My Windows 7 HTPC runs My Movies for Windows Media Center, 24/7. My objective if possible is to have My Movies 4.07 installed, but running SQL 2008, not SQL 2005. As such, I uninstalled My Movies 4.07 and SQL 2005. I then installed My Movies 5.40 (...the last version that supports WMC) which in turn installed SQL 2008. From there I updated .NET Framework and Internet Explorer as required by My Movies 5.40. I was then able to launch the Collection Management application. No issues. So here's my question. What happens if I uninstall My Movies 5.40 (...but not SQL), then reinstall My Movies 4.07? Will My Movies 4.07 download and install SQL 2005 as is normally the case or will it see that SQL 2008 is still in place and use it instead? That's my objective, to have my Windows 7 HTPC running My Movies 4.07 with SQL 2008.
Some backstory...All work with the Collection Management application is done from my laptop. Once a month I backup my database from there copying the file over to my HTPC performing a restore. My HTPC is kept offline. No Internet. No network. I only allow my HTPC to connect to the network long enough for me to transfer the latest My Movies backup over to it. All I do with my HTPC is browse my Blu-ray collection at 150" diagonal in my home theater via My Movies for Windows Media Center, the location and/or disc details for each title calling out the physical location of the given disc. There's zero reason my HTPC needs to be on the network and/or have access to the Internet.
That being said, not long ago I migrated from my Windows 7 laptop to a Windows 11 laptop. This created a mismatch between my laptop and HTPC with respects to My Movies 4.07 and SQL. My Movies 4.07 on Windows 11 installs SQL 2008, not SQL 2005. As such, I could no longer backup my database (SQL 2008), then restore it to my HTPC (SQL 2005). I actually attempted to do so not thinking about the fact the same version of SQL was no longer in use. The database failed to attach obviously. From there I wasn't able to recover having to uninstall/reinstall everything and for a time I couldn't even get SQL to reinstall. Eventually I got back to a clean slate installing My Movies 5.40 (along with SQL 2008) successfully. From there I restored from the latest My Movies 4.07 backup which was also on SQL 2008. No issues with the restore and resulting file migration due to the change in My Movies versions.
Upgrading my Windows 11 laptop to My Movies 5.40 is an option I suppose. Unfortunately there's a couple major deal breakers. The first deal breaker is the mandatory sync model. Color me not interested and it starts right out the gate. When installing My Movies 5.40 a sync is required before you can even start working with your database within the Collection Management application. This is not the case with My Movies 4.07. Once logged in My Movies.dk leaves you alone. My Movies.dk could close its doors tomorrow and as long as I'm logged in to my account already within the Collection Management application I'm good to go. I'll be able to continue enjoying My Movies to infinity and beyond, no access to My Movies.dk required.
The second major bone of contention I have with My Moves 5.40 and higher is the fact that the individual backdrops are no longer stored locally. They're instead embedded within the SQL database I assume. So once again, take control away from the end user, the customer. Make the end user dependent on a one size fits all approach, access to MyMovies.dk required. No thank you. To make matters worse, all my titles are "Offline" titles, many of which are considered "Personal" titles. Due to the change in backdrop handling many of my backdrops for holding titles are not being displayed. Instead the backdrop of the first title within the given holding title is being shown instead. With My Movies 4.07 I have full control of my backdrops as they're stored locally and if a unique GUID is required I can take care of that too, but won't expand on that here naturally. Wouldn't want to be put in time-out.
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