DVD Library on Extender How-To

Posted By: Pete Stagman on 4/30/2008

Categories:
Media Center
Tips
Xbox

DVD on Extender How-To v0.7

Links only, do not redistribute! All updates and new files will be posted on this page.

I'm not the creator of the DLL or the script, I've just assembled the bits in one place and created the how-to. The authors have asked me to keep them anonymous and if you want them to keep working on this project then I'll do as they want.

If you have a better way to get this to work. Like a better script or different steps, send them to me at (pstagman !at! htpcug.com) and I'll check it out and post it.

Remember that this is a hack. Transcoder.dll and the scripts are not from or supported by Microsoft.

Forums are fixed!!

New Utility

Great news! Robert Chesworth has created a utility to automate the links process!

His "Media Center Links" utility will recreate the whole DVD folder structure locally, copy the folder.jpg files, create the links and then create the WVX playlist files. All in one shot!

Instead of creating all this on the remote storage, it creates it locally on the MCE PC. This was the procedure I had suggested for users who have WHS or NAS devices. So it will work in both cases.

You can Download the utility here. Media Center Links.zip Unzip the file and run setup.exe. There is documentation in the zip. The utility has been updated to the latest 1.0.0.6 version on April 29th 2009! Also included in the zip is the source code for the utility.

If you have any questions or problems, please post your question in the forums.

Follow Pete on Twitter http://twitter.com/tyrstag

How to get DVD's to play on your Media Center Extenders using DVD Library

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is required for this to work correctly.

Media Center Extenders can't play .vob files, so the files have to be renamed to .mpg files. But wait! If I rename all the .vob files to .mpg files then other apps may stop working right? Correct. So, the solution is symbolic links. A symbolic link is a fake file with the name you want that links back to the original file. So VTS_01_1.mpg is a symbolic link that points to VTS_01_1.VOB. That also means you do not get anything other than the main movie.
WARNING: Do not create symbolic links on Windows Home Server Shares! They don't work and wreak havoc on the server because of the way that the drive extender works!! If you store your movies on a WHS or NAS see this page!
1. Create symbolic links to the .vob files:
  1. Open a command window with admin rights in the VIDEO_TS folder that contains the .vob files you want to link.
  2. Find the largest .vob files. The main movie will be in the largest .vob files, usually they will be 1GB in size.
  3. Use the command fsutil hardlink create VTS_01_1.mpeg VTS_01_1.VOB to create the links. (changing the names of the files for each file you link)
  4. You should get a response like: Hardlink created for D:\shares\DVDs\MOVIE\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.mpeg <<===>> D:\shares\DVDs\MOVIE\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.VOB
  5. If you want the cover artwork to be displayed in DVD Library, create a folder.jpg file of the artwork in the VIDEO_TS folder.
Next you need to create a .wvx playlist file so the extender plays the playlist and you don't have to select each file to play. You can create the file using notepad or the text editor of you choice. Here's what it needs to look like:
1.        <ASX version = "3.0">
  <Title>My Ripped Movie</Title>
  <Entry>
      <Ref href="\\Server\DVDs\Movie\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_0.mpeg"/>
  </Entry>
  <Entry>
      <Ref href="\\server\DVDs\Movie\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_1.mpeg"/>
  </Entry>
  <Entry>
      <Ref href="\\Server\DVDs\Movie\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_2.mpeg"/>
  </Entry>
  <Entry>
      <Ref href="\\server\DVDs\Movie\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_3.mpeg"/>
  </Entry>
  <Entry>
      <Ref href="\\server\DVDs\Movie\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_4.mpeg"/>
  </Entry>
  <Entry>
      <Ref href="\\server\DVDs\Movie\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_5.mpeg"/>
  </Entry>
  <Entry>
      <Ref href="\\server\DVDs\Movie\VIDEO_TS\VTS_03_6.mpeg"/>
  </Entry>
  </ASX>
2. Save the file in your VIDEO_TS folder and give it a name "My Ripped Movie.wvx"

Here's a script that will create the symbolic links and the .wvx files in one shot. Use at your own risk!

CreateWVX.zip

Using the CreateWVX.vbs script

CreateWXV.vbs is used for DVD that have been ripped to a VIDEO_TS folder with VOBs

Copy and paste the script into notepad and save as "CreateWXV.vbs".

There are two constants (see below “strRemoteLocation” and “strWVXOutputFolder”) at the top of the script that will have to be modified first to match your environment before using this script.

Then run "cscript CreateWXV.vbs your_DVD_folders_here", from command-prompt, run as admin.

