X-Duration Values Are Larger Than Expected in Windows Media Server Log (281659)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Media Services 4.1
This article was previously published under Q281659

SYMPTOMS

In the Windows Media Server log file, you may see x-duration values that are larger than expected. For example, the duration value of 4,293,688 seconds in the following sample log file entry is equivalent to 49.7 days:

x.x.x.x 2001-01-21 18:06:04 client mms://x.x.x.x/asfroot 0 4293688 1 200 -
6.4.9.1109 en-US - - mplayer2.exe 6.4.9.1109 Windows_2000 5.0.0.2195
Pentium 0 490 5352 http TCP Windows_Media_Audio_V2 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 100 x.x.x.x server 731 11

The x-duration value may vary, but the value is always close to the maximum value of 4,294,967 seconds. The x-duration log field represents the number of seconds that content is played on the client.

CAUSE

A race condition exists in Windows Media Player 6.4 that causes it to send an incorrect x-duration value to the Windows Media Server.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix by clicking the download link later in this article or contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

DownloadDownload Wmsaddin.exe now

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Although this is a client-side problem, a server-side solution is required because (in most circumstances) it is impossible to control the version of the client used. A registry setting has been created to fix the problem on the server side. The registry setting essentially zeros out the x-duration field if the x-duration is larger than 4 million, and sc-bytes is equal to 0.
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate the following key in the registry:

    HKLM/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/Nsunicast/Parameters

    NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

  3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:

    Value Name: FixupXDurationValue Data Type: REG_DWORD Value: 0 or 1

  4. Quit Registry Editor.
By default, FixupXDurationValue is set to 0 (off). Set FixupXDurationValue to 1 to enable this option.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/23/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbdownload kbdownload kbbug kbfix kbQFE KB281659
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