By on March 10th, 2010

Downloading the HP TiVo Add-In Outside the US

We mentioned in our previous post that the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo add-in was available by going to the “Add Software” tab on the “MediaSmart Server” tab within the HP MediaSmart Server console.

Doing so will open the localized HP offers website, BUT since TiVo is only available in the US other countries will NOT see the add-in offered. For example I’m in the UK and clicking the "Add Software" button (which parses http://www.hp.com/go/hpmsserveroffers) opens a UK offers webpage where the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo add-in isn’t listed.

So

If you do not live in the US and you would like to download the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo add-in, then you can get it from here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
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By on March 10th, 2010

Restore Files from Backups on WHS

If you need to know how to get your data back from a backup on your Home Server then the How-To Geek has a post on how to do that.

How-To Geek Restore from a Backup

"Restore Files from Backups on Windows Home Server " takes you through the steps necessary to get your data back if you accidentally delete important files or if they become corrupted.

You can read it here.

Tutorial • Windows Home Server
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By on March 10th, 2010

Media Center and Home Server Enthusiasts Wanted

If you are a Windows Home Server and Windows Media Center user and live in the Seattle Washington State area then Microsoft would like to hear from you. If selected you will be interviewed and they will also check out your home entertainment array in a video that will appear online.

More details are available on the Green Button.

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By on March 10th, 2010

HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo

HP has just announced the availability of the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo.

This software application lets TiVo owners store movies and shows on their MediaSmart Server as well as watch them on their PCs, thus offloading your DVR material to the MediaSmart Server and sharing it is now possible.

TiVo customers are already able to record and pause live TV, and access on-demand videos to watch hit movies and TV shows etc, but with this new HP software application, TiVo customers can now:

  • Transfer shows from TiVo to a HP MediaSmart Server and back to TiVo
  • View TiVo recordings stored on a HP MediaSmart Server
  • Watch TiVo recordings that are stored on the HP MediaSmart Server on any PC in the home using Windows Media Player

TiVo Files on TiVo DVRs

TiVo Files On Server

Jason Zajac, vice president of Attach, HP Personal Systems Group, had this to say:

The HP MediaSmart Server is the ideal companion to TiVo. With the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo, consumers don’t have to worry about running out of high-definition storage space since they can save their movies and shows on the HP MediaSmart Server and watch them on any computer in the home.

1 HP on TiVo 2 Selecting a Show

During testing standard definition material is fast in transferring whilst high definition material takes approx. 30 minutes for a 30 minute program to transfer across.

3 Transfering a Show  4 Start Playing

The software is available right now from the “Add Software” tab on the “MediaSmart Server” tab within the HP MediaSmart Server console.

The software:

  1. Requires TiVo Series2 or Series3 DVR and TiVo desktop software. Upon availability, TiVo Premiere and TiVo Premiere XL will also be compatible with the HP MediaSmart Server TiVo application.
  2. Is compatible with HP MediaSmart Servers EX490/EX495. HP MediaSmart Server, PCs and TiVo DVR must be on the same network – Naturally those of you who have upgraded their EX47x/EX48x with the 3.0 software will also be able to use the software too.
  3. TiVo service is only available in the US

Both HP and the TiVo Community Site have an advertising campaign highlighting the benefits of both TiVo and the MediaSmart Server, and the software is FREE too – What more can you ask. More value added software from HP for MediaSmart owners.

News • Windows Home Server
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By on March 09th, 2010

PerfectDisk 11 WHS Available – Plus Save 20%

PD11_Single_Box_High

The new PerfectDisk 11 Windows Home Server is now officially available, and in 4 different variations:

  • To just defrag WHS it will cost you $39.99
  • To defrag WHS plus a pro license for 1 PC is $49.99
  • To defrag WHS plus 3 pro licenses for 3 PCs is $69.99
    and finally
  • To defrag WHS and ALL connected PCs in your household $99.99

These different variations represent excellent value for money, but to further entice you, for a limited period MSWHS.com readers can get an exclusive 20% discount of off of these prices:

  • To just defrag WHS it will cost you $39.99 $31.99 SAVING $8
  • To defrag WHS plus 1 pro license for a PC is $49.99 $39.99 SAVING $10
  • To defrag WHS plus 3 pro licenses for 3 PCs is $69.99 $55.99 SAVING $14
    and finally
  • To defrag WHS and all connected PCs in your household $99.99 $79.99 SAVING $20

To get these discounted prices just use the coupon code PD-MSWHS20 during checkout, but hurry as it expires Friday March 26th. (Don’t tell anyone, but that coupon code is valid for anything in the store, not just the WHS Bundles 🙂

Advanced SMARTPlacement™ – A Smarter Defrag

PerfectDisk 11 Windows Home Server’s patented Advanced SMARTPlacement is an intelligent file placement strategy that organizes files according to usage patterns and eliminates most fragmentation before it happens. It also results in faster defrag passes, quicker server boots, slower refragmentation, reduced resource consumption and improved overall WHS performance.

