puzzled about DLNA in windows 10 computer

Even though I have not turned on DLNA streaming function on my computer , I am still able to play videos from the computer's library on my Panasonic Viera TC via DLNA using the TV's DLNA function found under Viera tools.
Is there another DLNA server running on the computer that I am not aware of?

When I tried to view the same video on another TV via Roku , I cannot. The Roku sees the computer with the videos but then it says cannot find compatible media ? Roku does not list the folders in the computer's library. Any reason for this ? Tks

sportflyer said:

Even though I have not turned on DLNA streaming function on my computer , I am still able to play videos from the computer's library on my Panasonic Viera TC via DLNA using the TV's DLNA function found under Viera tools.

Are you sure you've never turned Media Streaming on in the past?


To check, open Windows Media Player and click on the 'Stream' menu. If streaming is on it will look like this....



...and if it is off you'll see this.

I have never used Windows media player on this computer. It's not even configured. When I start Windows media player , the first screen it shows is selecting Recommended or Custom settings so its definitely not turned on. I use VLC for media play on this computer.
However I did notice that Windows Media Sharing Services is turned on automatically and is running. Can this be the reason I can play Media via DLNA from my TV?

"Is there another DLNA server running on the computer that I am not aware of? "
That is Windows Media Player in Windows 10 which is the Media Server. You can have another like Serviio and others.

You don't need the Windows Media streamer turned on as illustrated, mine is actually off. But I can view and indeed play suitable Media files from My Laptop on my so-called Sony smart TVs. I suspect that it is a Media server service which comes on automatically in Windows.

Likewise I can also play Media files from the Windows Media Player rendered on the TVs.

"However I did notice that Windows Media Sharing Services is turned on automatically and is running. Can this be the reason I can play Media via DLNA from my TV?"
I would think, yes that is the answer to that.

I don't know the details of Roku dongles. A quick look suggests that functionality can be added.

DLNA is just a rather outdated set of standards.
https://spirespark.com/dlna/certification
https://spirespark.com/dlna/products
The 2 Sony TVs have DLNA certs, but other components don't, like the Router and Laptop. Never the less it works.

The Apps version of VLC Player fails to see the TVs, but it does see other network items like my NAS box.

I need to investigate the Roku a bit more. Tks