Windows 10: Casting to device locks my PC up

A couple of weeks ago I could cast to my Samsung TV easily and it was great. Right click on media file "Cast To...", select the only device from the pop-up and the miniature player appeared on my desktop so I could control the volume and so on.


I tried to stream a file this morning and it failed rather spectacularly. When I select the TV from the pop-up I get a message at the top of my TV screen saying it's trying to connect to my PC, which after a while tells me it couldn't connect and that I should try streaming from a mobile device instead.


On my PC I now get a little bar at the top of the screen which was never there before. It randomly says I'm either connected to the TV or not. If it thinks I am then I have access to a "cog" menu where I can select one of three options (desktop, watching video, playing games) which seem to do nothing. The old pop-up player no longer appears.


Sometimes the video file starts to play on my PC for some reason (using VLC, my default media player). I don't know why. When I streamed before, the file played on the TV, not on my PC.


If I try too many times, my PC locks up.


I have gone through all the media streaming settings, reset them all and ensured that sharing is as open as possible. I've checked network drivers, reset my router, and run Windows Update so everything's up to date.


I can only assume, especially given this screen-top bar, that there's been a change to the software courtesy of an update.

:)

 

Cast to device

Hello Julie,

For us to be able to isolate why your phone can't find devices while performing cast to device onto your Windows 10 PC, kindly answer these questions:

• Which Windows version is currently running on your phone?
• Did you update your PC?
  
• What are the troubleshooting steps that you've tried so far?

We will be waiting for your update.

 

windows 10 cast to device

Hi Steven,

• Do you get any error message when you try to cast the device?
• Does the issue happen when you don't use cast to device, I mean when you are online?
• Which device do you use to cast the content?

If the issue happens only when you cast the device, the issue can be that of the casting device. In that case I would request you to execute the Hardware and devices troubleshooter.

Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter to check and fix issues with hardware and devices. I would suggest you to run this troubleshooter to check if the issue is with the Bluetooth adapter. Refer these steps:

• 
  Press Windows key +X, select
  Control panel.
  
• 
  Change the view by option on the top right to
  Large icons.
  
• 
  Click on troubleshooting and click on the
  view all option on the left panel.
  
• 
  Run the Hardware and devices troubleshooter.
  
• 
  Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.
  
  
  
  Hope this information is helpful. Thank you.
  

 

Cast to device stopped working

Hi Dale,

Casting media files surely improves the experience. To better understand your issue, we'd like to know the following:

• The process that you performed to cast.
• Error messages encountered on casting.
• The device where you intend to cast.
• The medium (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) that you are using to cast.

If you are using Windows Media Player to cast, you can check the steps provided by
Vanessa Yar on this link. To restore your PC, you can check
the steps via this
link.

We look forward to your response.

Regards.