Windows 7 - Stop media updating

How can I make Windows Media Player stop updating media every freaking time I start it up? It always hogs up massive amount of CPU power and goes into (Not Responding) for a min while updating.

I only add media files to the Windows Explorer Library so I can get indexed searches. I don't even use WMP to view files or anything. Just to burn some music CDs sometimes.

I've tried deleting the files from the WMP library but the next time I open it up, it scans and updates all my files again! Is there a way to completely purge the WMP library and make it not update ever? I've unchecked every option that seems to make it scan and update but it still does it.

Basically I want to UNLINK the Windows Explorer Library from the WMP Library. I want to keep the former.

Thanks.

If you don't use WMP why no just disable it and use another Burner for making your music CD's. There are plenty of freebie applications out there!

Here's what I found about that:
Hope it helps
-DG

I had this same problem when I installed Windows 7 last year (7048,7077, 7100 & 7600).
I tried unchecking all the options I could find, but that had no effect.

According to some info I found on the Internet, you can edit a file to fix this problem.
Windows Media Player constantly updating media library

• Location: C:\Users\[your name]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Media Player
• File Name: wmpfolders.wmdb

"To do so edit this file with any text editor (it just a plain XML) and replace Exclude="0" with Exclude="-1" to mark folder as excluded."

I tried this solution (and others mentioned, apart from deleting all the "system file" album covers) but it didn't work for me.
WMP kept overwriting it (even when I made the file "Read-Only")!

I couldn't find a way to stop it.
Well actually I did, sort of, I swapped to Winamp.

IMO, Windows Media Player 12 is awful.
I actually use the equally awful (for different reasons) Real Player for ripping music, because it seems to have a good CD database for automatically finding the related info.

You could try CDex.

I use Winamp when I want to play music (during my Windows 7 sessions).

So there's not solution to this problem hmm.

That's disappointing.

I can't find an option called, "Everything in One Place".
Where is that option supposed to be located?

I only have these location on the start page - Tasks, TV, Movies, Music, Pictures + Videos & Extras.
None of the starting locations scroll left (except Tasks >Shut down option).

Ah right, I go back into it and it appears as you describe now. Wonder why it was different when I first started it... anyway:

In Media CENTER, Go to tasks > Settings > General > Startup and Window Behavior and make sure "Start Windows Media Center when Windows starts" is disabled, and then save. Then go back to the general screen and click on Automatic Download Options. Uncheck both of those options and save. Then from the General Screen again go to Optimization, and uncheck "perform optimization" and save. Then Go into privacy from the general screen and into privacy settings and uncheck both and save. then from the privacy screen, go into the customer experience settings and uncheck "Send usage and reliability information to Microsoft" and save.

Don't forget to do what I told you for the Media PLAYER, as that is the more important one (at least the one you listed as having trouble with).

Thanks for that clarification.

I've just started WMP and it is trying to load everything into its library.

I am loathe to try it out, because of the other problem I experienced.
When I first tried Windows 7 (7048), WMP damaged about 25% of my collection (~1000/4000 mp3s)!
It helpfully truncated the file names and titles of my mp3s.
It took days to repair the damage.

I am expecting to discover that once it has "finished" loading the library, it will have damaged my mp3 data tags.
However I backed up my music collection last night, so it should be easy enough to recover from any new disasters caused by WMP (If and when they occur).

It's just finished and it's screwed up the Music library in Windows!
It duplicated all of the folders in the Music library and then loaded the tracks in twice.
It has also adjusted some data on some mp3s (even though they are all set to "Read-Only").

My original opinion stands, WMP 12 is garbage.
To be fair though, every media player I've tried, has been designed by people who obviously never use them to play media.

Thanks for trying to help though, DustSailor.

Oh well, time to fix my libraries and mp3s.

oh that is strange. have you tried going into default programs > Change autoplay settings and made everything that deals with your situation to "ask you every time"? I think it shouldn't just force things, at least I've not heard it doing so. Any time I've had music in my music folder, I haven't noticed any changes. Guess I'm not real sure whats going on in your system