HP MediaSmart Server Webinar and Q&A Transcript
We Got Served
MS Windows Home Server
Code2Fame Challenge Honorable Mention
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Home Server Add-in
Collections
1. Select a series to collect.
2. Choose a location to collect the series.
3. Choose a Media Center computer to watch the series on.
AutoMove
AutoDelete
WHS Data Corruption Bug
March 11, 2008
Microsoft has issued a statement regarding the Windows Home Server Data Corruption Bug. How does this affect Recorded TV Manager Add-in for WHS?
AutoCopy – The AutoCopy service runs on the WHS and is responsible for moving and copying recorded TV content to and from the WHS and other client computers. Microsoft states:
“Until a software fix for Windows Home Server is
available, users may choose to act to help limit the possibility of being
affected by this issue. As a precautionary measure, users should use Windows
Explorer or a command-line tool to copy files to and from the Windows Home
Server-based computer.”
The AutoCopy service uses standard .Net Framework file transfer functions to move recorded TV content to and from the WHS and it does not modify the metadata in any manner. Since the AutoCopy service runs on the WHS, the AutoCopy process is functionally equivalent to using Windows Explorer or the command-line (from the WHS) to copy files to and from the WHS. At this time, I do not believe that the AutoCopy service poses any significant danger with respect to the WHS Data Corruption Bug.
Recorded TV Manager WHS Client Application – Likewise, the client application uses standard .Net Framework and Win32 file transfer functions to move recorded TV content to and from the WHS and it does not modify the metadata in any manner. Essentially, the client application is a special purpose Windows Explorer application (for dvr-ms files) and I do not believe that moving and copying recorded TV using the client application poses any significant danger with respect to the WHS Data Corruption Bug either.
Series Info Database – The file Series.xml resides on the WHS and collects and maintains data about recorded TV series which you have recorded and watched. This file is continually updated by both the client application and the AutoCopy service and is susceptible to the WHS Data Corruption Bug. The recent release of Version 3.4.4 of the client application was designed to address this issue by automatically making a backup copy of the Series.xml file whenever the client application is run. It is recommended that you run the client application and/or manually backup the Recorded TV Manager data files on a regular basis to prevent against loss of data due to the WHS Data Corruption Bug. See ‘WHS Data Corruption Bug’ here for more information.
FYI – I will be releasing an update to the client application within the next week or two which will incorporate additional safeguards against loss of data due to the WHS Data Corruption Bug. This new build will also include changes necessary to support a new Vista Media Center Add-in application which will provide access to recorded TV series Collections which are stored on the WHS from ANY Vista machine on the network. I’ll have much more to say as we get closer to Beta release.