I need some help with this. I have scanned the post, but have missed or cant find the answer. I am using Transcoder v0.7 and media center links to make the links. I have all my movies in a raid 5 config running under server 2008. They are fed to a VMC machine in the living room. I am trying to use an XBOX 360 as a extender in the den. I can get the links made and I can see the movies in DVD library on the extender, but when I hit play it goes to a blue screen and says it cant play because files necessary to decode arent there or that the file may be corrupt. On the VMC machine I can double one the hardlinked MPEG files and it will play fine, just not on the extender. Any ideas? I would love to get this working.

EDIT: I know that vaders can do it without the links, but for various reasons I prefer to do it with the links.

You have done too much... This thread speaks to to different process for playing DVDs on a extender/xbox360... I personally do not use the hardlinks, just cause of the work associated with it... I'm using Vader's DLL and instructions, see link... Also, it sounds like you do not have software on your VMC to decode whatever video format you are playing... I use ffdshow on my VMC x64/x32... Nothing on my W7MC...

http://hi-techhabitats.com/downloads.aspx

kwalker10:

I need some help with this. I have scanned the post, but have missed or cant find the answer. I am using Transcoder v0.7 and media center links to make the links. I have all my movies in a raid 5 config running under server 2008. They are fed to a VMC machine in the living room. I am trying to use an XBOX 360 as a extender in the den. I can get the links made and I can see the movies in DVD library on the extender, but when I hit play it goes to a blue screen and says it cant play because files necessary to decode arent there or that the file may be corrupt. On the VMC machine I can double one the hardlinked MPEG files and it will play fine, just not on the extender. Any ideas? I would love to get this working.

EDIT: I know that vaders can do it without the links, but for various reasons I prefer to do it with the links.

ARobinson0502,

Thanks for response. The files will play on the VMC machine, just no go on the extender. I use FFdshow also. I know a lot of people are using Vaders with success, but like I said I dont want to go that route.

Anybody, anybody???

kwalker10:

Anybody, anybody???

Check my post out on this issue.

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/275896.aspx

I had a similar problem with the levels in the directory path.  I too have not gone Vader's route and using the v.07 of the transcode.dll.

There is a registry hack that will alleviate this directory path limitation issue.  I will try to locate it.

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VMC: Intel D865PERL, 2.8 Ghz HT, 2 GB, 80 GB, 200 GB, 500 GB, Hauppage 150 MCE, HDHR, GForce 6200, Yamaha HTR-5730

Extenders: Xbox 360 Wired - Sony KDF-42WE655 HDTV; DMA-2100 Wired - Sony KDL-46W3000

JesperH:

Hi,

This is the string I use for PAL and Danish subtitles:

-dvd-device "{0}" dvd://{2} -alang en -slang da -oac copy -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:vbitrate=4900:keyint=15:vstrict=0:aspect=16/9, harddup -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -o "{1}" -quiet

exchange DA with your language of choice. This should do it.

EDIT: the string mentioned in the ealier post is an old one (sorry).

/Jesper

Aside from changing da to en for the language, what above would need to change to force it to NTSC?

I'm playing back NTSC titles, but am getting jitter when watching some movies, and do not believe it's an issue with the vob's themselves. Or are you suggesting NTSC users to try and use the PAL entry in your post?

-Dravor

Hi,

The below mencoder strings are valid for subtitle support (NTSC and PAL):

NTSC:

-dvd-device "{0}" dvd://{2} -alang en -slang da -oac copy -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:vbitrate=5000:keyint=18:vstrict=0:aspect=16/9 -vf scale=720:480,harddup -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -ofps 30000/1001 -o "{1}" -quiet

PAL:

-dvd-device "{0}" dvd://{2} -alang en -slang da -oac copy -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:vbitrate=4900:keyint=15:vstrict=0:aspect=16/9 -vf scale=720:576,harddup -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -ofps 25 -o "{1}" -quiet

So please try the string for NTSC and switch the DA to EN for subtitle support.

