The Media Center Show Podcast 240 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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0

Ian over at the Digital Lifestyle.com has released the Media Center Show Podcast, number 240.

digital lifestyle logo

Here’s what Ian has to say about this weeks show:

This is the final batch of interview from CES. I have Arcsoft talking about how to get 3D movies in Windows Media Center using Total Media Theatre, they have some great solution for movie watching in Media Center including HD audio and upscalling. Of course 3D requires special hardware and so I talked with Nvidia about the hardware needed to get 3D working on the PC.

The Zune team where at CES talking about the progress they have made over the last year including launching the Zune HD and the Zune marketplace in the Xbox 360, so I talked to Michael Yaeger from the Zune team about the current state of Zune

Garry took a trip down to see Pronto from Phillips about their remote control devices including devices that can control Sonos systems.

The final section wraps up the week with a chat with Bjorn Morris from Cybersmart systems who had his first trip to CES and we find out what caught his eye at the show

Plus I also have a roundup of the weeks news and I want your feedback on the next UK user group event

So, go take a listen, especially if you are interesting in attending the next UK user group meeting – the last one was a blast!

As usual you can listen to it here.

Tech Tip on a Tuesday – WHS Restore with 32-bit Drivers

Timothy Daleo
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6

Last Tuesday I had an issue with the Restore of a 64-bit Dell Inspiron 15. After starting the Restore, and loading the proper Dell 64-bit network drivers, the process stopped when the WHS was not found. I have done about a dozen Restore (32-bit) with WHS but this was the first one to hang up on me. Why?

title

A special thanks to fasthair and Seth for confirming that this error happens in similar scenarios.

Equipment Used

For this Restore I was using the Power Pack 3 CD image and the latest and greatest 64-bit drivers from Dell on my USB stick. Everything should have been working as it has the past 12 times. It was not. Ugh (Insert Google rejected curse word here)!

image

–

Restore Does Not Work – Server Not Found

I downloaded the 32-bit Windows 7 drivers and started again. The video has been updated. Here it is:

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Server Not Found

I tried for a few hours to get past the Server not found error and finally decided I would start looking around for a solution. I knew the issue was with the drivers because this laptop could not get on the network. How could I tell? I connected to the router from another PC and saw that it was NOT connected even though this laptop was hard wired. Crap.

When I went to download the Microsoft Technical Brief to verify the process I came across the following warning:

“If you are restoring from a 64-bit computer the drivers that are stored in the backup will be 64-bit. These will not function with the 32-bit restore CD. Therefore it is may be necessary to obtain 32-bit versions of the network driver and storage-device drivers for your 64-bit computer, while doing a restore of your home computer.”

The full brief can be found at:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=196fe38c-df20-4e19-92ca-6bda7bec3ecb&DisplayLang=en

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CES 2010 – Video of the HDHomeRun CableCARD tuner

Timothy Daleo
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2

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Jason Ludka of SiliconDust while at CES 2010. SiliconDust is the company that brought you the HDHomeRun tuner series. As if those products were not enough, SiliconDust is now about to introduce their CableCARD dual tuner. Check out this 5 minute interview to find out more about this amazing product!

Untitled

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The HDHomeRun CableCARD dual tuner

The tuner at the show was a working demo and Jason tells us the actual unit (part number HDHR-CC) should be similar in size to the current models. Being a current CableCARD Windows Media Center user I am really excited to see a product like this!

100_3640

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Video of the HD HomeRun CableCARD tuner with Jason Ludka at CES 2010

The video quality was not the best since it was on my phone but the audio is the important part of the interview anyway!

As a review, some quick specs are as follows:

  • Dual tuners from one CableCARD
  • Single Coax connection (no splitters!)
  • Windows 7 Media Center
  • Low Power
  • $249 anticipated MSRP
  • Multiple units can be used
  • 100BASE-TX Ethernet

SiliconDust

More information about SiliconDust and their products can be found at:

http://www.silicondust.com/

I will be posting more on this unit (and hopefully a review) as soon as I get detailed specs from SiliconDust. We also expect to hear more from the company in April when their beta testing program starts.

