OzziesMAC
Level 2 (164 points)
Desktops

Q: Why Does Library Go Missing? ATV 2

I have an ATV 2 with my media stored on an iMac running the latest Snow Leopard and iTunes.

Every so often when I go to look at the media in my library via the ATV it thinks my library is empty?

 

I simply unplug the APTV (since it does not have an off switch), and the plug it back in after 30 seconds.

This time when I look in my ATV it starts to load the library back onto itself and things are again back to normal.

 

Why does this happen, is it a known glitch, or  is there something that I might be doing that causes this?

AppleTV 2

Posted on Feb 3, 2012 8:59 AM

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OzziesMAC

Q: Why Does Library Go Missing? ATV 2

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  • by Alia2624,

    Alia2624 Alia2624 Feb 3, 2012 1:54 PM in response to OzziesMAC
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Feb 3, 2012 1:54 PM in response to OzziesMAC

    I noticed that happened to me, last night library went missing and when I checked on my computer all was fine

    I think this last update is nothing but problems

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Feb 3, 2012 3:25 PM in response to OzziesMAC
    Level 6 (19,583 points)
    Feb 3, 2012 3:25 PM in response to OzziesMAC

    I rarely see this problem.

     

    Things to consider:

     

    When you get this error AppleTV cannot find iTunes.

     

    It could be the computer has gone to sleep or not responded quickly enough.

     

    It could be loss of wi-fi connection due to interference or poor signal.

     

    Any new security software or firewalls?

     

    There's no simple answer to this I'm afraid.

     

    AC

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Feb 3, 2012 3:26 PM in response to Alley_Cat
    Level 6 (19,583 points)
    Feb 3, 2012 3:26 PM in response to Alley_Cat

    Try and eliminate possible causes:

     

    If computer set to sleep, disable this to test.

     

    If on wi-fi and you can run ethernet instead try it to rule out wi-fi dropping.

     

    etc

  • by OzziesMAC,

    OzziesMAC OzziesMAC Feb 4, 2012 8:00 AM in response to Alley_Cat
    Level 2 (164 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 4, 2012 8:00 AM in response to Alley_Cat

    I don't think it's not wi-fi dropping, since everything else that streams to the ATV seems to work, Radio, Movie Trailers, You Tube, ect.  Sleep Mode set to Off has been tried with no difference.  The only thing it does not load is the Media Library from iTunes sitting on the MAC.  I think the ATV is simply loosing coonection to the iMac and not the wi-fi.

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Feb 4, 2012 8:45 AM in response to OzziesMAC
    Level 6 (19,583 points)
    Feb 4, 2012 8:45 AM in response to OzziesMAC

    OzziesMAC wrote:

     

    I don't think it's not wi-fi dropping, since everything else that streams to the ATV seems to work, Radio, Movie Trailers, You Tube, ect. 

    Agree - sounds as though Apple TV wifi connection is ok.

     

    Could the iMac connection be dropping? Is it on wi-fi too?

     

    Are you saying you can never see the iTunes library under Computers properly?

     

    Any security software running? NetBarrier?

  • by OzziesMAC,

    OzziesMAC OzziesMAC Feb 4, 2012 8:50 AM in response to Alley_Cat
    Level 2 (164 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 4, 2012 8:50 AM in response to Alley_Cat

    The iMac is direct connect to ethernet and not on wifi.

    The library works normally as it should, but if I go a

    few days without using it it seems to loose its connection

    to the iMac library.  I am not sure if the ATV send the

    iTunes on the Mac a message to load it up, but I think

    this is where the error lies between the iMac and the ATV.

     

    No Barriers at all running either.

  • by Alley_Cat,Helpful

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Feb 4, 2012 8:59 AM in response to OzziesMAC
    Level 6 (19,583 points)
    Feb 4, 2012 8:59 AM in response to OzziesMAC

    OzziesMAC wrote:

     

    The iMac is direct connect to ethernet and not on wifi.

    The library works normally as it should, but if I go a

    few days without using it it seems to loose its connection

    to the iMac library.  I am not sure if the ATV send the

    iTunes on the Mac a message to load it up, but I think

    this is where the error lies between the iMac and the ATV.

     

    No Barriers at all running either.

    I think this is one of those spurious things where either AppleTV or iTunes cannot identify the other when there's been some transient disconnect between the two or a spurious things on the LAN that's hard to pin down (eg router giving a device a different IP without the AppleTV/itunes updating themselves to this change) - I rarely see it with AppleTV2, but if so a reboot usually cures it.  Saw it more with AppleTV 1 over wi-fi to be honest.

     

    Sorry no concrete answer for you as I don;t know exactly what's causing it, but you've done the troubleshooting for other things that could cause a similar problem.

     

    AC

  • by OzziesMAC,

    OzziesMAC OzziesMAC Feb 4, 2012 9:53 AM in response to Alley_Cat
    Level 2 (164 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 4, 2012 9:53 AM in response to Alley_Cat

    Thanks.

     

    The unplug for 30 seconds does fix it so I now power my ATV from a switch I can flip off and on without

    having to reach in the back of the equipment rack.  Basically my own ON & OFF switch for it as a work around

    till I can find the culprit.

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Feb 4, 2012 11:02 AM in response to OzziesMAC
    Level 6 (19,583 points)
    Feb 4, 2012 11:02 AM in response to OzziesMAC

    Hi

     

    In case you didn't know, you can reboot an AppleTV by holding menu and left arrow on renote together for 6 seconds.  Might save you fiddling with switches but sometimes a full power disconnect is useful for resetting things.

     

    AC

  • by Alley_Cat,

    Alley_Cat Alley_Cat Feb 4, 2012 11:03 AM in response to OzziesMAC
    Level 6 (19,583 points)
    Feb 4, 2012 11:03 AM in response to OzziesMAC

    If you do find the cause, do post back as I don't think we've ever established what causes this - it may be multifactorial but it's definitely annoying.

     

    AC

  • by OzziesMAC,

    OzziesMAC OzziesMAC Feb 4, 2012 2:17 PM in response to Alley_Cat
    Level 2 (164 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 4, 2012 2:17 PM in response to Alley_Cat

    Did not know this reboot procedure, will give it a try next time it can't find my library.

  • by Semisential?,

    Semisential? Semisential? Feb 4, 2012 2:42 PM in response to OzziesMAC
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2012 2:42 PM in response to OzziesMAC

    Hmmm.

     

    I've had the same problem for the last couple of days (after my config working perfectly for years). 

     

    In my case it's either the latest 10.7.3 lion update or the latest 7.6.1 airport update.  It's stopped my mac waking on network access when I turn the appleTV on.  I have to go and wake the Mac up.  And then sometimes also restart the ATV.

     

    Can anyone else confirm that these problems started happening after one of these updates?

  • by OzziesMAC,

    OzziesMAC OzziesMAC Feb 4, 2012 6:27 PM in response to Semisential?
    Level 2 (164 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 4, 2012 6:27 PM in response to Semisential?

    I can tell you I do not have lion. It running Snow Leopard and no recent updates here that affected it.  I do have an Airport Extreme as well but have not done any updates it it unless it did it on its own.  However I do agree with your thinking that the ATV is not communicating with the Mac either the Mac is not getting a signal from the ATV or the ATV is not sending one or it's being ignored but I do believe that is where the issue is also.

  • by acdeguzman,

    acdeguzman acdeguzman Feb 4, 2012 10:24 PM in response to Alley_Cat
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 4, 2012 10:24 PM in response to Alley_Cat

    Menu and down key worked for me: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3180

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