RE: Share media files AND library with other users?

OK, I tried something, and I'm now wondering why this didn't work.

My idea to solve my problem was to create a symbolic link (using Vista's
mklink command) which I hoped would effectively clone my
CurrentDatabase_360.wmdb and place the clone in the other user's WMP library
folder IN PLACE OF their own CurrentDatabase_360.wmdb. I set up all the
necessary read (but not write) permissions on my CurrentDatabase_360.wmdb and
my music files, which should have allowed that other user to read the library
file AND the music files pointed at from the library.

But when I opened WMP in the other user's account, for some reason it wasn't
picking up and reading all the information from my own database... I'd
expected it would because I thought WMP would look at the local
CurrentDatabase_360.wmdb and be directed instead straight to my own
CurrentDatabase_360.wmdb, so that all *my* library information would be shown.

Any idea why this didn't work? WMP just showed the select few "samples"
that came with my Vista box.

Thanks,

Mike


"Mike B" wrote:

(I'm on Vista Ultimate.)

I can see that WMP 11 allows me to share my media files with others, but I'm
not sure it does exactly what I want.

What I want is for my media *library* to be shared with another user on the
*same* computer as well as the media files themselves... I'm not interested
in sharing across a network. I have set all my Music with the necessary read
permissions for other users to *read* my music files (but not edit them or
delete them). That allows them to play my music files, without the danger of
them wiping them out by accident. It allows them to build up their own
library including my music.

But what I really want is to share my actual *library* with other local
users, so that they can play my music *and* have the benefit of my library
information (not all information is stored in the files, since I am using
mainly AAC, with local WMP updates to add extra information which I think is
only stored in my library file).

What I don't really want to do is to put my library and files into the
Public folder, since I don't want them to be altered by others. The user I
have in mind is unlikely ever to want to add their own stuff or change
things... they don't have the necessary knowledge or inclination to do so...
I just want them to read what I have, and play stuff from my playlists.

Thanks,

Mike
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How can I make Windows Media Player play all tracks of a VCD?
    ... Music Files: Play with WMP; Explorer ... WMP" for both "Music Files" and "Video Files" and it did not help. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsmedia.player)
  • Problem Uploading Music Files to WMP
    ... WMP will not upload the owned music files ... When I click on an individual song, ... The play button remains grayed, ... How can I get my music to play on WMP. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsmedia.player)
  • Re: Library management in Windows Media Player 11
    ... Is there any way to have mulitple versions of WMP ... Remember that advanced users don't fall ... In Windows Media Player 10 you could take a directory ... for a to add music files to the library is either via playing them or by ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsmedia)
  • Re: Locking down XP for WMP-only usage
    ... user-friendly controls, customized graphics, etc. ... >Windows Media Player: WMP mini FAQ ... >| 1) Nothing except music files responded to by XP or WMP. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Locking down XP for WMP-only usage
    ... >1) Nothing except music files responded to by XP or WMP. ... >when a movie DVD or software disk is inserted by mistake. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)