ok, so is it true to say that on wd tv live you ONLY get double thumbnails if you’re browsing a network share? If you’re using the library or a connected usb drive you’re fine?
Correct.
Wow - let me start by saying - thanks to all that have chimed in here - glad to see that I am not the only one going crazy with this - and there is hope for some sort of solution 
I have attempted to add jpgs as thumbnails but now the directory on my network share shows a jpg and a movie - but the thumbnail doesn’t view as the movie. Did I miss something?
What mode should I be using when viewing on the TV - List or Preview?
Or is there another step that I am supposed to take?
If you want to see thumnails, you’ll need to be in THUMBNAIL view. Neither Preview nor List will show them.
I am trying the playlist idea but I can’t seem to get the Playlist Creator app that you suggested to allow me to add .ISO files. Any idea what I could possible be doing wrong there?
You’ll have to go to “File Types” (in settings) and add a new file type (ISO) to the list and then make sure it’s active (note: I’m no expert in this program, I’m just looking at the settings tab and seeing how it should work).
I may be in the wrong place because I’m not sure if this is a forum that includes discussion about WDTV Live Plus. I am strongly considering returning mine after 2 days because of the lack of a media library for networked shares and am getting an error of “no media files in this directory” when I attempt to launch the playlist for iso files as described in this board. This function may have changed between models if you are describing how the WDTV Live works. With media files scattered across hard drives both internal and external between 3 computers around the house, I want to have one folder that displays thumbnails for all of my movies with the cover art that I choose. I have done it with an xbox1 using XBMC so I know it can be done but that 5 yr old console is on its last leg. Can this WD product be made to do that or should I probably return it and look elsewhere (other recommendations appreciated)?
Welcome to the forums.
No, you cannot do that with the Live Plus and you should return it for something that meets your needs.
(The reason you’re getting “Media not found” is that a playlist can only contain files from one such location, be it a single NAS, or a net share, or a local drive).
I hate to say this, but good luck finding something that does what you want (I don’t know of any media player that does, or doesn’t have other serious issues aside from this).
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Thanks for your honesty Mike!
That’s really too bad because I love the way it renders files once I track them down. (Great picture and sound quality!!) Having Netflix is a huge “plus” that makes this product hard to part with since x360 live access is a paid service that I never use for Rockband - the only game that gets played here on a regular basis. I don’t like paying MS to access a service that I am already paying Netflix and my ISP for. That being said, with over 3TB of media files between AVCHD home movies and my dvd collection I will just have to keep looking because trying to fit them all in 1 location is too time consuming/ expensive for my budget for a NAS or larger HDD after buying a WDTV and then still having to dig into that folder instead of being able to access it from a media library on the home screen. XBMC is probably a bad comparison for this device on my part as WDTV seems to have evolved from a usb media player that now has the ability to navigate your network and play media files once you locate them. (It also doesn’t yet have the ability to hide files with picture extensions unfortunately though the playlist workaround may work for some who have all their movie files in 1 location on the network) That’s definitely a step in the right direction towards being a full featured network media player and maybe I’ve been spoiled by a software hack on an outdated machine that was designed to do exactly what I want but takes up WAY too much space on my tv stand and lacks the gusto to render movies in stunning picture/ sound quality. Keep up the good work WD and I’ll look you up in a few years to see if you decided to take this product in the direction I’m looking for!
I’m not sure if you’ll be back to visit this thread or not, but I would like to say that I do agree with your request totally – the more I’ve thought about it, the more I think this is *exactly* what the Live should be doing.
If you do find a media player that can consolidate all your data I, for one, would appreciate knowing about it (you can PM me if you’d like or even email me at mike at kelleytown dot com) so that perhaps in the future I can advise folks better.
JGanes, you might consider using Twonky or some other Open Source Media Server SOFTWARE.
Run it on one of your PCs, configure it with al your locations, and it may do a better job of presenting your library in a consolidated fashion. Now, of course, Media Servers don’t usually support “advanced” formats like ISO, but you may find some middle-ground that satisfies you.
