I might check out the Netgear player, thanks for the heads up. The WD is now playing converted files, but I have to use Handbrake and change the audio to AC3 (found this advice somewhere on this forum). The mkvtoolinx conversions were failing even after a powerdown. I think it was actually the AAC audio, although if in an original MKV, the AAC works fine.
Too many subtleties. I will check out the netgear.
