DVD Rip playback issues

[Taos]

Hey All,

I have been having enough problems with my mini htpc that I decided to replace it with the WD TV, which has been enough of a failure to send it back.

So my mini problems;

Using Front Row my two WD 1TB drives (250+ full rips) go to sleep and the mini can't seem to wake them up, which causes the system to hang.

Press pause - hang
Go through the front row movie menu too slow - hang

To get out of these hangs, I usually have to restart the mini by holding down the power button, which occasionally damages the HDD directory and needs repair.

This problem appears to be getting worse. ie happens more often. The mini used to be able to spin up the drives when needed but not anymore.

Is it front row?
Is the mini having problems with the fire wire chain?
Would I be better off using USB 2?
Can the drives be set to not sleep?
Would upgrading to the T7600 chip help?

Thanks in advance.
_________________
- 1.83 Core Duo Mini (2 gig)
- 2 x WD 1TB HDD Fire Wire
- Pioneer PDP-LX508A
- Pioneer VSX-LX50
- Bose AM 10 Series IV, Bose AM5, Bose 101, Bose 151
- G4 Al PB 12", G4 Al PB 17" and MBP 13"
- Airport Express x 2, Airport Extreme

[Smithcraft]

I can't say, but I'm almost inclined to think that the problem might be that you are using FrontRow instead of Plex or XBMC.

While I've had the drives sleep when I was lingering on the menus, I've never had the drives sleep while watching anything.

You will only need to upgrade the CPU if you plan on watching 1080p content.

Chances are that the system install may have been corrupted by the way that you repeated shut the system down. You might wanna go and reinstall the OS. Or if you haven't bought 10.6, now would be the time.

The drive sleep setting is in the Energy Saver control panel.

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[tales]

I had the same mini there should be no problem using FrontRow
I never shut down the external drive.

Try the movie without using FrontRow You can drag the Video_TS folder of any movie into the DVD Player icon in your dock & the movie will play using your mouse

Try Matinee and see if you have the same problems http://matinee.dizandat.com/

FWIW, if your not using Time Machine now would be a good time to start.
Good Luck!
_________________
iMac 3.06ghz 27" 4gb ram C2D 1TB/LaCie d2 1T
mini 2.3ghz 8gb ram i5 500GB 2TB LaCie
TV2

[Taos]

K thanks for the help, I have installed 10.6 and still issues even with DVD player so an alt jukebox software will should not make a difference.

I am getting the sinking feeling that this is a hardware issue. So next steps, load a couple of movies on the internal drive, unplug the drives and see if I am getting the issue then plug in one and then the other drives to see if they are the culprit...
_________________
- 1.83 Core Duo Mini (2 gig)
- 2 x WD 1TB HDD Fire Wire
- Pioneer PDP-LX508A
- Pioneer VSX-LX50
- Bose AM 10 Series IV, Bose AM5, Bose 101, Bose 151
- G4 Al PB 12", G4 Al PB 17" and MBP 13"
- Airport Express x 2, Airport Extreme

[tales]

There is still a problem dragging the movies TS folder into DVD player Dont install a disc.
_________________
iMac 3.06ghz 27" 4gb ram C2D 1TB/LaCie d2 1T
mini 2.3ghz 8gb ram i5 500GB 2TB LaCie
TV2

[Taos]

Sorry Tales I didn't quite catch that.

Can't get the sound to work now... TOSLINK.

Haven't run the diagnostic yet, not sure I want to work out what is wrong - I don't want to spend the money.
_________________
- 1.83 Core Duo Mini (2 gig)
- 2 x WD 1TB HDD Fire Wire
- Pioneer PDP-LX508A
- Pioneer VSX-LX50
- Bose AM 10 Series IV, Bose AM5, Bose 101, Bose 151
- G4 Al PB 12", G4 Al PB 17" and MBP 13"
- Airport Express x 2, Airport Extreme

[tales]

Hi Taos,

Im trying to answer your first question "is it Front Row' This is my sons iMac there aren't a lot of movies on it.

In My DVD rips you can see "Peter Gabriel Live" In the next column you can see the "Video_TS folder for that movie.

Click & hold on the Video_TS folder and drag it into "DVD Player" in your dock. (Put DVD Player in your dock)

Then let go of the mouse, this would trick "DVD Player" into thinking you inserted a DVD disc.

With the mouse you can check if it hangs.


_________________
iMac 3.06ghz 27" 4gb ram C2D 1TB/LaCie d2 1T
mini 2.3ghz 8gb ram i5 500GB 2TB LaCie
TV2