Sign in
Microsoft.com
 
Microsoft
 
 
 

locked
Some mp4 files are recognized by computers connected to WHS but not all RRS feed

 > 

  • Question

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    I have a windows home server with PP2 installed.  I can connect the the media using Windows Media Player 11 on a Vista PC and and Xbox 360.  I am not attempting to use Media Center or the Media Center Extender.  When I place mp4 files in the Videos folder not all of them are recognized on the far end.  Specifically I have AVCHD files off my Sony camcorder normally named mts.  I have renamed these files mp4.  I can play these files locally on my Windows Media Player 11.  I can play these files from the remote server location as a file in Windows Media player 11.  When I open up content and browse all videos on the home server I do not see these files.  Whe connecting form the My Vidoes of the Xbox 360 I also cannot see these files as avaliable.

    Now if I do some transcoding (obviously what I am trying to avoid) I can create a different mp4 file which the Home Server will export just fine and both the WMP 11 and the Xbox 360 can fine them and play them.  These files are in the same folder both with mp4 extentions and with similar file names.  Why does the WHS care what type of file is there.  Does it not just look at the extension?
    Sunday, June 7, 2009 7:25 AM

All replies

  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    No, it looks at the file header which contains things like the format, frame rate, frame size, audio etc. Mp4 is a container and the video in it can be different levels etc. installing a codec pack (not supported) might help. There is a freeware program called mediainfo which can show you the difference between files. Try it against files that play and those that don't
    Sunday, June 7, 2009 9:27 AM
  • Question
    Sign in to vote
    0
    Sign in to vote
    There are two ways to access files on your server. You can access them as files in a network share, by pointing your playback device/software to \\server\videos\etc., or you can use the built-in streaming features in Windows Home Server to have the server play the file over the network to your device/software. In the former case, the client deals with all issues of format, transcoding, etc. In the latter, the server and the client must both support appropriate protocols, codecs, formats, etc.

    It sounds to me like the Sony camcorder produces mp4 files in a format, or using a codec, that Windows Home Server can't process and therefore can't stream.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Monday, June 8, 2009 1:20 AM
    Moderator