DLNA, Windows 7 and my Blu-ray player

I've recently learned that  Windows 7 can stream video, and especially some TV content, to something called DLNA devices.  Now, I'm trying to figure out if I can do this, and if so, how.  My PC has an AMD Phenom II x4 925 processor, so I should start with that.  Is that processor capable of working with a DLNA device?

Next, my TV, even though it is a flat-screen, LCD Vizio TV, it doesn't appear to me to be DLNA capable.  However, my Blu-ray player is (a Samsung).  I got into Windows Media Center, which the friendly folks at Best Buy told me works with DLNA devices, but for the life of me, I couldn't find out how in heck to make that Samsung give up a key, that Windows Media Center absolutely insists must be used, or Windows Media Center won't play nice with it.  So, I don't know what to do.  How do I proceed?

First you need to make sure you network location is set to Home.  Second, Windows Media Center only works with Media Center Extenders, such as Xbox 360.  DLNA is supported with Windows Media Player 12.  To use this feature, open Windows Media Player.  Right click the item you wish to play and select Play To.  You should see your DLNA device as an option. Click the device and wait.

Here's a more extensive post that describes the full process: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/2009/05/12/media-streaming-with-windows-7.aspx

@RLO: I have version 12.0.7601.17514 of Windows Media Player.  When I right-click on anything, there is no Play To option in the pop-up menu.  What does that mean?

Our Sony TV is DLNA compatible and connected to our network -- I can access the PC content from within the TV menu.  It's more like the TV is pulling the stream from the PC rather than the PC playing to the TV; I assumed that this was due to DLNA compatibility, but it might be because I have media sharing set up on the PC using the 'Media Streaming' control panel and have allowed access to the TV.

Does your blue-ray appear in the Media Streaming options list and does it have a 'network' item in it's menu?

Herbie

Hi Dr Herbie!

You need to make 'Media Streaming' compatible to connect to yur network devices and settings in firewaal.