Windows Media Player Troubleshooting Guide

   Information

Windows 7 has some fine in-built diagnostic tools to help you troubleshoot Windows Media Player issues, which you may be facing. This tutorial will give you some steps to fix common problem you might encounter with Windows Media Player 12.

   Note

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

To open these specific troubleshooting & diagnostic modules do the following:
1. Type msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerConfigurationDiagnostic in Start Search and hit Enter to open the troubleshooting wizard which will help you reset WMP to default settings.
2. Type msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerLibraryDiagnostic in Start Search and hit Enter to open the troubleshooting wizard which will help make Media files show up in WMP library.
4. Type msdt.exe -id WindowsMediaPlayerDVDDiagnostic in Start Search and hit Enter to open the troubleshooting wizard which will help trouble-shoot DVD playing problems.

5. You could also use the Fix WMP Utility from thewindowsclub, which re-registers all concerned dll’s required for the smooth functioning of Windows Media Player.

6. Lets reinstall Windows Media Player 12

7. Click “Start” button, type “windows features” in the program search box and hit enter.

8. In the “Windows Features” dialog box, look for “Media Features” and expand it.

9. Clear “Windows Media Player” check box.

10. As soon as you clear the check box, you will see a pop-up saying that “The following Windows features will also be turned off because they are dependent on Windows Media Player.” The listed program is “Windows Media Center”.

11. Go ahead and click “Yes”. Windows will now begin uninstalling WMP12.

12. You to restart Windows for the uninstallation to complete.

13. Click “Start” button, type “windows features” in the program search box and hit enter.

14. In the “Windows Features” dialog box, look for “Media Features” and expand it.

15. Check boxes “Windows Media Player” and “Windows Media Center”.

16. Click “OK”. Windows will take some time in reinstalling them. Wait for the process to finish.

17. You to restart Windows for the installation to complete.

Hope this helps,
Captain

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Open Troubleshooting in Windows 7
• How to Change Windows 7 Troubleshooting Settings
• How to Create a Windows Media Player Library Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows Media Player Settings Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows Media Player DVD Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7

 

[derekimo]

Thank You! This has been needed several times lately.
Good Job Capt.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Thanks Derek

 

[derekimo]

Thanks Derek

You're Welcome.

 

[njnitehawk]

just the tutorial did not work and neither did the fix-wmp-utility

now what

 

[Frostmourne]

just the tutorial did not work and neither did the fix-wmp-utility

now what

What issues are you having?

 

[njnitehawk]

media player 12 or media center cannot be opened

tired what was suggested

 

[Frostmourne]

Won't open? Type WMP into the start menu and press enter. Anything happen?

 

[njnitehawk]

no iam sorry typed wmp in the start menu and nothing happens nothing appears in the box

 

[Frostmourne]

no iam sorry typed wmp in the start menu and nothing happens nothing appears in the box

Try redownloading it or adding it in control panel.

 

[njnitehawk]

i searched to d/l wmp12

could not locate the site any help

 

[prospero]

Many thanks Cap'n - worked a treat.

 

[sephirah]

hi capt.Jack!

i have been having issues with my wmp, it will not play any file, i have checked to make sure it is set as default player and checked to make sure all default file associations are checked... i ran the diagnostic tools you put up earlier, the first two particularly... they both revealed issues, the first suggested configuration could be incorrect and the 2nd suggested my library is corrupted, i completed the tools and still nothing is happening. i have also gone through control panel>programs>windows features on or off and uninstalled-reinstalled with no success. my sound is fine in all other respects.. sound works fine on websites and default windows sounds work fine too.. also have issue with vlc media player not playing audio also.. even though, as i mentioned, all other sound seems fine. any suggestions would be welcome

 

[derekimo]

Welcome to the forum,

Have you made sure that the sound to media player isn't muted?

 

[sephirah]

hi again

ok so i got my vlc media player working fine now.. was a simple setting.

when i open up wmp and click on a file to play a small red "x" appears next to the file and the next file automatically is selected.. as if the file i originally clicked doesnt exist anymore..

i ran the first two diagnostic tools for 'window media player settings' and 'windows media player library'. upon running the first it showed "reset default windows media player settings" then i ran "apply fix" and it came up with 'additional issues' -"configuration settings may be set incorrectly". i also ran it for windows media player library at it found "recreate media library" i clicked "apply fix" for this too and then it opened up next with, "windows library is corrupted"

any help is greatly appreciated

regards

 

[derekimo]

Maybe this will undo some of the corrupt files,

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

It will find and fix corrupt files, you may have to run it a few times.

 

[sephirah]

ive also tried to delete windows media player folder and clearing cache... and letting wmp rebuild library as it does.. ive downloaded and run microsoft fix it which found several errors and seemed to fix them, it appeared as if wmp completely reinstalled after that but i am still getting that dreaded red x when i go to play a file from wmp...

 

[sephirah]

trying now derekimo- thnx for info... will report progress when finished

 

[derekimo]

You're welcome. Let us know how it goes.

 

[sephirah]

ok.. running sfc/scannow first run didnt find any issues to resolve.. so im running it a 2nd time. im running microsoft fix it again and it has revealed these issues:

1- 'reset windows media player'-'reset and run windows media player setup',
2- 'scripting registration corrupt'-'resetting jscript.dll and vbscript.dll registration'
3- 'settings for windows media networking streaming are corrupted'-'reset network streaming settings'
4- 'windows media player library'-'reset windows media player library'

i click 'next' to apply fixes. it completes resolving issues and then i open WMP- it reinstalls and rebuilds library.. i go to click on a music file and i still get the dreaded red x "WMP has encountered a problem .."

at a loss