How to Share Media Libraries in Windows 10?

Question

I have four Windows 10 Machines, (Surface 3, two HP laptops, and HP z840 workstation).  My workstation has provided access to "Music" library sometime in the past (probably Windows 7) and later in HomeGroup until it was removed from the OS.  That "Library" is still accessible via Windows Media Player on other PCs on my home LAN, AND IT IS ACCESSIBLE FROM NON-PC MEDIA PLAYERS LIKE BLU-RAY PLAYERS, HOME THEATER MEDIA RECEIVER / AMP, AND "SMART" TVs.

From one of the laptops that had previously shared it's "Music" library so that it could be accessed from other PCs and non-PC media players, the Music library is no longer visible or accessible from any other PC or media player.  I compared the streaming options from Media Player and control panel, the sharing settings from Properties for Library and folder objects, the security settings and principals, looked in the registry for conflicts / differences between the workstation and laptop and found no differences.  Additionally I have:

1. Uninstalled / reinstalled Windows Media Player on the laptop.
2. checked that the services - Function Discovery Provider Host, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery and UPnP Device Host are running.
3. Checked that the Networking and Sharing basic and Advanced Settings, as well as Media Streaming Settings are the same in both machines.
4. Run the DISM and sfc checks on the laptop.
5. Run the "Shared Folders" troubleshooter from the workstation that says I don't have permission to connect to the Music folder on the laptop in question.
6. Run "Incoming Connections" troubleshooter on the laptop which tells me there is a problem that Windows can't fix without additional info (but not what that info might be).
7. ..etc. etc.

The cessation of access to the  laptop apparently occurred when the update to remove HomeGroup was pushed onto the laptop.  So my guess is that the update futzed up a registry setting that should have been modified with the loss of HomeGroup that would allow the laptop to expose its media libraries to other machines for access WITHOUT A USER SUPPLYING A UID/PW LOGIN.

I realize that between PCs I could use sharing and security options plus turning off password protected sharing, allowing "Everyone" access to Music, Pictures, Videos "Library" sub-folders would allow access to these libraries by PCs.  But they are invisible still to the non-PC media players.

It almost appears as if the entire DLNA service features have been removed from the laptop so compatible devices can't even see it.

How do I get the laptop to once again provide access to non-PC DLNA media players on my home LAN?

Answer 1

Hello wmcole,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I appreciate the troubleshooting steps that you’ve done so far. I understand how difficult it is when you are unable to access network. The issue might happen, if the services responsible for file sharing are not running or the feature might not be enabled. Kindly check with the below methods and see if it works for you.

Method: As you have already checked the services, follow these steps to enable SMB 1.0 file sharing support.  

• Open Control Panel.
• Then click on all Control Panel Items.
• Then click on Programs and features.
• Then on the left hand side, click on Turn Windows features on or off.
• Windows Feature box will open. Please scroll down and under SMB 1.0 CIFS File Sharing Support, check the boxes next to SMB 1.0/CIFS Client and SMB 1.0/ CIFS Server. If the boxes are already ticked, please uncheck the box and check it again.
• It will ask you to restart your Computer. Please Restart it.

Also, I recommend you follow the suggestions by Pauli O in the article How to get network sharing work with Windows 10 v1803 and see if it works for you.

Note: Make sure Step 6 is followed accurately.

Please check if all the above options are enabled on your computer to narrow down the issue and to proceed further. We await your reply.

Hope it helps.

Mala S

Microsoft Community - Moderator

Answer 2

Thanks for the attempted help.

Following above only removed the laptop from the list of "Media Devices" when I select the "Network" entry in File Explorer on the workstation. 

The laptop has always been visible from the "Network" selection in Explorer as a "Computer" that requires UID /PW to access. and the Pauli O article (though I've followed it many times) does not do anything for allowing media players like Blu-ray units and smart TVs to access the media libraries on the laptop.  I could see them from said devices, but if I try to play an audio track for example, the player reports "You do not have permissions..." whereas that was not the case with the workstation libraries with all the same settings (and same Windows Features active, sharing and security settings for media libraries / folders.)

