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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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!

Was this answer helpful?

70+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

64 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-04-05T12:17:32+00:00

    Many, many thanks. I have spent four days trying resolve this problem with rubbish help from my ISP provider, your artical solved it for me in two minutes.

    Regards TSF

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-04-01T23:23:10+00:00

    Hi GAB1,

    Did you fix your problem on Denon AVR 1912? I still have the same problem as you...

    Thanks in advance,

    Robert

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-03-09T06:08:19+00:00

    Great post.............fixed my issue as well.  Only wish I had only spent 5 hours.  Cheers.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-02-22T09:35:49+00:00

    Worked the second time for me after I closed the windows that weren't originally working. Great help thank you

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments