Oh, and I’ve requested another call be arranged with WD… see what comes out of that.
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WD called last night and we discussed the issue at length. They were unable to reproduce the problem in their lab and ended up escalating it to upper management. I’m supposed to hear back from them within the next 24-48 hours with some form of update.
They also offered to replace both of my units but we all know that won’t solve anything.
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dmbottawa wrote:
So…had a call arranged for the evening of July 23rd with a WD rep by the name of [Deleted] and received NO CALL. Not only that, I then receive a request to fill out a satisfaction survey. Unbelievable!!!
I’m sure others have figured this out but I’ve found a workaround that works for me when no network shares appear.
Step 1
Turn off Router
Unplug WD Media Device(s)
Shut down all PC’s/Laptops
Turn off WIFI on Mobile devices
Step 2
Turn on the network device that you wish to stream from. i.e. network share
Turn on Router, wait for it to initialize
Plug in WD Media Device(s), it should power on as soon as it’s plugged in and connect to the network
Turn on WIFI on Mobile Devices
Going through this process has worked for me every time, but it’s just a workaround and the network shares WILL disappear again at some point.
This is terrific.
I’m on 1.16.13 and I shut down my computer while I had the box on. My shares disappeared and have yet to reappear. This worked quite well after no amount of device restarts or resets did, so thank you. I’ve got it written on a post-it note to keep handy (which is really sad, when you think about it).
Also, it was nice of WD to actually get in touch with you. And it’s understandable they can’t reproduce the issue since it seems to be at random for so many of us. Keep us (or at least me) updated! And thanks!
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Glad to hear it worked out for you. At least there’s a way around it until the “bug” gets fixed… though it is a pain in the **bleep**.
Feel free to give me a Kudos :wink:
I’ll post an update when I hear back from WD.
2 Likes
WD has a serious issues around which computer is the “Master Browser”. The above instructions just minipulates which device gets to be the Master Browser.
A router that can be the master browser solves all problems, e,g, an Asus RT-N66U or other comparable models… Upgrade your router – you will be glad you did – it is now 2014, and things have changed in the router world.
I put in the feature request to allow us to configure a manual server address. This feature request has gone largely unnoticed but this feature was implemented on XBMC and it worked fantastic when the master browser election process caused issues in older releases. I think that all anybody really wants when it comes to this is the ability to view their content. In the perfect world the ability to have it show up automatically is awesome, but as as a fall back, I would like the ability to specify manually.
mike27oct wrote:
A router that can be the master browser solves all problems, e,g, an Asus RT-N66U or other comparable models… Upgrade your router – you will be glad you did – it is now 2014, and things have changed in the router world.
Maybe WD should put that on the packaging untiil they fix their networking issues. Sure would reduce the number of upset people.
Attention all,
I have removed some of the post in this thread. Please keep in mind that (“WD”) provides the WD Community as a service to its users and customers, to help them exchange ideas, tips, information, and techniques related to our products.
Let’s keep this professional and friendly.
ERmorel wrote:
Attention all,
I have removed some of the post in this thread.
Mucho Gracias!
Hello, i was experiencing the exact problems, always losing access to network shares… after an extensive search, i found what, at least for now (been OK for a month) seems to have solved the problem.
My setup is:
PC - Win7 Ultimate SP1 - 24/7 - Sharing all the data (videos/photos/music)
Well, you’ll have to check the event viewer system log, when i saw mine, there were alot of errors like this:
Source: srv
Event ID: 2017
Level: Error
The server was unable to allocate from the system nonpaged pool because the server reached the configured limit for nonpaged pool allocations.
Apparently, we need to tell Windows that we want to use the machine as a file server and that it should allocate resources accordingly.
Set the following registry key to ’1′:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\LargeSystemCache
and set the following registry key to ’3′:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\Size
After that, restart the machine.
Never seen the mentioned error anymore and as i said above, the problem is gone.
leila wrote:
Hello, i was experiencing the exact problems, always losing access to network shares… after an extensive search, i found what, at least for now (been OK for a month) seems to have solved the problem.