Tim

The Home Server Show Podcast 73 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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0

Dave and the guys over at the Home Server Show have released podcast number 73.

home_server_show_small

I haven’t listened to it yet so I don’t know if I’m on this weeks show or not – I’ve been on the last few 🙂 I hope this week’s show doesn’t just end like last weeks did!

Here’s what Dave has to say about this weeks show:

The Home Server Show 73 – CES and Blog Post Wrap-Up

On Today’s show John, Jim, Chris, and Dave try to wrap up our CES talks and go over some of the posts on homeservershow.com.  We also talk about some new Add-In’s and critique Dave’s podcasting voice!  Barry White not included.  Also, listen in for the debut of a new Add-In by ASoft called Admini-Me.

twitter.com/homeservershow

Add-In: Admini-Me

Initial thoughts and features of Admini-Me.

Add-In: MyMovies 3.12

Add-In: Asset UPNP

Add-In: Conflict Resolver

Via M’Serv S2100

As usual, you can listen to it here.

How Safe is your Windows Home Server ?

Andrew Edney
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8

Hot on the heals of various announcements this month, Tranquil PC have started to give some hints on a new project they are working on called SAFE Home Server.

There isn’t much information at the moment, but knowing Tranquil it will be something interesting, useful and worth the wait!

Safe_WHS

Here’s the little information they have released so far…..

For sure, your Home Server ‘data’ – the important stuff, is safe as long as you have more than one Hard Disk Drive (HDD) fitted to your Home Server, and folder duplication is enabled.  Tranquil will always recommend at least two HDDs are always used on Home Servers, unless you use off site backup services too.

Also the primary HDD containing the Operating System (OS) partition is safe, due to the simple way that a Home Server can be ‘Restored’ over the network (another great solution from the Microsoft Home Server team) even if the HDD fails (physically).

However, due to the nature of the Restore process, certain things are lost – ALL the DATA can be recovered safely from any Duplicated Folders, but any specific user settings / folder access permissions etc and installed Add Ins / application software installed on the Home Server is lost.  This is not often a problem to the home user, but in a small business environment (where down time / rebuilding would cause an problem) it may be critical.

Tranquil R&D team have agonised over how to create / supply a hardened Home Server product – ie one that is as ‘SAFE’ as possible, safe from ALL HDD failure, even protecting the Primary HDD.  This short series will explain the issues, the opportunities, and the final solution – the “Safe Home Server”.

Watch this series as we build the world’s first OEM ‘Safe Home Server’

So, if you want to follow this series, and learn more about a SAFE Home Server, click here.

Part II: Restoring the Windows 7 Image – Using the WHS Client Restore Wizard

Michael Peele
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1

You may be wondering what happened to Part II, as Part I was written forever ago. I’ve been busy.

Using the tool “ClientRestoreWizard.exe” located in C:\Program Files\Windows Home Server, I did a restore onto a 2.5” hard drive for a laptop. This is a somewhat short and yet complex process, requiring you to have a disk or partition currently mounted in order to restore. Here’s a link to the process: http://www.wegotserved.com/2009/11/17/how-to-restore-a-client-computer-without-using-the-client-restore-disk/

Then, I put the hard drive into the laptop and turned it on.

On bootup I got the message, “BOOTMGR is missing”. Hmm… It’s been a while since I’ve done my own bootup tech support.

I used the Windows 7 installation DVD and entered into the recovery mode. It did its thing and a few reboots later, I get a login screen. Success! (Or so I thought…)

I put in my password, and it does an update. Then I get the famous “You must restart your computer to apply these changes.” message. I also see that it is installing a driver of some sort. My confidence level is increasing.

I click to Restart Now.

Restarted. Logged in. Once more got the same message and apparently another driver. Restart again. My confidence level is now decreasing. Could this be an endless reboot loop?

