Update for Windows Home Server Released Today

By on November 25, 2008 in Windows Home Server

As mentioned over the weekend, Microsoft today released an update for Windows Home Server which provides fixes for a number of reported issues with home computer backup and remote access, including the notorious “79%” problem.

Details as follows, from KB 957825:

This update improves the interaction between home computers that are running Windows Vista and a Windows Home Server-based system when you copy files or folders to a shared folder. Other storage-related improvements are included to address specific issues that are listed in the “More Information” section. Additionally, this update resolves certain issues that may occur when you restore files and folders from Windows Home Server. The update also improves the search functionality when you use remote access.

Shared Folders and Server Storage

Issue 1

Before this update is installed, the ability to copy large files or folders from a home computer that is running Windows Vista to a shared folder on the home server is limited by the free space on the primary hard disk drive of the Windows Home Server-based system. After this update is installed, the file size is limited to the free space on the target hard disk drives that are connected to the home server.

Issue 2

Sometimes, Windows Home Server generates lots of notification messages about the files that are stored in shared folders. These notifications may cause high CPU utilization on the home server for applications that are accessing these files. This behavior causes slow performance on the home server. After this update is installed, applications such as the Microsoft Zune software, that may be running at the same time, no longer consume excessive processor resources.

Issue 3

Under certain conditions, Windows Home Server disables duplication on shared folders after a new user account is created. After this update is installed, creation of user accounts no longer affects the status of shared folder duplication.

Home Computer Backup

When you restore files and folders from a Home Computer Backup, the Home Computer Backup process may stop when it is 79 percent complete. This update provides new functionality to help prevent this issue.

Home Server Backup

Some issues may occur when you restore files and folders from a Home Server Backup on an external hard disk drive to the software shared folder on a Windows Home Server-based system. This update adds functionality to prevent the unintended restoration of older versions of the Windows Home Server Connector software from overwriting newer versions of the files.

Remote Access

When you use the search functionality on the Remote Access Shared Folders tab to perform a search that includes accented characters, such as ã or ó, you may receive the following Web page error:

Windows Home Server Remote Access has encountered an error.

This update lets you use accented characters with the Remote Access search.

How to obtain this update

If the Automatic Updates feature is enabled on your home server, the update will be downloaded automatically to your Windows Home Server-based system through Windows Update. Or, in the Windows Home Server Console, you can click Update Now on the General page of your home server Settings page.

Prerequisites

To apply this update, you must have the latest version of Windows Home Server Connector installed on the home computer.

Preinstallation requirement

Before you install this update, make sure that you are not running home computer backup.

Restart requirement

After you apply this update, you do not have to restart the computer.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other previously released updates.

More Info: Microsoft Knowledge Base


Enjoyed this post? Share it.

If you enjoyed reading this post, then why not share it with your friends and followers?

About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
View all posts by Terry Walsh →

Sign Up for WGS Daily News

If you don't want to miss out on the latest news from We Got Served, why not subscribe to our daily digest? You'll get the day's headlines and a short summary of each news item delivered straight to your inbox each morning.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • john

    is anybody else having problems updating the connector software on the clients???

  • http://www.texashomeserver.com ben

    From another forum :

    There seems to be a problem with the Connector upgrade (at least there was for me). I also tried to upgrade the Connector software and it didn’t work for me either. I had the exact same error as you did. It appears to be trying to run WHSConnectorIntall.exe (either through the systray icon or through http://server:55000/). However, that doesn’t work unless you uninstall the old version first (which that exe file doesn’t do). You need to go to the \\[servername]\Software\Home Server Connector Software folder and run setup.exe, which will uninstall the old version automatically, then install the new version (or uninstall the old version yourself, then run WHSConnectorInstall.exe from one of the above methods).

  • mdelprin

    Even this method does not work for me. I run setup.exe from the \\servername\Home Server Software\Home Server Connector Software. It will unisintall the existing version on my PCs and re-install the software. However, the connector software immediately informs me that there is an upgrade available but it fails to install it.

  • Elmstrom

    Hmmm, that updatet fried our WHS, it was working 2 days ago, and now it just boots in to black screen…

  • Jeremy

    My server was going to a black screen a couple of weeks ago before the update. I found it was the external USB drive. I have to turn off the external drive until the OS starts loading.

  • GaryLW

    I am having all the problems described above! I cannot “upgrade” the Connector software. Reinstalling it just says a new version is available. (So the connector and backup functions are down.) Plus I have to actually remove USB storage or the server keeps randomly crashing with no explanation in the Event Viewer. Does anyone know what’s happening? Or how to remove the new update without reinstalling?

  • GaryLW

    Forgot… Is there a new connector software or not? I didn’t find any on the web OR my computer.

  • Paul

    Update worked okay for me. It installed and rebooted and then updated the clients. They all needed to be rebooted to complete the install.

    I’ve had the black screen in the past with USB drives attached. I had to change the boot order in the BIOS. For some reason it changes itself sometimes.

  • GaryLW

    To Dave:
    What is the folder name where you keep your Connector software? I changed the location of mine and I wonder if the new update is looking for it in a specific folder. You’re the “Go To”-man since you got it working.