Robust Free Space Consolidation

Speed up disk writes and slow refragmentation with PerfectDisk’s patented SMARTPlacement optimization strategy and exclusive Space Restoration Technology.

AutoPilot Scheduling

Defragment your Windows Home Server when it’s most convenient for you – daily, weekly or even during system idle times. PerfectDisk 11 Windows Home Server’s exclusive AutoPilot Scheduling lets you customize your defragmentation to run automatically, when you want it to. And once it’s set up, you never need to reconfigure it again.

Defrag During System Idle Times with Automatic StealthPatrol™

Work uninterrupted. PerfectDisk 11 Windows Home Server’s exclusive StealthPatrol lets you set up a defrag schedule that works with your busy life. Schedule defragmentation of your Windows Home Server to run seamlessly in the background only during system idle times.

Single-pass Defrag

Unlike typical defraggers, PerfectDisk 11 Windows Home Server completely defrags your virtual drives (all files and metadata) and consolidates free space in just one pass – no matter how large or fragmented the system. With revolutionary minimal-free-space requirement, you can defrag an entire drive with as little as 1% free space.

Selected Files Defrag

In a hurry or have a few heavily fragmented files? Only defrag the files that you select.

BlockViewer

Easily visualize the contents of a block to quickly identify and eliminate fragmentation.

Space Management Reports

Quickly and easily analyze space distribution of file and folders.

More information is available from here, as well as a FREE 30 day trail version which is available for you to try.

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By on March 09th, 2010

Asus TS mini Home Server Reviewed

PC World Australia have a review on the Asus TS mini Home Server.

PC World Australia Asus TS mini

The review takes a look at the software and the performance of the unit compared with varies NAS units including the HP EX490 MediaSmart Server.

The ASUS TS mini Home Server’s performance shows that not all Windows-based NAS devices are slow. The impressive online storage platform and external hard drive manager also make it a better choice than similarly capable alternatives

You can read their review here.

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By on March 09th, 2010

Win Perfect Disk 11 WHS Bundle – Day 6

Today’s the day that PerfectDisk version 11 is officially released and today is also the final day for your chance to win one of the last remaining two copies.

PerfectDisk 11 Windows Home Server Bundle includes a license for your WHS and also a license for one PC too and would normally cost $49.99. So, if you are lucky enough to win a copy you would nearly save yourself $50. So our question for today is what would you spent that $50 on?

Just leave your answer as a comment below. Winners will be announced Wednesday 10th March.

Read more information on what’s new in version 11 of PerfectDisk.

UPDATE: Day 6 of the competition is now closed and so are the comments.

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By on March 08th, 2010

MediaSmart 3.0 Patch 2 Software Issues with Twonky

If you have the latest 3.0 Patch 2 software installed on your HP MediaSmart Server then you may experience two issues which are caused by Twonky:

  1. High CPU Utilization
  2. Poor performance while using the Music streaming feature

The only way to sort out the 1st issue (although it’s workaround and not a cure)is by turning Twonky Media OFF or by moving the shares which Twonky see’s into another directory. Whilst the second issue can be resolved by making a couple of changes to a configuration file which Twonky uses for streaming feature.

Thankfully fellow MVP Alex Kuretz has the workarounds published on his blog MediaSmartServer.net which you can find here.

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By on March 08th, 2010

Can I Install the HP Software 3.0 Patch 2 on my MediaSmart?

Owners of the HP MediaSmart Server/Data Vault should now be receiving the 3.0 Patch 2 software automatically from HP, but remember you need the version 3 software installed to receive this software:

MODEL: NOTES:
EX47x Update only available if you have ordered the 3.0 software upgrade media
EX48x Update only available if you have ordered the 3.0 software upgrade media
EX49x Update is available to you
Data Vault Update is available to you
LX19x Update is NOT available to you

If you software is currently not available to you via the integrated HP Update feature, and it is applicable to your model then a copy of the update 3.0 Patch 2 can be downloaded from here.

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By on March 08th, 2010

Win Perfect Disk 11 WHS Bundle – Day 5

Starting last week, and up to Tuesday this week we have been giving away a total of 11 copies of PerfectDisk 11 Windows Home Server Bundle – A prize fund worth more than $549. The bundle version we are giving away gives you a license to defrag WHS as well as one PC and are worth $49.99 each.

PerfectDisk Logo

Tomorrow is version 11 launch day and today you have another chance of winning one of the two copies which are available. By just leaving a comment below telling us the top 2 or 3 things you would like to see in Windows Home Server which are currently not in the product.

More information on what’s new in version 11 of PerfectDisk can be found here. Winners will be announced Wednesday 10th March.

UPDATE: Day 5 of the competition is now closed and so are the comments.

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