Now that I have this working....does DVRMStoolbox work on the server??

I followed your steps exactly. I am recording on a XP MCE but also have a Vista box without a tuner.

Sometimes it works (recording to WHS box), sometimes it still records in the XP Box. The registry still points to the server, so there must be something else keeping it from recording there. And I have the whs.bat set up to run when the box reboots, using task scheduler.

Any suggestions on what else I can do?

-Dan

After the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Service\Recording  "RecordPath"  is set in the registry, you have to reboot the MCE PC.
Did you reboot the MCE?

Yes. I then did a sample record of a show that started a few minutes after the reboot and it recorded on the WHS. Later n the day it recorded another show to the original location. I checked the registry and it hadn't changed. I even rebooted and checked the registry again, and it still hadn't changed. Nothing had been done on that computer in the intervening time.

I can't get the direct recording to work either, but it will see and play from the share when I manually move it over.

Also, I never saw the question answered above and I've wondered about this as soon as I read it a couple weeks ago. How does the batch file load after WHS reboots? It won't load unless you log in manually, or set up TweakUI to auto login.

Any one found a way get the Share Permissions to the Anonymous Logon that Richard Miller is batching in his post in a reg hack (or any other way)?
If it is done by a batch I must login to make in run...

i used to have a setup that used MCE05 to record to my XP server (the thread is here: http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/96353.aspx)

I always found it better to run the batch file using a scheduled task running under the system account that started 'at logon' rather than 'when my computer starts', probably because the second one runs too early i.e. before the network is up. The instructions are in the thread if they're any use tho...

HTH
Danny

dcdc#1
What you say sound like a very good idea!

Can you please right down in more detail what are the steps and things i need to do on my WHS  that will get it to work as sone as the system reboot?

i think my steps were:

1. create an account for the Media Centre on the WHS with a password. On XP I used Start > Run > control userpasswords2 > Advanced > Advanced > Add . I would think you can do the same in WHS.

Also, I can't think of any reason you can't use the same account for more than one MCE machine.

2. Set the necessary permissions on a folder on the WHS machine. I guess you can do this either by keeping the shared folder in d:\shares or create it somewhere else on d: on the WHS machine. Make sure you give MCE full write access to it though (easy to test - try creating a file in that folder from the MCE machine!)

3. Create a batch file with the following lines in:
------
net use t: /delete
net use t: \\[SERVERNAME]\[PATH] [ACCOUNT_PASSWORD] /user:[WORKGROUP_NAME]\[ACCOUNT_NAME]
------

The ACCOUNT_NAME and it's associated ACCOUNT_PASSWORD are the for the account you just set up on the server. Don't forget to add the Workgroup or Domain name before the account name!

4. Create a Scheduled Task that runs this batch file on logon on the MCE machine. Under 'Run as' put 'system' and no password (this'll automatically be changed to 'NT Authority\System' or something like that).

5. Test it - reboot the MCE machine and make sure of the following:
* there is a t: drive listed (it might well say disconnected - ignore this)
* t: is connected and you can create files in it (try copying a file there)
* the system account (which the MCE shell runs under) can also see and write to the t: drive. Test this as follows:
start > run > cmd
type: 'at time+1min /interactive cmd'
where time+1min is the current time plus one minute. I.e. if it's 12:20, type:
at 12:21 /interactive cmd
When it gets to that time you should get a new cmd window starting at c:\windows\system32>
Type 't:'
Assuiming it brings up the t: drive and you can create files there then you're good to go!

One more thing. Put Rosetta@Home on all those MCE and WHS machines - they can be doing something really useful when they'd otherwise be sat idling! :D

HTH
Danny

db298:

I tried this for a couple of weeks.  I followed all the instructions, and many things besides, but never got this working successfully - It worked a couple of times, but the registry of my MCE machine ALWAYS ended up resetting back to the local drive :(

I'd love for people to post to confirm they ACTUALLY have this working.  Consistently...

My hopes for WHS have been dashed by a pretty painful beta test, and I think I had high hopes for it that will be dashed, which is a real shame.
 

I am with db298 - Can anyone confirm that they have gotten this to work consistently?  I am sitting on the sidelines waiting to buy this thing and this is the number one reason I want to buy it....  that and the automated backup features..

Can someone provide some feedback on how its going?

Thanks.

Mine is working great with these changes.  I had some hiccups along the way, all related to permissions.  By all means check your permissions over and over down to the individual media files to make sure your anonymous and everyone setttings are propagated throughout. The batch file also worked a charm.  Good luck.  I'm not very technical but ask your questions and I'll answer what I know.

Cruzer:

  I'm not very technical but ask your questions and I'll answer what I know.

Glad you got it too work, "not very technical" you came to TGB in 2004 I think you are more technical than you say :-)

 

Richard A Miller:

Glad you got it too work, "not very technical" you came to TGB in 2004 I think you are more technical than you say :-)

I guess I'm technical enough. :)

I'm on my third media center and my first home server.  I have 7 computers and 2 xbox's so I know a little about hardware and software.  Anyway, I love having a home server and being able to stream my media to the media center and share it everywhere else.  Thanks!

I had this working for days and for whatever reason the recorded tv shares from the server that were being viewed from a Vista MCE and MCE2005 machine went away from the mce interface.  The problem seems to be on the server and I have tried doing the steps again and for whatever reason cannot get them to show in mce, they only show from the shared folder.

I happend to get an xbox 360 for my kids and had it on the wired network and each of the mce machines gave me notice of seeing that but I put off setting up the 360 to view the mce or server data.  The same day the network seemed to really slow down.  I had never used a 360 and disconnected it and and rebooted my wired router, dsl modem, switch, server and other computers.  I had not been using the HDHomeRun for a while and reinstalled the software for it on my vista and mce2005 machine.  Also my cable company recently changed the order of the HDTV channels. 

I am aware of the bat file and have even manually ran it.  I had a shortcut to run that in my startup folder but I know when I would log on the server it seemd to give an error.  I get the impression that the key is in this step. "right click the shared "Recorded TV" folder then go to Properties Click on the Share tab and Security then Permissions add "Anonymous Logon" click "Full Control" box then click on OK."   That is what seems to go away but I have even manually put it back. 

Am I correct that this is what goes away upon rebooting and that the batch file is meant to fix this.  For whatever reason it was working and the only change I made was installing the HDHomeRun on the clients and recording some shows.  I never checked to see about a windows update.  I guess connecting the Xbox 360 to the network should not have caused a problem but I am confused what did.  I am not at all a gamer but wanted my boys to have access to being able to record shows of their interest. 

I am still using the trial of WHS I have been debating purchasing this or going with a server of either XP, MCE2005 or Vista which I already have.