Hi Shane,

Thanks a million for this post! It's solving two issues Ive been driving myself crazy with at the same time:

1. I finally get to see the video's I have on my 2nd harddrive! (note: not even a network drive)

Strange enough, since my 3rd clean install in which almost everything works perfectly now, this was the only issue: my video's wouldnt show, even though pictures/music on the same drive *did* show....Why it worked before in the previous installs beats me too. But this fixed it!

2. I could finally get rid of my complete extender library...this was messed up and your instructions helped to clean it. For some curious reason Music showed up in the Videos section while there is certainly no video in my music folder....

So again thanks for the great help. Now I can work on my transoder360 issues :) Always something else to fix still with Vista it seems (granted doing complex stuff like transcoder is asking for trouble :)

I must say I had expected my migration to a new box with Vista to go a little smoother. However much I like many features of Vista, my old PC with WinMCE is more stable as central media hub right now...

Thanks again,

Thijs

I have been avoiding Media Center in Vista like the plague ever since it decided it wouldn't add any videos from my SATA drive, but this fix has sorted that out. I can now use my library from across the room without my eyes bleeding. You sir are a god.

Shane, great tip!!

How amazing if I could get this to work for me.

I tried what you suggested. I created two shortcuts and put them into a public folder. One points to a Windows XP Professional share, and one to my NAS unit. Neither one worked. :???: Both shares are totally open and have full access to anyone/everyone.

Also, when I run Vist Media Center locally I see all my network files, but the Extender does not.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

I have to say this is not working for me either, shares are there and set up ok on my server, all other networkable devices can see and access them, but my Xbox 360 booted as an extender will only show content local to the vista box.

KP & Mark,

Are you trying to access shares on computers or on NAS boxes over SMB? If from a computer (XP or Vista) the client may be being asked for a username password, even if it doesn't need it.

I've just got it working from my XP Machine following the steps to share here (simple sharing): http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm and I chose to "Just enable file sharing" instead of running the Wizard. I also ensured that XP machine was in the same Workgroup as my Media Center PC.

Let me know if this helps.

Regards,
Shane.

Shane!!

Wow. I was on the phone with MSFT tech support for over 3 hours and they didnt even bother to suggest trying Simple File Sharing. I've been trying everything I could think of with it off and nothing worked. Changing my XP to Simple File Sharing mode did the trick.

Now what I'd love to get working is my NAS(Intel SS4000-e). That's where I'd like to store all my content. According to the specs its CIFS/SMB compliant. Any thoughts on how to make this work?

I appreciate everything. Thanks again!!

My share is on a SBS2003 server, called \\Server\Movies
its shared out for "Everyone" to be able to read it, and it maps fine to PCs, and PPCs wirelessly and hard wired on my network.

Just medicentre wont let the 360 see the folder.

Mark,

This is one area where my expertise wains, as I haven't used Windows Server or Small Business Server in a Media Center environment.

All I can think of is to try changing the access for the share to a Guest account - according to a W2K document I read this may allow it to work, as the "Everyone" setting for some reason still causes some clients to think they need a username & password.

Regards,
Shane.

KP,

As for you Intel NAS, I haven't seen one of these but I've played with an Infrant box and a Buffalo Linkstation (and now own a Maxtor SSII) and they all work fine.

I've read the specs on yours and they state "with user name, password protection, and managed access in local workgroups" - so I'm thinking first step for you is to ensure the share you have with your content is setup in the same workgroup as your Media Center PC, and has no username or password protection (ie just a public share).

You'll then need to follow the instructions I have above, making sure you match the share on the Intel box in this format "//server-name/share-name/folder"

Last but not least - ensure there are files there to see - sometimes Media Center won't show the share if there is nothing on it.

Regards,
Shane.

Unfortunatly, my NAS requires a login. BUT, what I did was that I created a logon script for the Mcx1 user that uses a known user account from the NAS and maps a share to it via "net use". Then the Xbox was able to see my NAS content like you described via the shortcut method.

Now, I can see my pictures and videos from the NAS!!! However, my music does not show up, even though I created the appropriate shortcut to a folder with music files. Does the shortcut method not work on music? Thanks again.

KP,

Glad you got it going. Yes the good old batch file should never go away :smile:

As for Music - this is the one thing that these shortcuts won't solve, and the only remaining thing that you need to use the Library for in Media Center.

Regards,
Shane.

As soon as my new High def samsung gets here ill try some bits out (including a batch file)
I have created a SBS user called MCX1 and given it access, then ive set up a batch file to map the drive and dropped it into vistas MCX1 account.

Im running Vista Ultimate connected to my home domain, wonder if that is whats makes a difference?

