How do you FORCE In-Home Streaming to Work?

[CoffeeCup]

Well, I've just about had it. Recently I've come to heavily depend on the ability to stream games from one computer to another, largely in part of the fact that my laptop is now obsolete and the only good computer is in the living room, a computer that nobody uses that is connected to a TV that nobody can seem to turn away from. And yet, despite the fact that it worked before, nothing changed, except now that Steam magically doesn't want to locate any of the other computers.
I have tried everything.
I don't think you understand.
Everything.

Re-enable and de-enable streaming on both computers.
Restart computers.
Restart Steam.
Connected them both to the same Ethernet cable.
Check to make sure they are on the same subnet.
Open ports.
Disable anti-viruses.
Turn off firewall.
Updated both to the same version. DOUBLE CHECKED that they are both on the same version.
Check to make sure nothing else is using those ports (nothing is).
Do all of the above in Big Picture mode.
Do all of the above in Little Picture mode.
Ping to make sure they are getting a signal to each other in a local area network.
Tried another software to see if it works fine, which it does flawlessly.

And before anybody snarkily comments, yes, I did log both Steam clients into the same account. Both are in online mode.

So for the love of Gaben and Gotham, and anything else that starts with a G, somebody help me out here! Video games are the only stress relief I get all day, and with my only way of playing them being locked out by some nebulous force I'm strongly considering going outside at this point, which where I live isn't an ideal option regardless of whether or not you're a naturalist.
I want to find a way to force Steam to locate the other computer in the house. I wanna grab my Steam client from my crappy laptop and slam its puckered lips right up against my living room Steam client and hold it there until both of them grow to like it. Please tell me there's some way to do this.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Disable HomeGroup and set the systems to Work profile instead of Home.
Don't disable Windows Firewall, as that may hinder any Home Networking from working properly.

Then open Windows Explorer and verify that u can see and connect to your Home Networked Machines from Network icon in there. And access their shared folders. If you can't access them, then it's probably due to how u have each system's network settings configured.

Then login Steam Client on main gaming machine. Then go login to same account in Steam Client on the machine u wish to stream games to. Once logged in now on 2nd machine, click Library > All Games; select a game and click the "Stream" button rather then the Play/Install button. There is a down arrow next to the Play button for that purpose.

[CoffeeCup]

Thanks for the advice, but there doesn't seem to be an option to switch fom Home to Work.
By the way, I'm on Windows 8.1. And yes, it worked while I was in 8.1 before.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Are both systems running "8" or "8.1" or are u trying to stream between multiple OS' ?
Often times it will come down to per-system Network related settings.
So again, verify each can talk to each other (not via IP pings, as that doesn't mean it works) but rather via Windows Explorer > Network > Local System Name > Shared Folders

All systems in home networking should use the same network related settings and workgroup to help ensure they can talk to each other without issues.

[CoffeeCup]

Between multiple OS's. The one in the other room uses Windows 7.
I'll have to try that tomorrow, unfortunately.
Thanks for the help so far.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Then on the Win7 PC go into "Networking and Sharing" you should see it set to "Home" click that and select "Work" this disables HomeGroup for easier sharing.

Also in there (on the left hand side) is "Advanced Sharing Settings" I would ensure all your home PCs u wish to have talk to each other, are using the same settings for that.

Under 8.1/10 those settings are all there, but look a little different; As those OS will show config for "Private" "Public" and then "All" so some u need are under "Private" while other settings are under "All"

[CoffeeCup]

Hm, strange. I did what you said but, but there's no way to swtich from Home to Work. It just shows me a million under options under the tab that says "Home or Work" but not the ability to choose between the two, itself.
I figured maybe I should disable the ability for it to do HomeGroup, though, right?
"Allow Windows to manage HomeGroups."
"Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers."
I selected the latter.

[CoffeeCup]

Also worth nothing, I checked in the network tab. Both computers can see each other in there. Just not in Steam.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Then it sounds like u have a Security app on the system that has disabled such things already.
Something as simple as IObit Malware Fighter (and many apps like that) can disable all Home Networking features with regards to Sharing or Remote Access.