My setup is:
PC - Win7 Ultimate SP1 - 24/7 - Sharing all the data (videos/photos/music)
Well, you’ll have to check the event viewer system log, when i saw mine, there were alot of errors like this:
Source: srv
Event ID: 2017
Level: Error
The server was unable to allocate from the system nonpaged pool because the server reached the configured limit for nonpaged pool allocations.
Apparently, we need to tell Windows that we want to use the machine as a file server and that it should allocate resources accordingly.
Set the following registry key to ’1′:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\LargeSystemCache
and set the following registry key to ’3′:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\Size
After that, restart the machine.
Never seen the mentioned error anymore and as i said above, the problem is gone.
I gave this a shot, but no luck. Never checked re: the errors you got or anything, but I thought I’d give it a shot anyway. I’m running Win8,. but nevertheless found the same registry keys and changed them.
Recently shut off the power to the house and the breaker panel to do some electrical work, which shut off/hard reset the WD box, and when it popped back up it had lost the shares.
The only duplicatable solution that I have found so far is dmbottawa’s “Steps To Success”:
Step 1
Turn off Router
Unplug WD Media Device(s)
Shut down all PC’s/Laptops
Turn off WIFI on Mobile devices
Step 2
Turn on the network device that you wish to stream from. i.e. network share
Turn on Router, wait for it to initialize
Plug in WD Media Device(s), it should power on as soon as it’s plugged in and connect to the network
Turn on WIFI on Mobile Devices
CasanovaFly wrote:
leila wrote:
Hello, i was experiencing the exact problems, always losing access to network shares… after an extensive search, i found what, at least for now (been OK for a month) seems to have solved the problem.
My setup is:
PC - Win7 Ultimate SP1 - 24/7 - Sharing all the data (videos/photos/music)
Well, you’ll have to check the event viewer system log, when i saw mine, there were alot of errors like this:
Source: srv
Event ID: 2017
Level: Error
The server was unable to allocate from the system nonpaged pool because the server reached the configured limit for nonpaged pool allocations.
Apparently, we need to tell Windows that we want to use the machine as a file server and that it should allocate resources accordingly.
Set the following registry key to ’1′:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\LargeSystemCache
and set the following registry key to ’3′:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\Size
After that, restart the machine.
Never seen the mentioned error anymore and as i said above, the problem is gone.
I gave this a shot, but no luck. Never checked re: the errors you got or anything, but I thought I’d give it a shot anyway. I’m running Win8,. but nevertheless found the same registry keys and changed them.
Recently shut off the power to the house and the breaker panel to do some electrical work, which shut off/hard reset the WD box, and when it popped back up it had lost the shares.
The only duplicatable solution that I have found so far is dmbottawa’s “Steps To Success”:
Step 1
Turn off Router
Unplug WD Media Device(s)
Shut down all PC’s/Laptops
Turn off WIFI on Mobile devices
Step 2
Turn on the network device that you wish to stream from. i.e. network share
Turn on Router, wait for it to initialize
Plug in WD Media Device(s), it should power on as soon as it’s plugged in and connect to the network
Turn on WIFI on Mobile Devices
That is insane!
@Borgo (and others)
Your issues stem from the Master Browser (aka MB) environment, which is a Windows “traffic cop” of sorts. Search the Live Streaming forum for all kinds of threads about it.
The MB manages traffic in your network, and it is usually your main PC which becomes the MB, so it needs to be turned on first (after the router), but if/when it gets turned off, another unit can take over from that PC, Then, MB issues arise and your network shares can get bunged up. Another PC taking over as MB is OK, but if the WDTV takes over, that is not good, because it does a lousy job as MB.
You can always find out if your MB is healthy and how you want it – see this link and download and install the free program from the site:
http://scottiestech.info/2009/02/14/how-to-determine-the-master-browser-in-a-windows-workgroup/
Just remember that a PC must be the Master Browser, and not the WDTV, and the above program helps you know what unit is your MB.
If it isn’t a PC, you need to turn off (unplug) the WDTV, wait 5+ mins or so and check with the program – your PC must be the MB. It takes a while to flush out the other MB in memory, (starting with a rebooted router can speed this up) When it is not the WDTV, you can turn on the WDTV again.
