XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
I have finally sussed a great workaround that'll improve the look of your Extender and AVI files!
This process will take some time, but the results are worth it!
You CAN list your AVI's in the DVD menu part of the Extender, thus giving you the full Synopsis, DVDCover, Play time, Cast etc etc.
The "Movie Library" that replaces Vista's "DVD Library" now supports avi, mpg, mp4, mt2s and wmv!
First off, you need to register at DVDXML.com (It's free) and download all the correct DVDID.XML files for your films/AVI's.
You need to then put all your AVI's into seperate folders -
Example of files in folder
VIDEO_TS.IFO
I Am Legend.avi
I Am Legend.dvdid.xml
I Am Legend.wvx
The VIDEO_TS.IFO is just an empty text file renamed to trick WMC into thinking it's a DVD.
The .WVX file needs to be editted (again with Notepad or the like) to look similar to this -
HTML Code:
<ASX version = "3.0">
<Title>Movie Title</Title>
<Entry>
<Ref href="\\[COMPUTERNAME]\[DRIVE LETTER]$\I Am Legend\I Am Legend.avi"/>
</Entry>
</ASX>
<entry></entry>The line
\\[COMPUTERNAME]\[DRIVE LETTER]$\I Am Legend\I Am Legend.avi
should really look similar to this where your computer on the network is named COMPUTERNAME and the drive with all you movies is D:
COMPUTERNAME\D$\I Am Legend\I Am Legend.avi
Once you've done a few, add the Parent directory to WMC to the DVD Movie Library. If the Add DVD Folder is not available on your WMC in Manage Libraries, you will need the following file -
Transcode-v0.7.zip
Not to be confused with Transcode 360. This file creates the DVD Folder selection in Manage Libraries.
You need to copy the .DLL file to your Extender folder which is C:\WINDOWS\EHOME
Then import the .REG file into your registry.
Go to your Extender on your XBox360 (Tasks > Settings > Manage Libraries) Select DVD Movies and add the Parent Folder of your files.
After, hopefully, you'll get these results -
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a88...tGesh/wmc0.jpg
LARGE PREVIEW DISPLAY
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a88...tGesh/wmc2.jpg
SMALL PREVIEW DISPLAY
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a88...tGesh/wmc1.jpg
SYNOPSIS AND COVER LOADED FROM THE INTERNET
Unfortunately, this only works for Retail Released DVD's as the DVDID from DVDXML is pulled directly from an inserted DVD and submitted to them using the CRC64. Without this happening (No retail DVD available), you wont be able to get the information, at least til it's released (further reading and a fix for covers available here, courtesy of Mr.James). I believe there to be manual ways for adding this information, but the process is very involved and may not always work.
Any problems doing this gimme a PM and I'll help you through it.
I'm sure I've got all this right, I may have missed something out. If I have I'll revise this post.
REVISION 1
Added Transcode-v0.7.zip as DVD Movies folder selection is not available without it. I take no credit for this file and the creators wish to remain anonymous. But for further information and other utilities related to this (including a WVX creator utility), visit http://www.htpcug.org/Default.aspx?tabid=168 (or new domain http://www.nedmug.com/Blogs/tabid/22...7/Default.aspx )
REVISION 2
"Movie Library" in Windows Media Center for Windows 7 is the new name for Vista's "DVD Library". Credit to Mr James for the heads up.</asx>
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Edited a few errors and cleaned up the post. Excellent info.
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Cheers for that, very helpful... The way media is displayed by default looks pants!
One point, whilst I was doing mine I noticed that I was able to get the same results without creating the *.wvx file, which made things loads easier.. Just create folder and download xml!
Everything seems fine, movie plays and info comes up correctly...
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Made a small revision because Transcode v0.7 is a much needed file for this whole process!
Surprised any of you have managed to do this without this file! :p
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DejaVu
I'm sure I've got all this right, I may have missed something out. If I have I'll revise this post.
Revision 2 should look like this:
The "Movie Library" that replaces Vista's "DVD Library" now supports avi, mpg, mp4, mt2s and wmv!
Register at DVDXML.com (It's free) and download all the correct DVDID.XML files for your films/AVI's.
You need to then put all your AVI's into seperate folders -
Example of files in folder
I Am Legend.avi
I Am Legend.dvdid.xml
After, hopefully, you'll get these results -
etc etc etc...
:p
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr.James
Revision 2 should look like this:
The "Movie Library" that replaces Vista's "DVD Library" now supports avi, mpg, mp4, mt2s and wmv!
