Windows 7: WMP Constantly Freezing - Need to access Windows Sideshow

Hi all,



I am trying to fix a problem i have with windows media player where by it keeps freezing. The problems I am having are:

1. Windows Media player is constantly in the background
2. Music sometimes continues to play even though i close windows media player
3. Even when i go in through task manager to end the task, windows media player just starts back up
4. Finally, windows media player keeps freezing or takes a very long time to skip to the next track

I used to have this problem about a year or so ago and I recall that I had to disable some Logitech bits and pieces in Windows Sideshow. Since then i have formatted my machine and now the problem has returned. I tried to go into Windows Sideshow in the control panel but it isn't there. Also, trying to "activate" Windows Sideshow through group policy via the mmc console won't work as I have Windows 7 home Premium and I get an error stating that this snap-in may not be used with the version of windows.

Any ideas on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.

P.s. I have already tried uninstalling and reinstalling through the "Media Fetures" in "Turn Windows Features On or Off".