How to troubleshoot a problem that occurs when a digital media receiver cannot locate the Windows Home Server-based computer on a network

Article ID: 939425 - View products that this article applies to.

INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to troubleshoot a problem that occurs when a digital media receiver cannot locate the Windows Home Server-based computer on a network.

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To enable the digital media receiver to locate the Windows Home Server-based computer, first verify that the Windows Media Connect service is running. If the problem persists even after you have started the Windows Media Connect service, use the methods in the "Additional troubleshooting steps" section to correct the problem.

Verify that the Windows Media Connect service is started

Connect to the Windows Home Server by using Remote Desktop on the home computer. To do this, follow these steps:

Windows Vista
1. Click Start
  Collapse this imageExpand this image
  in the Start Search box, and then type remote.
2. In the results list, click Remote Desktop Connection.
Microsoft Windows XP
1. Click Start, click Run, and then type mstsc.exe.
2. Click OK.
In the Computer box, type the name of the Windows Home Server-based computer, and then click OK.
When the Log On to Windows dialog box appears, use administrative credentials to log on. Exit Internet Explorer if the Windows Home Server Caution message is displayed in a browser window.
Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
Verify that the Windows Media Connect service is started. The service is started if Started is displayed in the Status column. If the service is not started, right-click the Windows Media Connect service, and then click Start.

Additional troubleshooting steps

If the digital media receiver still cannot locate the Windows Home Server-based computer, use the following methods to troubleshoot the problem.

Verify that the digital media receiver is connected to the network

You must verify that the digital media receiver is connected to the network. For example, if the device uses an Ethernet cable to connect to the network, verify that the cable is securely plugged in to the digital media receiver and to the router. The router may also be known as the gateway or the base station.

If the digital media receiver uses a wireless connection, verify that you have attached any required hardware. For example, you may have to attach a Wi-Fi CompactFlash card to the device.

Restart the computer

Restart the Windows Home Server-based computer, and then start the Windows Media Connect service.

Verify that the digital media receiver is using the latest firmware

Verify that the digital media receiver has the latest firmware. For example, the Roku SoundBridge digital media receiver requires SoundBridge software version 2.1 or later versions to perform optimally with the Windows Media Connect service. For more information, check the Web site of the manufacturer of the digital media receiver.

Verify wireless security settings

If the digital media receiver uses a wireless network connection, verify that you have configured the device to use the appropriate wireless security settings. For example, verify that the following settings are configured identically on the digital media receiver and on the router:

The two devices must use the same network name. This name is also known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID).
The two devices must use the same Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) key or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) key.

For more information, see the documentation that accompanies the digital media receiver and the router. If you cannot make the digital media receiver work by using the wireless medium, you can try using an Ethernet cable to connect the digital media receiver to the router.

Verify the router configuration

Verify that the router has the latest firmware. For more information about how to download the latest firmware, visit the router manufacturer's Web site.
If you are using media access control (MAC) filtering, make sure that the MAC address of the digital media receiver is included in the list of allowed devices in the router configuration.
For optimal performance, use a router that includes a "Certified for Windows Vista" logo. For more information about certified routers, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductList.aspx?m=v&cid=712&g=d
(http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductList.aspx?m=v&cid=712&g=d)

For more information about Windows Home Server, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer

(http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer)

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/WindowsHomeServer/

(http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/WindowsHomeServer/)

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

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