gilbey666
asked on
Windows Media Player Library over network
We have a PC which acts as a server for storing all our music. Any PC on network can access this location (only 3 PCs), and has a Windows Media Player Library. Forgive me if I'm wrong but each PC seems to have it's own library so any changes on an individual library don't have any effect on the other libraries. This is a pain as it means the other libraries have to be edited to take account of the change. ie. adding or ammending information to library rather than deleting songs which is disabled on all libraries.
Question is; is there a way to make a change on one library effect the others? Or simply to open one library on any of the PCs?
Question is; is there a way to make a change on one library effect the others? Or simply to open one library on any of the PCs?
scrathcyboy
Sure, in the media player setup, just go into media player, tools options and on the 2 PCs where you want them to get the media from PC1, do this -- network tab, configure, highlight each protocol click configure, then use the following proxy server, then enter the IP number of your computer with the media on it. That computer will need a fixed IP if on the local network, if remote, give it the WAN IP of the router where that system is located. With a little fenangling (MS software always needs 20 times to get it right), you will eventually connect, and the others will get it from this one system.
The other way to do it is file, add to library, add URL (if a remote site), enter the IP of the other system.
If on the local network, you can do Import Playlist to Media Library -- however, you have to keep doing those, I dont think it will remember them permanently. Also, explore ALL other options in Media player.
If on the local network, you can do Import Playlist to Media Library -- however, you have to keep doing those, I dont think it will remember them permanently. Also, explore ALL other options in Media player.
ASKER
Thanks for input, have tried method 1, that is, enter host's (192.168.1.7 fixed) IP address to second PC (192.168.1.9 also fixed). Theory is that If I edit song title on host PC that updated entry should appear on second PC when library is viewed on second PC. An edit on the second PC should update the host PC's library.
Nothing seemed to happen, so went on to try Method 2. Now this is taking ages as 53726 files found so I left running and when I returned 4 hours later even though Files Added still showed 0, alterations to tracks in libraries had worked in both directions, eureka!
Question is which method worked!
Will let Method 2 finish and then try Method 1 again, but can you say how long method 1's update should take to take effect?
Thanks.
Nothing seemed to happen, so went on to try Method 2. Now this is taking ages as 53726 files found so I left running and when I returned 4 hours later even though Files Added still showed 0, alterations to tracks in libraries had worked in both directions, eureka!
Question is which method worked!
Will let Method 2 finish and then try Method 1 again, but can you say how long method 1's update should take to take effect?
Thanks.
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I don't know if you are using wma or mp3. If you are using WMA, disregard this post please:
I would suggest changing to itunes as your music player and server. Let me say first that i'm an avid pc user, and not necessarily crazy about macs, BUT...
...itunes has a great user interface, most people automatically love it.
...and it's set up for sharing music over a network right out of the box. If you set the serving computer's itunes to share its library, then the client computers automatically see it and allow you to play the music. This is really cool then, because each client can set up its own playlists and select songs, but they all share the same music library.
Worth a look see as it's all free.
good luck.
...on the dark side, i mention again that this wont work with WMA - itunes can't play them.
I would suggest changing to itunes as your music player and server. Let me say first that i'm an avid pc user, and not necessarily crazy about macs, BUT...
...itunes has a great user interface, most people automatically love it.
...and it's set up for sharing music over a network right out of the box. If you set the serving computer's itunes to share its library, then the client computers automatically see it and allow you to play the music. This is really cool then, because each client can set up its own playlists and select songs, but they all share the same music library.
Worth a look see as it's all free.
good luck.
...on the dark side, i mention again that this wont work with WMA - itunes can't play them.
ASKER
Thanks ............moses, I do use WMA on lossless setting as music played through good HiFi and quality is excellent. I had thought about iTunes which my sons use, but as I'm a PC oldie I stick to what's 100% PC compatable, wife uses a Creative Zen for her awful tracks too! I also feel iTunes takes over your system and is a bit 'Big Brother'. Anyway iPods and iTunes are far to trendy for me!
We're almost there with scrathcyboy's suggestions, needs fine tuning as cumbersome at the moment.
Woof, woof!
We're almost there with scrathcyboy's suggestions, needs fine tuning as cumbersome at the moment.
Woof, woof!