'strRemoteLocation is the path that will be used in the WVX file to reference the location of the DVDs

'This should be accessible via the machine that will play the WVX file

Const strRemoteLocation = "\\server\DVDs"

'strWVXOutputFolder should be the location the WVX files should be written

Const strWVXOutputFolder = \\Server\MywvxFiles

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

DVDs that have been ripped to a wmv format.

CreateWXV.vbs is not needed for wmv files

Make a VIDEO_TS folder add these file to the VIDEO_TS folder the wmv file and the playlist *.wvx file (see below) and a fake VIDEO_TS.ifo file using notepad (open notepad and save at it as VIDEO_TS.IFO do not save as *.txt).

Add a folder.jpeg or DVDID.xml file to the main DVD folder for the DVD cover artwork.

For dvd xml files go here http://www.dvdxml.com/search.php

No Symbolic Link needed for wmv files

(so this will work if your wmv files are on Windows Home Server)

WMVs will play, but you have to use a small playlist e.g.: below.

<Entry>

</Entry>

</ASX>

PS use a *.wvx extension in notepad (not a *.txt) for all playlists

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recorded TV Movies (DVR-MS files)

If you have recorded a movie in Media Center (it has to be a movie) it will show up automatically with the cover artwork in the DVD Library on the extender.

No Symbolic Link needed and no playlist needed for DVR-MS files.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's another script that creates links and .asx files, submitted by Ryan Hurst

HardlinkAndASX.zip

Next you have to enable DVD Library for Extenders

UPDATE: The author of transcoder.dll has added support for other media file types. If it doesn’t find a WVX file, it will now search for any video file type and play the first one it finds.

Another new Transcoder.dll version!! v0.7

Changes:

Modified the transcoder.dll to look for the mymovies.asx files so the search logic is now as follows:

*.wvx first

mymovies.asx second

any valid video type third (note it doesn’t check for whether the extender supports or not!)

If you make any modifications to the sourcecode, please submit the new binaries to me for review. Official releases will be posted on this page only.

This is done by downloading this file: transcoder-v0.7.zip

Source code is now available. See below.

Unzip the file and copy transcoder.dll into your Media Centers \Windows\Ehome folder. Then run the transcoder.reg file to import the dll registration.

Start an extender session and DVD library should now appear in the TV ribbon.

Add the share for your DVD folder to the DVD library and it should begin to populate your movies!

Enjoy!!!

Hopefully you'll end up with extender menu's that look like these:

ToDo:

Pictures

Screenshots

Credits

Previous dll versions. If you should want them . . .

