I am just posting a little fix to a problem I had with the XBOX, my wireless network and windows home server. I install a large number of computers through re-builds, tests , multiple OS’s , virtual machines and other things. these are mainly windows boxes and are prone to being removed, re-instated, tested , broken etc. All of them get added to windows home server at some point for file access, backup, and so I can administer them from the internet.

Recently I bought a new XBOX and when I went to stream media to it, there was no sign of the Videos share. Anywhere. At all.

Generally I normally re-boot the router, renew IP addresses, etc. No Joy.

I had forgotten. Windows Home Server has a 10 user limit. I had reached this. Even though the machines no longer exist it remembered. Oddly enough it does not tell you this.

So if you have this problem , please consult this knowledgebase article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939217

Extract from the KB

“This issue occurs if more than 10 devices try to access the shared media folder through Media Library Sharing.
Media Library Sharing in Windows Home Server has a 10-device limit. You may experience a situation in which this limit is exceeded. For example, another user may connect to the network by using a computer that is running Windows Media Player 11. If Windows Media Player has media discovery enabled, this computer may be counted as a device in Windows Home Server.”

Generally you need to un share and re-share the media. Then re-boot the receiving device. Personally I had to re-boot everything , including the NetGear router in the house as well.

So I came back after a weekend away and set about heading to digital distribution services to pick up a cheap copy of the game, i.e. Steam.

So what I found shocked me. Games on Steam are more expensive than they are in the shops. example modern warfare 2. Attached result from the cheapest place I thought I can get it and the most expensive, Steam and Amazon in that order. Click to embiggen.

I also then checked the price of Crysis as well, specifically the pack with all the add-ons and new levels.  Also click to embiggen.

Now, even with the conversion to Euro and Shipment to Ireland, this works out cheaper. Now, listen carefully, if sit on my backside in front of the computer and buy the game, and don’t pirate , or don’t burn petrol, or in the case of some of the local game shops, patience, the game costs me more.

A good bit more.

Maybe I am late in on the game, but I was really sure that it was the other way around. Hell, Crysis is a tenner on the local game store. how stupid have we become that this is not stamped out immediately. After listening to all the piracy stuff and how digital is becoming the new way to get things I am confronted with this monumental travesty.

PC games are hard enough to configure, install , patch etc without being more expensive than console counterparts.

Industry, stop taking the f’ing piss.

Thoughts ?

Knowing Windows 7 has a great desktop wallpaper feature where you can have a stack of wallpaper and change them at will I set off downloading them to my machine.

Then right Click on your desktop and select Personalise.

Open the pictures folder and the Personalisation tab side by side

Now, right click any picture and select “Set as desktop background”.

A new “Unsaved theme” will appear.

Select the “Desktop background” option highlighted here in red.

Windows 7 at this point, having a complete degree from the University of Smartarse, will have the folder open where you originally selected the first image.

Select the pictures you want in the slideshow , choose Fill as the Picture position and pick a time you want the pictures to change. i have highlighted the sections below.

You can also drag other files from other folders in there as well, drag and drop applies.

Click “Save changes”.

A new theme will appear, right click on it and pick the option you want.

Save the theme for yourself, or make a theme out of pic’s of embarrassing nights out and send it to your friends.

Here is the theme I created.

Here is what my desktop looks like

high res version