Allowing Media Center extenders to access movies stored on a NAS (public access no password version)

Before digging into this I've also created a tool that will help you setup getting extenders access to other devices (NAS, etc) where you can use an account that you created on the NAS or whatever. Personally I think it is a better solution:

Giving a Media Center Extender access to files on another device (NAS, WHS, Computer) through the Media Center using custom username and password

The intent of this procedure is to permit your media extender(s) to play ripped movies stored on a NAS. This assumes you are using My Movies and Transcode 360 on the Media Extender. Please use your own judgement if you choose to follow them. Also, you can google search for 'mcx account drive mapping' or 'media extender NAS' stuff like that, for other opinions or approaches. Finally, the zip I included (at the bottom) is not click and go. You will need to edit the files to match what you need. Don't use the files if you are not comfortable. Bottom line is I hope this helps...

The NAS should be configured to allow access to all accounts. We will not know the password the media centers are using so we need them to be allowed to connect without supplying a password.
First find out what media extender accounts will be needing access to the NAS. To do this, on the Media Center PC (Vista), go to Control Panel>System>Advanced System Settings>Advanced Tab>Under 'User Profiles' click the Settings button. Write down each Mcx account. Example, Mcx1, Mcx2, Mcx3. The example indicates three extenders have been added to the Media Center.

The directory you will be saving this to probably will not exist yet so create it. To create, go to Start>Computer>click the drive letter Vista is installed on. By default this will be C:. Click Windows, click System32. In the right pane, right click in the white space and choose 'New>Folder'. Name the folder Repl. Now click Repl. Right click again, New>Folder and name it Import. Click Import, right click, New>Folder and name is Scripts.

Next, create the drive mapping script. To do this open Notepad (Start>All Programs>Accessories>Notepad

The drive letter to use in the script should be the same as what you use when you work on the NAS from your Media Center. If you make a mapping called 'z:' then use 'z:' in the script. The script should look like this.

net use z: /delete /y
net use z: "\\your_NAS_server\the_folder_to_map_to" /persistent:no

Quotes are not required around the path unless the path has spaces in it, then you do have to use the quotes. Safe bet is just to quote it. If you have additional drive you want mapped just type the same thing on the next line for each one. The first line is to delete any existing mapping, the second line establishes the mapping. The first line is not required but, like the quotes, it is a good practice and will not hurt.

In Notepad go to File>Save As>change 'save as type' to all files. Name the file whatever you want (ie: mcx1_mapping.cmd). When you save it make sure you type the .cmd (the extension). You will need this script name later so write it down if you easily forget. Save the file to the folder we created above. If Vista is on C: you will save it to C:\Windows\System32\Repl\Import\Scripts

Now go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>right click on Command Prompt and choose 'Run as Administrator'. If you have the UAC disabled, you don't have to choose to run it as administrator. At the command prompt type:

net user mcx1 /scriptpath:mcx1_mapping.cmd

and hit Enter. If you are doing this for another account, say Mcx2, then it would be net user mcx2 rather than mcx1. Also, obviously, the script name you specify should match the name you used.

Now test this with the media center extender. If you have media cente open on the extender close it. Open media center on the extender. Now if you have movies on your NAS that were added to MyMovies, you should be able to watch them rather than getting the 'path not found' error.

I don't have a NAS. I was instructed on this by another (Andy K.). Thanks Andy. I would appreciate any trial and error feedback on this so I can make sure these instructions are correct. If you get a chance to test this I would appreciate your comments. Email me or leave comments on here. By the way, I don't run the UAC on my Vista machine. It seems more of a problem than it is worth. Andy confirmed he does run it and this method worked for him.

Here is a sample you can use to help...Download this zip file. Extract it somewhere, like your desktop. Open the folder. Right click the mcx.mapping cmd file. Choose Edit. Alter the text to match the mcx account you want, the path to your NAS share, and the drive letter. After making your changes, go to File>Save. Now right click the setup.cmd file and choose edit. On the net user line, alter the mcx account to match the one you are mapping for. Also, if Vista is not installed on C:, change the letter on the first line. Now go to File>Save. Right click the setup file again and choose 'Run as Administrator'. This will make the folders, copy the mcx_mapping.cmd to the folder, and then set the net user logon script.

More information:
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/260952.aspx
http://blogs.msdn.com/mpoulson/archive/2005/01/17/354999.aspx
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/2/206983/ShowThread.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490718.aspx

Installing Vista SP1 error 0xC0190001 helppane.exe

While installing Vista service pack 1 the system froze with the error !!0XC0190001!! (604/72761) helppane.exe (this was a black screen with text only). Initially I recovered from this error by booting off the Vista installation DVD and doing a system restore.

