'Cast to Device' context menu entry does not display.

RickC · 22 Jul 2019

I installed Plex media server on my my friend's laptop and was demonstrating how it worked with her smart TV. "You can also just right-click on a media file in 'File Manager' and throw it to your TV"...except when I went to show her... there was no sign whatsoever of the 'Cast to Device' context menu entry. I was at a loss.

I have the exact same make/model laptop so used the same Win 10 (MCT-created) installer to carry out exactly the same clean installation of 1903, including interrupting the OOBE to run a Windows 10 Decrapifier script, as I did on her laptop a few days ago. My only amendments to context menu entries were to remove the Edit with Photos and Edit with Paint 3D as I had removed the apps. I've made no amendments to any services, so they all at their default settings.

As far as I can tell (and remember) I have carried out exactly the same steps that I did on her laptop... yet my laptop shows the 'Cast to Device' entry whilst hers doesn't.

I thought at first that it was Miracast I needed to troubleshoot but now realise that Miracast is very slightly different, i.e. screen 'mirroring' or extending your screen to a wireless-enabled display device as opposed to 'screencasting' of both video and audio which appears to be a DNLA connection to another wireless network device (aka 'WiFi Direct' or 'HDMI over WiFi').

As a result I don't actually know what wireless method I should be looking for that results in the 'Cast to Device' entry.

For info, when I issue Get-ProvisionedAppXPackage -Online | Select DisplayName in an elevated PowerShell window I get a very short list of just 4 remaining built-in apps (which was my intention):

Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller
Microsoft.StorePurchaseApp
Microsoft.WindowsCalculator
Microsoft.WindowsStore

dxdiag shows that 'Miracast is available, with HDCP' and netsh wlan show drivers shows - for 'Wireless Display Supported' - Yes to both 'graphics' and 'wifi' drivers.

I can't get access to her laptop until next week but I want to research why my laptop displays 'Cast to Device' whilst hers doesn't.

Does anyone have any suggestions what to look for, i.e. what may be missing that I need to fix?

FreeBooter · 22 Jul 2019

I have batch script that can remove and add Cast to Device context menu entry. Execute the batch script and type N letter to add Cast to Device' context menu entry.

RickC · 22 Jul 2019

FreeBooter said:

I have batch script that can remove and add Cast to Device context menu entry. Execute the batch script and type N letter to add Cast to Device' context menu entry.

Thanks FreeBooter but I know how to add/remove the context menu entry itself... if 'Cast to Device' was working. (There's a tutorial here on TenForums.)

Unfortunately it's the underlying 'Cast to Device' DNLA functionality or network protocol that's the issue. The DNLA functionality is working perfectly on the second, identical laptop (hence the display of the context menu entry) so I know it's not the TV at issue. However, I haven't yet found what protocol to look for in Win 10.

Thank you anyway.

FreeBooter · 22 Jul 2019

Tell you the true after upgrading to latest version of Windows 10 the Cast to Device context menu entry missing i don't know if i disable it or Microsoft remove it.

RickC · 22 Jul 2019

FreeBooter said:

Tell you the true after upgrading to latest version of Windows 10 the Cast to Device context menu entry missing i don't know if i disable it or Microsoft remove it.

That sounds like the issue I'm experiencing... 2 identical laptops, clean installed from the same 1903 media. One works perfectly, the other won't display the 'Cast to Device' context menu.

I suspect I'm going to have to do another clean install of the problem laptop then re-install all the apps again when I get it back next week.

FreeBooter · 22 Jul 2019

Have you tried repair install of Windows 10 it might help.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Bree · 22 Jul 2019

RickC said:

I suspect I'm going to have to do another clean install of the problem laptop then re-install all the apps again when I get it back next week.

Before you do that, check that it isn't just the user profile that's the problem. Create a new local account, sign in to it and see if 'Cast to' appears there. If so, set up a new user account (don't forget to make it an admin) then you can delete the original faulty one.

BTW, all my machines still had the 'Cast to' context menu after upgrading to 1903.

FreeBooter · 22 Jul 2019

Thanks @Bree i must have removed the context menu entry.

RickC · 22 Jul 2019

Bree said:

Before you do that, check that it isn't just the user profile that's the problem.

Good suggestion. Thank you.

RickC · 22 Jul 2019

FreeBooter said:

Have you tried repair install of Windows 10 it might help.

Good suggestion. Thank you.