Website Train Signal Training have a post detailing How to Connect Your xBox 360 to Your Home Server taking you through from the physical connection to the xBox 360 configuration setup.
Read it here.
The Product Manager of the Windows Home Server Team Todd Headrick has posted a question over on the forums asking if you would like Power Pack 1 released prior to June 2008, the date when the Data Corruption fix is due.
With already over 100 replies to the question, the consensus seems to be yes mainly because of the Vista 64 bit support and for the ability to backup the server, amongst the other added benefits PP1 provides.
Here’s what Todd had to say:
We have always planned on holding the release of Power Pack 1 until we had the data corruption issue resolved. The Power Pack 1 code was “put on the shelf” in early January, as the team switched focus to working on the data corruption issue. There is some new functionality in Power Pack 1 like the ability to backup your Shared Folders to an external hard drive attached to your home server that some home server users have asked us to ship. There also is some new remote access functionality (photo thumbnails, multi-file uploads), and a collection of fixes.
Knowing that the home server team has a current estimate of June, 2008 for the fix for the data corruption issue, do people believe that the team should “dust off” the Power Pack 1 code and release prior to a fix for the data corruption issue?
So, do you want PP1 now or would you rather have the bug fix first? Leave your replies over on the Microsoft’s WHS forum.
With the Knowledge Base Article (KB) 946676 detailing the data corruption issue being updated today (see here) we have more detailed information available for you in a question and answer format that should help you understand the problem easier.
What is the issue?
When certain programs are used to edit, transfer and save files to/on the Windows Home Server, the files may become corrupted.
What are the programs?
Why does this happen?
A bug has been discovered in the way that Windows Home Server manages file transfer and balancing across multiple hard drives. In certain cases, depending on the way you use the application, timing, and the work load placed on the Windows Home Server, certain files may become corrupted.
Will I be affected?
Remember most users are unlikely to be affected. On the WHS forums myself and fellow Windows Home Server MVP Ken Warren have come to the same conclusion that less than 60 users out of several thousand have experienced data corruption and out of these 60 some were due to other factors such as a faulty network card or driver installation, old routers being used with outdated firmware, or people incorrectly testing the limits of their home servers.
Now still using this figure of 60, lets say that only 1 in 10 people reported the issue, so 60 reported users x10 = 600 users which could have experienced the data corruption issue, still way less than 1% of those with a copy of Windows Home Server either pre-installed on hardware (e.g. Tranquil PC or HP MediaSmart Server’s) or of those buying the OEM copy.
Why is this taking so long to fix?
Fixing this issue is the WHS team’s top priority and they are making good progress on the fix. The issue is at an extremely low level of the operating system and it requires thorough testing to ensure that the fix addresses the issue. A part of the fix has been coded which is currently being tested internally over the next several weeks. Once the patch has passed the internal quality bars, external participants will be asked to help test the fix.
When will the fix be available?
The current plan is to release beta test versions of a fix over the next few months. A final version of the fix is currently estimated for June 2008, although that date could change as testing progresses. Thorough testing of the fix is critical and will take some time.
I have experienced the data corruption issue. Can I Help?
If you believe you have experienced the issue, please send a detailed email of your circumstances to whsforum@microsoft.com, so the Windows Home Server team can attempt to validate the cause and provide specific guidance.
Are my backups made by Windows Home Server affected by this issue?
No. Windows Home Server Computer Backup are not affected by the data corruption issue and neither are the Restore capabilities, Health Monitoring, or the Remote Access functionality.
My Server only has 1 hard drive. Am I still affected?
No. The data corruption issue only affects servers with 2 or more hard drives.
How can I avoid the data corruption issue?
Are any other programs affected?
Users have reported potential corruption issues when they use other programs to edit or transfer files that are stored on Windows Home Server that has more than one hard drive. Microsoft is in the process of trying to reproduce the issues and directly assess the causes. Due to the nature of the issues Microsoft can not provide a definitive list of affected applications although users have mentioned the following:
A more technical cause analysis is detailed in the KB946676 article under MORE INFORMATION, CAUSE – TECHNICAL DETAILS.
The data corruption Knowledge Base (KB946676) Article has been updated today to revision 5.0 with updated information about symptoms, the cause and giving the status on the issue with guidance also.
What was going on this week at mswhs.com? Here’s your chance to catch-up if you missed something!
Steven Warren’s beginner mini series Real World this time looks at how to connect your computers to your Windows Home Server which basically looks at installing the connector software on one of your networked PCs. Read it on TechRepublic.
We Got Served has a list available (including a PDF file) of HP’s top 10 recommended routers for Windows Home Server that auto-configure the OS, including a list of 6 others that DONT! Available from here.
Good news for those of you after a caller ID add-in for Windows Home Server Add-in. After a lot of interest, the closed beta of Vista Caller-ID WHS Add-in has now been made publicly available, although still in beta.
Developer Alexander Kent hopes that users will continue sharing ideas, and that together it will become a better product!
Download and more info available from here.
February 29th caused a few problems for Windows Home Server owners last week. Installations of the software went fine until the Welcome/Setup screen requesting the initial WHS password appeared, it would carry on appearing after every login continuously. Users like Julian B and patterson76 posted on the WHS forums:
“How can I stop the Welcome/Setup screen ?”
Users found that setting the home server system time/date ahead to March 1st in the bios solved the issue but hose using totally headless units like the HP MediaSmart can not access their bios and were told by HP to try again tomorrow (March 01).
Basically it was a leap year issue that occurred if the system date on the server was February 29th. Users got caught in an OOBE loop which also affected those trying to connect computers to the server on that day. Those using the recovery CD as well and those trying to install the WHS Connector software on their networked PC’s were also affected. One user added:
“I enter my Home Server password and then I get a dialog box with An Error Occurred, This operation cannot be completed at the time”.
Those waiting until March 1st to work on their Windows Home Server’s found that the problems no longer existed. Also affected were Small Business Server and Exchange 2007 amongst others.
Steven Warren’s beginner mini series Real World this time looks at how to connect your computers to your Windows Home Server which basically looks at installing the connector software on one of your networked PCs.
If you own a MediaSmart Server then HP would like to understand how they are using the product and what your experience has been so far. They state that their goal is to understand how people have adopted the product into their homes and what they are doing with it.
If you take the 10 minutes to complete the online survey then you will receive a $20 gift certificate for hpshopping.com. If you also manage to speak with one of their researchers about the MediaSmart Server you will also earn either a free digital camera or photo printer (limited to the first 50 interviews).
We Got Served has a list available (including a PDF file) of HP’s top 10 recommended routers for Windows Home Server that auto-configure the OS, including a list of 6 others that DONT!
Available from here.
