Problem with WMP Emptying Out Library

[shortmartin]

I'm having a problem with Windows Media Player on my computer. I have a large library of roughly 110,000 files. I know that the system can handle this because it works fine on one of my home computers. But on the other one, a problem occurs.

When I open media player the library build process begins and gets to between 30 and 38k songs before the song counter begins to return to zero (countdown) resulting in an empty library and the graphical elements of the media player application becoming visually corrupted (red crosses where the images should be for the play, burn and sync tabs).

Both computers have roughly the same set-up, so I don't know why it works on one and not the other. Very frustrating

And I'm not super duper great working with computers, so I figured I'd try this forum because I know that I can find some excellent, helpful resources here.

FYI, the exact same problem was described on an older forum (from 2010) here (Wmp12 + Whs Pp3 + Mce + 45K Songs = Empty Library - Power Pack 3 - We Got Served Forums).

This is the only reference on the internet that I've found to this particular problem, and I haven't been able to find any answers or solutions. Please help!

 

[ThrashZone]

Welcome to SevenForum's,
Can you please better describe how both these computers are accessing these files,
It seems your using some sort of server... to store these files and they are not located on each machine ?
WMP Troubleshooter,
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_media_player_diagnostic/
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/open-the-windows-media-player-settings-troubleshooter

 

[shortmartin]

Thanks for your reply - sure . . . so there are two computers, one on which everything is working fine, and the other on which the problem is occurring.

1. On the first computer, I have two hard drives, both internal (C & D). The entire music collection is housed on the D drive.

2. On the second computer, where there are problems, I have one internal hard drive (C), with no music on it, and the entire music collection is being loaded into WMP from two external hard drives. Note that I've also tried loading the music into WMP with one hard drive only and the same problem occurs.

So I've wondered that the problem might be related to the use of external hard drives . . . but I'm inclined against this theory because I tried loading all of the music into WMP on the FIRST computer, using the external hard drives rather than the internal D drive, and it all worked out fine. Based on this finding, I think that there might be something particular about how the second computer is set up or configured.

Thanks again for your reply, any help is very appreciated.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks for the additional information,
Is this connection to the original source wired or wireless ?
Also are you using Home group sharing feature of win-7 ?
If wireless what type/ brand router is being used ?
If wmp has to rebuild the cache every time and fails even to do that I would think the router is breaking the connection somehow and all of the cache shortcuts are being removed/ altered thus the rebuild attempt.
Please also go to Start/ and type system information into the search box and post each computers information.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

 

[shortmartin]

- The connection to the hard drives is wired.
- I'm not sure if I'm using Home group sharing features (on either computer). How do I determine this?

- In terms of providing system information for each computer . . . I'll have to do that tomorrow (as I'm currently away from home) . . . but I'll do that very soon. Many thanks.

 

[ThrashZone]

This might help,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/185263-network-map-view-networked-devices.html
The rest is for home network/ group sharing but it seems your more using work group wired setup to for both machines ?
HomeGroup from start to finish
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/homegroup-from-start-to-finish
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43972-homegroup-add-computer-join.html
File sharing essentials
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/File-sharing-essentials
Share files with someone
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Share-files-with-someone
Setting up a home network
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/setting-up-a-home-network
Home Network, Wireless Network and Computer Networking Made Easy
http://www.home-network-help.com/
http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/27903-ultimate-router-guide-optimize-security-performance.html

 

[shortmartin]

Cool, I'll check in on the specs on each machine, and the home group info and post a reply very soon. Many thanks for your input thus far, very appreciated.

 

[shortmartin]

So I've now updated my system specs. This is for the second computer that I've been referring to - the one on which the WMP library is having the 'emptying out' problem. If you want to know the system specs for the first computer, please just let me know and I can provide that information, too.

(Note: It seems to me from running this system spec tool that this device actually has two internal hard drives. Is this correct? For some reason, only a C drive shows up when I go to 'computer.' But if there are indeed two internal hard drives on this computer, then I could probably put all the music files on the other hard drive [as in the set up for my first computer] and that might resolve this problem. Just a thought.)

As for the network questions you were asking about . . . .

- the first computer (where WMP library is working) is connected to the internet via a local area connection. It says "joined" for home group. The internet connection speed is 100 mbps. And this connection uses all of the following items:

- Client for Microsoft Networks
- QoS Packet Scheduler
- File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
- Internet Protocol Version 6
- Internet Protocol Version 4
- Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Driver
- Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper Responder

- the second computer (where the WMP library isn't working) is also connected to the internet via a local area connection. There doesn't seem to be any information here about it belonging to a home group. The internet connection speed here is 1.0 gbps. And this connection also uses all of the following items:

- Client for Microsoft Networks
- QoS Packet Scheduler
- File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
- Internet Protocol Version 6
- Internet Protocol Version 4
- Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Driver
- Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper Responder

 

[ThrashZone]

Show your Network map the way both machines see it,
Network Map - View Networked Devices
You might need to go to Disk management to see everything on the computer.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/274797-disk-management-post-screen-capture-image.html
Posts picks of both machines/ disk management and network maps.

 

[shortmartin]

I've gone ahead and followed the additional steps. Let me clarify before posting the result. The two computers connect to the internet differently. I live on a university campus, and I have a "home" computer that connects via the local cable provider. This is Computer 1 (on which the WMP library works swimmingly). I also have a "work" computer that connects to the internet via an Ethernet cable hooked up to the university. This is Computer 2 (on which WMP library empties out).

Computer 1

When I ask to show the network map, it says, "Windows cannot create the network map. Responses from other devices on the network are delayed or there is an incompatible router on the network."

Computer 2

When I ask to show the network map, it says, "Windows cannot create the network map because the network's location type is Public. In order to view the network map, you must set the network's location type to Home or Work in Network and Sharing Center."

And here are the two attachments of screen shots of the disk management.

Thanks again for your continued assistance.

 

[ThrashZone]

In my opinion I would just transfer the files to the massive Unallocated space on disk 1,
This is a really sweet free tool to help format the disk...
Free Partition Magic alternative. Best Free Partition Manager Freeware for Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8 32 bit & 64 bit - EaseUS Partition Master Free Edition.
Seems like the image on the left has the most issues/ only 27GB left on the primary but in the same case disk 1 is huge.
With the internet access issue is why I would cut out the frustration and just transfer the files,
I'm going to post for a second opinion though so stay tuned for an update hopefully soon,
Cheers.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I kinda agree TZ if you don't mind me suggesting too the Partition Wizard I find easier to use when dealing with partitions or anything drive wise to be honest.

Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition.

 

[shortmartin]

Sounds good. So basically you think that having the music files on the large hard disks makes the most sense, and cuts out possible internet issues? One quick question - why would there be internet connectivity issues when it comes to the WMP library, if the music files are stored on external hard drives?

Many thanks!

 

[ThrashZone]

Pure speculation here but it seems a permissions issue might be occurring but no normal notification,
Use this on the external hard drive,
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/112795-context-menu-take-ownership.html

 

[shortmartin]

So the problem still persists . . . even though I've now put all of the music files on the internal (D) hard drive. So it apparently wasn't an issue with the external hard drives. I'd appreciate any further assistance. This is driving me crazy and is really frustrating because I have lots of great music and love using WMP. I really don't want to switch to Winamp or another device.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hmm just out of interest Shortmartin have you done a sfc and or chkdsk might be worth a run can do now harm at least

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

while you are at it you could try these too in addition to that Malwarebytes


http://www.superantispyware.com/


http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

download ADW from bleeping computer

 

[shortmartin]

thanks for this tip - I'll try it out and report back.