How to open WMP 12 in maximized Library, not minimized Now Playing?

NBachers

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When I open Windows Media Player 12, it starts up in the Player Library, then immediately shrinks down to a small Now Playing window.

Since I haven't selected any music yet, the Now Playing window is useless and annoying.

I've looked around online and in this forum, but I still haven't found out how to make Windows Media Player start in an enlarged Player Library window. I've gone to Properties and selected Run: Maximized in the Shortcut menu. That doesn't seem to work.

Can anyone give me detailed, step-by-step instructions on how I can get Windows Media Player 12 to start up in a maximized Library window, instead of immediately shrinking down to the Player window?
 

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This is quite an odd one. WMP12 to my knowledge doesn't have an option to specifically start in a specific mode, at least none that I can find.
What exact build are you using? (Help --> About )
 

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No matter what your specs, my PC is better.
Just found this link which describes how to force WMP to do as its told with a simple target line fix.
Why media player 12 always automatically switches to 'Now Playing' mode everytime I open it now?


1. Click Start button -> All Programs, right click on Windows Media Player and click Properties.
2. On the Shortcut tab, note the Target box. Does it shows like %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe" /prefetch:1 //Task:NowPlaying"? If so, delete the /Task:NowPlaying and click OK.
If it does not work, you can try resettings Windows Media Player as below:
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bitAMD Phenom II X4 955 Black OC'ed 4.0GHz8GB Mushkin Enhanced Silverline (2x4GB) 1333XFX Radeon HD6870 1024MB GDDR5 OC'ed 945MHz; ...
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black OC'ed 4.0GHz
Motherboard
Asus M5A88-V EVO
Memory
8GB Mushkin Enhanced Silverline (2x4GB) 1333
Graphics Card(s)
XFX Radeon HD6870 1024MB GDDR5 OC'ed 945MHz; 1151MHz
Sound Card
Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme PCIe
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32" Hannspree SE32LMNB
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
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250GB Hitachi Deskstar (OS); 2TB Western Digital Elements
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650W XFX XXX Edition 80PLUS Bronze Modular
Case
Cougar 6GR1 Evolution
Cooling
Corsair H60 p/p 120mm; Zalman VF3000A; x4 120mm; x1 140mm
Keyboard
Logitech G510
Mouse
CM Storm Sentinel Advance Zero-G
Internet Speed
Not fast enough :I
Other Info
No matter what your specs, my PC is better.
I'm using Windows 7 Build 6.1 (Build 7601)
Windows Media Player is the most recent version, 12.0.7601.17514

Here's my Shortcut menu's Target box: "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe" /prefetch:1

I've tried the other suggestion:
1. Open Control Panel/Programs and Features.
2. Click "Turn Windows features on or off" in the left pane.
3. Expand "Media Features", uncheck "Windows Media Player". Click "Yes" to continue, and click OK to quit. Then Restart.

After restarting, I had to go back and re-check Windows Media Player. It still starts in the small "Now Playing" mode.

Is there a command line I can put into the Target box that would tell Windows Media Player to start in the Library mode?

I've tried adding /Task MediaLibrary to the end of the Target box command. It looked like this:

"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe" /prefetch:1/Task MediaLibrary

I also tried it with a space between Media Library:

"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe" /prefetch:1/Task Media Library

I've tried playing with a colon and spaces: "/Task: MediaLibrary" or "/Task:MediaLibrary" or "/Task: Media Library"

None worked
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Professional 64 bitIntel i5 760 @2.80 GHz4 GbATI Radeon HD 5450 (ASUStek Computer Inc)
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Spectrum Computers, San Francisco CA
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
CPU
Intel i5 760 @2.80 GHz
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P7P55D-E LX (LGA1156)
Memory
4 Gb
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 5450 (ASUStek Computer Inc)
Sound Card
Onboard Realtek VIA High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung Syncmaster 213T
Hard Drives
488GB Western Digital WDC WD50 02AALX-00J37A0 SCSI Disk
PSU
500W Power Supply
Case
Cooler Master Elite-350 ATX Mid Tower Case
Cooling
stock
The fix you tried is supposed to do exactly that. WMP should only be starting in Now Playing if the target contains that line "Task:NowPlaying". This is one of those absolutely bizarre issues that crops up when you know it shouldn't be happening, but nonetheless it does. I recently had it myself (see my first posts on this forum where I was having trouble with a partition. My computer wouldn't even let me complete step one.)

I have no further suggestions I'm afraid :(
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bitAMD Phenom II X4 955 Black OC'ed 4.0GHz8GB Mushkin Enhanced Silverline (2x4GB) 1333XFX Radeon HD6870 1024MB GDDR5 OC'ed 945MHz; ...
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black OC'ed 4.0GHz
Motherboard
Asus M5A88-V EVO
Memory
8GB Mushkin Enhanced Silverline (2x4GB) 1333
Graphics Card(s)
XFX Radeon HD6870 1024MB GDDR5 OC'ed 945MHz; 1151MHz
Sound Card
Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme PCIe
Monitor(s) Displays
32" Hannspree SE32LMNB
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
250GB Hitachi Deskstar (OS); 2TB Western Digital Elements
PSU
650W XFX XXX Edition 80PLUS Bronze Modular
Case
Cougar 6GR1 Evolution
Cooling
Corsair H60 p/p 120mm; Zalman VF3000A; x4 120mm; x1 140mm
Keyboard
Logitech G510
Mouse
CM Storm Sentinel Advance Zero-G
Internet Speed
Not fast enough :I
Other Info
No matter what your specs, my PC is better.
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