Search for and play digital media

  • Article

Updated: March 30, 2011

Applies To: Windows Home Server 2011

After you set up your home network and successfully connect your home computers and media devices to the server network, you can search for any digital media files that you or your family store and share on the server.

Note

For a current list of digital media player/receive devices that are compatible with Windows Home Server 2011, see the Windows 7 Compatibility Center.

You can use any of the following ways to search for and play digital media files that are stored on your server:

  • Search for and play media files on Windows Home Server 2011 from a computer or digital media player on the home network

  • Send media files on Windows Home Server 2011 to Windows Media Player, Xbox 360, or to a networked digital media player while at home

  • Search for and play media files on Windows Home Server 2011 when you are away from home

Search for and play media files on Windows Home Server 2011 from a computer or digital media player on the home network

When you are at home, you can search for and play digital media files in any of the following ways:

  • Search for and play media files from a computer that is running Windows Media Center

  • Search for and play media files from a computer that is running Windows by using Windows Media Player

  • Search for and play media files by using Xbox 360

  • Search for and play media files by using other digital media players or receivers that are compatible with Windows Home Server 2011

  • Search by using the Shared Folders feature of the Launchpad

Search for and play media files from a computer that is running Windows Media Center

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, Click Windows Media Center

  2. On the Windows Media Center page, scroll to the type of media you are searching for, and click the media library.

  3. Manually search for the file you are interested in, or click Search and type the name of the file you want to find.

  4. Click the media file image to view or play the file.

Search for and play media files from a computer that is running Windows by using Windows Media Player

  1. From the home computer or media device, open Windows Media Player and search for your media library.

    Note

    The search steps vary depending on the version of Windows Media Player that you are using. Consult the Help for your version for detailed information.

Search for and play media files by using Xbox 360

  1. Connect your Xbox 360 console to your home network using a wired or wireless connection.

  2. On the computer that is running Windows Home Server 2011, turn on media sharing. For more information, see the topic “Enable media sharing.”

  3. To play digital media files using your Xbox 360 console:

    1. Go to My Xbox, and then select Video Library, Music Library, or Picture Library, depending on the type of media you want to view or play.

    2. Select the name of your server.

      Note

      If the name of your server is not listed, select Computer and then Test Connection.

    3. Browse the file list and select the item you want to play.

Search for and play media files by using other digital media players or receivers that are compatible with Windows Home Server 2011

  1. Go to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=187361) and make sure that your digital media player or receiver appears in the list of compatible devices.

  2. Because search steps vary depending on the digital media player that you are using, consult the Help for your device for detailed instructions.

Search by using the Shared Folders feature of the Launchpad

  1. Sign in to the Windows Home Server 2011 Launchpad.

  2. From the Launchpad, click Shared Folders. A Windows Explorer window opens and displays the shared folders on the server.

  3. In the Search box, type the name of a media file. The results of your search query are displayed.

    Note

    As an option, you can also double-click a shared folder to browse the folder contents.

Send media files on Windows Home Server 2011 to Windows Media Player, Xbox 360, or to a networked digital media player while at home

Use Windows Media Player to search for the media file that you want following the steps listed in the procedure above. Right click the media file and click Play To to send the media file to a networked media device.

Search for and play media files on Windows Home Server 2011 when you are away from home

To search for and play media while you are away from home, see Play shared media files when I am away from home.