Enabling media sharing in Windows Vista and to make it a DLNA certified server

                  Equipments and Connections :

                  OS on PC        :        XP
                  OS on Laptop   :       Vista
                  TV                  :        Sony KDL-46XBR9 DLNA certified
                            Router            :        D-link DIR 825 wireless N 5.0 Ghz and 2.4Ghz.
                            Bridge            :        D-link DAP 1522 wireless N 5.0 Ghz and 2.4Ghz.


 Problem :  I want to use the Vista Windows Media Player 11 to stream the media over my homenetwork to my TV. I am unable to stream the media to the TV, because eeverytime, I open the WIndows Media Player, I see the message "Media sharing on your machine is disabled, either the service is stopped or the firewall settings have changed. However, I have followed everything to enable the media sharing......like going to the networking centre and enabling the media sharing, disabling the password, and then allowing the media sharing in the Media Library and also going to the "service" and doing some adjustments there as well....but still can't stream the media from the Vista Laptop.

Details :

I bought this Sony KDL-46XBR9 TV. It supports the DLNA certified Network server. I know I can use the Windows Vista and Media Player 11 to stream Music, Videos and Photos and my TV is capable of receiving these feeds. I have done everything in my capacity to enable the media sharing on my Vista. However, it says, that My Media sharing is disabled, eithter the service is stopped or the fire wall settings have changed.

I am not sure, what is casuing this......I have tried enabling the service in the "Service" but still I keep getting this message. I strongly feel that something is preventing this machine from sharing the media. If you say ports are required to be opened, I don't know how to.....pl. help......BTW, I am using the Norton 360 as my firewall and for virus protection.

My Laptop, PC and TV are in the same home network and also my TV is connected to the wired network through the Bridge and the Bridge is wirelessly connected to my Wireless router.  And also I have files and printer sharing enabled and successfully being used on both. Some folders are enabled on the PC and I can work on them through the networked Laptop and Vice Versa. Practically I can sit on my PC or Laptop and work on the other machine.....I can stream music and videos stored on the PC to the Laptop and Vice versa but not using the media sharing ......It works on the Wireless homenetwork and mapped drives. I have a protable hard drive attached to the Laptop and I can access that as well from the PC.....using the wireless home networking.

Only problem is.....I am unable to stream the media from my VIsta Laptop to the TV......I did not try to share the media from PC and Laptop, using the WIndows Media Player......As I can do that using the Itunes library home sharing and also using the Home Network......That will open another can of worms as PC is XP and the Laptiop is Vista. Both my router and the Firewall are so configured that I can see any device coming in or going out of my network and are properly secured in every sense......My windows Firewall is disabled because I am using the Norton 360 ver. 3. 

Last night I streamed my media from my PC to my TV using the Winamp Remote......but that is indirect....First the media goes to the internet server and then from there it goes to my TV via internet through the Wii console.

Also the stream is interrupted by buffering and as you know Wii is wireless g...which in my opinion is insufficient for streaming HD media......and also by doing this I am not getting the advantage of 5GHz. 802.11n wireless network that I already have. I want to stream the media directly to my TV and that is where the problem lies.....

Sorry......I wrote the whole story, just so that you get an idea of the network conections and the complexity and the level of my involvement.


Can someone help me so that I can stream media from my Vista Library to my TV and watch my home videos on my big screen TV with my famiy and friends without cuddling over the Laptop or PC?. There are many other ways we can do this......but I want to share Media stored on my laptop and PC  and view it on TV without moving either of the two from their places. and I know it is possible.........Need help from experts like you to do the proper set up.

Kamlesh Shah