windows 7 and media sharing on my Dell

[mackbig]

I have a new blu ray that will play media from any network computer/dlna device.  I saw my dell listed on the menu, with my mac, vuze, and two nas's.  I have been playing stuff from the other devices since xmas.  Last night I tried connecting to the dell, no luck.  It said trouble starting server.  Also, the name listed on the menu just said dell with mac id, did not show the "share" name I chose in media streaming setup.   I quintuple + checked the share settings. All look good. I even went up and replicated on the Acer pc. The acer worked instantly.  Out of idea's I called Dell since I got the super extended bumper to bumper warranty.  After painfully trying to explain to first tech support, they flipped me over to "software" support. After another round of explanations, they said my warranty does not cover "software".  for $130 they will help me fix one time, for two something I will get a year.  No thanks.  I dont "need" this to work, but want it to work.

So any ideas?  I have tried wired, wireless, firewall off/on.   Very strange.  I wish there was a "reset share options" button, so I could try starting from scratch.

Thanks
Andrew

[dasman]

Hi Andrew,

I had a thread (http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=13364.0) earlier about my VWS software and GR3, not uploading correctly to the internet.  In fact I think you commented in it once or twice. Like you, it was a new computer, though not a dell.  What I did not mention in that thread, was that my media sharing was acting goofy.  I did not mention it since like you I don't need it, I would just like to have it.  I too turned off firewalls, quintuple checked media sharing settings, and spent hours talking to customer support.  Larry at neondesert suggested it was a conflict with the bloat ware that HP (dell in your case) installed.  Since I was going to wipe the HD clean and start over, I decided to uninstall everything that had anything to do with HP.  I also deleted anything I didn't recognise.

That did the trick.  VWS works perfectly, GR3 works perfectly, and media share works perfectly.  Larry was right, bloatware some how screws stuff up.  Just turning the bloat ware stuff off did not work.  It was only after it was uninstalled!  No promises but if you have not tried this you may want to give it a try.

Dave

[mackbig]

Thanks Dave.

I will check out the Dell bloat.  Funny you mention HP, was going to try my daughter's netbook, but its window's starter, so not really an apples to apples compare.

I was starting to wonder if it had to do with Homegroups.  The acer (aka weather pc) is the "owner" of the homegroup and it works fine.   I even wonder if only the main pc could be the streamer, but that would be dumb.  Dont know why I am spending all this time troubleshooting this.  100% of my streaming is coming from my NAS and vuze on the mac.   Still its one of those should works, but doesnt scenario.....

Andrew

[mackbig]

Got a call from Dell last night.  They were following up on my trouble ticket from the weekend.  "I want to fix your issue you raised on the weekend".  Ok, that's cool.   After some hard to understand ESL explanations, he asked if I was near my computer.  I said I could go downstairs and get it.  He asked if we could proceed, with a "one time resolution". ??? Ok.  "we can for much lower cost than previously quoted" ??? "for $79.99 we will fix it now, can we proceed"  Nope.  "let me talk to my manager" ............... "ok for $49.99 we will fix your issue"  No thanks, bye...

Anyway, upstairs I had my Acer (wx station) my Dell, and the HP netbook.   The dell and HP can see the Acer in WMP.  Tried a bunch of things.  For a moment the Dell showed up.  I then changed the "name your library" and then it disappeared. hmmmm.   I then changed the "name your library" on the Acer, it then disappeared from the others.  ugh.  Something odd about Homegroups or something.  All three can see each other from a file sharing point of view, its just the networked devices and computers cant see from a streaming point of view... 

Oh well, Vuze on the mac, and my NAS always show up and that's where my video media is stored.   And I have itunes hooked up to several AirPorts, so I am good on the music side of things. 

Andrew

[dasman]

Don't you love "for a one time fee"?

Did you remove the bloatware from the Dell?

Dave

[mackbig]

I somehow fixed it, or it fluked.

I turned off media streaming on the dell.   Opened services, stopped the "windows media player network sharing service"  The turned on streaming from media player.  I also changed the service to Automatic from automatic (delayed).

Not sure why this worked, when tons of reboots had no effect.  Of course had to do same thing to Acer as well, it was the one that was working a few days ago.   Which again brings be back to the Homegroup theory, and the "master" pc was the bottleneck.

I dont know, but at least its works now.   And I know a little more about troubleshooting this service. I convinced my dad to get the same blu ray player, and his only network source will be a windows 7 pc, but that's the only pc on his network.

Andrew

[MoradaWx]

Dell support sucks IMHO! My last Dell had an issue, 3 years ago?, and I was on the phone for 5 hours...... I finally asked at one point how many people the service tech was helping at the same time, he answered 3 and he was in India.... Last Dell I looked at, have been with HP since, never did fix the dell, think it went to the land fill after I striped it because they didn't recycle them back then.

Rick

[mackbig]

5 hours is pretty extreme, that would suck. I have only had to call Dell twice, and cant say the waits or overall service werent good.  I fried my speakers on the XPS a few months after I got it.  I guess the "JBL Sound System" wasnt up to being cranked pretty high for an imprompto dance comp with the kids.  Anyway 5 minute call, 1 day for parts ship from Texas, and techie on site the next day.

Even in this case, I only waited a few minutes on a Saturday.  And obviously their software support guys arent too busy (cause of the fee) if they have time for follow up call outs, and offereing 60% "discounts"

I just ass u me'd that OS was covered under my bumper to bumper extended warranty.  My Dad had a Dell desktop years ago, and I recall he had issues, and they remoted into his pc changed a bunch of settings prior to sending a tech to fix an OS issue.  And that was a lower line PC, not an XPS.  I know now.

Looks like HP is still in the PC business for now... hopefully that doesnt change again.

Andrew