/Jesper

---

VMC 1: AMD 2XCore 2,60, ATI 1700, FloppyDTV C/CI, 4 GB, 1,2 TB HDD, LG 1730SF, HP17", Sony HS60. Marantz SR6200, B&W M-1 + AS-2 SUB.
VMC 2: Intel Q6600, 2.40, GeForce 8600 GT, 3 GB, 250 GB HDD, HP w22.
NAS: Dlink DNS323, 500 GB Raid 1.
Linksys DMA2200.

This is what I'm using (NTSC). Notice that I've added the string "-forcedsubsonly" since I only need subs when people are talking Elvish and such:

-dvd-device "{0}" dvd://{2} -alang en -slang en -forcedsubsonly -oac copy -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg2video:vrc_buf_size=1835:vrc_maxrate=9800:vbitrate=5000:keyint=18:vstrict=0:aspect=16/9 -vf scale=720:480,harddup -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -ofps 30000/1001 -o "{1}" -quiet

dravor:

Aside from changing da to en for the language, what above would need to change to force it to NTSC?

I'm playing back NTSC titles, but am getting jitter when watching some movies, and do not believe it's an issue with the vob's themselves. Or are you suggesting NTSC users to try and use the PAL entry in your post?

-Dravor

Posting here as I received no response on a seperate thread. I would love to just get the source code for this transcode utility so that I could step through and determine what I am doing wrong myself. I could even add additional logging to the utility so that the user could be notified as to what is not functioning correctly to prevent these types of posts in the future. Any help is appreciated.

I followed the directions for using Vader 504 Transcoder and control panel. When I pull up the DVD library on my XBOX 360 I see all the DVDs and there XML data (!AWESOME!) However when I attempt to play one of the DVDs back Media center just spins and spins (Busy signal). My setup is below.

This is from the Transcode log Note that the E97741A574D6E889.mpg never gets created:

11/22/2008 7:27:43 AM: New Transcoder created
11/22/2008 7:27:43 AM: Begin transcoding C:\TranscoderCache\E97741A574D6E889.mpg with command C:\Program Files\MPlayer\mencoder.exe -dvd-device "\\ruttersrv\Movies\Movies (D)\21" dvd://1 -alang en -ovc copy -oac copy -of mpeg -mpegopts format=dvd:tsaf -vf harddup -o "C:\TranscoderCache\E97741A574D6E889.mpg" -quiet

Windows Server 2008 Box

   -\\SERVER\Movies\            (DFS Root linking 4 Shared HD locations together)

Windows Vista Ultimate Box

   C:\TranscodeCache\      (Location of the TranscodeCache Permission for Read/Write granted Everyone)

Note: My Server and MC box are setup using a domain and I have granted permission to everyone for access to the movies share as well as updated local policy to allow guest access to the shares. I have also verified that from a non-domain joined computer I can access and playback the movies shares.

Any help is appreciated.

I'm attempting to make my DVD movie collection available on my Vista Ultimate x86 SP1 box for the fist time.  I decided that dvr-ms is the best way to go since it allows for short rip times with no loss in quality and also generally allows full ff/rw capability.

I'm trying to use the instructions found here.

http://www.htpcug.org/Default.aspx?tabid=168

I've ripped a couple DVD movies to DVR-MS files for testing, and they play just fine by clicking on them directly from within the Vista GUI.  However I've been unable to get them to play by clicking on them from within the VMC "DVD Library."  I can see a greenish-blue rectangle that represents the ripped movie, but attempting to play it just results in the "Video Error - Files needed to display video are not installed or not working correctly.  Please Restart Windows Media Center or restart the computer."  Obviously I know the files needed to play the file within VMC ARE present, because the file plays just fine when I click on it directly from within the Vista GUI, just not when I select it from within VMC.

I've made the registry hack (kbid 930526) and put the transcode.dll file in the ehome directory and ran the accompanying .reg file.

