Windows 7: WMP12 won't let me add music folders

Hi

When I purchased Windows 7 I purchased the N version which does NOT come with WMP12 or any other media features. As a result I had to add WMP and the other media features using Microsoft's Media Features Pack. Somehow or other I initially managed to add music to my WMP library but for some time now I've not been able to add music. In fact under Manage Libraries I can only add Recorded TV - I can't add Music, Video or Pictures.

Absolutely nothing happens when I click on Organize|Manage Libraries|Music/Video/Pictures, no dialogue box comes up at all on any of these options and I suspect I may be missing either a .dll file or some registry entries or both. I've done a search on the forum and elsewhere on the internet but so far I've not found anything of any help.

So my question is: does anyone have a possible solution to this or any suggestions (other than reinstalling Windows 7 that is). Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.



Incidentally, what part do libraries play in this.

Since initially writing this message I've done some further poking around but still haven't come up with a solution. So HELP!!!

Tracey

Try the steps on this page. Its for vista but should work for Windows 7 also.

Fixing When Windows Media Player Library Won’t Let You Add Files - How-To Geek

Hi Bill2

Already tried that but it didn't work at all. I also tried other sites which said to uninstall wmp12 and reinstall wmp11. That was worse than leaving things alone and I ended up having to recover Windows 7 from a week-old backup I had. Any other suggestions? Oh! Thanks very much for the response.

Tracey

Not being able to add files indicates a corrupted database and the steps in the link I posted should have fixed that. I can think of a couple more things.

1) While inside Media Player, select Tools > Advanced > Restore Media Library. Allow it to close Media Player. Open it up again and see if it starts adding your music.

2) Run a scan on your system files.

Click Start button > type cmd > right click and select run as administrator.

Type sfc /scannow in command prompt and hit Enter.

3) See if you can drag and drop folders/files into your library.

Hi Bill2

Thanks very much for your rapid response

Idea 1 one I've already tried several times all to no avail I might add. I therefore went straight to idea 2 and I'm afraid I couldn't remain at my PC whilst it completed. However, When I was able to get back to it the cmd window had gone so I assume that everything completed satisfactorily. I was therefore left with idea 3.

Drag and drop produced the effect I've been wanting. I simply did a search of my Audio drive, did a Ctrl-A to select all tracks and dragged the lot into WMP. This then started building a library of music as I've been wanting it to. Mind you we'll just have to see how long it remains as others with a similar problem to myself have found their music library emptying all on its own after a while - sometimes a very short while. Anyway at the moment it seems to be working OK. Mind you, WMP still doesn't bring up a dialogue as it should when I select any of Music, Video or Pictures. Two other PCs in our home are working exactly as they should. Thankfully MS included the drag and drop feature so that's how I'll have to do it in future.

Thanks again Bill2 for your help.

Tracey

Same exact problem here.... WMP12 will not add any of my files. tried to drag/drop still won't add files?? It worked great up until today. Any ideas/suggested fix? Thank you