Can't access Music & Photos on PC

[smith1190]

Last week I set up my TiVo to access my PC using a wireless adapter (802.11b). When I first connected and I looked in the extra features, there were options for "Photos on [MyPCName]" and "Music on [MyPCName]" but by the next day, those links were gone. When I try to manually add a server using the current IP address shown by ipconfig it says it doesn't see it. But when I check the Phone and Network settings, I always see a "Good" or occasionally "Excellent" connection.

The only other idea I've had is that I never physically chose which photos and music to transfer using TiVo Desktop, but when I saw that I could browse through my folders from my TiVo, I was relieved that I didn't have to physically choose each song and photo to be visible to my TiVo. Now that these options have disappeared from my TiVo, I'm wondering if that will be necessary after all. Any suggestions?

BTW, I just order my Series2 DT TiVo from amazon - with the $30 promotion, $150 rebate and free shipping, I'm only paying $50 for it! I'm so excited to get it! I also signed up for the free 3 months of amazon prime memberships which gave me free 2-day shipping, so I'll get the new DT and wireless adapter on Tuesday. I can't wait!

[bluetex]

Last week I set up my TiVo to access my PC using a wireless adapter (802.11b). When I first connected and I looked in the extra features, there were options for "Photos on [MyPCName]" and "Music on [MyPCName]" but by the next day, those links were gone. When I try to manually add a server using the current IP address shown by ipconfig it says it doesn't see it. But when I check the Phone and Network settings, I always see a "Good" or occasionally "Excellent" connection.

The only other idea I've had is that I never physically chose which photos and music to transfer using TiVo Desktop, but when I saw that I could browse through my folders from my TiVo, I was relieved that I didn't have to physically choose each song and photo to be visible to my TiVo. Now that these options have disappeared from my TiVo, I'm wondering if that will be necessary after all. Any suggestions?


Try rebooting your PC. It sounds like the Beacon has stopped or stalled.

[smith1190]

Thanks, Bluetex. Today the problem is a little more confusing. I read somewhere that the TiVoServer process had to be running for these features to work, so last night, I opened TiVo Desktop again and checked the TiVo Server settings to make sure I could say to continue running or something. I saw I had already checked to open with Windows. Then I checked in Task Manager, and I saw processes for TiVoBeacon, TiVoDestop, TiVoServer and TiVoTransfer all running. But I didn't go back and check TiVo again right then.

This morning when I read your post I checked Task Manager, and the TiVo Desktop process was no longer running, but the other 3 were. So before I did anything with TiVo Desktop, I checked my TiVo, and now it is showing Music & Photos on [MyPCName].

What I'm thinking is perhaps the TiVoServer process had stopped itself somehow in the past few days and when I opened TiVo Desktop last night, it restarted the process. Does anyone know if that is how it would work? Does the process stop normally on its own? From now on, when I have this problem, I'll make sure the TiVoServer process is running, but it would be helpful to know if I can expect the process to shut itself down for any certain reasons. And if it does stop, is there another way to restart it other than opening TiVo Desktop? Sometimes I've seen the icon in the system tray, but not always. I know you can start it from there if it's visible. But if it disappears when the process stops, that won't help me. I'll set the notification to Always Show and see if that helps.

And I'm also a little unclear whether it's TiVoServer or TiVoBeacon that needs to be running to see Music & Photos? Any clarification of the separate processes would be really helpful. Thanks.

[Dan203]

In order for Music & Photos to work TiVoBeacon and TiVoServer need to be running. Nothing else. TiVoDesktop is the unser interface that you use to publish music and photos and set up TiVoToGo transfers. TiVoTransfer is a service which actually does the transfering of TiVoToGo files so that you can close TiVoDesktop and transfers will continue.

When you "checked" the TiVoServer properties from TiVoDesktop did you click the button that said restart? If so that's what launched TivoServer and allowed the music and photos features to function.

Dan

[smith1190]

Thanks very much for the info, Dan. I checked my TiVo and I couldn't see Music or Photos again, so I checked and the 3 services were all running. So I tried manually adding the server, but it still said it couldn't see it - but the network connection was still "good" and I was able to force an update. So I'm kind of stumped at this point. I know one problem could be that when I restart my PC, I get a new IP address. But I don't know why TiVo can't see my PC for these services, especially if I tell it the new IP address. Any more ideas? I hate to restart the TiVo every time I want to play music or look at photos.