Perhaps :)
I never used Vista Media Centre. Vista always ran crap on my PC. I'm an XP to Win7 switcher. :)
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DejaVu
Perhaps :)
I never used Vista Media Centre. Vista always ran crap on my PC. I'm an XP to Win7 switcher. :)
I never used Vista Media Center either because it wouldn't support my .avis! I'm a WMP11 to Win7 switcher. :)
Win7 just works though. No need to hack it like this. Just dump the dvdid.xml and your avi in the same folder and bingo.
Also if there's no dvdid.xml file to download from dvdidxml.com drop a 'folder.jpg' file into the folder and it will display the cover art rather than a tile with the folder name on it.
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
hey all being setting up all my folders and hit a bit of snag
new DVD's don't seem to have .xml file on teh DVDxml.com
things like
Seven Pounds
Defiance
Bedtime Stories
and a few more.
what is best to go about getting these ones?
do i need to upload it first as its only a ID within the XML file
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TotallyRandom
hey all being setting up all my folders and hit a bit of snag
new DVD's don't seem to have .xml file on teh DVDxml.com
things like
Seven Pounds
Defiance
Bedtime Stories
and a few more.
what is best to go about getting these ones?
do i need to upload it first as its only a ID within the XML file
I've been doing quite a bit of research into this since I first read DejaVu's original post.
I had the same problem with Seven Pounds, Donky Punch, Bad Boy Bubby, Braindead, Meet the Feebles to name just a few...
Basically the data is pulled from the AllMediaGuide.com website (AMG as it's known). When you put a DVD in your drive it runs a (CRC64) check against it and which returns a unique value (the <discid>xxxxxx|xxxxxx<discid> bit in the xml file). This value is then uploaded to AMG and the correct dvdid.xml file is downloaded to your computer.
Unfortunately there is no way of generating this code without the original DVD. There is also no way of searching a list of DVD releases by name to find this code to create the dvdid.xml file yourself.
Apparently in Media Center 2005 you could use the CRC64 number, the AllMovie.com's VideoID number, or the IMDB ttxxxxxxx number and it would pull the correct data down. I've tried numerous combinations and ways of re-arranging this data but it appears that it no longer supports these other two types of codes and now must rely on the DVD check code instead.
For the time being you will be stuck without being able to download the xmls till someone buys the DVD, runs the CRC64 check and uploads the returned dvdid.xml file to the dvdxml.com website. There are similar sites out there offering xml downloads but after searching another 4 sites and only finding 1 new xml file I gave up.
For the missing files I just downloaded the DVD covers from IMDB, saved them as 'folder.jpg' and dropped in in the same folder as the AVI. This way it at least shows the artwork in the movie library and eliminating all the ugly tiles with text on.
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
I'm gonna re-set this up tonight.
I had to go back to XP for a few weeks and missed Media Center. Windows 7 7057 loaded now!
My main aim now, is to lurk the forums internet wide and investigate getting an MKV to work through this!
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
http://www.zimbio.com/Windows/articl...ivX+Xvid+MKV+H
dunno how much truth there is in this but it says that windows 7 will support mkv streaming to xbox by final release if I'm readining it right...
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
fingers crossed windows 7 just gets better and better
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
what codex have you guys installed?
i have it working but seem to freeze up and crash now and them with different files (Wired connection)
any ideas?
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
can this only be done for the 360 with . avi files (no mpg/mkv)
Any similare ting for the PS3?
Thanks.....Q
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TotallyRandom
what codex have you guys installed?
i have it working but seem to freeze up and crash now and them with different files (Wired connection)
any ideas?
I've ended up going back to streaming via media player. WMC looks nice but it's real slow. Seems to hang a lot. Also seems like it has to rebuild the database of pictures a lot too.
I find it easier to crack the laptop open and look it up on IMDB...
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
I noticed the database of pictures takes a while too. Thats why I've now resorted to smaller files sizes for the thumbnails and created a folder.jpg in every film folder.
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr.James
I still dont think this will work. I'm sure the XBox has to support MKV too.
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DejaVu
I still dont think this will work. I'm sure the XBox has to support MKV too.
The xbox wouldn't be receiving an MKV though as WMC will transcode it into a file format it can understand instead e.g. mp4...
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
Is there any way to use this on MKV's? As well as AVI's?
Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !
OK. I am still stuck on this. I have all my DVD rips looking wonderful. But I still have my AVI's although looking decent now, in my video library and not my dvd library. I know Video_TS is a notepad file edited. But is the .wkv file simply a notepad file saved with the extension .wkv? Also I am using Mymovies for the dvdid files and the cover, as when googling I assumed mymovies would add the AVI files to my dvd library. Why can't microsoft ever make things simple, and why do they have to stop all their products from having the support you need? lol