Perhaps I'm out of the loop, as I know AOL Radio has a new version out, but AOL Radio has vanished from my Vista Media Center (Premium) completely.

Am I alone in this?  If so, can I somehow prompt Media Center to "renew" the contact with AOL Radio?

Mine Too.  Along with over half of my online content?

What happend?

bbabaa:

Mine Too.  Along with over half of my online content?

What happend?

Check your \Program Data\Microsoft\eHome\Packages\MCESpotlight directory.  You should have a MCESpotlight.cab and an MCESpotlight subdirectory containing a SpotlightResources.dll (v3.0.367.0). 

I had a problem recently where my MCESpotlight package directory contained several .TMPs, no CAB and the MCESpotlight subdirectory contained a stale DLL.  It appears that an update of the MCESpotlight package had failed at some point and something was keeping it from completing the update.  Perhaps the presence of the .TMPs or some internal flag?  I dunno.

I removed .TMPs and copied the CAB and DLL from a working system and all my online content returned.  Perhaps this is your problem as well?

Just checked mine and it is still there but the organization looked diffrent. Also after launching it downloaded files then gave me a warning prompt but it is there and working for me.

I don't have one VMC computer, so I can't copy anything from a "working" computer.  Is there a way to download those working files?  I would like to get this working again.  Thanks

I would remove the entire Packages\MCESpotlight directory and all files contained therein (probably best just to move somewhere else in case you need to restore).  Then go into Settings --> General --> Automatic Download Options.  Select Download Now.

I haven't tested this, but it should recognize that the package isn't there and download it again.  Let me know if that works.

---

Jeff Tucker
Microsoft | eHome
------------------------------------------------
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I'm fairly certain AOL Radio has chosen to no longer be featured in Online Media -- that's why you no longer see in the Explore feature.

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Charlie Owen
Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation
http://blog.retrosight.com

Charlie Owen:

I'm fairly certain AOL Radio has chosen to no longer be featured in Online Media -- that's why you no longer see in the Explore feature.

AOL Radio was actually absorbed earlier this year by CBS.  It is now totally run by CBS, and this is most likely why:

 

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/cbs-deal-aol-radio/story.aspx?guid=%7BBED9C98F-0477-4788-AC32-3A107BF77E4E%7D&dist=hplatest

 

-D

Charlie Owen:

I'm fairly certain AOL Radio has chosen to no longer be featured in Online Media -- that's why you no longer see in the Explore feature.

AOL Radio had "returned" previously after disappearing for a month or so.  It has left again.

Strangely, I have an old Gateway XP with Media Center (unused, most of the time, and languishing in a child's old bedroom) which still has AOL Radio functioning (as of 8/1) in Online Media, so the content continues to be available and streaming from AOL, but my Vista Media Center does not have AOL Radio listed.

Each Vista Media Center update breaks something, it seems, and repairs something else.  Sigh.  For consistency in my living room, I've had to switch to an NAS running Twonkyvision, sadly.  I lose lots of functionality, but I gain consistency.  This is truly sad because the Vista Media Center machine is a dedicated machine bought specifically to fit into my Home Theater set-up.

I'm going to try the trick of moving the Spotlight folder and letting VMC reinstall the Online Media applications.  Thanks for that tip, Jeff.

In case anyone reads this, wondering where their AOL Spotlight app went, AOL teamed up with CBS Radio and has stopped supporting their previous player as of SP1 of Vista.  So if you bought a copy of Vista that has SP1 included, you will not have access to the integrated player. For all of you that had Vista MCE before SP1, I'm not sure when AOL's contract with Microsoft and XM ends, but when it does, your AOL Radio with XM will no longer work :( AOL does have a new radio app called "AOL Radio powered by CBS Radio" or AOL Radio 4.0.  Unfortunately its a web only app and is totally separate from MCE's front end. Also, do not delete the Spotlight directory or you will lose your Online Spotlight. :(