help: wmp 12 fails to reinstall properly

[I have Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)]

A while earlier, I turned the media features off from the 'turn windows features on/off' option in the control panel (I did this to downgrade the windows media player to wmp 11; since i could not install wmp 11 while wmp 12 was installed on the computer). For some reason, all of the wmp 11 setups i could find insisted on not installing even after unchecking the media features; so I decided to revert to wmp 12 and checked the media features again.

Right now, windows media player 12 opens without any errors (and any file I open while wmp is running, opens without problems). But whenever i try to open any wmp 12-associated file through windows explorer, this error comes out:

"Windows media player is not installed properly and must be reinstalled"

and it asks me to install it from the microsoft website. If i do follow the link to the website, Microsoft says this: "There is no download available for this operating system. Please visit Windows Update to check for the latest Windows Media Player updates."

I couldn't find any updates, so I decided to reinstall wmp 12 manually. I downloaded this thing called Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N and Windows 7 KN. That was the only setup containing wmp 12 for windows 7. When I run the said setup, it says "this update is not applicable to your computer." and nothing more, then closes itself.

So, how do i get a decent reinstall of windows media player 12? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

firstly make sure you completely remove any of the wmp11 setups you tried first then untick the media player & media center boxes then reboot - then go back & re-tick the two boxes - then re-boot again , this should give you back a working wmp12 if not you will need to run regedit / hkey local machne/software/microsoft/media player/ setup / installed versions & delete the installed versions folder & repeat the process of unticking/re-booting /re-ticking again - the reason you couldnt get any of the mp11 installs to work is that there is no known auto installer that will work for 64bit windows - you have to replace the files manually - there is a link for this but you will have to search for it - if i remember correctly it was on a site called winmatrix - it was a long time ago before i reverted back to 32bit 7 (64bit nothing but hassel)

I have the same problem-didn't like the fact that there was no ATE in 12, so tried to revert to 11.
I've tried the steps outlined above and I deleted the WMP folders in programs but I still get the message "WMP 12 is not....." etc.
I can't do a repair install 'cos my laptop didn't come with a DVD and I am reluctant to do a "go back to factory settings"
Why the hell Microsoft can't produce a download is beyond me.
Any help gratefully received.