The movie is on an internal drive in M:\DVDS\PTAA\VIDEO_TS\Planes_Trains_and_Automobiles.dvr-ms

I've obviously set M:\DVDS\ as a watched folder.

I've also placed a folder.jpg (also made it folder.jpeg) file in the folder in hopes of seeing the movie's image appear within the VMC DVD Library, but that didn't work either, all I see is the greenish-blue rectangle.

The instructions at that web page indicate that no Symbolic Link or Playlist (.wvx file) is needed for dvr-ms files.  I actually did create a wvx file just to see if it would help, but it didn't.

I'm not using MyMovies, by the way.  From what I've read, I should be able to make this work without it.

Anyone know the trick needed to get movies that have been ripped to dvr-ms files to appear and play when selected from within the VMC DVD Library?

It really is a shame that all these hoops have to be jumped thru just to watch DVD movies on VMC.

Thanks.

 

If I were you I'd execute the command from the log in a cmd window using a non-administrator account. You'll be able to see the mencoder errors that way.

Also, the command line shows that your files are located on \\ruttersrv\Movies\Movies (D), not \\Server\Movies\ as you say in the comments. But if the dvd's are showing up correctly in dvd library, you must have that set up correctly.

Also also, the command line shows the cache at c:\transcodercache but your comments say c:\transcodecache without the 'r'.

Sometimes deleting the extenders and re-adding them will fix issues like this. Especially if you've been making a lot of changes to shares and permissions on the folders.

UAC has been know to cause problems too, but perhaps that doesn't apply to machines joined to a domain.

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Asus Crosshair motherboard
Athlon X2 4600+
4GB OCZ SLI-Ready memory
MSI 8500GT
Western Digital Raptor for OS
Dual WD SATA 2 drives in RAID 0 for TV
2TB Raid5 external ESATA media storage
Dual Hauppauge PVR-1600 hybrid tuners
Origen X15e case

Sorry for the absence guys, I've been working a lot. My daughter started Tulane this fall :) I have a new version that is almost ready with better error reporting and some other new features, like a pulldown for language selection. I may have some time over the holidays to finish up that version. I would like to make a real installer for it too.

---

Asus Crosshair motherboard
Athlon X2 4600+
4GB OCZ SLI-Ready memory
MSI 8500GT
Western Digital Raptor for OS
Dual WD SATA 2 drives in RAID 0 for TV
2TB Raid5 external ESATA media storage
Dual Hauppauge PVR-1600 hybrid tuners
Origen X15e case

great to hear from you Vader, looking forward to your next release.

/Jesper

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VMC 1: AMD 2XCore 2,60, ATI 1700, FloppyDTV C/CI, 4 GB, 1,2 TB HDD, LG 1730SF, HP17", Sony HS60. Marantz SR6200, B&W M-1 + AS-2 SUB.
VMC 2: Intel Q6600, 2.40, GeForce 8600 GT, 3 GB, 250 GB HDD, HP w22.
NAS: Dlink DNS323, 500 GB Raid 1.
Linksys DMA2200.

Thanks Vader, I mistakenly reported the folder as C:\TranscodeCache - the 'r' I see the log pop up and validated the correct path. I also verified the DVD Library is setup correctly. UAC is disabled on this machine and I want to delete the Extenders and re-add but I have never done that before. Your direction would be appreciated or I will do a quick search online to figure it out tonight.

I don't know if your transcoder is open source or not but if it is I would love to gain access to the code. I could probably narrow down my problem quite quickly.

Again your help and transoder are appreciated more than you could know!

I have my extender set up with the DVD Library using the virtual links and everything works great except that half way through any movie the audio completly cuts out.  Video is fine but no audio.  On my main HTPC the movies play perfect...what could this be?

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E4500
4gig Ram
500gig hdd
Nvidia 8500gt
Nvidia DualTV Tuner
HDHOMERUN Tuner
Vista Home Premium
Linksys 2100 Extender
WHS 3.2 TB storage