Playing movies stored on pc through smart tv

[strep3241]

So I have a Samsung smart tv which I have connected to our wireless network. What I am trying to do is play movies stored on a pc on that smart tv. Now I figured out I can cast the movie to the tv and I am able to play it like that. But as soon as I exit out of the movie on the tv, I can't get back to it unless I go back to the pc and cast it again.

Now this may not be possible but what I would like to be able to do is be able to play that movie on the tv whenever I want without having to go to the pc each time. I know the computer would still have to be on for that to work.

On the computer where the movies are stored at, I have shared the folder that the movies are in but I am not able to see that folder on the tv. Through the network settings on the tv, I am able to see the computer but nothing else.

I also have that folder added in windows media player and when I go to streaming options in wmp, I can see the tv listed and it's set to allow.

 

[mnewsham]

If you have a 2016 or newer samsung Smart TV I believe they support the Plex app so you can just setup your computer as a Plex server and stream anything you want from the app.

 

[strep3241]

If you have a 2016 or newer samsung Smart TV I believe they support the Plex app so you can just setup your computer as a Plex server and stream anything you want from the app.

And if it's older than that? I been through the settings and did not see anything about plex app or server.

 

[sdifox]

I am assuming the tv can see smb shares? If so you just need to share the movie folder on the pc.

 

[strep3241]

What is an smb share? This network stuff really confuses me. I currently have the movie folder shared and other computers can see it but not the tv .

 

[sdifox]

What is an smb share? This network stuff really confuses me. I currently have the movie folder shared and other computers can see it but not the tv .

Your tv doesn't have smb share access? Windows share is smb share. Do you see samsung app store?

 

[strep3241]

Not sure what smb share access is. How would I find out if the tv has that? On the tv, I can see different apps but I don't see any store.

 

[mnewsham]

It would help if we knew what TV you actually have

 

[strep3241]

The tv is a Samsung UN40J5200AF smart tv.

Well I made a little progress but still having issues. I put a movie on an sd card and put that sd card in a usb thumb drive, then put that into the tv. It played the movie fine.

Now with the thumb drive inserted in the tv, I can see all devices on the network. I was able to get to the folder that is shared. But no videos show up in that folder.

Now here is the part I can't figure out. Maybe it's just me not knowing wth I am doing idk. But once I take the thumb drive out, it goes back to the home page of the tv, where it says press ok to watch tv. From that point, I can't figure out how to get back to where all the devices are listed without reinserting the thumb drive.

 

[JackMDS]

Get one of the micro computer with HDMI output place it near the computer plug it the HDMI to the TV and use the computer to ge the Fun through the Network.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-stick-pcs/

 

[strep3241]

Not sure what I did but I am able to see the shared folder and the movies inside of it on the tv now. Maybe just restarting the pc caused it to start working, idk.

 

[marcplante]

You might want to invest in a network server. Connect it to your router and the tv can pull movies off of that went m without having your PC on. Any Western Digital or Seagate drive would be fine.

 

[sdifox]

You might want to invest in a network server. Connect it to your router and the tv can pull movies off of that went m without having your PC on. Any Western Digital or Seagate drive would be fine.

How is a file server any different than his pc?

 

[marcplante]

He doesn't have to leave his whole PC on. It's just a drive that runs a small media server app. Not a whole pc

 

[marcplante]

Look up Seagate Central. Mine has been fine for 3-4 years

 

[sdifox]

He doesn't have to leave his whole PC on. It's just a drive that runs a small media server app. Not a whole pc

So a nas or personal cloud.