|
You can ....but Microsoft have made it fiendishly difficult......This is their answer
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq/sharing.mspx#q20_17
However we have found a much much simpler way :) thanks to shasam:-
see http://www.shasam.net/archives/32 for more details. But here is the quick recipe:-
For Vista I got this working by adding a Symbolic link (MKLINK command in command window) to the remote computers music directory(\\192.168.1.4\Shared Files\Music ) in the C:\Users\Public\Music directory on my vista machine using this command in the Command Prompt window (running as Administrator) :-
C:\Users\Public\Music>MKLINK /D SymLink "\\192.168.1.4\Shared Files\Music"
symbolic link created for SymLink <<===>> \\192.168.1.4\Shared Files\Music
Then making sure the new SymLink properties were set to share it with Everyone (I added Everyone as a user and then clicked share)
(right click on SymLink and left click Share)
I then launched WMP11 and made sure this new directory (SymLink) was added to the Monitored files list. (Library/Options/Monitor Folders).
For XP I got this working by adding a shortcut for the remote folder I wanted to see in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music directory (using the full network name of the device rather than its mapped drive name - e.g. \\192.168.1.4 etc).
Here is Microsoft's complicated way........
You can use Windows Media Player 11 to share media files that are located on other computers on your home network. However, additional steps are required so that these remote files will play on the devices you are sharing them with.
On the remote computer, the media files must be in shared folders. For information about sharing folders, see Windows Help and Support.
On the computer that contains the library you are sharing, you must grant users permission to access remote folders, modify registry key values, and monitor the shared folders located on the remote computer. The information in this section covers only granting permissions and modifying registry values. For information about monitoring folders, see What are monitored folders?
There are five different procedures for granting permission to remote folders. The first procedure must be done and enables remote content sharing on the computer that contains the library you are sharing. The second procedure grants a specific user account permission to access folders on other computers. However, it will disable sharing for all user accounts except the account you specify. Also, if another user has sharing enabled on this computer, the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service might not start if this procedure is followed.
The last three procedures grant anonymous logon permission to access folders on other computers. This means that any user can access the folders; it does not distinguish between user accounts. The third procedure is for users of Windows XP Service Pack 2 (Professional and Media Center editions only); the fourth procedure is for users of all other versions of Windows XP; and the fifth procedure is for users of Windows Vista. For procedures two through five, you should only perform one of these procedures.
 To enable remote content sharing
Perform the following steps on the computer that contains the library you are sharing.
|
1. |
Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. |
|
2. |
In the registry tree (on the left), expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, SOFTWARE, Microsoft, MediaPlayer, and Preferences. |
|
3. |
Right-click HME, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. |
|
4. |
Type EnableRemoteContentSharing, and then press ENTER. |
|
5. |
Right-click EnableRemoteContentSharing, and then click Modify. |
|
6. |
In the Value data text box, type 1, and then click OK. If you later decide to disable remote content sharing, you can repeat this procedure and change the value to 0.
Caution: Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on your computer. |
To grant one user account permission to access folders on other computers
|
1. |
Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance or System and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Services. |
|
2. |
Scroll down the list of services, right-click Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service, and then click Properties. |
|
3. |
On the Log On tab, click This account, and specify a user account that has Read permission for the remote folders containing media that you want to share. This account should have a password that never expires. |
|
4. |
On the General tab, click Stop, click Start, and then click OK. |
|
5. |
On the computer containing the library you are sharing, click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. |
|
6. |
In the registry tree (on the left), expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, SOFTWARE, Microsoft, and Windows Media Player NSS. |
|
7. |
Right-click 3.0, and then click Permissions. |
|
8. |
Click Add. |
|
9. |
In the Enter the object names to select box, type the name of the account you specified in step 3 of the preceding procedure. |
|
10. |
Click OK. |
|
11. |
In the Group or user names box, click the name of the account you specified in step 3 of the preceding procedure. |
|
12. |
In the Permissions box, on the Full Control row, select the Allow check box. |
|
13. |
Click OK, and then close Registry Editor.