    Also, I’m seeing “Schannel” and “SSL” errors in the Event viewer (although the times don’t coincide with the crashes). Does anyone know what they mean?

  • http://www.freedomsystems.co.uk A. Haines

    Also, I’m seeing “Schannel” and “SSL” errors in the Event viewer (although the times don’t coincide with the crashes). Does anyone know what they mean?

    I am having these errors also, reported them on the previous notice about this update. They seem to be to do with the SSL for remote access to the server over the net. I presume this because now I CAN NOT remotely access the machine, which is a big pain. I am also getting a new service failure at startup.

  • Mark N

    I did the update from the console, and let the server restart. The WHS monitor tray icon went gray… server rebooted, tray icon remained gray, never came back to green. Clicked Exit on the tray icon..

    Navigated to:

    \\servername\Software\Home Server Connector Software

    Noted that WHSConnector.MSI now has a date of 31/10/2008… previously I believe that the date was 10/07/2008

    Ran WHSConnectorInstall.exe and let it finish the install… succesfully got to the console.

    Ran the tray icon it came back green this time..

    So seems like everything is fine so far….

  • Stenton23

    Strange; I was notified that a restart was required. Not a big deal, since everything looked fine afterward.

    Had to right-click on the WHS try icon on my connected machines to access the server; the icon turned blue and a notification message said “Updating the Connector software.” After about a minute or so, everything seemed fine.

  • Fan

    Originally Posted By mdelprinEven this method does not work for me. I run setup.exe from the \servernameHome Server SoftwareHome Server Connector Software. It will unisintall the existing version on my PCs and re-install the software. However, the connector software immediately informs me that there is an upgrade available but it fails to install it.

    If you moved or renamed the folder for “Home Server Connector Software”, you will have issue upgrading your client.

    I’d recommend that you move the folder back to \servername\Software\Home Server Connector Software, uninstall the update, and re-install again.

  • mdelprin

    @mdelprin -

    Ok. So I moved my connector software back to “\\servername\software
    home server connector software” and un installed/re-installed the update. I then manually reinstalled the connectors by running setup.exe from the connectors software folder and everything works fine.

  • Fan

    @mdelprin -

    If you moved or renamed the folder for “Home Server Connector Software”, you will have issue upgrading your client.

    I’d recommend that you move the folder back to \servername\Software\Home Server Connector Software, uninstall the update, and re-install again.

  • Dave

    Hmmz, seems like the connector auto upgrade worked with me. I got the Shared Folders on Server icon back on my desktop (normally trow it away and make mappings). Ill try and reboot it to see if anything happens :-)

  • http://connectedcommuter.com Sean S.

    I’m also having an issue but with Windows Media Connect. When I log into my server via RDP I get an error says Windows Media Connect needs to close. The error keeps popping up every time I close the message.

    This may be because I’ve upgraded the Windows Media Player to version 11 so I could stream to my PS3. I guess Microsoft wouldn’t both testing for that since your only supposed to have WMP10 on there.

    -Sean

  • Dave

    Well the 79% is cured but it fails at 81% now and that’s on three PCs

  • Laurie

    I had the same connector issues as above, but sorted it by using the 31/10/2008 Setup file in the connector software folder.

    Problem I have now is that in both Remote Desktop mode to the server and via the WHS connector from a client, the Console fails to open with a message:
    The console cannot open because the following file is blocking it: HomeServerConsoleTab.DiskMgt.dll

    If I could get into the console I would uninstall DiskMgt..hmmmm

    Any ideas?

  • bruce

    Hi
    I am having problems with the connector software as well .I have tried installing the connector software from \servername\Software\Home Server Connector Software but after it installs i get the message that the connector needs updateing .Can any one tell me where or if i can download the connector software from microsoft or if any one is willing to send me a copy.Many thanks
    Bruce

  • Marius

    Same problem here. I indeed changed the location of the original connector directory, and after I corrected it it did install the update (it says) but after this it keeps on asking for an update in the tray icon.

  • deadMoney

    Same problem here too.
    I also moved the folder. I have since given up and moved it back. However my connector setup is dated 7/12/2008. I too can get it to install (manually) but once it’s done, it tells me there is an update but fails to install. Where can we find the latest install file(s)?
    This has always been an annoying bug for me with WHS. I do hope they shore this one up a little better soon.

  • bruce

    Hi
    I have managed to fix my connector by deleting all the files in the connector folder and replacing them with new files from the whs folder .I copied over the connector install assistant.cmd and .exe and the connector un-install assistant .cmd and exe as well as the 3 whs connector files .I ran the connector install assistant.exe (from the whs pc)and then un-istalled the whs connector from the other pc and installed the connector software again .It worked .
    I hope this helps
    Bruce

  • Marius

    Hello Bruce,

    I don’t quite follow you. Can you add a little more details to your steps please.

    Marius

  • Marius

    Done it, thanks for the tip Bruce!!

    Marius

  • Kyle

    @john – yes i am… i can get to everything on my home network but it’s giving me problems when I’m trying to upgrade to the new connector software