My first Mac = frustrated = advice please

[Sad Rabbit]

I have just been given a 2008 iMac which is running El Capitan 10.11.6 , this is my first ever Apple Mac computer , so I'm completely new and need some help . I have a home wifi set up , with a router connected to the internet . Currently I also have a Windows 10 laptop that is connected to the router via an ethernet cable , I also have my LG smart tv connected to my home router via another ethernet cable . I can play movies stored on my Windows 10 laptop directly to my LG smart TV , using the ethernet cable connection .
Now I am trying to do the same and play movies stored on my iMac's internal HDD , the iMac is also connected to the router via another ethernet cable, but I just can't seem to find out how to play movies on my LG tv from my iMac . The LG smart tv can find my windows laptop in its connected devices option , but it does not show my iMac. In the iMac's system preferences Sharing option I have the file sharing set to on , the remote location set to on , and in the share Folders option I have my folder where the movies are , set as on with read and write permission set as on . In the Options box I have Share files and folders using SMB , set as on , and my computer account name , set as on , But still no luck ...Any advice most welcome.

 

[960design]

Yep... lot of old tech mixed in there... not really sure how to advise you on your exact situation.

Here's how I do it.

Scenario:
AppleTV connected via HDMI and hidden behind LED TV ( flat screen ) that is connected to the wall.

Click AirPlay on Mac, iPad or iPhone to send movie file to AppleTV->LED TV via wireless/bluetooth ( no more cables all over the place ). Really, just one click on on computer and a swipe and a tap on the iPad/iPhone.

Your windows computer would need an emulation software to send wirelessly; something like AirParrot.

 

[Sad Rabbit]

Hi and thanks for the advice , sadly it seems my iMac does not support AirPlay ........


Requirements for using AirPlay

Here's a quick way to find out if your Mac supports AirPlay: Choose Apple () menu > System Preferences, then click Displays. If you don't see a “Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” checkbox, your Mac doesn't support AirPlay.


On my iMac there's no Show mirroring options .

I'm going to keep searching for a way .

 

[mtngoatjoe]

I'm pretty sure you need an Apple TV to use AirPlay.

How are you getting the video from the Windows laptop to the TV? Are you using some kind of Chromecast app on the TV, or some other app?

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Not sure if relevant but Plex may help:

http://www.lg.com/us/support/product-help/CT10000018-1427120133847

 

[ZMacintosh]

Sounds like it can't read the file format of the iMac.

You could try to attach an external drive or partition the drive to a FAT partition or Windows Partition format...and store the movies there. Otherwise the best bet is to put them iTunes, turn on Home Sharing and watch them that way.
You could do that with the Windows notebook as well, and go through an AppleTV instead to watch and view movies.