Windows Media Player

[BGBG]

Windows Media Player 9 will no longer play Audio CD or any of the formats as it did. It sometimes wont open when clicked. After Startup it may open once. Then if click MP3 or WMA or WAV file it used to play, it shows "opening" at bottom and keeps on. If click it crashes and Ctrl+alt+del needed to close program. Usually wont open twice in same session.
Removed it and installed version 7 that I had from when I upgraded awhile back. Same thing. I used Add/Remove and 'rooled back' to original version 6.4.07.117. It does same. Other programs like the Windows CDPlayer and SonySpressa Play & Record WILL play the files. So will the Wave Editor programs. But not WMP 6, 7, or 9.Reinstalled over and over and over with same behavior. Hangs on opening and crashes. What on earth could be happening? Windows 98se and no problems show up in hardware or elsewhere.
Settings are all the same sofar as I can tell.

[Seth]

Weird.

Remove all instances of of WMP from Add/Remove, then remove WMP from program files. Run a reg search for "wmp" and remove all entries. Download and install WMP.

Failing that, run an scanreg /fix and a full hard drive surface scan. Now reinstall WMP.

BTW-That's 98 right?

[BGBG]

RIGHT - Win98se, Compaq Presario 5660,450mHz pentiumII, 256 RAM,11.2GB HD. FullRestore (format and restore to OEM) and Thorough scan disk done with no errors, no hardware problems after reinstall w98se.

BTW, I installed MusicmatchJukebox7.5, Nero Mix, and SonySpressa Play & Record, and the windows CD player and they all play everything they are supposed to.
I tried WMP 6.4,7.1,and 9.0 and all opened then hung when hit play and had to close program. Sometimes they wouldnt even open again. SaysREADY then click play and says OPENING MEDIA and just sttays that way. Will try some more. Thanks.

[mylanta]

One thing I have seen in the past is it is not a good idea to mix burning applications. I would wonder if Sony and Nero do not play well together as Nero does not mix well with others, and Roxio is the same way.

[Seth]

BTW, I installed MusicmatchJukebox7.5, Nero Mix, and SonySpressa Play & Record


That's likely the problem.

[Seth]

Continued from above:

It's hard to say which of the above is causing the problem, but I suggest that one of them caused a file association problem WMP, and it's likely MM.

[BGBG]

SETH : But I did not have NeroMix, MusicMatch and Spressa Play & Record installed when I had the proble. Only WMP was installed and it used to work fine even when I did have the others.

But I would like to know, if trying your suggestion, HOW do I completely remove WMP from system in Add /Remove when all it does is roll back to original? Maybe if I use Add/Remove at that point it will totally be gone...right?
Then I search for remnants and remove. I dont think the other programs CAUSE the problem for they were not there.

And just where does WMP come from in the first place? Windows 98se, or IE6, or is it downloaded as a standalone upgrade?
I want to try to remove it completely then try to reinstall but what reinstalls it?I have WMP 7.1 and 9 that I downloaded from Microsoft site.

[Seth]

I don't know why it used to work with MM, but MM has a knack for messing with WMP. The first thing I would try is removing MM and see what happens. Then right click on the file you're trying to open, choose properties and make sure it's set to open with WMP.

It's been a while since I installed 98, so I don't even remember what version of wmp it loads. Although upgrading 98's IE from the net will include wmp. You can choose not to install it as an option when setup begins.

[BGBG]

I have tried all 3 versions of Media Playe: the original 6.4, 7.1, and 9, and NONE will open a song file of any type I have tried. It will say "OPENING" and just stay that way until close or crash, as happens if keep mesing with it. It makes no difference if other sound player applications are installed or not. WMP will not open the same files all the 5 other applications will play easily. And previously it DID work with all the others installed. Never really used it much until 9 came out with the neat visualizations. I even downloaded new installs in case that was the problem but no luck. Basically I have .wav and .mp3 and Audio CD.
And I did try to do as previously asvised; to go and remove all media player things. BUT, media player is so ingrained into the OS there were just too many things there and I was afraid to just remove them all without knowing what they were. I would have had to just delete the files that said anything about media player and I got scared at the number of them.
I tried reinstalling W98se also with no improvement. Same with IE6 but it was only the 6.4 version. Actually I had a different version than than the 9.00.2980....a 3390 or something like that. Must have updated sometime.
I would really like to fix this. I will keep checking in case someone happens to think of an answer. I have other players but I like the visualizations of WMP. I have version 10 and 11 on the XP PCs.

[mylanta]

BG I just had a problem in Vista that might be a clue. When I installed Cyberlink Dvd, it warned me of an incompatibility but did not really explain it well so it continued to install. Today I realized MP would not even open. Uninstalled Cyberlink and back it came. If I were you I would uninstall every other player and see if it works then and I will bet it does. Then add one back ata time until you find the culprit!

[BGBG]

I did install Cyberlink DVD before problem happened but then I thought I removed it. Still, I may look for mor video players that may be there that I dont use. When I restored the Compaq Full Restore Disc it may have put things back that I long ago had removed and I never thought of that. Also, any Windows Updates I might have done from site would no longer be there.

When you are uninstalling do you enerally just leave shared files? There are many I have no clue about.

