Windows 7 - I've completely lost all playback in media player

I hope there are windows media player diagnostic procedures.

I've realized that all the media player playback functionality has been lost. I cannot even play sample wma files that comes with Windows. No videos in standalone player or Firefox/IE plugins work either.

Media Center can play recorded TV.
Zune software can play everything.
And I checked with something called codec_sniper, most of the codecs in the system are OK.
I can also use PowerDVD, even for BluRay playback.

So it is the WMP that has the problem.

I recently upgraded to 7100 x64. I had no problems on 7000 x64 with the same setup (same video drivers, same software, and btw "upgrade" was actually a reinstall).

Are there any diagnostic procedures to find out what is wrong?

==== Ok, I solved the problem. The culprit was the Creative Driver...

I had a similar issue and found out it was the registry cleaner that caused the problems, have you used one?

I don't remember doing a registry cleanup.

I'm suspicious of three things:
* Creative drivers
* PowerDVD
* Virtual XP Mode (installed WMP11 and iTunes in it)

Is there a way to check "why" exactly it is not working?

Btw the error message is:
To be sure I downloaded Media Player Classic, and it plays the files fine. So I have the codecs.

You might be able to get more info by going into event viewer and see if there are error messages relating to WMP.

Powerdvd probalby not causing this, virtual pc maybe but doubt it. could be creative drivers.

Need more info

Ken

I could not find anything related to this in the event log.

I think the only option for me is a clean windows reinstall at the moment.

Absolutely. Sorry I couldn't help more but a clean install will get rid of the problem.

ken

Did you try sfc /scannow ?

I'm waiting to find enough free time to do a reinstall. We should have a way to automate installation of Office, Drivers, Firefox, and all the other things.

Actually when you re-install and get everything the way you want it do a backup and if you ever get in this position all you have to do is retore from taht back up and you will be set. I do thst sbout once a month just to keep the system clean

ken

Out of a hunch, I did a "rollback" of the creative driver. And after rebooting WMP started to work again!

And I am still able to run Creative applications, and also SPDIF decoder has been fixed.

Thanks to everyone who enabled me to be persistent.