FreeAgent Theater and GoFlexTV

[xator1]

So here it is, it's my first time trying to watch a movie in .MKV format, and i get audio but a blank screen.

The file plays ok on my computer using VLC, so the file isn't damaged.

The firmware is at 2.23

I don't know enough about it to do much about it,  it must be a codec issue or something, but all my reading on the net about this issue i have found nothing about updating codecs....

The file is 2.05 Gb.

Is it normal, i'm pretty sure the box can read .MKV's

Thanx in advance for your support.

[xator1]

If it can help, here's the File info:

REL FILES **** : Winter's.Bone.2010.x264.DTS-WAF.mkv (2.05 GiB)
SOURCE ******* : Blue_Ray

REL DATE ***** : 2010-11-07 19:45:46.690
RUNTIME ****** : 01:40:12.971
VIDEO INFO *** : x264-core 104 r1713 c276662 @ 2 179 Kbps Avg
FRAME RATE *** : 23.976 fps
RESOLUTION *** : 1024 x 576 (1.778 : 1)
AUDIO INFO *** : DTS 6 CH @ 755 Kbps
LANGUAGE ***** : English

[prairiedog]

What have you tried so far?

Please search the board first - for example enter "mkv" into the search box - there's easily a dozen posts there with discussions.  In fact, one is titled "MKV Audio only (can't see video".  (link)  This is much more effective than just searching the net.

Even though it plays with vlc doesn't mean its an mkv with all the correct header info.

Try running the mkv through this:

http://matroska.org/downloads/mkclean.html

Also, if you are still having problems, be as verbose as you can.  Is it a hard drive in the dock?  Attached via usb?  Networked?  Is your FAT+ wired or wireless?

How did you update the firmware?  A "cold method" reinstall of the firmware fixes most common problems (see my signature for a link if the above doesn't solve your problem).

[xator1]

Thanx for the fast reply.

Ok the firmware was updated with a USB key.

All the movies i watch are also read from a USB key, and i always use the side port on the unit.

I downloaded the program you stated, but unfortunately since it's  dos based or something, i can't do a thing with it, i read the readme, but didnt understand anything....

So i'll go ahead and read the links you gave, and hopefuly i'll find something.

[xator1]

Ok a little reading got me an answer, i dragged the file into the program you told me, i will try the file it makes out of this.

And a little question which might sound stupid, but english aint my first language, what is the headder?  Is it the file name?

Thanx.

[xator1]

Ok so mkclean didn't change anything, still no video.

One thing i observed before and after mkclean, the fastest fast forward is 2x if i try any faster than that, the file start back at the beginning, but it's not ver<ry usefull anyways since no video, but weird.

There is also another exe, mKWDclean, what is this one doing?

[xator1]

Next thing to try is the cold method, but the link in your signature isnt good anymore, the knowledge base has changed place...

[xator1]

Can someone post the cold method without sending a link, cant find it on seagate's website.

[prairiedog]

Sorry, I see the page has moved when they merged forums.

Here's the webpage (link).  Make sure to download the right firmware for your region (United States, EMEA, etc).

1. Download the latest firmware update.
2. Connect a USB drive to your computer and copy the install.img file into the USB drive's root folder.
   Otherwise stated, save it directly onto the drive letter without creating an extra folder.
3. Unplug the GoFlex TV or FreeAgent Theater+ media player from power.
4. Safely remove the USB drive from your computer and insert it into one of the GoFlex TV's or FreeAgent Theater+'s USB ports.
5. Press and hold in the Reset button on the rear of the GoFlex TV or FreeAgent Theater+ next to the power outlet while simultaneously reconnecting the power cord to the back of the GoFlex TV or FreeAgent Theater+.
   (Refer to the GoFlex TV User Guide or the FreeAgent Theater+ User Guide for a more precise location of the Reset button.)
6. Continue to hold the Reset button until the Seagate logo appears on the TV. The Updating screen will then open. Wait until it finishes the update before using the GoFlex TV or FreeAgent Theater+.

[xator1]

So i did the cold method, used the US.zip from Seagate website.

Still no image, i tried the mkclean version of my file. Sound is DTS and plays well.

It still does'nt want to fast forward any faster than 2x, if i try 4x, the file stops playing, maybe that's normal, dunno.

BTW, this is a pretty lousy (slow) Kingston USB stick DT 101 G2 8Gb, maybe it's throughput is not enough? 

Is there a model of key, not too expensive that is known to be working without any problem on this device?

I'm willing to make this thing work, so keep ideas comming, thanx!