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🖥️ActiveHome Pro => SDK => Third Party Add-Ons & Software => Topic started by: aussie mate on February 20, 2010, 05:18:19 PM

Title: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: aussie mate on February 20, 2010, 05:18:19 PM
When I run BVC it comes up with "can not initialize speech API".

I have reloaded both BVC & Speech SDK 5.1 along with rebooting the PC but it has not fixed the problem.

Has anyone got any suggestions on what I could try next?
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: Tuicemen on February 20, 2010, 06:23:36 PM
Did it ever work for you?
 According to Bill  the most likely causes are:
Quote
1.  You downloaded the wrong file (happens all the time)   
     Make sure the file you downloaded and are attempting to run is:
     SpeechSDK51.exe    68.0 MB
2.  The file you downloaded is corrupt.
    Try re-downloading it and then try running it again.
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: aussie mate on February 20, 2010, 06:30:16 PM
Yes, it has been working fine for almost 12 months.

I am running xp service pack 3.

No changes were made to the PC configuration or software.
It just stopped working.
very strange...
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: Tuicemen on February 20, 2010, 06:53:30 PM
I remember reading a post on Bills forum where it happened to one other user (Art).
I never did see a resolution for it! ::) :'
Perhaps if you PM Art on Bills forum  (http://wgjohns.com/forums/index.php) he may have a solution
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: eagle on February 20, 2010, 06:56:09 PM
Was your computer recently updated via an auto update?

How about any software upgrades?

Driver upgrades?

Program(s) recently removed?

Hard crash?  BOD?

r,
eagle
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: aussie mate on February 20, 2010, 07:00:45 PM
I just tried to run it on my other PC & the same thing happens on it.

I now suspect that it may have been an auto update of either my anti virus, firewall or a windows secuirty patch.

will start looking at these.
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: HA Dave on February 20, 2010, 07:24:31 PM
One of the nice parts of Vista is it automaticly creates restore points when it installs new programs or updates. Maybe everyone that is running they're Home Automation on an old XP computer... ought to create a restore point now... while everything is running well. I know the restore feature is the most forgotten or over-looked ways to fix a common PC problem.

I just created an "alls well" restore point on my HA PC... it didn't take two minutes.
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: dbemowsk on February 20, 2010, 10:04:59 PM
Check your device manager to see if anything happened with the drivers to your sound  card.  Look for anything that has a yellow exclamation by it and check/update drivers or the hardware itself.  Also, check to see if you can get to the speech control panel applet and do things in there.  If so, check to see that your settings in there haven't changed as far as the preferred audio device for audio input or audio output.

Hope that helps.

Dan Bemowski
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on February 21, 2010, 01:43:12 AM
Yes, it has been working fine for almost 12 months.

I am running xp service pack 3.

No changes were made to the PC configuration or software.
It just stopped working.
very strange...

Sorry, I know it isn't much help, but if the above is the case, then obviously something about your hardware or software setup has changed.  Have you maybe recently tried other software that provides voice recognition or text-to-speech functions?  Maybe installed a new text-to-speech voice?

Working and then suddenly not is puzzling.

I'd like to understand what happened as much as you would!   B:(
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: hawk1 on February 21, 2010, 11:49:31 AM
You might want to try this.  I don't know.  Found it on Google.

Most likely, an earlier version or a beta version of Speech API 5 is installed. To remove an earlier version of Speech API 5, follow these steps:

   1. In Control Panel, click Regional and Language Options.
   2. On the Languages tab, click Details in the Text services and input languages area.
   3. In the Installed services area, click Speech Recognition under the language that you are using, and then click Remove.

Note You may also have to delete the following key in the Windows registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Speech
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: aussie mate on February 22, 2010, 08:25:55 AM
Thanks Hawk1 & others for your suggestions.

I tried them all with no success - along with much pulling of hair etc...
I have lost count of the number of times I installed & un-installed SDK5.1 etc
Anyway it's now fixed.
I am pretty sure that that it was a corrupted registry problem caused by a auto update going wrong...

To solve the problem I ended up using XP System restore.
It took the system back to before the corruption happend.
The good thing about this method is it is simple and can be undone if needed.
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: HA Dave on February 22, 2010, 10:17:36 AM

To solve the problem I ended up using XP System restore.
It took the system back to before the corruption happend.
The good thing about this method is it is simple and can be undone if needed.

I have advocated using restore for years.

Many of us older or geekier types predate it's use... and many non-geek types have never heard of it. It is a quick simple easy way to correct a problem. I once used restore when my laptop lost it's video (except in safe mode). Then I stopped automatic updates so I could review what it was downloading. When the updated videocard drivers popped back in the download list... I selected NOT to take that one again. Problem was solved.

If everything is working well on your old XP Home Automation PC... create a restore point now.
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: hawk1 on February 22, 2010, 10:39:38 AM
Like Dave mentioned you better turn off automatic updates or you'll be using system restore quite often!!  Don't forget to manually update though.  I suggest updating one item at a time that way if something messes up you'll know what did it.   :)
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: Tuicemen on February 22, 2010, 11:15:10 AM
Don't forget to manually update though.  I suggest updating one item at a time that way if something messes up you'll know what did it.   :)
And when You find out what did it be sure to post so the next person that it happens to knows where to look! ;)
 >!
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: eagle on February 22, 2010, 01:02:34 PM
^^

Hear! Hear! 

r,
eagle
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: aussie mate on February 25, 2010, 07:51:47 AM
Well - i have installed all the the auto updates & BVC still works ok.

My only guess now is that it was a corrupted registry problem.
At least we know that the system restore works ok.
I have also just updated another restore point so if I have problems in the future..
Title: Re: problem with BVC - "can not initialize speech API"
Post by: HA Dave on February 25, 2010, 09:14:23 AM
I have also just updated another restore point so if I have problems in the future..

I just created my 2009 DVDs the other day. Over the year I took a little over two gigs of pictures and video. Usually a couple times a year I copy those pictures and video from my computers Hard Drive(s) to my two external back up Hard Drives. Then at the beginning of the new year... I create data DVDs (it used to be CDs) that I give to relatives. I used to keep a small stack of these files in my desk drawer at work too. This helps to assure that these files will always be around... somewhere. Even if all my backup data was lost or destroyed.

Of course.... I also keep current copies of all my Home Automation software and data files for AHP, BVC, BlueWatch, and WeatherAloud.