Problem... Not solved... Yet?
Same problem here. I was using the free Microsoft Security Essentials and it will not work with 5.4.5.0. What is strange though, if I uninstall MS Security Essentials it works fine. Go figure MS to block media player from playing ISO. Version 5.4.4.0 works fine with security essentials.
Did this topic just die in the water? I am pretty surprised because I believe it's still a very real and relevant issue. I have been having numerous problems playing .iso files from my NAS lately. Files that worked just fine in the past without issues at all. I even went so far as to upgrade my NAS server (which I was happy to have a reason to do mind you), because I thought it was dying on me. But to no avail.
I googled and searched forums about issues playing iso's over the network and found hundreds of "solutions" ranging from registry settings to using ubuntu os instead of windows... But as it turns out ChopChop was dead on the money with the MS Security Essentials / VCD 5.4.5.0 conflict.
It IS the problem, 100%.
I tried 5 different .iso files from the server while running MS Security Essentials, they all were problematic... They all mounted fine, but would not play properly. Either complete black locked up screen. Or Freezing on the menus, or not making it past warning messages. And sometimes if it made it to the menu, the menu would play through each of the menu screens automatically moving from title to scene selection, but not allowing Remote input.
I removed Microsoft Security Essentials and EVERY .iso worked fine after... As if I stuck the DVD itself in the drive. I reinstalled Microsoft Security and all problems returned. As an additional test, I copied a couple .iso files to the local drive and they worked fine with and without Microsoft Security.
So the definite issue is cause by a mix of:
Virtual Clone Drive 5.4.5.0
Microsoft Security Essentials
iso files stored on NAS
Windows based DVD player (WMC or WMP) as per "edit" below.
Since I don't think Microsoft will make a fix to work around Virtual Clone Drive, and I don't think storing 7TB locally on each Media PC in the house is going to happen. It would seem like the solution would need to happen in a patch to Virtual Clone Drive.
Is that coming anytime soon?
In the meantime I will go back to Avast! And see if that works a little better with Virtual Clone Drive (which is a great product aside from all this business here)
Thanks!
Edit: On another PC in my house i attempted this same thing with similar results with Windows Media Center and Windows Media Player...
BUT...
This PC also had a trial version of PowerDVD on it and it actually would play the iso correctly, even with Microsoft Security installed... So the Criteria for failure above seems to also include either of the included windows DVD players... Maybe it's how they interact with Microsoft Security... Hmmm a little "big brother" action happening maybe?
Either way, on PC1 I removed Microsoft Security and went to AVG Free 2013 (unchecking all the miscellaneous bells and whistles BS of course) and it seemed to solve the problem there... So that will be my solution for the remaining PC's in the house.