There is an exception to a PC being the MB, and that is to have a router that can be a permanent MB since it is usually on 24/7 whereas PCs and WDTV etc get turned off and on.
When I replaced my router a couple of years ago, I discovered my new router can be a permanent MB, (with some adjusted settings) and ever since I set it as MB, all the MB problems disappeared. My router happens to be an upper tier Asus router model, but there are other modern routers that can do the same. Find a router that can be a MB.
Good luck solving the issue.
If you can I would recommend using Linux shares instead of Windows shares. My NAS is a MyBookLive so has a Linux share built -in, and installed an NFS server on my windows PCs. Since then no network problems at all, all shares are rock solid.
I have been living with the network shares problem for a long time and my fix was to reboot the computer where the files are located. I found a tip online today and it sounds promising.
In device manager, look for your network card and double-click it to view the properties window. Click the POWER MANAGEMENT tab and un-check the box marked “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”. Mine was checked.
That could be the reason my WDTV worked in the morning but that evening the dreaded spinning wheel of death appeared when trying to access my files. I have a wired network using Windows 7 and a Verizon FIOS Router.
Sounds plausable, but I don’t think that is your real problem. My laptop has the same check, and I have NO share issues.
You likely are losing your network’s master browser like many do. I lived with these problems, too, my settings were all correct, but I still could lose shares. It was not until I had a permanent master browser (created by my router settings) that my router became the MB, 24/7. Share issues are gone! Your PC would be the MB otherwise. If it lost MB status and the WDTV took over, that is when problems with shares appear. Read and download the free program here and keep tabs on your MB with this program. http://scottiestech.info/2009/02/14/how-to-determine-the-master-browser-in-a-windows-workgroup/
When you reboot the PC, you are “starting over” with the master browser, and you need to turn off the WDTV if it was the MB before the PC reboot so the PC can be the MB once again. (Or, get a router that can be the MB.).
2.1.86 or 2.0.32, it seems a lot of people have a problem with network shares, as it is obviously the achilles heel of the box.
Same for, i upgraded to 2.0.32 yesterday and windows shares stopped working. spinning wheel all the time without pc discovery.
Now, i dont want to be a hacker to make this thing work. I want to turn on the frigging box and see movies!!!
Needless to say i have tried all solutions written here, nothing works. Is rollback the only answer???
arismac wrote:
2.1.86 or 2.0.32, it seems a lot of people have a problem with network shares, as it is obviously the achilles heel of the box.
Same for, i upgraded to 2.0.32 yesterday and windows shares stopped working. spinning wheel all the time without pc discovery.
Now, i dont want to be a hacker to make this thing work. I want to turn on the frigging box and see movies!!!
Needless to say i have tried all solutions written here, nothing works. Is rollback the only answer???
It sounds as though this isn’t the typical network share issue. My issues were sporadic, but it was possible to get them working. I upgraded to the most recent (2.02.32, which I assume you meant) and I’ve got no issues with media shares.
So, I guess my suggestions for you would be try the reset instructions that I’ve marked as the ‘solution’ for this thread and then see. If that doesn’t work, then I’m not sure. I’ve had no real issues thus far with the new firmware, and it sounds like you lost connectivity as soon as you upgraded, which hints at a larger problem.
“WD TV Live keeps losing network shares - Page 10 - WD Community When you reboot the PC, you are “starting over” with the master browser, and you need to turn off the WDTV if it was the MB before the PC reboot so the PC can be the MB once again. (Or, get a router that can be the MB.).”
It seems to me an easy fix for this would be if WD would just have an option in the System section that asks “Allow this device to be a Master Browser… Yes or No”. Can’t believe they can’t implement something so simple, when they see all the grief their customers are going through.
Just like the unnecessarily complicated rollback process, where the user has to be technical enough to edit some file with some dummy future revision number, to fool the device. Seems to me they could avoid all that by letting the device up/down grade to whatever version was on the USB stick, and throw a message to the user “Are you sure you wish to proceed? Yes or No”.
It just makes me wonder why they don’t care enough to implement some simple fixes. They could have a great little device here if they wanted.
