Permissions are pretty powerful if you use them intelligently. I have 4 xboxes and a single win7 server.. from the win7 server I want to be able to do anything but i don't want my daughters friends or the babysitter deleting my precious memories such as home movies. Just create a "group" called "Extenders" in computer management then add all of your MCX-***** users to that group, at the top at the top level of the folder that contains your media, select properties->security->advanced->edit and create a "deny" rule for the two delete options for the Extenders group. Make sure it applies to folders, subfolders and files and don't grant them any permissions, let mediacenter take care of granting permissoins. Wallah, the delete button is still there but when deletes are attempted you get a "Windows could not delete the file" error when you attempt to delete from an extender. Honestly though, if you give your kids access to an Admin account via the pc directly or via a remote control you're asking for trouble... creating a seperate user isn't so much work, and if you sprung for ultimate or are using Win7 Pro or Ultimate then you can use remote desktop so you can do all your administrative work from a laptop. I've tested this solution and it works for me.

acgaustin

Permissions are pretty powerful if you use them intelligently. I have 4 xboxes and a single win7 server.. from the win7 server I want to be able to do anything but i don't want my daughters friends or the babysitter deleting my precious memories such as home movies. Just create a "group" called "Extenders" in computer management then add all of your MCX-***** users to that group, at the top at the top level of the folder that contains your media, select properties->security->advanced->edit and create a "deny" rule for the two delete options for the Extenders group. Make sure it applies to folders, subfolders and files and don't grant them any permissions, let mediacenter take care of granting permissoins. Wallah, the delete button is still there but when deletes are attempted you get a "Windows could not delete the file" error when you attempt to delete from an extender. Honestly though, if you give your kids access to an Admin account via the pc directly or via a remote control you're asking for trouble... creating a seperate user isn't so much work, and if you sprung for ultimate or are using Win7 Pro or Ultimate then you can use remote desktop so you can do all your administrative work from a laptop. I've tested this solution and it works for me.

Thanks a million for this great advice.

I've got a server/extender setup too (3 X extenders), and 3 kids.

I did exactly what you said and it worked perfectly.

it completely baffles me that there isn't a simple setting to disable this option. I mean really. What a gigantic oversight. 'Hey I just watched a great movie, Oh crud I accidentally hit delete'. Sure it gives you a warning, but really. You shouldn't have to go adjust or create new permissions groups. That's like not a fighter jet not having any arm (safety) switches on missile launch buttons. "Oh noes, my hand accidentally hit the box2 button'. I know I sound rant-ish. But really, When did media center first come out and that's still not an option?

 It is a shame. Is not easily possible also in MCE7...

Cant beleive people have wanted this feature for 3 years and microsoft has seamingly ignored requests.

Use a "third party" viewing program like "Media Browser". With Media Browser, you never see the delete option AND you get great backdrops, cover pictures, info about your videos, and much more!

Here is what I did to work around the issue:1) Share the movies location folder as READ only 
2) Selected 'manage library' option then
3) 'Remove folders from the library' – complete all steps.
4) Select 'manage library' again then
5) select 'Add folders to the library'
6) on the next menu, select 'On another computer'
7) your computer name will appear, click the computer name to expand the options
8) select your share name(s) – complete all steps. Now your videos will not be deleted because the network share has read only access