Restarted. Logged in. Third time’s a charm? Nope, same message, and another driver. Restart again. At this time I’m thinking, well, it seems to be doing different things, as at some point it must have installed an audio driver, I now have sound, and it appears a better video driver. My confidence level is still decreasing. It’s looking like an endless reboot loop.

Restarted. Logged in. Same message? Nope. It works!!!

Now, I’ve got a fully functional Windows 7, with audio, video and network working fine. At this time, I can go and install specific audio, video, networking and any other driver that requires specific hardware, but the base Windows 7 drivers give me good hope in both Windows 7’s built-in drivers and that I’ve got a working PC from my VM. This is the way to upgrade a PC.

Tranquil PC Release AVA Media for Windows Home Server 1.5.1.0 Add-In

Andrew Edney
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0

Got this from Tranquil PC today and thought I would share it:

AddIns1 AVA_Gen1 CD_Copier MP3_config

Tranquil are pleased to announce the immediate availability of the 1.5.0.1 Add In for Windows Home Server / AVA Media Servers

To get the upgrade click here

What does the upgrade feature :

AVA Media for Windows Home Server 1.5.1.0

Added: User customization content for My Movies 3
Fix: Workaround to problem with special discs that AnyDVD cannot handle for external programs.
Fix: Issue preventing the program from getting album art from Amazon when copying CD’s
Fix: Issue where reading a disc id from AnyDVD could fail
Fix: Issue with selecting language on Xtreamer, TViX and Dune integrations
Fix: Issue with Blu-ray copying where UDF driver broke

Update: Database version matches My Movies 3.04
Update: Minor changes to shared files between My Movies for WHS and My Movies for WMC

To upgrade your current AVA Media Add In please follow the simple steps below :

1.  Uninstall the current AVA Media Add In, from the Home Server console application
2.  Delete the Tranquil AVA Media application from the Add Ins folder on the Home Server
3.  Download and save the upgrade (above) to the Add Ins folder on the Home Server
4.  Re-Open the Home Server console, and check that the new version AVA Media V1.5.0.1 is listed in the available Add Ins folder
5.  Install the new V1.5.0.1 Tranquil AVA Media Add In
6.  Your current licence will auto register.

Enjoy

Please note the Add In will only function on Tranquil PC / AVA Media systems

AdminiMe 2010 Add-In for Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney
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5

Fellow Windows Home Server MVP Nick Asseloos, author of the great WHS add-in AutoExit has just released a new add-in for Windows Home Server called AdminiMe.

Here’s what Nick says about it:

ASoft AdminiMe for Windows Home Server is a console add-in for Windows Home Server.

admwhs_10_main

It is an add-in that constantly monitors your server without you having to do anything.
As the Home Server is a headless machine that is running non stop for long periods of times, and mostly hidden away in some closet/basement/small room; people don’t look at its ‘health’ to often.
But in reality, it could be that the server’ CPU usage is high for very long periods, or errors are occuring, memory utilization is high,…
To avoid this, you can use AdminiMe! It will monitor your server in the background without you having to do anything. And in case something goes wrong, it will notify you.
Added to this monitoring, it contains a console where you can watch all kinds of parameters in real-time. Things like CPU, memory, network, disks and all kinds of statistics like uptime, longest uptime, # of starts,…
But it doesn’t stop there, it also has shortcuts to the most relevant tools: Event Viewer, Task Manager, Performance Monitor, Remote Desktop.
You also have the option to add your own shortcuts to applications!
And next to that, there is a ‘Run-box’ which has the same functionality as the Windows Run Dialog.
There is also a screen where you can view, which users have open files to the server shares.
All events are kept in a log that can be consulted later on.

