Quicktime overrides my default m4a association with WMP

No, unfortunately I am still stuck with the same problem.

Apple is at fault here! The only solution is to uninstall QT but, unfortunately again, it is needed for iTunes.

Quicktime is well known for trying to take over the world.

Get rid of it and replace it with either Quicktime Alternative or Quicktime Lite.

Free-Codecs.com : QuickTime Alternative 3.1.0 : QuickTime Alternative will allow you to play QuickTime files (.mov, .qt and other extensions) without having to install the official QuickTime Player.

Either works well with I-tunes and does what is necessary without trying to disrupt your file associations.

Uninstall quicktime before installing alternative or lite. You may even have to uninstall I-tunes, but probably not.

Make sure you use free Revo (Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download ) to uninstall it. Quicktime is a pain to uninstall and their uninstaller will leave a lot of stuff in your system that Revo can delte in the second pass. Make sure you set Revo to advanced (4th option) and select all/delete all in the second pass.

Hey, thanks for the tip about QTA and using Revo to uninstall!

I had heard about QTA but I just believed that Apple would make iTunes check specifically for QuickTime.

Anyway, great to hear that I can unistall it and that iTunes will work with QTA.

I will try it out and post my results.

Thanks again!

Jacee said:

Have you tried right clicking the .M4A file, then choose 'open with'? It should default back to WMP, if you choose Media Player.

Check out my original post...the problem is NOT from within Windows File Explorer...it only occurs from within IE, where the file appears as a link and the QT plugin takes over when it is clicked.

Yeah, good idea to use Revo before you try to install QTA.

I was able to install QTA after using only normal uninstall methods for Quicktime, but Quicktime is notorious for leaving stuff behind and being generally difficult to get out of your life, so Revo is a good idea. Use it to dig maximum depth into the registry for Quicktime remnants, but be sure to look carefully at the bolded registry keys it identifies. Make sure they all pertain to Quicktime.

Rebooting after each step might help too.

Look at your C Program files after you think you are rid of Quicktime and make sure you have no remaining folders for it.

Quicktime is a pain. I think the easiest solution is to get rid of it and get Quick Time Alternative ( Download QuickTime Alternative 3.1.0 - FileHippo.com )

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I can't believe that the only solution though is to completely uninstall QuickTime. There must be a way to have QT installed for use with iTunes and still have another player as the default plug-in for the browser. There must be a setting that ties the MIME type for mpeg to a plug-in. I'm not talking about file associations, as mentioned multiple times in this thread, these settings affect files, but do not affect the plug-in used for streaming video from the internet. What I'm looking for would most likely be a registry setting. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I am now happy to report that QTA works great and now the .m4a files are being played with WMP!

iTunes runs fine with just QTA so everything is working as I wanted...and best of all I no longer have QuickTime! :)

That Revo Uninstaller is great!

Thanks all for your help.