DEMENTED Windows Media Player V11.0.6001.7004

OS: Vista

PLATFORM: 2007 HP Pavilion

Ever since disabling some automatic features under the Library,
Player, and Devices tabs in the WMP options, the following
behaviors(among others) have occured:

1. Upon initial use during session, WMP takes up to 5 minutes to
start playing selection.

2. Features such as Graphic Equalizer, Play Speed, or SRS Wow do not
have effect unless I shut WMP down and reopen it.(No big deal - just
an extra 10sec to hear what I want).

Any suggs/comments/experiences similar?

-ChrisCoaster

 

_____________________
HullOOOH? This is not spam or troll bait.

-CC

 

Undo changes > change one at a time to find culprit of Ever since.

I haven't opened Windows Media player in 40 moons.
Uninstall/Reinstall/restore defaults so it can fix itself (keep personal
settings - no)? Sounds like it's spending time trying to connect somewhere
and chokes. Try go to Services and disable Windows Media Network Sharing
service.

Why I like VLC is that it's lite and fast to open and start playing just
about any media type - makes a good default player because of its quickness.
Why I like Jet Audio is that media files sound and look just a little
better. Why I stopped using Winamp... Jet Audio.

Windows Media plug-in, DFX, is a good one:
http://www.fxsound.com/dfx/index.php?vendor=0&subvendor=0&plus=0&refer=0




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_____________________
HullOOOH? This is not spam or troll bait.

-CC

 

You can find web sites that specialize in WMP.

http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html

The path of least resistance, is to find another player.
Microsoft doesn't seem to be too interested in
building a usable media player. Otherwise, they
would have offered more repair/reinstall options
for WMP. Nuking your C: drive to fix this, doesn't
sound very friendly as a solution.

Paul

 

_________________________

The thing is it's slow to start playing only on the first time. If i
close it and reopen it to play something else it plays it right away.
The funky graphic EQ behavior(turning it on and off and hearing no
effect) occurs at random. Sometimes once or twice per session or
sometimes never. Basically the stuff I disabled is all stuff WMP does
automatically, no secret folders or anything.

Also my new Canon powershot camera I cannot get videos to play in WMP.
They play only in Quicktime and you cannot uncheck the MP4 default
under Quicktime.

-CC

 

What does GSpot report, for the file type and CODECs used ?
Perhaps that'll give a hint as to what's up. (Basically,
what GSpot does, is similar to GraphEdit. GSpot requests
the construction of a filter graph, and that shows what
DirectShow components are being used to play a movie. Or
something to that effect. You use this, when you don't
really know what kind of file it is.)

http://gspot.headbands.com/v26x/index.htm

http://gspot.headbands.com/v26x/GSpot270a.zip

Doesn't the OS have final authority over the binding
of file types to applications ? Could you fix the binding
in Windows, rather than relying on some panel in QuickTime ?
On my Windows 7 laptop, something called "Default Programs"
seems to set the association. Someone installed QuickTime
on that machine (I didn't put it on there), and using
Default Programs, I was able to steal .mp4 away from
QuickTime. Double clicking a sample .mp4 downloaded
from Apple, got WMP to intercept the request. So the
association change, seemed to be working.

Paul

 

__________________
Went into default programs. Under quicktime, the checkbox for mp4s
cannot be unchecked.

-CC

 

__________________
Paul: I managed to change the "Association" under Default Programs,
but when I went to find the files to play them - they weren't there!!!

-CC

 

So you had a sample .mp4 but it disappeared ?

There are some small and ugly files here you could test with.
Download the .mp4 one, then see if the right thing happens
when you double click.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1425

You can also test your new copy of GSpot with it
It says a CODEC of "mp4v" is needed to play it.

Paul

 

Ok, I opened Win Media Player (version 11) - it still opens and I uncheck
everything automatic. I did so to confirm what I didn't think was there.
There's no file type association listed in Windows Media for the .mov file
type and that's the type Canon cameras produce for videos, .mov*. You'll
"jump through hoops" looking for a MOV codex for Windows Media Player ; )
This is the part where I'll talk smack about QuickTime infiltrator, unable
to fully uninstall, calls home, bloated media player. Lots of people
complain that Canon uses .mov/QuickTime instead of AVI for their point and
shoot cameras. If I ever want to share a .mov camera video, I convert it to
AVI first so I don't subject "my people" of having to use QuickTime. All
purpose media player VLC plays .mov files so QuickTime went bye-bye.

* I'm not a video expert... isn't MP4 a container whatever. But I know the
file extension for Canon camera videos is .mov. You can see file
extensions... in Folder Options > uncheck "Hide extensions for known file
types".

Did you try uninstalling Windows Media yet to see if reinstalling will cure,
revert back, it's settings and fix the intermittent problems? I think, like
Internet Explorer, that uninstalling will only revert Windows Media back to
it's previous version. I have XP, tried Internet Explorer 8 but reverted
back to IE7 because there was a couple half broken functions with XP/IE8 and
s l o w - kinda like you describe about your Win Media Player. Maybe a
revert back to previously installed version will hook you up. Back-up plan:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/windows-media-player

Older versions: http://www.oldversion.com/Windows-Media-Player.html (player
9 was my fave)

PS: try this... right click on a camera made video and select "Open With" >
"Choose Program" and pick whichever media player you want (WMP) with the
checked box "always use this program". Say yes if Windows Media asks to try
and play this. Take charge, Chris!



--------------------

Also my new Canon powershot camera I cannot get videos to play in WMP.
They play only in Quicktime and you cannot uncheck the MP4 default
under Quicktime.

-CC

 

__________________________
This was no sample .mp4 it was my New Years Eve footage from our HOUSE
PARTY! Good thing I had copied it to multiple folders on my PC and
still had it on my camera.
If changing an association causes files to disappear SCREW IT. I'm
leaving is as is!
-CC

 

_________________
Kele - Thanks for restoring the WMP version# in the title of my post!
It should should serve as common sense to note the version number of
the software/OS/whatever one has a question about.

-CC