FreeAgent Theater and GoFlexTV

[ericas]

I am haveing trouble getting a WMV file to play. I Have updated the firmware on the home theater + and it still doesnt work. When i select play on the file the screen goes black with a play button in the left hand corner and then it sits there for a while and goes back to the home menu any ideas?

[1EmdvdMq]

I have the same problem here...

The following are descriptions of two WMV files that are not playable in the device, please add support for this file type!
P.S. already updated to FAT+_Firm_EMEA_1.45

________________________________________
General
Complete name                    : file1.wmv
Format                           : Windows Media
File size                        : 125 MiB
Duration                         : 49mn 51s
Overall bit rate mode            : Constant
Overall bit rate                 : 350 Kbps
Maximum Overall bit rate         : 359 Kbps
Encoded date                     : UTC 2010-04-27 14:17:14.230
AspectRatioX                     : 4
AspectRatioY                     : 3

Video
ID                               : 2
Format                           : WMV2
Codec ID                         : WMV2
Codec ID/Info                    : Windows Media Video 8
Description of the codec         : Windows Media Video V8
Duration                         : 49mn 51s
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 302 Kbps
Width                            : 384 pixels
Height                           : 288 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 4:3
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.109
Stream size                      : 108 MiB (86%)
Language                         : English (US)

Audio
ID                               : 1
Format                           : WMA
Format version                   : Version 2
Codec ID                         : 161
Codec ID/Info                    : Windows Media Audio
Description of the codec         : Windows Media Audio 9.2 -  48 kbps, 44 kHz, stereo (A/V) 1-pass CBR
Duration                         : 49mn 51s
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 48.0 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 44.1 KHz
Bit depth                        : 16 bits
Stream size                      : 17.1 MiB (14%)
Language                         : English (US)

________________________________________
General
Complete name                    : file2.wmv
Format                           : Windows Media
File size                        : 107 MiB
Duration                         : 42mn 27s
Overall bit rate mode            : Constant
Overall bit rate                 : 353 Kbps
Maximum Overall bit rate         : 359 Kbps
Encoded date                     : UTC 2010-04-30 18:40:18.729
AspectRatioX                     : 4
AspectRatioY                     : 3

Video
ID                               : 2
Format                           : WMV2
Codec ID                         : WMV2
Codec ID/Info                    : Windows Media Video 8
Description of the codec         : Windows Media Video V8
Duration                         : 42mn 27s
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 302 Kbps
Width                            : 384 pixels
Height                           : 288 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 4:3
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.109
Stream size                      : 91.7 MiB (85%)
Language                         : English (US)

Audio
ID                               : 1
Format                           : WMA
Format version                   : Version 2
Codec ID                         : 161
Codec ID/Info                    : Windows Media Audio
Description of the codec         : Windows Media Audio 9.2 -  48 kbps, 44 kHz, stereo (A/V) 1-pass CBR
Duration                         : 42mn 27s
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 48.0 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Sampling rate                    : 44.1 KHz
Bit depth                        : 16 bits
Stream size                      : 14.6 MiB (14%)
Language                         : English (US)

[Mar Ra]

Hello,

Please help!! I have the very same problem. Actually I downloaded the player Seagate suggests to check the details of the file and I have the same details as you (WMV2). it was supposed to play WMV9 so it should play right? Please help!! Thanks a ton in advance.

Regards

Mar Ra

[prairiedog]

I recommend a cold method reinstall of the firmware.  I assume you are running the latest firmware?  And you are in the U.S.?

In the future, there's no need to post the same question 4 times in different threads - and each contained different information. I see the mods must have cleaned that up.

[Mar Ra]

Hi prairiedog,

Thanks, I'll try that and let everyone know. The factory firmware is 1.55 and I tried with 2.2 but no success. i'll check that cold method you suggest. Is it true that once you go for firmware 1.55 you can't downgrade it (for example to 1.45) ? If cold method doesn't work I would like to give a shot to older firmwares. I'm located in Mexico city. You were right, some of other posts appear to be deleted and I'll keep in mind that in the future. Thanks a lot!!

My best regards!

[prairiedog]

It's true, once you have 1.55 installed you cannot go back to the old firmware that allows mods.  I think all the FATs sold in north america now come with 1.55....

Good luck, I hope the cold method solves your problem.  Otherwise, you may need to re-encode the files to a format that is compatible.

[Mar Ra]

I tried cold method and it installed v 2.2. but still it won't play them. I tried to apply cold method for 1.55 but it seems either to take too long or not installing at all. How long should it take when normal? It's a shame to go through this when WMV format is one of the most common video types around the world, what a blow =S. Thanks a lot in advance.

Thanks & Regards,

Mar Ra

[gejones]

any update on this

[prairiedog]

The cold method can only be used to go from 1.55 to 2.20.  To go from 2.20 to 1.55 use the usb method - put the image on a usb key and "update" via usb from the FAT+ menu.

If that doesn't work I recommend encoding to a format that won't give you trouble.  Handbrake is a great tool for this.

[AussieTuca]

Hi to all!

I would suggest everybody to format your FreeAgent to NTFS and ignore the software that came with it that is useless at least for me. I connected the FreeAgent Go to my PC, deleted the original partition and created a partion for the whole disk and formatted it NTFS. Then I transferred all my movies and music to the disk. It works fine. Using a file manager like Explorer or Total Commander it behaves just like any removable disk. I have no problems playing any of the files specified.

Don't worry about  the hidden file "Theater" that is the database. It creates a new one automatically when you reconnect the disk to the FreeAgent.