[Guide] Install WMP11 over WMP12

For those users like me who prefer WMP11 over Beta 12, follow this guide.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility if you break your windows media player, or windows itself for that matter. I recommend to take backups of *ALL* files that will be replaced, in case something goes wrong.

Proof:



Now that that's over with, here is the guide. *Edits to Original Guide are in RED, please follow the new guide*

1.- run services.msc and stop Windows Media Player Sharing Service.
2.- take ownership of C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player
3.- take ownership of all files starting with wmp in C:\WINDOWS\System32\
4.- take ownership of C:\Windows\System32\en-US\wmploc.dll.mui
5.- Delete the contents of C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player
6.- Copy the contents of Windows Media Player.rar to C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player
7.- Delete all files starting with wmp in C:\WINDOWS\System32
8.- Copy the files from wmp.rar to C:\WINDOWS\System32 *EDIT* DO NOT COPY WMPLOC.DLL in WMP.rar *EDIT*
9.- Copy wmploc.dll from wmploc_WMP11.rar to C:\Windows\system32\
10.- Copy wmploc.dll.mui from wmploc_WMP11.rar to C:\Windows\system32\en-US\
11.- Run (with administrator priviledges) wmp.reg
12.- Run (with administrator priviledges) toolbar_fix.reg
13.- Run (with administrator Priviledges) register.bat
14.- Delete the following registry key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Setup\Installed Versions
15.- Reboot
16.- Open WMP and setup media sharing.
17.- You're done.

Credit to:

Kelly's Corner for the toolbar fix
Devian Art for the WMP skin
avatar_43 for helping some.

Download link: Free file hosting by Savefile.com
Download link (wmploc_WMP11.rar): Free file hosting by Savefile.com

I just tried this and it didn't work so I think it's for x86 only.

It never ceases to amaze me how [INSERT COLORFUL EXPLETIVE HERE] people are. For years, they've been asking Microsoft to give them a leaner, less bloated, Media Player. And when Microsoft finally gives it to them in the form of Windows Media Player 12, they whine like babies because they don't like it, and go back to the older bloated version.

Sort of like UAC.

In Vista, people cried foul because it stopped them from wrecking their computers. Now, with Windows 7, they are saying that UAC isn't secure enough, if at all. But isn't that exactly what the people wanted?

"Get a life" is all I can say to them...