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  1. #1
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    Xbox 360 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="\\&#91;COMPUTERNAME&#93;\&#91;DRIVE LETTER&#93;$\I Am Legend\I Am Legend.avi"/>
        </Entry>  
     </ASX>
    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 -

    LARGE PREVIEW DISPLAY



    SMALL PREVIEW DISPLAY



    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.
    Last edited by DejaVu; 29th July 2009 at 02:28 AM. Reason: To display the code required for the .WVX (CODE Tag keeps wiping it).


  2. #2
    DF Founder Raptor's Avatar
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Edited a few errors and cleaned up the post. Excellent info.

  3. #3
    DF VIP Member Richj's Avatar
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    Default 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...

  4. #4
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default 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!


  5. #5
    DF VIP Member Mr.James's Avatar
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Quote Originally Posted by DejaVu View Post
    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...


  6. #6
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.James View Post
    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.


  7. #7
    DF VIP Member Mr.James's Avatar
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Quote Originally Posted by DejaVu View Post
    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.

  8. #8
    DF VIP Member TotallyRandom's Avatar
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    Default 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

  9. #9
    DF VIP Member Mr.James's Avatar
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Quote Originally Posted by TotallyRandom View Post
    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 xxxxxx|xxxxxx 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.

  10. #10
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default 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!


  11. #11
    DF VIP Member Mr.James's Avatar
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    Default 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...

  12. #12
    DF VIP Member steve10574's Avatar
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    fingers crossed windows 7 just gets better and better

  13. #13
    DF VIP Member TotallyRandom's Avatar
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    Default 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?

  14. #14
    DF VIP Member QfanatiQ's Avatar
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    Default 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

  15. #15
    DF VIP Member Mr.James's Avatar
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Quote Originally Posted by TotallyRandom View Post
    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...

  16. #16
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default 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.


  17. #17
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.James View Post
    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...
    I still dont think this will work. I'm sure the XBox has to support MKV too.


  18. #18
    DF VIP Member Mr.James's Avatar
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    Default Re: XBOX 360 & Windows 7 Media Centre - List AVI's Like DVD's !

    Quote Originally Posted by DejaVu View Post
    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...

  19. #19
    DF VIP Member Geko's Avatar
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    Default 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?

  20. #20
    DF VIP Member Geko's Avatar
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    Default 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

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