The software IS version 540....I jist checked it again. It's a fairly recent upgrade from tivo. As to how often it happens.....every time I've tried it I get the first track to play and then it crashes. On the jpegs, the first one will not even play. This is very consistant. Through all my diagnostic efforts, I've tried both perhaps 15-20 times. I can't figure out how to paste an image here (can it be done?) or I'd post the MC Tivo server log. I'll type the relevant portion....
13:49:49- Starting...
13:49:49-Trying Port 8070
13:49:49-Checking TiVo Beacon Installation
13:49:49-Connecting to Beacon
13:49:49-Running on Port 8070
13:53:31-Warning: Bad URL argument (container) Details=Basic
(this entry repeats 6-7 times, for 15-20 seconds before the next entry)
13:53:50- Browsing File: D:\Music\Susana Baca-AfroBlue.mp3
13:53:54-Sharing (without conversion): D:\Music\Susana Baca-Afro Blue.mp3
(track is now starting play)
13:56:27- Warning: Bad URL argument(container) Details=Optimal
(this appears when the next track cues up)
I haven't taken a screen shot of the log when I try to view a jpeg, but as I recall it's similar. Note that the "bad url argument" message appears several times before the first track even begins playing.....and that upon trying to play the second track, "details=Basic" changes to "details=optimal".
Before I upgraded to MC12, I had been using MC10, and had listened to literally hours of mp3's via tivo...sometimes letting it run all day, with seldom a glitch. I also was able to view slide shows consisting of 200-300 images while skipping around the menus with few crashes. After upgrading to 12, the problem began (this was before the tivo software upgrade)....and in some intermediate version of 12 it began working again albeit, not without the occasional crash. I have kept current with the MC12 upgrades, and the tivo upgrade happened maybe 3 weeks ago....so I can't pin down when and which change brought the problem back.
My connection to tivo is via ethernet cat5 cable...about 30 feet, through a Belkin router with firewall enabled. This config is as it has always been. I did try changing IP and MAC addresses on the router with no improvement. My internet cable connection (comcast) feeds the router and is in turn routed to tivo and computer. There are no other systems on the network. My mp3's reside on my D drive (internal), 200g about half full. My image files are on C drive, also 200g half full.
This is getting pretty long-winded and I can't think of anything else that might relate....let me know if I can offer anything further. And thanks, John, for your attention.