KP,

Glad you got it going. Yes the good old batch file should never go away :smile:

As for Music - this is the one thing that these shortcuts won't solve, and the only remaining thing that you need to use the Library for in Media Center.

Regards,
Shane.

As soon as my new High def samsung gets here ill try some bits out (including a batch file)
I have created a SBS user called MCX1 and given it access, then ive set up a batch file to map the drive and dropped it into vistas MCX1 account.

Im running Vista Ultimate connected to my home domain, wonder if that is whats makes a difference?

Gah, "Obviously" im either forgetting to do something, or not doing something right (Or its just not going to work with SBS2003)

Share has been made, the folder \\servername\Movies\ has been shared.
Everyone has access to read it.

Shortcuts have been created in the C:\Users\Public\Public Videos direcrtory.

The account MCX1 has been set up to use a login batch file which has been set up to map the network share to M:\ (just in case) and second set of shares copied for M:\ to C:\Users\Public\Public Videos just in case

what i get on the xbox is 4 lots of Transcoded files folders (from transcode 360) instead of one, and my normal local content.

im stumped, and may just go out and drop a terrabyte sata drive into my vista box and free up the space on the server for other things, but this whole network connectivity missing from the extenders kind of sucks, im assuming there will be something special in place to allow people running the Home Meda Server (or whatever) to connect to shares on that ok, is this a ploy by MS to make me build yet another windows box and pay for yet another OS so i can enjoy my content whenever and where ever i want?

im off to rant about how my Zune wont let me copy Xbox market place video content to it... :-)

Mark,

I just re-read your comment. Can you clarify please - your shortcuts; do they actually say as follows?:

\\servername\Movies

If so - you have your slashes the wrong way around. You need to have them like so:

//servername/Movies

I hope it's that simple, even if it means you have to kick yourself... otherwise I'm not sure what to do other than try and source a copy of SBS2003 and test it myself... and I've used up most of my favours with Microsoft at the moment :smile:

Regards,
Shane.

Gah, "Obviously" im either forgetting to do something, or not doing something right (Or its just not going to work with SBS2003)

Share has been made, the folder \servernameMovies has been shared.
Everyone has access to read it.

Shortcuts have been created in the C:UsersPublicPublic Videos direcrtory.

The account MCX1 has been set up to use a login batch file which has been set up to map the network share to M: (just in case) and second set of shares copied for M: to C:UsersPublicPublic Videos just in case

what i get on the xbox is 4 lots of Transcoded files folders (from transcode 360) instead of one, and my normal local content.

im stumped, and may just go out and drop a terrabyte sata drive into my vista box and free up the space on the server for other things, but this whole network connectivity missing from the extenders kind of sucks, im assuming there will be something special in place to allow people running the Home Meda Server (or whatever) to connect to shares on that ok, is this a ploy by MS to make me build yet another windows box and pay for yet another OS so i can enjoy my content whenever and where ever i want?

im off to rant about how my Zune wont let me copy Xbox market place video content to it... :-)

Mark,

I just re-read your comment. Can you clarify please - your shortcuts; do they actually say as follows?:

\servernameMovies

If so - you have your slashes the wrong way around. You need to have them like so:

//servername/Movies

I hope it's that simple, even if it means you have to kick yourself... otherwise I'm not sure what to do other than try and source a copy of SBS2003 and test it myself... and I've used up most of my favours with Microsoft at the moment :smile:

Regards,
Shane.

THANK YOU... great info. I am not sure if this is the best place for these questions, but you seem to be more knowledgable about this exact subject than anyone I know. I am NOT a geek (maybe wannabe but no time!). I have reasonable experience with computers and networks but most of what I see posted is over my head. In my home, I have a hard wired neetwork (netopia rounter) and I have a 720p pani projector and 100" screen in the living room. I want to be able to play pictures and video content (Mainly of my 4 month old!) over the projector but don't want to put a PC in the living room. So I came upon the idea of using Xbox 360 as a media extender (not yet purchased) and just bought a dell running vista premium to serve. Here are my questions:
1. If I want the speed of a gigabit connection, can I get a gigabit "switch" and tie the xbox and vista machine through the switch and have the gigabit connection between these machines, even though the switch is plugged also into the netopia (to connect to the rest of the network but only at the 100mb speed), or do I have to upgrade the entire router?
2. I believe from the info above that with a little play I can actually run pics and vidios stored on other network machines (XP home) and play them using the Xbox wihtout having to first move them to the VIsta machine, is that right (though I will need to use your shortcut workaround)?
3. Will the vista allow tagging and displaying of the pics/vds on the network computer as if they were on the vista machine, or will it be different and not as functional?
4. THis may answer 2 and 3 above: is it better to just get a larger second hard drive for the VIsta machine and move all media to that machine to tag, catogorize, and serve it up and then use the XP machines just to access the media as needed (mainly the only reason is if someone is at another computer and wants to view or e-mail images without going to the Vista machine).
5. Do you know anything about burning music to the vista? I have about 400 cd's in a jukebox and want to jetison the carosel in favor of the xbox playing the musci through the vista - I don't need 100% quality but don't want to downgrade a lot and am willing to purchase extra hard drive space if needed (comes with a 250gb sata2). Does Vista allow me to rip the cd to the drive and then find the data over the net for cover art etc. (the way Itunes does for the pod)? Do you know what rate I need to rip at to get virtually CD quality? I am hoping to be able to setup "tags" to cd's or ideally even songs so that I can setup "shuffleable lists" for instance DANCE or JAZZ or LATE NIGHT and have faster changing than my jukebox ideally that will shuffle between tracks "tagged" from cd's (not the entire cds). ANy thoughts on these or where to turn for the answers if not you?

