garyan2
loadmxf.exe failing with "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."
Been trying to set up a new, clean installation of Media Center on Win11 25H2. Can't seem to get it to successfully import the mxf. The epg123.mxf is about 22419Kb. Lineup is "Local Broadcast Listings (RG4)" from Schedules Direct.
[10/11/2025 22:59:00] EPG123CLIENT: Beginning MXF file import. version 1.8.4.1 [FULL] [10/11/2025 22:59:00] ===================================================================================== [10/11/2025 22:59:00] *** Windows 11 Pro, 64-bit [Version: 10.0.26200.6899] (25H2) *** [10/11/2025 22:59:00] *** .NET Framework 4.8.1 (4.8.09221) is installed. *** [10/11/2025 22:59:00] *** Windows Media Center [Version: 6.3.9600.16384] is installed. *** [10/11/2025 22:59:00] [ INFO] Import: True , Match: False , NoLogo: False , Force: False , ShowProgress: True , NoGC: True , NoVerify: True , Verbose: False [10/11/2025 22:59:01] Entering ImportMxfFile() for file "C:\ProgramData\GaRyan2\epg123\output\epg123.mxf". [10/11/2025 22:59:01] [ INFO] MXF file was created on 10/11/2025 22:58:10 +00:00 [10/11/2025 22:59:21] [ INFO] Error: The following error was encountered while processing the file. Aborting. [10/11/2025 22:59:21] [ INFO] Object reference not set to an instance of an object. [10/11/2025 22:59:21] [ERROR] Error using loadmxf.exe to import new guide information. Exit code: -1
Have debugged a bit into LoadMXF.exe and it is failing with the null reference exception at this stack:
05 0000006470efe2d0 00007ff8941cc2c5 mcepg_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedLineup.DeterminePrimaryChannelForNewMergedChannel(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedLineup this = <Value unavailable error>, Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channel addedChannel = 0x000001b683436810, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channel> matchingChannels = <Value unavailable error>, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedChannel> existingMergedChannels = <Value unavailable error>, System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary<long,System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedChannel>> mergedChannelMap = <Value unavailable error>)+0x86 06 0000006470efe350 00007ff8941cb110 mcepg_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedLineup.CreateMergedChannelPerMergeRules(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedLineup this = 0x000001b68342d098, Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channel addedChannel = 0x000001b683436810, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channel> matchingChannels = 0x000001b68370b0d8, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedChannel> existingMergedChannels = <Value unavailable error>, System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary<long,System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedChannel>> mergedChannelMap = 0x000001b68370a9b0)+0x95 07 0000006470efe410 00007ff8941aa0ae mcepg_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedLineup.OnChannelsAdded(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.MergedLineup this = 0x000001b68342d098, Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Lineup lineup = 0x000001b6834300a8, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channel> channels = <Value unavailable error>)+0x470 08 0000006470efe530 00007ff8941aa301 mcepg_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Lineup.Notify(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Lineup this = 0x000001b6834300a8, LineupNotify notify = 0x000001b6836b5e68)+0x6e 09 0000006470efe580 00007ff894052ae9 mcepg_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Lineup.NotifyChannelsAdded(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Lineup this = 0x000001b6834300a8, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channel> channels = <Value unavailable error>)+0x91
0a 0000006470efe620 00007ff894fed97f mcepg_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channels.UpdateCollection(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Guide.Channels this = <Value unavailable error>, Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.StoredObject parent = <Value unavailable error>, System.Collections.Generic.List<Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.StoredObject> storedObjects = <Value unavailable error>, bool clearBeforeUpdate = <Value unavailable error>)+0x109
0b 0000006470efe6a0 00007ff894fec4c5 mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ObjectUpdater.UpdateStoredObjectsFields(ObjectUpdater this = 0x000001b6834211a8)+0xff 0c 0000006470efe730 00007ff894febed1 mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ReadObject(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter this = 0x000001b6e635d760, string elementName = 0x000001b683420fc8 Lineup, TypeInfo typeInfo = <Value unavailable error>, TypeInfo defaultTypeInfo = <Value unavailable error>, Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.StoredObject parentStoredObject = <Value unavailable error>, string idRef = <Value unavailable error>)+0x5a5 0d 0000006470efe830 00007ff894fedbfd mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ReadObjectOrGroup(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter this = <Value unavailable error>)+0xa1 0e 0000006470efe880 00007ff894febee2 mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ReadGroup(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter this = 0x000001b6e635d760)+0x15d
0f 0000006470efe8e0 00007ff894fedbfd mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ReadObjectOrGroup(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter this = <Value unavailable error>)+0xb2
10 0000006470efe930 00007ff894febee2 mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ReadGroup(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter this = 0x000001b6e635d760)+0x15d 11 0000006470efe990 00007ff894fead48 mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ReadObjectOrGroup(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter this = <Value unavailable error>)+0xb2 12 0000006470efe9e0 000001b6e4415cf0 mcstore_ni!Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter.ImportImpl(Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.MXF.MxfImporter this = 0x000001b6e635d760)+0x168
13 0000006470efea70 000001b6e4415a59 LoadMxf_ni!LoadMxf.LoaderApp.ImportMxf(string xmlFileName = <Value unavailable error>, Microsoft.MediaCenter.Store.ObjectStore store = <Value unavailable error>, bool isVerboseSpecified = <Value unavailable error>)+0xe0
14 0000006470efead0 00007ff93dcc1693 LoadMxf_ni!LoadMxf.LoaderApp.Main(string[] args = <Value unavailable error>)+0x329
Even if I deselect all channels in the line-up and then select just one - BBC1STH - the produced MXF still fails on import. Attaching it here.
Hi Gary, yes. That is the odd thing - channel tuning keeps returning "No channels found".
Is that the reason the LoadMXF is failing like this?
I am not sure why the tuning is finding no channels.
I have a 4-way and a 2-way silicon dust on the network, and the silicon dust client app sees the tuners on the network and reports signals coming from them all.
It is possible this is why LoadMXF is failing, so the first thing is to get WMC to see your tuners.
- (Just for completeness) With SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuners, make sure you download and install the "HDHomeRun Software for Windows". This is not to be confused with the "HDHomeRun App for Windows". The software package installs the BDA drivers that WMC needs.
- Open the "HDHomeRun Setup" program to verify your tuners can be detected and BDA Compatibility Mode is set for Windows Media Center.
- Open the EPG123 Client and click the "Client Setup" button to delete your current WMC database. I have found in the past that if you try to import guide listings before performing TV Setup, the database can be corrupted. Follow the steps for a client setup which will require a TV Setup within WMC.
- If the results are still "No channels found", try my WMC Tuner Aid program to scan for channels and import into WMC.
- If you have successfully scanned channels into WMC, then try to import guide listings.
Thanks Gary, following 1,2,3 and 5 did the trick. I think installing the HDHomeRun software mentioned was probably the critical step. Very much appreciated, thanks!