I downloaded a standalone copy of the service pack 1 installer and tried again. Once again I ran into the same error during the install. This time I rebooted the system, hit F8 and chose Safe Mode. Vista started a safemode boot. It started loading files, and then appeared to stop, but the hard drive was still very active. I waited a while and it eventually rebooted itself, and the Vista service pack install continued, and successfully completed.

If you encounter this error try rebooting and go into safemode. Give the system some time and hopefully the service pack install will complete.

Also, if you search on this error you may find some forum discussions where it is advised to boot off the Vista DVD, attempt a repair, choose command prompt, and rename the offending file to .old, and then reboot and the service pack install should complete. I tried this and it did not work. Maybe it will work if this problem occurs with a different file but in my case, it did not help.

Error 0x800705AA: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service

I am getting this error when trying to copy a file from CDROM to my C: drive on a Vista Ultimate machine. I did some checking and see where others have encountered this error. Some suggested using xcopy and that eventually errored out also.

Although the verbage is not identical, this Microsoft KB doc appears to be addressing the issue. I obtained a copy of the hotfix. Also, this fix is supposed to be included in Vista SP1.

Here is a copy of the hotfix for Vista 32-bit.

After installing the hotfix and rebooting I was able to successfully copy the file.

Setting a 30 second jump on the Comcast cable remote for use with the Motorola 6412 DVR

I got these instructions off another forum. I tried it and it works.
1. Press the "cable" button at the top of the remote to put it into Cable Box control mode.
2. Press and hold the "Setup" button until the "Cable" button blinks twice.
3. Type in the code 994. The "Cable" button will blink twice.
4. Press (do not hold) the "Setup" button.
5. Type in the code 00173 for the 30 second skip.
6. Press whatever button on the remote you want to map the skip function to. (I used the lock button).

Watching recorded tv on a different Media Center

I wanted to be able to watch recorded tv from one media center on another media center. I found an excellent instruction guide for doing this (and it worked).
Mike's Digital Home

Samsung LN52A650 and LN52A750 LCD TV and Comcast Remote Codes

*****Note I received this as a comment to this post and I want to add it here to hopefully save people some time. Bryan (thanks Bryan) said he ran into issues with the codes and called Comcast and found out that "if your remote has a red "OK/Select" button in the middle you use a 5 digit code. Remotes with a gray "OK/Select" button use a 4 digit code. Many of the published 4 digit codes work by placing a 1 in front of them. "*****

I was trying to program the Comcast Digital Cable box remote to control the TV also. I tried all of the codes included with the remote but none worked for the new Samsung LN52A650 LCD TV. I looked around on the net and found someone saying to use a five digit code 10060. It worked, but I believe the code is actually 1006. I don't think the remote accepts a 5 digit code.

Thanks to stardotstar for posting this on http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.php?t=62963. I had a hard time finding this so I wanted to document it again hoping it will be easier to find.

I found some more codes you can try when programming a cable box remote for use with Samsung TV:
1005, 1006, 1016, 1023, 1026, 1032, 1088, 1112, 1146, 1155, 1157, 1158, 1163, 1167, 1172, 1173, 1192, 1194, 1224, and 1225.

Here are comments that might be helpful:
From Anonymous: Try 10702 I used 10060 and it worked, however, it didn't function all the time and the volume was hard to control, as well. I own a 37" 450 Series Samsung. This is the only code that worked for it. Thanks for the help!

From Anonymous: 1163 worked without making the cable box jump to On Demand every time we hit 8

I also need to program the remote to control an old Kenwood Receiver (model RC-R0800). I have not tried these codes yet but did find some to try:
Kenwood 1313, 1027, 1570, 1569, 0027
I tried these codes for the model of Kenwood receiver we have RC-R0800 and these codes seemingly did not work. But, this was actually done by my Dad - I was helping him over the phone. We ended up buying a universal remote and discovered why the above codes may have worked but we didn't know. Usually when testing a code they tell you to hit the power button to see if it turns on the device. In this case, we found out the Kenwood had to be on. Nothing would turn it on from off, but if we turned it on, we could then turn it off. Once we did that we could turn it on and off. He was going to go back and try the Comcast codes but I have not talked to him since then. If you try this, turn on your device and see if the remote will turn it off - for some reason it wouldn't turn it on when testing even if it was the right code.