BTW, you mentioned telling TiVo server to restart the service, but I can't find that in the Properties dialog box. There is a pause and exit, but no restart. I just tried exiting and restarting the Server service, but it didn't help my TiVo. I'd appreciate any more suggestions. Thanks.

[Dan203]

Hitting exit will stop the server and change the button to read restart. Hitting that will restart the server.

Sounds like you have a network problem. Do you have any firewall software installed on your PC? Like any of the complete virus suites, or ZoneAlarm? If so you should go into the advanced settings of that software and open the ports listed on this page...

http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2073.htm

Also if this is a wirless network make sure your access point is set up to transmit UDP packets. Some come with that disabled by default.

Dan

[smith1190]

Dan, I use the standard XP firewall. The ports it needs are supposed to be opened automatically in XP, but many of the ports listed in the TiVo help article were not open, so I opened them. So far, I still dont' see the music or photos, but I'm not sure if I need to restart my PC for that to take effect. I thought in XP it was no longer necessary to always restart when changing LAN and IP settings. Am I wrong?

Also, I'm not sure how to enable transmission of UDP packets. I did find this documentation, "NETGEAR routers pass incoming and outgoing traffic on the same port. Unless your router manual says otherwise, TCP and UDP traffic are passed through the same port, and both are opened or closed together. Macintosh, Unix and Windows use the same port numbers." So does that mean I'm okay?

I saw in one of the help articles for problems with music and photos that some routers have "loopback" enabled by default which will block the service. I read the documentation for my router and found nothing. I did a keyword search and came up empty. And I went through every possible setting for the router and loopback was never mentioned.

I welcome any suggestions in all these areas. Thanks, everyone.

[JacksTiVo]

Try uninstalling TiVo Desktop via the Windows XP control panel. Then reinstall it. I had a similar problem and TiVo tech support indicated that the Desktop 2.2 software still may have some bugs. After I reinstalled 2.2 I have not a repeat of the failure to see my music and photos on my S2.

[smith1190]

Thanks, Jack. Well, I uninstalled and reinstalled, to no avail. I even tried downloading the software again in case there is a newer version, but I still got 2.2. You mentioned a 2.2.1 - where can I get that? My build is 204920. Also when I re-opened TiVo Desktop and added the MAK, it seemed fine. But in TiVo Server Properties, on the Access Control tab, it keeps searching and searching for any DVRs on the network; it never says it failed, it just keeps trying. The TiVo is seeing the PC, but not vice versa. I have it set to "Any connected to my home/local network." Thanks.

Also, my new DT box should be arriving tomorow. TiVo Desktop only has a setting for one MAK - how do I enter 2 different ones? Or do I have to change it each time I want to access a different box?

[Dan203]

All TiVos on the same account have the same MAK.

Dan

[JacksTiVo]

You mentioned a 2.2.1 - where can I get that?

Sorry, but in my post I left out a "," after 2.2, so it appears that I stated 2.2.1. It should read, "After I reinstalled 2.2, I have not had a repeat of the failure to see my music and photos on my S2."

The latest version of TiVo Desktop is 2.2.

Sorry for the confusion.

[TomJ]

I just had a similar problem over the weekend. I'm a new Tivo user as of Friday (caveat emptor, I guess), with a DT unit initially set up with an ethernet connection. The TTG was working fine on Saturday, serving my photos/music, offloading SpongeBob to the PC (showing off to my 11-yr-old), etc.

On Sunday, I bought the Tivo-branded wireless adapter, and although the Tivo box was happy with it's connection, I was no longer seeing my DVR in TTG desktop. I needed to call tech support for something else, and asked about this problem. All they could think to suggest was to (un/re)install TTG, and to power cycle the Tivo.

I did the former, which didn't seem to work. But after I power-cycled the Tivo, everything was working again.

So far so good, but it's been less than 24hrs, so no idea how permanent this fix is.

Regards,
Tom