I guess what confuses me is how my computer could detect my TV, and it even showed up on the list when I clicked on Cast To, and the homegroup showed a connection between my laptop and TV, but yet I still need a "network". Isn't the connection between the laptop and TV considered to be a network? Or is "network" meant to be an internet connection?
The names may have you confused you, did me at first.
Only recent Laptops and TVs are going to be Miracast compatible. Neither my laptop or TV are, they are about 4 years old.
What Cast to.... with a Media file means is a Media server is being used, probably Windows Media Player.
The Cast to...function is as a Media Server and display device i.e. the TV. Elsewhere on your network.
You have to go to your TV Menu to Networks and browse to the Folders on your Laptop which contain those Media files.
WiFi Direct is 'network' of sorts, has less options, on mine you cannot browse the Laptop media files from the TV you have play a Media file selected on the Laptop for a Cast to...and that is what it does, again clearly using WMP as a Media server.
On my TV in networks "Standby for WiFi Direct" > On. Then on the Laptop select and Cast to...TV.
The TV has to be registered to the Laptop, on mine I used the PIN method the PIN number generated by the TV has to be entered on the Laptop in the Cast to.. Process when it asks.
A lot of fiddling about for such a limited use.
When I created a Homegroup, it gave me a password. I tried entering that in the TV, but it never got accepted. On my laptop, I wasn't given an opportunity to do any registering on it of my TV. When I clicked "Cast to" on a file in my laptop and then selected my TV when it came up on the list, the file simply started playing on my laptop as if I had simply clicked on it, although it took about 10 seconds to get started.
It's not an update with a KB number. It's the 'Features Update to Windows 10, version 1803', the version formerly known as 'Spring Creators Update'.
Windows 10 April 2018 Update will be available Monday, April 30
Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Fast+Skip Build 17063 for PCA note about HomeGroup: Easily connecting to and sharing the important pieces of your digital life with those who matter most has never been easier with today’s Modern PCs and the cloud. Whether it’s connecting PCs and printers on your home network via the Share functionality in Windows or using OneDrive to share a photo album of your last vacation, Windows 10 makes connecting multiple devices and sharing content streamlined and simple. And it’s because of that evolution that with today’s build you’ll start to see us retire the HomeGroup service. HomeGroup was terrific for the pre-cloud and pre-mobile era, but today this functionality is built right into Windows 10 and apps. Starting with this build, the HomeGroup service is no longer operational in Windows 10...
Thats weird. Windows won't let me create a Homegroup now and i'm on v1709 latest build. It says "Windows can't create a Homegroup on this PC"
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