transcoder-v0.6.zip
transcoder-v0.5.zip

Sourcecode: Transcoder-src-v0.7.zip

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28 Comments

Blog Home

- Jun 23 2009, 12:48 AM MiamiJoe
- Does anyone have detailed installation instructions? I ran all the steps, and can see the DVD covers from the Xbox, but simply can't play the movies... Thanks!
- Jul 20 2009, 12:03 AM ScottsdaleJim
- I have exactly the same problem.
- Jul 31 2009, 1:03 AM PJ Bergkvist
- Hey. I got the DVD covers to come up on under DVD Library on the Xbox360, but the DVDs won't play. What could be the problem? Please help.
- Aug 17 2009, 9:21 AM Pembroke Pines Pete
- Miami Joe / Scottsdale Jim / PJ Did any of you get this problem fixed ?
- Aug 20 2009, 12:26 PM woodsman707
- I have this whole setup working on Vista SP1, but am considering upgrading to SP2. Will that break this setup?
- Aug 25 2009, 12:55 PM PJ
- No. Never found a solution
- Aug 28 2009, 11:39 AM PJ
- OK I got it to work. here's what I did: Uninstall the Xbox360 and run set up again like you did the first time (i.e. add the code and all that). The choose to NOT copy all media files from the coputer. Choosing "NO" will not make you add every folder manually later on the Xbox360. Finish the set up. Now create a new folder somewhere else on your HDD with that should contain the media center links. Then run the media center links program (program under "New Utility" on this page) and recreate the links. Now go to the Xbox360 and only add the folder containing the links that you just created. That's what worked for me. Hopefully it will work for you!
- Sep 06 2009, 4:46 PM Dario
- Running Vista SP2 and it works fine. Playing videos, but no menues. Can't chose subs or sound...
- Sep 13 2009, 7:07 AM Joe
- Hey, has anyone ever gotten this to work with Windows 7? Thanks, Joe
- Oct 07 2009, 2:10 PM JKBH
- I installed the dll. Ran the registry script and the "New Utility" to create folders and links, but I still see nothing in DVD Library. When I added the links folder to be monitored it said found XX files as if it found the DVDs. Yet I don't see anything under DVD Library. Please advise!
- Oct 22 2009, 2:54 PM Rob Chesworth
- Yes this work with Windows 7 - I created the utility for the links. It basically the same as it was for Vista - you still need the transcoder 0.7 and to place it in the same location. However W7 does now allow you to provide server share credentials so the bat files and logon scripts are not needed. good luck.
- Oct 23 2009, 6:52 AM Wayne
- I see the DVD library on XBox 360, and even see the movie I created the links to, but when I go to play it, I get an error about the dvd media being not right. Tried several with the same result. Any ideas? Also, any suggestions on where to download the DVD covers?
- Oct 26 2009, 2:12 PM Wayne
- Update to my post from 10/23. The exact error message is: Video Error Files needed to display video are not installed or not working properly. Please restart Windows Media Center or restart the computer.
- Oct 28 2009, 2:51 AM BT
- I was very much looking forward to this working, but it doesn't for me. I did the enable for DVD Library, did the transcoder dll and then the transcoder.reg file. Then I did my ripping into VOB files and such as a default DVD ripping would do, and can play the files in Media Center. I did the links utility but unfortunately, the Xbox doesn't play the video it says not supported format or something to that effect. Any help? Because this is a much better solution than transcoding and everything else I've looked at.
- Nov 23 2009, 12:56 PM PJ
- I can get the media center links picked upin the "Movies" library. But when I click play nothing happnes, or I get the message saying "Video Error Files needed to display video are not installed or not working properly. Please restart Windows Media Center or restart the computer. ". Please help me if someone knows what to do. Looks like Wayne has the same issue...
- Nov 24 2009, 3:37 PM PJ
- This is on my XBOX 360 of course
- Nov 27 2009, 11:26 AM PJ
- Anybody? (with windows 7)
- Nov 30 2009, 3:00 PM PJ
- I really wish there was a way I could get this to work. I get no response when I click on the DVD covers...
- Dec 01 2009, 9:13 PM PJ
- finally got it to work! just re did everything!
- Dec 10 2009, 9:26 AM CheeseRolls
- For all of you having the problem where you get to see the DVD covers, but get no response on your XBOX 360 - Turn off UAC on your machine then re-run the utility (overwrite all existing folders). It will then work - it did for me :)
- Dec 10 2009, 9:30 AM CheeseRolls
- Forgot to add, a MASSIVE thankyou to you Pete and to Robert Chesworth. You have made me a very happy chappie. Merry Christmas to you both!
- Dec 14 2009, 9:41 PM tfletche
- For Win Vista and Win 7 If you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with turning off UAC: 1. uninstall 2. re-run the installer by right-clicking the setup.exe and choosing "Run as Administrator" everything else when running the actual program is as normal. The reason is that the app gets installed without sufficient permissions to run that mklink command. I found this out by running the create links button with the "Diagnostics" box checked. Without it checked, everything seems to be fine. With it checked, you get a cmd prompt window full of errors for each dvd title, complaining about permissions. Don't get me wrong this is a great script, but if it were me I would add "Install as administrator" to the instructions, this website, and also add real error handling in addition to the debug mode. Thanks again!!!
- Jan 24 2010, 10:23 PM Zack
- How do you enable DVD Library on Windows 7 Media Center? The old reg edit that we did for vista doesnt work for Win7. I've be searching the web with no luck. thanks to anyone that posts this fix.
- Jan 25 2010, 4:12 PM Pete Stagman
- I'll have to double check, but I'm pretty sure "Movie Library" is enabled by default in windows 7.
- Jan 25 2010, 10:09 PM Zack
- Rememeber this edit for vista? HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings and then right click Show Gallery, and type Gallery. This changed the Play DVD icon to DVD Library. Then you can see right click and add DVD's that are stored on your computer.
- Jan 25 2010, 11:06 PM Zack
- Nevermind. I finally got it working. I didn't have the playlists added in Windows Media Player. Once I did that, everything showed up.
- Jan 29 2010, 10:42 PM John D. Hays
- Can someone give me an example of the edits I need to make to the vbs? "at the top of the script that will have to be modified first to match your environment before using this script" My computer is "TUSCANY" so I have modified it to read: Const strRemoteLocation = "\\tuscany\movies" and Const strWVXOutputFolder = "\\tuscany\MywvxFiles" Both of these are folders on my D: drive Sorry I am out to sea on this. Can someone throw me a rope?
- Feb 24 2010, 2:56 PM Chris Nicholson
- Can you tell me how you got the year and synopsis for you films? Thanks