Repeat these setup steps on the remote PC: Link the account with your Windows Live ID, and activate streaming. Once you've finished, the home media will appear under the 'Other Libraries' heading. You can browse and stream music, pictures, and video there. Note that corporate firewalls may block this streaming service if you are at work or on some other high-security network.

Windows 7 simplifies the process of local streaming with the help of HomeGroup networking. You'll let only trusted devices into your HomeGroup (your local network), and they'll have unfettered access to media files.

You can manage these settings within the HomeGroup section of the Networking and Internet Control Panel, including deactivating checkboxes if you want to share only certain kinds of media files. Your Documents folder, for example, remains private by default.

You can turn on streaming in the Networking and Internet Control Panel, too: Select Stream my pictures, music, and videos to all devices on my home network. Otherwise, you can activate local streaming within Windows Media Player: Select Stream, Automatically allow devices to play my media. Then choose Automatically allow all computers and media devices. Networked libraries will show up under the 'Other Libraries' heading within Media Player and Photo Gallery.