Firmware: 2.01.86
Network setup: All Ethernet connection (no wireless), all PC machines on network = Windows 8.1 Client (not Server), files are on QNAP SMB-shared box. NFS is not in use.
WD box is NOT set to go to sleep.
Playing files on the local “server” QNAP box.
Problem: If I play an AVI, MKV, or MP4 file, I can play several of them in a row… If I stop playing and let the machine idle for a long time (overnight), when I go back to the machine, I can still use the arrow keys and exit button to back out of the file share menu, but I cannot play another AVI, MKV, or MP4 without rebooting the WD box. If I try to play another file, I get a blank screen with a spinning orange donut, and the title of the file I’m trying to play does NOT show up. (unlike normal playback, where the screen goes black, I get the orange spinny donut, and the title of the file I want to play shows up, THEN the movie starts). No amount of waiting will let the file start playing. Doesn’t matter what file I try to play, MKV, AVI, or MP4, the files won’t play. But (and here’s the really odd part), if I try to play a folder that has been ripped from a DVD, and contains the .IFO and .VOB files (etc), it plays just fine. But self-contained files hang the WD. I can back out of trying to play the hung file with Exit, but going back and trying to play the file again still hangs.
It’s the oddest problem and yeah I can reboot it every day but makes the WD box pretty much annoying as **bleep**.
Another weird thing is that if I reboot the box and play one MKV/AVI/etc file, then immediately play another, or let it “roll over” from one clip to the next in the folder, that works fine. It’s only if I let it sit for a while that it will need rebooting.
The other WD boxes I have in the house (I have 3), have older firmware and I’m not sure if they exhibit this problem or not. I will try that out this week and re-post.