Caution: Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on your computer. |
To grant anonymous permission to access folders on other computers (Windows XP Service Pack 2 - Professional and Media Center editions only)
Perform the following steps on the computer that will host the remote folder.
|
1. |
In My Computer, click Tools, and then click Folder Options. |
|
2. |
On the View tab, clear the Use simple file sharing check box, and then click OK. |
|
3. |
In My Computer, right-click the folder containing digital media files you want to share, and then click Sharing and Security. |
|
4. |
On the Sharing tab, click Share this folder. (Remember the share name. You will need it later in this procedure.) |
|
5. |
Click Permissions. |
|
6. |
Click Add. |
|
7. |
In the Enter object names to select text box, type ANONYMOUS LOGON, and then click OK. |
|
8. |
On the Share Permissions tab, click ANONYMOUS LOGON. |
|
9. |
In the Permissions for ANONYMOUS LOGON box, on the Read row, select the Allow check box (if it is not already selected), and then click OK. |
|
10. |
On the Security tab, click Add. |
|
11. |
In the Enter object names to select text box, type ANONYMOUS LOGON, and then click OK. |
|
12. |
On the Share Permissions tab, click ANONYMOUS LOGON. |
|
13. |
In the Permissions for ANONYMOUS LOGON box, on the Read & Execute row, select the Allow check box (if it is not already selected), and then click OK. |
|
14. |
Click Start, and then click Run. |
|
15. |
In the Run dialog box, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK. |
|
16. |
In the group policy tree (on the left), expand Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, and then click Security Options. |
|
17. |
In the list pane, right-click Network access: Shares that can be accessed anonymously, and then click Properties. |
|
18. |
On the Local Policy Setting tab, press ENTER, type the share name you specified in step 4, and then click OK. |
To grant anonymous permission to access folders on other computers (all other Windows XP versions)
Perform the following steps on the computer that will host the remote folder.
|
1. |
In My Computer, click Tools, and then click Folder Options. |
|
2. |
On the View tab, clear the Use simple file sharing check box, and then click OK. |
|
3. |
In My Computer, right-click the folder containing digital media files you want to share, and then click Sharing and Security. |
|
4. |
On the Sharing tab, click Share this folder. (Remember the share name. You will need it later in this procedure.) |
|
5. |
Click Permissions. |
|
6. |
Click Add. |
|
7. |
In the Enter object names to select text box, type ANONYMOUS LOGON, and then click OK. |
|
8. |
On the Share Permissions tab, click ANONYMOUS LOGON. |
|
9. |
In the Permissions for ANONYMOUS LOGON box, on the Read row, select the Allow check box (if it is not already selected), and then click OK twice. |
|
10. |
Click Start, and then click Run. |
|
11. |
In the Run dialog box, type cmd.exe, and then press ENTER. |
|
12. |
Type cd /dpathname, where pathname is the location of the folder you want to give access to. |
|
13. |
Type cacls . /e /t /r "NT AUTHORITY\ANONYMOUS LOGON", and press ENTER. |
|
14. |
Close the Command Prompt window. |
|
15. |
Click Start, and then click Run. |
|
16. |
In the Run dialog box, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK. |
|
17. |
In the group policy tree on the left, expand Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, and then Security Options. |
|
18. |
In the list pane on the right, right-click Network access: Shares that can be accessed anonymously, and then click Properties. |
|
19. |
On the Local Policy Setting tab, press ENTER, type the share name that you specified in step 4, and then click OK. |
To grant anonymous permission to access folders on other computers (all Windows Vista versions)
Perform the following steps on the computer that will host the remote folder.
|
1. |
In Computer, click Organize, and then click Folder and Search Options. |
|
2. |
On the View tab, clear the Use Sharing Wizard check box, and then click OK. |
|
3. |
In Computer, right-click the folder containing digital media files you want to share, and then click Share. |
|
4. |
On the Sharing tab, click Advanced Sharing, and then click Share this folder. (Remember the share name. You will need it later in this procedure.) |
|
5. |
Click Permissions. |
|
6. |
Click Add. |
|
7. |
In the Enter object names to select text box, type ANONYMOUS LOGON, and then click OK. |
|
8. |
On the Share Permissions tab, click ANONYMOUS LOGON. |
|
9. |
In the Permissions for ANONYMOUS LOGON box, on the Read row, select the Allow check box (if it is not already selected), and then click OK twice. |
|
10. |
Click Start. |
|
11. |
In the Start Search dialog box, type cmd.exe, and then press ENTER. |
|
12. |
Type cd /dpathname, where pathname is the location of the folder you want to give access to. |
|
13. |
Type cacls . /e /t /r "NT AUTHORITY\ANONYMOUS LOGON", and press ENTER. |
|
14. |
Close the Command Prompt window. |
|
15. |
Click Start. |
|
16. |
In the Start Search dialog box, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK. |
|
17. |
In the group policy tree (on the left), expand Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, and then click Security Options. |
|
18. |
In the list pane, right-click Network access: Shares that can be accessed anonymously, and then click Properties. |
|
19. |
On the Local Policy Setting tab, press ENTER, type the the share name you specified in step 4, and then click OK. | |
Last update: 04:52 PM Wednesday, May 28, 2008