Features in AdminiMe 2010 for Windows Home Server
– Multilingual UI (supports German, French, Japanese).
– A console that shows a lot of information:
> CPU Usage (in total or per processor)
> Upload & Download speed of the network traffic
> Memory usage
> Total Disk usage
> Current Time
> System Uptime
> Longest Uptime
> Total Uptime
> # of starts
> First start
> Last start
> Detailed information on the storage (activity, temperature, disk space,…)
> All the files that have sessions open by users
> The logging of all events that occured
Handy features in the console:
> Possibility to create shortcuts to applications
> Shortcuts to important system tools: Event Viewer, Performance Monitor, Task Manager, Remote desktop
> Run box (like the Run dialog functionality in the Windows Menu)
> Automatically shut down the server when no clients are connected
Health monitoring:
– Send a mail in case of problems
– Monitoring:
> CPU (monitors the average usage over a certain amount of time)
> Memory (Memory usage)
> Harddisks (Disk space monitoring, disk temperature monitoring)
> System Event Log (Problems reported in the Event Viewer are monitored)
> WHS Events (Warning / Errors)
> Failed Remote Access Attempts
> System (warns if the system has been running non-stop for x amount of days, improper shutdown)

AdminiMe has 99.99% functionalities enabled in the unregistered version but it is recommended to register a small license fee and support the development. (costs 8$/8Euro*/8GBP/800Yen). *-taxes
It shows a nag-screen in the unregistered version and mails don’t contain details of the problems, only the console does.
– You can pay in US Dollars, Euro’s, UK Pounds or Japanese Yen.

FOR THE EARLY BIRDS!
FROM 21/01/2010 TILL 04/02/2010 THE PRICE WILL ONLY BE 6$/6Euro/6 gbp/600Yen!

For more information, including ordering and download instructions, click here. We will do a full review shortly.

PC Hard Drive Restore from Windows Home Server to a USB Drive

Timothy Daleo
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22

What do you do if your PC cannot connect to your network or server during a PC Restore from Windows Home Server? If you have another PC on the network and a USB enclosure you can remove the drive and Restore from outside the PC.

USB Drive Restore

Background

My moms Inspiron 15 was having a conflict with SlingPlayer and simply removing the program did not solve the issue. Her work tech had made some changes and the laptop turned into a brick after Windows started.

I had a clean backup from a few weeks ago and told her I would Restore it last night. My plan was to stop by the parents, start the Restore and go home. I have done this a dozen times. Easy right?

Not tonight.

Video of the Error

Every time I got to the Server connection screen it would NOT find the Server. What’s a boy to do? (insert Google rejected curse word here)

 

Restore to a USB Drive?

Yes, you can put the existing drive in a USB Enclosure and Restore your PC to that drive. This also means if you want to upgrade your drive for example, you can do it outside your existing system and just swap the drives out when you are done. How cool is that? I love Windows Home Server. Seriously.

Remove Drive

Pull the drive out of the Inspiron 15. Two screws.

USB Drive Restore

Remove the drive from the tray. Two more screws.

USB Drive Restore

Hold drive in hand. Take picture with phone.

USB Drive Restore

Xtreamer Media Streamer Firmware Update Available – Version 2.1.3.

Andrew Edney
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4

As you are all probably aware, we are huge fans of the Xtreamer Media Streamer. One of our readers, Pete Campbell reminded me earlier that the latest version of the firmware came out at the end of last year, version 2.1.3.

Xtreamer

The last time I did a post about the firmware updates was back in September 2009 and since then there has actually been 6 additional firmware releases and now this new one – I really need to pay more attention.

What’s new in this firmware

Improvements
1. NFS shares mounted via WEB GUI will be displayed in “Media Library->Network Shares”
– It has been moved from “Favorites” to “Network Shares”
– You can add a NSF mounted directory to “Favorites” by pressing “FUNC->Add to Favorites”
2. Photo preview EXIF info font size increased.
Bugs Fixed:
1. Xtreamer crashes or reboots during video playback or when starting a next file. Fixed.
2. Thumbnail display bug. Fixed.
3. “Forbidden” symbol removed during reconnecting to network.
4. “DELETE(3)” button blocked in “Favorites” menu.

To download the latest firmware, or an older one if you really wanted to, just click here.

If you want to see how easy it is to update the firmware, take a look at the video I did back in September for the last firmware I updated by clicking here.

