D:\DVD-RB_OUTPUT\
CCENEW=C:\DVD Installed Tools\Custom Technology\CCE SP Trial Version\cctspt.exe
Source=D:\SKELETON_KEY\VIDEO_TS\
[CCEOptions]
VBR_bias=25
Quality_prec=16
eclPasses=3
OPV=0
[Audio]
Selected=11111111
Remapping=
[Subpictures]
Selected=11111
Still no good even repoint it in Setup, exit RB and restart, and the filename is HCbatch.exe. :(

[jdobbs]

I have no idea. It looks like it should work...

But try this:

1. Delete the "HC=" entry in REBUILDER.INI.
2. Place HCBatch.exe in the same directory as REBUILDER.EXE

Then restart Rebuilder. If no HC path is set, it checks the executable directory.

[spyhawk]

Still don't work. But you won't believe this as I'm about to describe my various attempts.

I tried skipper152's method just for the heck of it. I created a directory as C:\HC, placed HCbatch016A (naming as HCbatch.exe) into it. Start RB, point to it in the Setup. Start encode, and it works!!!

So I thought maybe this file is not corrupt, drag it to DVD-RB PRO\HC Encoder folder, repoint it in Setup. Start the encode, and it gives the same error. :confused:

I have another independent HC directory in C:\DVD Installed Tools\HC. I repoint to HCbatch.exe in Setup, run the encode, and it gives the same error.

So I thought, how 'bout try different naming strategy, since I already have some programs under C:\DVD Installed Tools. These are the renamed folders that I'm able to get it to work:
C:\HC
C:\DVDInstalledTools\HC
C:\DVDInstalled Tools\HC
C:\Installed DVD Tools\HC

These give the error:
C:\DVD InstalledTools\HC
C:\DVD Installed Tools2\HC

I thought maybe there's something about C:\DVD that RB doesn't like b/c of a space, similar name to existing C:\DVD Installed Tools, or the DOS naming convention that if there's a space it will display as DVD~1 (something like that), but it should be distinct.

Then I find there's a small file, named as 'DVD', at C:\. Don't know what program created that, so I deleted it. The above folders that had errors are now working. So I repoint in Setup back to the original setup, C:\DVD Installed Tools\DVD-RB PRO\Encoders\HC Encoder\HCbatch.exe, and it works now. I don't know how could this file 'DVD' be the cause of the problem. I'm sure it's not a virus, as I already checked the whole system. Go figure! :rolleyes:

[spyhawk]

I think it is a bug in RB now. I created an empty 'DVD' file, not folder, at C:\. Runs the encode, and there's the error. To confirm, I move the whole C:\DVD Installed Tools\DVD-RB PRO directory to be C:\DVD-RB PRO, repoint HC to correct path (C:\DVD-RB PRO\Encoders\HC Encoder\HCbatch.exe) in Setup. Create an empty 'DVD-RB' file, runs the encode, and there's the error. To confirm again, move the whole folder to be C:\Program Files\DVD-RB PRO, repoint HC to new path, create an empty 'Program' file, runs the encode, and there's the error.

Please test on your end to be sure.

[jdobbs]

I'll check it out... but I really don't think it's in RB. Rebuilder just passes the path to the encoder to windows -- which executes it... one line of code.