But now, after running above steps the media players can't even see the laptop - it is no longer appearing on the network as a "Media Device" so I am now one step worse off than before.  The only difference in the "Music" folder that is shared from the workstation and is accessible by external media devices is that in the files Properties-Sharing tab, "Share" button "Network Access" panel lists a user, "ASP.NET Machine Account" with Read permissions and <MyUID> with "Owner" permission level.  On the offending laptop only <LaptopUserID> with "Owner" permission level appears.  Security tab for both are identical except on the workstation "ASP.Net Machine Account" is also listed with "Read and Execute", "List Folder Contents" and "Read" checked in the "Allow" column.

So something in the list of steps about has now disabled the laptop from being found on the network as a "Media Device".  NOTE: all the services and features mentioned above were already active EXCEPT SMB 1.0 / CIFS Server which is NOT active (checked) on the workstation which can function as a "Media Device" on the network.

Another difference in the laptop v. the workstation is that the laptop has no registry entries for DLNA which I thought was part of Media Player and should be present for these external devices to access the laptop as a Media Device.

Answer 3

Hi,

Thank you for writing back. We appreciate your time and patience.

I would like you to check if the system is able to locate or communicate by pinging your workstation from other PCs.

• Open the command prompt in admin mode.
• Type Ping IP address (Replace IP address with the actual IP address of the system which is not showing up).
• To find out the IP address of your PC, go to command prompt with Admin privileges and type ipconfig.
• Also check if the device can be accessed with its IP address.
• On any other machine, open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key and the R key together.
• Type \\IP****Address of workstationand see if the device is accessible.

If the above work, then you will need to disable and enable the SMB 1.0/CIFS Client and SMB 1.0/ CIFS Server from Control Panel. First, disable it and click on Apply. Then restart your system and enable it again. After that, you should be able to view it on the network.

Also, you should not get the permission prompt now. However, if you see the permission prompt again, then you can grant permissions. I would like you to follow the steps mentioned below to grant permissions: 

• Go to File Explorer. Select Map network drive > click on Browse > right click on the network that needs permission and select Properties.
• Go to the Security tab and click on Advanced.
• Click on change option > type everyone under Enter the object name to select box and select Check Names.
• Select user for whom permissions are to be set and put a check mark to allow full control > OK > Apply.
• Also click on Apply and OK on the previous window. Reboot the PC and see if it works.

Hope it helps,

Answer 4

Visibility to other PC/Computers via File Explorer -> Network or pinging is not an issue.  The subject laptop is also "visible" (by its system name) from media players like Smart TV and Blu-ray devices.

The problem, consistent whether attempted from another PC/Computer or media player device is that I AM REFUSED ACCESS TO MEDIA LIBRARIES.  On ALL DEVICES (PC/Computers and / or Smart TVs and Blu-ray players) when I try to access / play listed media from a supposedly shared library I RECEIVE AN ALERT THAT THE DEVICE FROM WHICH I AN ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PERMISSIONS TO CONNECT / PLAY MEDIA FROM A SHARED MEDIA LIBRARY.

Simple PC to Media Device success example:

1. on Samsung "smart" Blu-ray player, I select "Music" from "My Content" menu.
2. The player displays a choice: "Workstation:MyUID" and "Laptop:MyWifeUID" (these are not the actual names and UIDs for security reasons).
3. Selecting  "Workstation:MyUID" shows a list of "folders" corresponding to my shared media libraries, "Music, Pictures, Videos" and "Playlists".
4. Drilling down into "Music->Album" I can select and play tracks.

Simple PC to Media Device Failure example:

1. on Samsung "smart" Blu-ray player, I select "Music" from "My Content" menu.
2. The player displays a choice: "Workstation:MyUID" and "Laptop:MyWifeUID" (these are not the actual names and UIDs for security reasons).
3. Selecting  "Laptop:MyWifeUID" shows "FAIL TO ACCESS DEVICE. Please check device and try again."

