Windows Media Player - Rebuild Corrupted Libraries

How to Rebuild Windows Media Player Corrupted Libraries​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to rebuild your Windows Media Player (WMP) libraries in order to remove corrupted files (for example, files deleted from the hard disk that linger in the WMP library) in just a few, easy steps. This tutorial can also be applied to other issues.

   Note

• Using this tutorial will not delete any media files physically; instead, it will reset the WMP libraries to their default state, without changing your previously made settings.
• Windows Libraries are not affected by this tutorial.

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The N and KN editions of Windows 7 have all the features that normally come with each individual Windows 7 edition, except for Windows Media Player 12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker.

The N editions of Windows 7 allow you to choose your own media player and software required to manage and play CDs, DVDs, and other digital media files. If you choose to use Windows Media Player 12, downloading it, along with related software, is free. Download Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N with Service Pack 1 and Windows 7 KN with Service Pack 1 (KB968211) from Official Microsoft Download Center

   Tip

Please make sure Windows Media Player is closed during this process.

Here's how:

1. Click on the Start Orb and type "services" into the search, then select Services from the list of search results.

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Alternatively, you can right-click the Computer icon, select Manage, then choose Services under "Services and Applications" in Computer Management.

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2. In the list of services, locate "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service" and stop it via one of the highlighted options.

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   Tip

Please keep the Services window open, you will need it later.

3. Click on the Start Orb and use the search again, this time type in C:\Users\(user)\AppData\Local and click the Local folder from the list of search results.

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4. Inside the "Local" folder, navigate to the "Microsoft", then "Media Player" folder. Delete all the files contained in this folder and close the Explorer window.

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5. Now go back to the Services window and start the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. Next time you start Windows Media Player, it will automatically rebuild all libraries using the information on folders that are included in the Windows Libraries.

 

[pxfragonard]

When I go to C:\Users\(user)\AppData\Local. I get two media player folders. One is just titled Media Player and the other is named Media Player.old.

They both have 37 items, 30 .wmdb files each, 24 in curly brackets (archived?) and 6 that aren't. What to do? I'm not sure I want to delete either folder. I wonder if this is why I have to rebuild the library so often. I sometimes do it from within WMP, sometimes when the troubleshooter pops up and sometimes from the Fixit file Microsoft provides online. I've used your method also, Gornot, until now... I don't know what to delete.

 

[Alan T]

Me Too

Had this same problem with a trashed library db.

For me this happened when I tried to upgrade in place from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Turned out that there was some graphics driver incompatibility between the W10 drivers for my Mobo Intel chipset and my NVidia GE200 card. So after about 3 days of trying everything the Internet and Nvidia had to offer, I had to get some real work done (as opposed to working unpaid hours debugging their products for them!:sarc. I had no choice but to drop back to Windows 7.

After that point my WM library was hosed (I'm surmising because Windows 10 does some changes to it that don't get undone during the drop back and therefore the W7 service manager thinks it's trashed?). Whatever the cause, each time I restarted WMP after that it embarked on a complete library rebuild and volume levelling exercise - which takes a good long while

Followed this procedure and now (after a single rebuild cycle lasting over 6 hours - mostly re-volume-levelling - it is a BIG library) all is well again. the library persists at the next start-up of the system without a rebuild.

Thanks guys.