Comment 2 for bug 1186824

So the Mythtv-backend-setup icon option still hangs and you have to give sudo command in terminal to launch backend setup.

However did get the backend to finally run at start up as well as get the frontend to connect properly. Basically had to treat the install as if it was totally manual. Purged mythtv and mysql from system. Did sudo apt-get install mythtv. Followed this up with mysql and database steps listed here:

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/User_Manual:Initial_Installation

 Creating the mythtv user

to run MythTV as its own user I created one (so the backend doesnt run as root)

sudo useradd mythtv

MythTV database setup

You have to create a file for mythtv for database connections ~mythtv/.mythtv/mysql.txt
Script.png ~mythtv/.mythtv/mysql.txt

DBHostName=localhost

# By default, Myth tries to ping the DB host to see if it exists.
# If your DB host or network doesn't accept pings, set this to no:
#
DBHostPing=no

DBHostName=localhost
DBUserName=mythtv
DBName=mythconverg
DBPassword=mythtv

# Set the following if you want to use something other than this
# machine's real hostname for identifying settings in the database.
# This is useful if your hostname changes often, as otherwise you
# will need to reconfigure mythtv (or futz with the DB) every time.
# TWO HOSTS MUST NOT USE THE SAME VALUE
#
LocalHostName=MYCOOLMYTHTVHOST

# If you want your frontend to be able to wake your MySQL server
# using WakeOnLan, have a look at the following settings:
#
#
# The time the frontend waits (in seconds) between reconnect tries.
# This should be the rough time your MySQL server needs for startup
#
#WOLsqlReconnectWaitTime=0
#
#
# This is the number of retries to wake the MySQL server
# until the frontend gives up
#
#WOLsqlConnectRetry=5
#
#
# This is the command executed to wake your MySQL server.
#
#WOLsqlCommand=echo 'WOLsqlServerCommand not set'

Then you have to create a database and let the user set above access it

mysql -u root -p
create database mythconverg;
create user 'mythtv'@'%' identified by 'mythtv';
create user 'mythtv'@'localhost' identified by 'mythtv';
set password for 'mythtv'@'%' = password('mythtv');
set password for 'mythtv'@'localhost' = password('mythtv');
connect mythconverg;
grant all privileges on *.* to 'mythtv'@'%' with grant option;
grant all privileges on *.* to 'mythtv'@'localhost' with grant option;
flush privileges;
exit;

Run mythbackend to test. This will automatically upgrade your previous mythconverg database schema to the latest version:

mythbackend

If mythbackend is running OK, test mythfrontend:

mythfrontend

Followed this with modification for "upstart" listed here:

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Upstart_mythbackend_Configuration

Now front and backend work, tuners work, playback works etc. However still have to use the sudo command to launch backend setup.