Since this is a new install - should I just uninstall on both computers start fresh? Reinstall the full version on the server using the network share and then install the portable version on the remote install? There are no playlist to be lost, have only built a couple test. In my day job I am a SysAdmin for a library. Sometimes a fresh start works... thoughts?
I'm not sure how you were able to interpret my advice to have one portable installation that you open from both locations as being advice to install two versions, but that was not my intent. As I said, the easiest way is to install MB portable to a network share on one computer and then open that same install on both computers using the network address as the shortcut.
As for the library, I don't know what you did to create duplicates, but you should probably start a new library. Just to be on the safe side, I will reiterate that this library should be on the network and opened on both computers using the network URL and that your music files / monitored folders etc should be referenced by network address not local directory location.
Frankz: I get it now, I thought you meant use the portable version only on the Shop computer - I was mistaken. My setup now works perfect! Thank you.
About the duplicates – I have no idea how I managed to do that, that problem is now gone…
For others that may be in my shoes later, this how I used your advice to fix my installs. I deleted MB on both computers – I left my music files in their original network share location.
I then installed MB Portable on my primary desktop – when MB suggested the “Music” folder as the install folder, I changed it by browsing to my network share (\\DESK01\MusicBee\) and installing it there. Then I went to \\DESK01\MusicBee\MusicBee\MusicBee.exe and right clicked on the MusicBee.exe and sent a shortcut to the desktop. Opening MB with that links works perfect. I added a couple test playlist so I could later test the Shop computer.
I then went to the Shop computer and navigated to the \\DESK01\MusicBee\MusicBee\MusicBee.exe network share, right clicked on the MusicBee.exe and sent a shortcut to the Shop computer desktop. Opening MB with that links works perfect – the playlist that I created earlier on the primary desktop were available on the shop computer. All artwork and play counts are there as well.
Thank you Frankz!