[BGBG]

For example, cyberlink leaves a folder with subfolders of Shared and Common files after removal, and Ssymetrics Digital Video Producers leaves folders named Shared and Tools. Should these be deleted? Or just left on?
I have uninstalled several Video things but so far no improvement.

[mylanta]

Normally I always leave files that might be shared but I do not leave anything saved for that program in the way of setup or data for the program.

[BGBG]

Now this is really a breakthrough. I had installed, removed, reinstalled WMP a number of times and removed all but the Compaq DVD player from the programs and still WMP would crash when click play.
THEN...I had it on and was comparing all the settings on another w98se machine. I was going through the menu tabs on toolbar of WMP and clicking to see what they did. I had had a CD in the drive for awhile and didnt realize it was there. On the PLAY tab there was an item called CD Audio. It is 3rd item on the tab. Well I clicked it and I dont want to swear, but I'll be D***** if the CD DID NOT ACTUALLY BEGIN TO PLAY !!!!!!!!!!
Now this is first time and I was astounded but I would say I stumbled on a simple fix. I cant believe this is all there was to it. I ccant remember ever clicking on that. I clicked it again and sure enough, the audio play STOPPED, and started again when I clicked.Iwill test this more but I believe I have hit upon the cause.
Maybe this will help someone whose only fault is a mis-set setting. Just go in there and click away on the tabs !

[BGBG]

Still wont open other files though, like mp3,wav,wma. Ive seen on other WMP forums where this is a common problem and nobody has found reason or fix.
But at least so far I have ability to play audio CDs, which is main thing I used WMP for anyway. Can play these other files on other applications. Will keep looking for fix.

[mylanta]

Download and install this...it should fix that.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm

[BGBG]

Rich: Thanks. I just downloaded and installed the Standard K Lite 285 codec pack. It found DX6.1a but I had 9.0b before uninstalling various audio, video, and jukeboxes. I think DX 9.0b came from Cyberlink DVD but I didnt want to put on again, so i found a 8.1 version of Direct X and installed it. Then I installed codecs, left all default, said No to remove info about 3 broken codecs, ..2 nero video decoders and an atiyvu9 that sounds like the video display card and drivers related.
Anyway, it put on WMP 6.4.9.0. I tried playing a wav and an mp3 file and they were fine. I tried a wma and it wouldnt play, saying "cannot render file". I then opened WMP 9 and it too played the wav and mp3 files that it previously would not. But on the wma it said it couldnt find a license so couldnt play.
This was to be my next post. What are licenses, how do they work, and how should they be handled sofar as media players are concerned. i do have several PCs that I may wish to play the same files on. My Licenses folders are now empty.
But that being said, I will make a new thread about that.
Meanwhile, you have really helped me get this working sofar as the mp3 and wav files. Some files are wma but I have sound file coverters and usually make most everything mp3 and store as data discs or make audio CDs of them. But there are wav and wma files on the machine I may play and just leave in that format.
Now, maybe the full K Lite would have some more things or maybe there is something else to solve this license issue. I have had that come up before but didnt know what to do. I understand it may come from older versions of something where no licenses were obtained and somehow they must be acquired. I unchecked things in options regarding this for it seemed restrictive somehow. Maybe that was wrong.
Anyway, I can now play Audio CD, WAV, and MP3 files on WMP 9, the new 6.4.0.9 , and maybe even the original one that is here from Win98se though I didnt try it yet. What I do have is fine.
Hate to ask for more but if you have any ideas about the license thing I would like to hear them. otherwise I will post a new thread. Thanks again.

[mylanta]

Not really sure about licenses but I believe wma files are best played by Quicktime...here is a Quicktime alternative player:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm

[BGBG]

Well, it all seems to work again now. I can play Audio CD, mp3,wav on player, other players work and dont interfere, and wma will work on a newly made song file but not on a previous one that was protected. If no license I guess you must record it again and uncheck the Protect option.
I couldnt install Quicktime after lengthy download because it was not for 98se and the previous version installs an older media player classic than the codec pack standard did. The full codec pack couldnt install because it couldnt find file DLL/OCX LoadLibrary and recommended abort. But the standard codec pack seemed to work out fine.
So finally i seem to be back like I was with all working as before.
Thanks for all your help.

[BGBG]

TESTIMONIAL:
Not with any intent to boast but to give confidence to any who feel like saying things dont work together as the first approach to problem solving.
This may be true and I may be the exception but my system is a 1998 Compaq Presario 5660, 450 MHZ Pentium II, 256 MB RAM, 11.2 GB HD and Windows 98 SE 4.10.2222A, IE6 and OE6.
Thanks to everyones help I now have the following Music Players:
3 Media Players- 6.4.07.1121, 6.4.0.9, and 9; MusicMatchJukebox 7.503103,
NeroMix, Sony Spressa Play and Record; several wave editors and sound recorder/converters.
And ALL play all the CDs and file types they are supposed to.
So if you have many things and they dont work dont necessarily think you you have to scrap all or most except what you want to work. Keep trying as there may be another solution. Im no guru which is why Im not on here trying to to tell everyone how to fix their systems and Im grateful for all the help I have received from this forum.
But I do now feel that just because several programs might be on PC it is no reason to give up trying to solve a problem. Just my humble opinion. It would have been easy for me to just remove whatever didnt work but now I have many things that do.

[mylanta]

Good for you, that should be and is a feeling of accomplishment!!!~