Microsoft Media Player redirection

Question

We have Windows 2008 R2 servers which install Media player 12 as part of the desktop experience.  I have not found any way to put on media player 10 or 11 on these machines  (not suprisingly) Unfortunately the vworkspace client only supports media player 10 which was created in 2004, replaced with media player 11 in 2006 the media playing does seem to work, but it stays on top the other IE windows and so you can't use the browser at all, you need to use a different browser. What this means is essentially a couple stupid little websites are about to cost me a $5k/month client so any suggestions or idea's at all are greatly appreciated.

DELL-Andrew W1 · Accepted Answer

Ok, I've just thought of a workaround for you that is easy to implement and easy to roll back if/when the root cause is resolved.

When I tested this in my lab, it only affected tabs within the same IE session.

So, surely we can just disable Tabs

In Tools | Internet Options

Click Settings on the tab section

Then uncheck "Enable Tabbed Browsing"

Got to be worth a go for $5k/month

DELL-Dennis D · Answer

Hi Mark,

Windows Server 2008 R2 uses microsoft native multimedia redirection instead of Quest MMR. When configuring the RDSH server you have to properly configure the Desktop Experiance to get advantage of microsoft native multimedia redirection. So there is no need to install Media Player 10 or 11 on a Windows 2008 R2 Server. Just leave it on the default version MP12.

- Dennis

markh21 · Answer

Hey andrew, its mark. The site was the ticket I opened this week and the enhancement request was put in for (bnn streaming site). Figured wouldn't hurt to ask the community too.

DELL-Andrew W1 · Answer

Hi Mark, Can you give me an example of a site where you see the issue and I'll see if I can find a way around it. Thanks, Andrew

markh21 · Answer

Correct, we do have the Desktop experience enabled, but running any webpages with the embedded media player through the quest RDP client stays on top.

If I use the standard RDP client, the site can't even stream the video so I know the quest is doing something wonderfull...just needs a "tweak"

Andrew - PS - ticket info was 880422...sorry, I was working on something else with you :O) All confused today..been a rough week.

DELL-Andrew W1 · Answer

Hi Mark, Yeah, to quote shaggy 'Wasn't me!' I do have an alternative for you though... What you *could* do is use the cool experimental feature 'Internet Explorer redirection' this should mean that all Websites will be opened in the local clients browser rather than on the 2008 R2 Server. This should nicely avoid the MMR issue. Thanks, Andrew.

DELL-Andrew W1 · Answer

In fact IE redirection isn't even experimental anymore in 7.2... So this could be a real solution for you P.S Thanks Michel

markh21 · Answer

In my environment we are publishing TS desktops to remove the users desktops from being anything but a thin client.

With IE redirection, would that cause all Ie links to open locally on their machine, including anything they try to save (ie, pdf files,etc)?

Obviously with a published desktop vs a published app, this would get confusing.

DELL-Andrew W1 · Answer

Yes, All IE links will then open on the Thin Client.

I guess that means you won't be able to use this option.. Unless your TC are joined to the Domain and the Users login with actual domain accounts - then you could have the TS and TCs are read/write files from the same user home drive by default...

Ok, Small chance, but it's worth checking

markh21 · Answer

Unfortunately no :O)

These are all remote clients connecting through the secure gateway. We could probably have them save the file locally and then upload the downloads over the RDP session.

Clumsy but possibly a last resort…

markh21 · Answer

Thanks Andrew.  At least its a workaround for the client. Her response 'well, I like to have everything in my tabs, but I guess this will have to do' B!#$%...

vWorkspace

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