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

Anonymous

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.

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Anonymous

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:

Closed WMP12.
Go to Services [Control Panel->System and Security->Administrative Tools->Services]
Locate the service with name 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service'
Stop the Service manually.
Locate the service 'UpnP Device Host'. Stop the service and start it again.
Start 'Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service' now.
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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64 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-11-10T06:47:53+00:00

It worked aftet a few restarts and then i would have to do it again. Eventually it stopped working all together.

I just hardwire direct to the tv now. Not as cool as wifi streaming but it gets the job done

Thanks for that Phill087

What a pity Microsoft can't sort this problem. having all my music on the laptop and streaming to my audio system was a joy while it lasted. It's one of the reasons I kept Windows 7 as I don't believe Windows 10 has the 'Play To' option.

I suppose I'll have to go with a wire like you. If you (or anyone) ever find a permanent fix for this I would be grateful to hear of it.

David
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Anonymous

2015-11-10T02:47:22+00:00

It worked aftet a few restarts and then i would have to do it again. Eventually it stopped working all together.

I just hardwire direct to the tv now. Not as cool as wifi streaming but it gets the job done
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Anonymous

2015-11-09T17:09:28+00:00

I'd be interested to hear if your "this really did work" comment still applies after restarting your PC, or did you, like me, have to go through the whole procedure again to get streaming started.

david
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Anonymous

2015-11-09T00:40:23+00:00

Thanks, this really did work.

Was spending hours trying to sort this out, but nothing worked - practically gave up until I read your advice.

Makes sense, it just needed to reboot/reset the Windows media settings.

Does help if you know where to look in the hidden depths of Windows.
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