And if you want to learn more about the Xtreamer, take a look at a couple of the articles I wrote below:

https://moviesgamesandtech.com/2009/09/13/review-of-the-xtreamer/

https://moviesgamesandtech.com/2009/10/27/review-of-the-xtreamer-cooler-the-xsc/

Now We Know – HD View by Microsoft

Timothy Daleo
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2

HD View is the new viewer from Microsoft that displays very large images. I mean REALLY large images. How about 2,045 12 megapixel images stitched together? You have to see this.

Untitled

HD View Beta³

HD View is a viewer that allows you to see large gigapixel panoramas by zooming and panning through your web browser. There is a lot more to it than that but I am not going to talk to the specs on this one. Just go and get the viewer and start the fun!

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/HDView/HDGigapixel.htm

Installation

Installation is easy. Just click on Install HD View and follow the prompts.

HD View Beta³

HD View Beta³ HD View Beta³

HD View Beta³ HD View Beta³

After the installation is complete, refresh the link or click below:

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/HDView/HDGigapixel.htm

and install the ActiveX control:

HD View Beta³

and now you are ready to start looking at some incredible panoramas!

More on the D-Link Boxee Box at CES

Andrew Edney
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8

Back in December 2009, we reported on D-Link’s announcement about them joining forces with Boxee to release the Boxee Box media streaming device.

At CES, one of the most popular booths was D-Link. This was partly to do with their various announcements just before show, but also because they had the Boxee Box on display and actually running, including with it’s new beta software that had literally just come out then and there! Oh yeah, and they had a couple of the Suicide Girls demoing the Boxee Box. Now these were not your usual “booth babes” – these girls really knew their stuff and they were a pleasure to talk to.

Boxee Box at CES

Over the course of the 4 days of CES, the Boxee Box won a number of well deserved awards.

THE BOXEE BOX

You have probably seen pictures of the Boxee Box by now, but one thing you really don’t get a sense of from the previous pictures is just how tiny it really is!

Boxee Box at CES Boxee Box at CES

Boxee Box at CES - Side View

Hopefully you can see from the picture above the USB device plugged into the back and also the USB port on the front corner – that should give you an indication of the small size of it!

Boxee Box at CES - Front on view

Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player

Andrew Edney
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0

Media streaming and media player devices are becoming extremely popular, and lets be honest, we all love them!

At CES earlier this month, Iomega announced their new ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player.

Here’s what Iomega has to say about it:

The new ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player boasts full 1080p high definition playback (24fps) and 1TB** of space to save all your multimedia files. The ScreenPlay Director is DivX® Home Theatre certified to play popular DivX video, and supports many of today’s popular CODECs and file types, including H.264, WMV and MKV, as well as plenty of others. (For a comprehensive list of supported video, audio and photo files, please go to http://www.iomega.com.)

The ScreenPlay Director is compatible with PCs and Macs, and has an Ethernet connection so you can store, access and share videos, photos and music across your home network or store all the files in one convenient location on the ScreenPlay Director. The new ScreenPlay Director is DLNA compatible to interact with other compatible devices on your home network, and is WiFi ready so you can connect to your network wirelessly, if desired. (USB WiFi adaptor sold separately.)

The ScreenPlay Director also includes a selection of popular online media pre-configured for easy access, including YouTube, Flickr, Shoutcast Internet radio, RSS feeds and podcasts. You can also configure the ScreenPlay Director to add other RSS feeds and podcasts, making it a snap to customize the player with your choice of online content. With three USB 2.0 ports, you can attach other external storage devices, a camera, flash drives, or a WiFi adapter.

The ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player, available later this month in the U.S., can hold up to 4 million photos, 18,500 hours of music, or 1,500 hours of video

The new 1TB Iomega® ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player will be available in the US later this month for $249.00. No information yet on a UK release though, so watch this space.

Hopefully we can get our hands on one very soon for a full review!

Here are some pictures I took at the Iomega booth at CES earlier this month.

DSC00554 DSC00555 DSC00556 DSC00553DSC00557

For more information visit the Iomega website by clicking here.

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