Media Player Play To Error "Failed to retrieve media Information from media server"

Anonymous
2011-08-04T04:55:28+00:00

I have a Denon AVR 1912 receiver and a PC running Windows 7 w/WMP12.  When I try to use the "play to" feature I can select the receiver but get an error "Failed to retrieve media Information from media server."

I have tried to re-install WMP 12 and have tried disabling my firewall with no success.  Airplay works fine, but I prefer WMP to I-Tunes.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2011-09-09T16:43:54+00:00

The content is on the same computer.  Streaming is enabled and the receiver is "allowed." 

I am not sure if this is solved or not...but I found the solution last night after I spent the most frustrating 5 hours of my life! This is surely a windows problem. I recently replaced my HP laptop with a Dell Vostro 3450 and I suddenly found that 'Play To' feature wasn't working with my Samsung LED TV UA55C8000 .To confirm that it wasn't a firewall or format related issue I even used Samsung PC Share software on my PC to act as the DLNA server...With PC share as the server WMP12 didnt find any problems 'Contacting the Media Server' ...but with its own library it just remained stuck there, with an eventual failure message. [Point to be noted was that even when it failed to contact the media server, I could control the TV volume using the same window!]

This is what did the trick for me:

  1. Closed WMP12.
  2. Go to Services [Control Panel->System and Security->Administrative Tools->Services]
  3. Locate the service with name 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service'
  4. Stop the Service manually.
  5. Locate the service 'UpnP Device Host'. Stop the service and start it again.
  6. Start 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service' now.
  7. Close control panel and all associated windows. Open Windows Media Player...right click on a playlist and see if PlayTo option lists the TV. Try playing now...it started playing for me at this stage!

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-08-04T19:22:11+00:00

    Where is the content located that you are trying to stream?

    Is it on the same computer?

    Make sure that  streaming is enabled.

    You can refer the link.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Getting-started-with-media-streaming

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-10-05T12:18:43+00:00

    The content is on the same computer.  Streaming is enabled and the receiver is "allowed." 

    I am not sure if this is solved or not...but I found the solution last night after I spent the most frustrating 5 hours of my life! This is surely a windows problem. I recently replaced my HP laptop with a Dell Vostro 3450 and I suddenly found that 'Play To' feature wasn't working with my Samsung LED TV UA55C8000 .To confirm that it wasn't a firewall or format related issue I even used Samsung PC Share software on my PC to act as the DLNA server...With PC share as the server WMP12 didnt find any problems 'Contacting the Media Server' ...but with its own library it just remained stuck there, with an eventual failure message. [Point to be noted was that even when it failed to contact the media server, I could control the TV volume using the same window!]

    This is what did the trick for me:

    1. Closed WMP12.
    2. Go to Services [Control Panel->System and Security->Administrative Tools->Services]
    3. Locate the service with name 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service'
    4. Stop the Service manually.
    5. Locate the service 'UpnP Device Host'. Stop the service and start it again.
    6. Start 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service' now.
    7. Close control panel and all associated windows. Open Windows Media Player...right click on a playlist and see if PlayTo option lists the TV. Try playing now...it started playing for me at this stage!

    You are GURU mate. Thanks

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-12T07:18:08+00:00

    Hi,

    I've exactly the same problem with a Iomega ScreenPlay DX. On a fresh reboot, it requires the exact same service re-starting process in order to use Play To. It is not as if WMP it doesn't see the device, just times out when sending the file.

    To repeat the steps are:

    1. Restart computer, log in etc.
    2. Try the play to feature in WMP, it sees the device but times out sending to it
    3. Close WMP, Stop Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
    4. Restart UPnP service
    5. Start Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
    6. Open WMP, Play To feature now works

    Have any MVP's seen this problem?

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-08-04T21:49:02+00:00

    The content is on the same computer.  Streaming is enabled and the receiver is "allowed."

    Was this answer helpful?

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