Can't access CDDB;Not Registered

[apollo2011]

I am new to the QCD player. I tried playing a CD and saw a scrolling message that QCD couldn’t access the CDDB info on gracenote because I wasn’t registered. I looked into registration and couldn’t find where you register. I tried another library plugin for musiccollecterz.com and I installed it and the collecterz.com software and added the track info based on the CD but when I pointed QCD to the muc file, it said that if couldn’t find the track info for the CD. Can someone please help me with this problem? Thanks!

[Service30]

This is a "me too" post - I just put up a message about my experience in the "Bugs" section. I've never seen a CDDB registration form, and yet I'm told I can't get disk info without being registered. I guess this is a systemic issue. The CDDB website seems to be up and running.

[acozz]

QCD is supposed to automatically register you. Did you make sure your internet settings are correct in QCD's preferences?

[Service30]

Thanks, that was the trick. It thought I was on a manual dial-up (I'm on a cable modem).

[apollo2011]

I wish my problem was as easy to fix as Service30's.

I checked and it was set for Full time Internet Connection (I have a DSL Modem connected to a Linksys DSL/Cable Router). I still couldn't get it. It displayes this message: "Could not initialize CDDB Connection" I set it to no connection, restarted QCD and set it back, restarted QCD and nothing changed. I don't know what is wrong.

[Paul]

apollo2011,
If you are comfortable editing the registry, run 'regedit.exe' and navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Cddb
and delete the Cddb key (and hence everything within that key). Then start QCD. That should fix things.

[apollo2011]

Well.. I am happy to sat that editing the registry fixed the problem, but now I receive the message "Coul not access CDDB without Registration" I don't know what to do now.

[Paul]

Hmm..
Delete the key one more time, and this time, also delete the Cddb folder with the QCD install folder.

I hope that does it... I'm not sure why the CDDBControl is giving you such a hard time.

[Paul]

I thought of one more thing. It's possible another application installed an older CDDB Control on your system, one that QCD fails to register with. Do a search for CDDBControl.dll and delete all instances, then re-install QCD which will install the proper CDDB Control.

If that doesn't do it, go ahead and shoot your computer. ;)

[apollo2011]

Hmm..
also delete the Cddb folder with the QCD install folder.
I understand you want me to delete the key. But what do you mean to delet the CDDB folder...

[Paul]

I understand you want me to delete the key. But what do you mean to delet the CDDB folder...
The path where QCD is installed there is a folder called CDDB, nuke it.

[apollo2011]

I don't see a folder called CDDB. I went to C:\Program FIles\Quinntessential Player\ and there is no CDDB Directory

[Paul]

I don't see a folder called CDDB. I went to C:\Program FIles\Quinntessential Player\ and there is no CDDB Directory
Interesting... maybe that is the problem.
Go into Preferences->Settings->Gracenote CDDB and check what the 'CDDB Cache Path' is set to. If set to the correct path, try creating the CDDB folder manually (why it's not there is a mystery, but could be explained by the CDDB Control being an older version from another app).

[apollo2011]

The Folder was set to C:\Documents and Settings\Kevin Sutherland\Application Data\QCD Player\CDDB

I deleted that and the Reg key, no difference I moved the folder, no difference. Should I try reinstalling?

[Paul]

First, go into Preferences->Settings->Gracenote CDDB, click 'CDDB Control Info' and check that the version of the control is 'August 2003 (2.0.0.13)'. If not, do reinstall.
If it is, go to Preferences->Settings and disable the 'User Settings' option. Then restart QCD. Let me know how it goes.

[apollo2011]

The CDDB software was August 2003 and the version you listed. I uninstalled QCD and reinstalled it. It came up after the install and said, "Could not access CDDB Database without CDDB Registration." So it looks like we are back to square 1.

[Paul]

Try doing an uninstall, then re-installing _without_ checking the 'multi-user install' option in the installer.

[apollo2011]

Actually, this time I did that.

[Paul]

Do you have any firewall software installed, such as ZoneAlarm or Norton Personal Firewall?

[apollo2011]

No but I do have Norton Antivirus 2002. and my I am connected to my modem throught a DSL/Cable Router. I have DSL.

[Paul]

Are you able to download skin (see Preferences->Skins->Download Skins)? If not, then your proxy settings are incorrect, which would also fail the registration.
Go to Preferences->Settings and make sure the proxy settings are blank (since you said you dont have a firewall).

[apollo2011]

I am able to see a list of all available skins. I am going to try to install QCD with Norton turned off.

[apollo2011]

That didn't work.

[Paul]

So, QCD connects to the net fine. And deleting the HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/CDDB is guaranteed to reset the CDDBControl which should force a registration the next time you start QCD.

However none of this worked. Either your computer is not allowing connections to CDDB (firewall, office proxy, other?), or the CDDB Service has a bug (unlikely since they get 1000's of reg's a day).

[apollo2011]

That's correct. I can even go to Prefs>Settings>CDDB> and check the CDDB Status and it says that it is up and running.

[Paul]

That's correct. I can even go to Prefs>Settings>CDDB> and check the CDDB Status and it says that it is up and running.
I have to suspect that your computer is not being allowed to connect to CDDB. I'm out of ideas.

[apollo2011]

Wow! I finally got it! I wa think of the route it takes to get to the internet and it hit me. I have SBC Yahoo! Parental Controls. That is the only other block to the internet from my machine. So I had the master account log in, deleted the Reg key and the CDDB Folder like you had suggested previously, and went in and it got all the info off CDDB. So our patience has finally paid off. All I need to know now is the servers and addresses the player runs through to get to CDDB so I can have them added to Parental Controls so I can access the CDDB Database

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!

<Edit>I think the only server blocked was the registration server. Without adding anything to Parental Controls I can access CDDB. Thanks again!</edit>

[Paul]

Phew.
This thread is a very detailed account of all things to try if your CDDB connection fails - FAQable Drew?

[apollo2011]

You can say that again!


lol