Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring Windows 10 for Playing Online Monitors AnyWhere Channels

How to set up Windows10 device to run with the Online Monitors AnyWhere app

How to set up Windows10/11 device to run with the Online Monitors AnyWhere app


Introduction
A regular PC with Windows 10/11 on it, is in general a very solid digital signage setup. In this guide, we'll show you how to install and configure Chromium as the browser that is used for channel playback. We also describe what you should do to have the PC shut down automatically and startup everything automatically when you switch it on again.


1. Latest Video Drivers

For optimal graphics performance, make sure you are running the latest video drivers on your computer.
On the bottom left, click the Windows icon and then the gear icon.
Type Display in the search field at the top of the window.
Click Display settings.
Click Advanced display settings.
Click Display adapter properties.
On the Adapter tab click the Properties button.
On the Driver tab click Update driver.
Click Search automatically for updated driver software.
A message will appear to tell you the driver is up to date or instructions on how to update your driver

2. Chrome Installation And Automatic Start 

a. If Google Chrome is not yet installed, open your current web browser and go to http://google.com/chrome
and then download and install the latest version of Google Chrome as instructed.

b. When asked, set Chrome to be your default browser

If not asked, go to Start > Search for Deafult Apps > in the Browser section, select Google Chrome:



c. To make sure videos with sound can play correctly you will have to set Chrome to enable automatic video playback as follows:

1.      Open the relevant Chrome or Chromium browser manually and type chrome://settings/content/sound in the address bar.

2.      In the section Allow press the Add button.

3.      Type [*.]monitorsanywhere.com and press Add.


d. Download this Zip file which includes our auto-start script.

Unzip the file to the desktop of your computer. (Don't create a folder but simply extract all on the actual desktop:

 

3. Create a scheduled task
Click Start > Search for 'Task Scheduler' and open it.
Choose to Create a basic task and name it Start Chromium for ONMAW, click Next.



Set that this task has to be executed When I log on, click Next.
Choose the action Start a program, click Next.
Click the Browse button and select the StartChromeForONMAW.cmd file on the desktop.



To make startup more smooth: check “Open the Properties dialog for this task when I click Finish” before you click Finish.
Go to the Triggers tab, click At log on trigger and choose Edit...

Under Advanced settings, check Delay task for and choose 30 Seconds. This way Chromium will start up 30 seconds after Windows has started. This will allow for network and internet connections to have been established.

      4. How to set your PC to auto-logon


  • Download this zipped registry file
  • Unzip the file to get the registry file called netplwiz.reg
  • Double click the netplwiz.reg file to let it make a change in the Windows registry that will make the option appear
  • Go to Start > Run > Type 'netplwiz'  and press OK. The User Accounts window will open:




    Untick the 'Users must enter username and password...' and press OK.

  • You will be prompted for the user's password, after which you can accept the new configuration with Ok.



    • 5.    Disable Energy Saving Mode

     

    To make sure that the screen does not turn black after a few minutes, do the following:

    On the bottom left, click on the Windows icon and then the gear icon.

    Type Power in the search field at the top of the window.

    Click on Power & Sleep Settings.

    Select Never for all options.



    6. Disable Windows Auto-Updates


    Download StopUpdates10 app and install it on your PC.


    How do you know if everything went well?

    You should be seeing this screen when turning on the device:






    How to assign a Player to a Windows10 device


    On your PC, login with your username and password to the Online Monitors AnyWhere website:

    http://online.monitorsanywhere.com

     

    Go to Settings:




    Select Players:




    enter the registration code that you see on the TV, name the Player and select a Channel from the drop-down list. Click Register to start playing the content  on the TV: