Windows 7: WMP "Play to" conundrum.

I have two computers - a Desktop and a Laptop - running Win 7 Ultimate behind a Linksys WRT54GL router.

I'm trying to get the "play to" feature to work so I can stream videos and music to the laptop from the desktop with all the storage space.

Both computers are members of the home group. File and printer sharing works in both directions on both computers. I've configured all the streaming and sharing settings - basically, both computers use the same Videos/Music/Pictures folders on the Desktop as local libraries. On both computers, I've selected "Automatically allow devices to play my media..." as well as "Alllow remote control of my player..." (Interestingly enough, WMC and Explorer on the Laptop uses all the Desktop's folders as the music/video/picture libraries and it works seamlessly.)

But, when I try to use the play-to feature on the Desktop, the Laptop is detected and the play-to window opens up, but hangs at "contacting media server" and just sits there for ever and ever.

Interestingly enough, the one media file that is on the Laptop - the sample nature video I'm sure we've all had - will play-to from the Laptop to the Desktop. It works fine in reverse!

To make it even stranger, the Laptop currently has no antivirus or firewall software installed, except for the built-in Windows firewall. The Desktop has Comodo Internet Security suite installed. You would think the sharing problem would be the other way around....

Can someone tell me what I'm missing?



EDIT: Here's a list of all the tutorials I've followed step-by-step, in case anyone wants to refer me to official documentation:

• Getting Started With Windows Media Player
• Stream your media to devices and computers using Windows Media Player
• Add a device or computer to the network
• Change settings for streaming media in Windows Media Player
• Using the Play To feature to stream media

It could be that comodo internet security is blocking some outbound connections but accepting inbound ones. Configure it properly! I would actually suggest sticking with windows firewall. Third party applications are usually not as high performance or integrated as the ones that come with windows but that's just me

btw, nice picture!!

WMP is whitelisted. Besides, most firewalls concentrate on Inbound, not outbound connections.

Just to eliminate the possibility, I did disable the Comodo firewall and try again, and the problem remains.

Make sure that in the laptop homegroup options, that allowing streaming is enabled. If it is disabled, it could stream from the desktop but not the other way around
I know you said that you did this already, but just confirm it.

I checked, and all looks well.

I ran the homegroup troubleshooter while I was there, and now instead of the Desktop hanging at "connecting to media server", I get an error message: "Failed to retrieve media information from the media server."

Just to be clear:

Laptop -> play to -> Desktop --------------- Works like a charm
Desktop -> play to -> Laptop ----------------Fails

Im sorry that I cannot assist you right now. If I find any information about the play to feature and how to troubleshoot, I'll be sure to let you know!!

Thanks anyways.

I'd just like to add for anyone else:

Since I ran the homegroup troubleshooter on both computers, I can no longer use play-to from the laptop to the desktop.

While the error message I mentioned before went away, now both computers hang at "contacting media server".

After going through all the how-to's I listed above two additional times (on each computer) and changing no settings, I rebooted both computers and everything worked in both directions.

After using Linux for a couple years, I forgot that reboots were necessary when changes like that were made.

Anyways, problem solved.