Can I use an XP machine as a Windows Media Receiver

Have you checked these sites?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/workshops/workshops.aspx?id=DMRtoWMP11XP.xml
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/devices/wmconnect/faq.aspx

shasunder - I have, but that describes how to set up the media server assuming I will use an XBox or other device designed to be a Receiver.  In fact, when talking about other computers as the receiver Microsoft says "Using Windows Media Player 11, you can stream music, movies, and even photos from your computer to a networked digital media receiver (DMR)such as an Xbox 360that is connected to your home theater, stereo, or TV. If youre running Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista, you can also share the contents of your library with other computers in your home."

This last line is what concerns me I may need Vista.  What I 'm trying to do is have WMP on my laptop  find and stream the shared files on my desktop, both running XP.

This last line is what concerns me I may need Vista.  What I 'm trying to do is have WMP on my laptop  find and stream the shared files on my desktop, both running XP.
I dont understand the last bit you wrote here either, if you have Vista on the Xp machine Dual Boot.. too bad, just stop streaming when you log off XP and into Vista.
Can you log onto the internet using two computers on a home network?

Use VLC to stream from the Laptop to the Desktop.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/streaming.html
http://www.videolan.org/
VideoLAN Streaming Howto
http://www.videolan.org/doc/streaming-howto/en/
How to record streaming WMV/ASF/MMS-links using VLC Media Player
http://forum.videohelp.com/topic316907.html

http://www.videolan.org/doc/streaming-howto/en/ch02.html

Merete - I'm not sure I understand your questions but here goes.  "If you're running Windows Media Player 11 for Windows Vista, you can also share the contents of your library with other computers in your home." is  a quote from Microsoft.com.   My concern is that means I need Vista to make this happpen and my having XP is why I'm having trouble.
   1. I do not have Vista and I don't think my desktop with 500MB would be capable of running it.  
   2.I can log unto the internet with both machines through a router and cable modem (one LAN)  
   3.I had seen the post in the knowledge base here about VideoLan and will try it, but I'm still interested if anyone knows if 2 computers running XP with WMP11 can act as a server/receiver pair and how to set it up
Thanks for the prompt responses

right thanks I have mis understood the comments. apologies.
yes you can using VLC that is. It is by far a lot simpler
http://www.techenclave.com/forums/guide-to-streaming-video-in-lan-2608.html
Some of the images here are not correct even in firefox.
http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/29/how-to-stream-almost-anything-using-vlc/
May I ask why you wish to do this on a LAN you can just share a folder of your video then the others on your Lan will see the video, or create a new folder in the local area network and copy the movies to there.

----------------------------------------------
Do you have windows media encoder installed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Encoder

WMP 11 is buggy I would  suggest you use WMP 10 or WMP 9
The restrictions in WMP 11 and IE7  is sooo frustrating. Also WMP does not support a lot formats.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/expert/bridgman_02march11.mspx
troubleshoot
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0106.mspx

check the similar from experts exchange
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/22441707/Streaming-Video-over-Network.html

Merete - Yes, about why I want to do this in the first place.  As I said in my original post, I have recently purchased a Denon receiver which has available an add-on which acts as a Windows Media Receiver.  Before I buy the add-on I just wanted to check out the capability (get a feel for) what a Windows Media Receiver could do.  I knew nothing when this got started.  After searching a lot and trying to set it up myself, it became more of a passion for me as I can't, for the life of me, figure what is so hard about this.  That's the whole story.  
I have found an interesting thread at Microsoft.com that says both you can't and you can.  Reference the thread titled "How to share WMP11 to WMP11"
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/community/newsgroups/WindowsMedia/default.mspx?query=wmp11+on+xp&dg=microsoft.public.windowsmedia&cat=en-us-wma-nwsgrps-gen&lang=en&cr=US&pt=ebf5eed5-9118-4689-bed7-aea5cbdd7a88&catlist=E249F6E5-0B76-4CFB-9DE3-D0119C25800A&dglist=&ptlist=&exp=&sloc=en-us

I hope this answers your question about why I want to do this..

Sharing WMP 11 is not exactly the same as streaming video
 knowing the  right wording is often the quck solutions,
I dont have a great deal experience hands on but from helping here over the years i pick up lots of tricks and gain a good knowledgbase, the first I have learnt is to help you to get an over all understanding, you probably have more experience than I do.

lets focus first on the system requirements.
You'll need to setup one xp pro as a VPN server
read this and then we'll take the next step
http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/network/0,39044847,39050037-39000223c-1,00.htm

Merete - I have almost no experience with Windows Media Player.  I thought it showed (Ha-Ha).  Before going further I have XP Home on both my machines.  This site referst to XP Pro???  

I have just found a "supposed solution" at Microsoft.com in their FAQ's.  I'll try it in the morning and post results.  It's late and I'm tired.

Ha ha great pair, I have the access to lots of resources..
great look forward to your feedback.
I was just reading this too
Extract
Most widely used authoring tools such as Adobe, Ulead, Sorenson and Avid can produce and read MPEG2 Program streams.
VBrick 6200 is a full-duplex, high quality audio and video encoder/decoder. VBrick 6200 encoder converts analog video to MPEG2 standard video and delivers it over IP. The VBrick encoder/decoder can be connected to a network using an Ethernet 10/100 Mbps or an ATM interface. The VBrick has built-in hardware encoder which encodes the input video/audio to generate DVD quality MPEG2 at bit-rates 1 to 15 Mbps. Similarly, it also has a decoder that can decode the packets received over the network to generate the video output. The VBrick can send/receive video streams using unicast as well as multicast protocol.

http://edt.missouri.edu/Winter2007/Thesis/ShilarnavS-070207-T7646/research.pdf

No objections, we may have provided some direction but he did the major work himself.
Thank you for providing your solution ArthurQ
All the best
Merete

While I'm here I came across  Microsoft Netshow  may help you too
https://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/HyperGraph/video/architectures/NetShow.html

Thanks Merete - I do appreciate this Expert-Exchange website.  I have only every worked with "crude tools" here at home where most of what I do is experiment for my friends and family's systems.  I am, however, beginning to design a video system for our church.  Netshow, or something like it, will answer a question I didn't even ask for that design.  I think what I'll do in the next few weeks is ask some specific questions about the design of that system here at Expert-Exchange and not confuse this thread.  I really appreciate your help.

Closed, 125 points refunded.
Computer101
EE Admin