THANK YOU - not sure what I Can offer in return, other than maybe some cook holograms for your friends or kids if you want. Hope to hear from you and again thanks for the great posts!

THANK YOU... great info. I am not sure if this is the best place for these questions, but you seem to be more knowledgable about this exact subject than anyone I know. I am NOT a geek (maybe wannabe but no time!). I have reasonable experience with computers and networks but most of what I see posted is over my head. In my home, I have a hard wired neetwork (netopia rounter) and I have a 720p pani projector and 100" screen in the living room. I want to be able to play pictures and video content (Mainly of my 4 month old!) over the projector but don't want to put a PC in the living room. So I came upon the idea of using Xbox 360 as a media extender (not yet purchased) and just bought a dell running vista premium to serve. Here are my questions:
1. If I want the speed of a gigabit connection, can I get a gigabit "switch" and tie the xbox and vista machine through the switch and have the gigabit connection between these machines, even though the switch is plugged also into the netopia (to connect to the rest of the network but only at the 100mb speed), or do I have to upgrade the entire router?
2. I believe from the info above that with a little play I can actually run pics and vidios stored on other network machines (XP home) and play them using the Xbox wihtout having to first move them to the VIsta machine, is that right (though I will need to use your shortcut workaround)?
3. Will the vista allow tagging and displaying of the pics/vds on the network computer as if they were on the vista machine, or will it be different and not as functional?
4. THis may answer 2 and 3 above: is it better to just get a larger second hard drive for the VIsta machine and move all media to that machine to tag, catogorize, and serve it up and then use the XP machines just to access the media as needed (mainly the only reason is if someone is at another computer and wants to view or e-mail images without going to the Vista machine).
5. Do you know anything about burning music to the vista? I have about 400 cd's in a jukebox and want to jetison the carosel in favor of the xbox playing the musci through the vista - I don't need 100% quality but don't want to downgrade a lot and am willing to purchase extra hard drive space if needed (comes with a 250gb sata2). Does Vista allow me to rip the cd to the drive and then find the data over the net for cover art etc. (the way Itunes does for the pod)? Do you know what rate I need to rip at to get virtually CD quality? I am hoping to be able to setup "tags" to cd's or ideally even songs so that I can setup "shuffleable lists" for instance DANCE or JAZZ or LATE NIGHT and have faster changing than my jukebox ideally that will shuffle between tracks "tagged" from cd's (not the entire cds). ANy thoughts on these or where to turn for the answers if not you?

THANK YOU - not sure what I Can offer in return, other than maybe some cook holograms for your friends or kids if you want. Hope to hear from you and again thanks for the great posts!

Holograman,

Big post - I'll take a read through it and try and answer some of your questions via email.

One place I'd recommend you check out is the forums at http://www.xpmediacenter.com.au - the people there are very helpful and may be able to help even more with your questions.

Thanks,
Shane.

Holograman,

Big post - I'll take a read through it and try and answer some of your questions via email.

One place I'd recommend you check out is the forums at http://www.xpmediacenter.com.au">http://www.xpmediacenter.com.au - the people there are very helpful and may be able to help even more with your questions.

Thanks,
Shane.

I tried it with symbolic links as opposed to shortcuts and it works beautifully.

Thanks Mark - yes this should work also. For those that don't know, here is the command to do it in Vista:

MKLINK [[/D] | [/H] | [/J]] Link Target

/D Creates a directory symbolic link. Default is a file symbolic link.

/H Creates a hard link instead of a symbolic link.

/J Creates a Directory Junction.

Link specifies the new symbolic link name.

Target specifies the path (relative or absolute) that the new link refers to.

Regards,

Shane.

I tried it with symbolic links as opposed to shortcuts and it works beautifully.