Simple PC to PC Success Example:

1. On the laptop, select "File Explorer->Network>Media Devices->Workstation:MyUID".
2. Windows Media Player appears loads the "Music" library from "Laptop:MyWifeUID" into the main window and lists "Workstation:MyUID" under "Other Libraries in the side panel.
3. Selecting "Workstation:MyUID" from the side-panel shows the Music Library from "Worstation:MyUID" and allows me to play media from the selected library.

Simple PC to PC Fail Example:

1. On the workstation, select "File Explorer->Network>Media Devices->Laptop:MyWifeUID".
2. Windows Media Player appears but loads the "Music" library from "Workstation:MyUID" (since it is visible AND accessible from the laptop).  The Music library on "Lapto:MyWifeUID" is not displayed, and does not appear under "Windows Media Player->Library" "Other Libraries" nor will it appear by right-click "Refresh Other Libraries" on the "Other Libraries" entry in Windows Media Player.

SMB 1.0/CIFS Client - Server "Dance":

Performing these steps on the laptop simply caused it to disappear from the File Explorer->Network->Media Devices list and become invisibile from media player devices like Smart TVs and Blu-ray players to which it was at least visible before.  This visibility condition only corrected itself AFTER the last pushed Windows 10 update to the laptop.  It is once again visible but still NOT ACCESSIBLE as a "Media Device" on the network.

RESETTING SHARE PERMISSIONS FOR A SPECIFIC USER:

The steps you outline from "Map Network Drive" are not useful BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT "USER" CORRESPONDS TO EXTERNAL MEDIA PLAYERS SUCH AS SMART TV'S AND BLU-RAY PLAYERS.  And I certainly am not going to set it to "Everyone" for obvious security reasons.

DISM / SFC:

Having run them multiple timed on the laptop has not corrected the situation.  Both suggest there are no errors to be found.

NETWORK SHARING, STREAMING, LIBRARY & FOLDER SETTINGS AND PROPERTIES.

All the permissions, security settings, streaming settings, Windows Features  for shared media libraries and Windows Media Player on the laptop are identical to those on the workstation EXCEPT that the workstation includes an "ASP.Net Machine Account (WORKSTATION\ASPNET)" principal.  On the workstation's folders that make up the shared librariesin their "Properties->Security" tabe ASP.Net has "Read & Execute", "List folder contents", and "Read" permissions checked.  On the "Properties->Sharing" tab "Share" button, "ASP.NET Machine Account" has "Read" permission level listed as well as "MyUID" with "Owner" permission level.

The laptop only has "MyWifeUID" with permission level "Owner" in the Properties->Sharing" tab "Share" button pane.  The security tab lists identical principals with identical permissions to the workstation  WITH THE EXCEPTION OF "ASP.Net Machine Account". 

I cannot create an "ASP.Net Machine Account" user or security principal on the laptop, and I have no idea what or when it was created on the laptop.

ALSO, the laptop does not respond to selecting the "Settings-> Network & Internet->Sharing Options->All Networks->Public folder sharing" radio button to "Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in public folders."  In fact any changes made in the "Network & Sharing" and "Media streaming options" seem to have no effect on the items they are supposed to change.  It is as if the OS on the laptop completely ignores these settings.  (Perhaps associated registry keys had their permissions locked so they cannot be changed from Control Panel / Settings?)

CONCLUSION: 

Windows Update scrambled some registry entries with regard to media streaming / media library sharing / network sharing when it removed HomeGroup as a sharing mechanism from the OS, but did not make the same mistakes when it updated the workstation.

I need to know ALL the registry settings that effect Windows Media Player / Windows media 'Library' sharing and streaming over my local, private network.  I am convinced that is where the problem lays that allows one machine's media to be shared and makes another's unshareable despite identical settings in Settings, Control Panel and folder Properties Security and Sharing tabs.