WMP 9 Series no longer plays WMV files.

[Poppa_Meth]

up until recently I had no problem with this, but suddenly WMP 9 will no longer play any WMV files but it plays everything else just fine. all other media players on the system play the files just fine and GSpot tells me that direct show is definitely capable of playing it. its just WMP 9 that won't. and I know it use to play these exact files. anyone know how I might fix this? I use WMP 9 by default and can always switch to something different, but I'd like to get it working. Its kind of idiotic that it has trouble with it's native format. I've tried all sorts of codec combinations and everything short of trying to uninstall it and reinstall (I have reinstalled over it with to results). I don't want to uninstall without knowing what I'm doing since I know some microsoft products go stupid if you try to uninstall them.

[BJ_M]

did you try to do a system file repair ?

[MrMungus]

Well, I don't know what you did to screw up your ability to play WMV files (probably one of the codecs) but you have three options:

1. Reinstall WMP9.
2. Install an older version of WMP (I use 6.4; plays everything).
3. Install the Classic Media Player (Google).

[Poppa_Meth]

haven't done a system file repair. how exactly do you go about that? its not something I've had to do before.

and I've got MP Classic, which works fine. Might have to switch back to that. I'm not really sure what the problem is here. I thought perhaps a codec problem but I haven't installed or uninstalled anything at all in the interval it screwed up. it was working fine with the current configuration then suddenly started having problems with nothing I can think of to actually cause it.

[MrMungus]

haven't done a system file repair. how exactly do you go about that? its not something I've had to do before.

and I've got MP Classic, which works fine. Might have to switch back to that. I'm not really sure what the problem is here. I thought perhaps a codec problem but I haven't installed or uninstalled anything at all in the interval it screwed up. it was working fine with the current configuration then suddenly started having problems with nothing I can think of to actually cause it.

Have you tried just reinstalling the WMP?

[BJ_M]

To manually invoke the system file checker, go to the command prompt and type:

sfc /scannow

The system will immediately begin to check all the current system files and restore the original copies. You may be asked to insert the Windows CD as well during the restore.

Clue: Keep in mind that after you perform a system file restore you should install the newest service pack (if you want to)
For you XP users, SFC should be used as a last resort. If you have been creating system restore points, first roll back to your latest restore point and see if that fixes your problem.

[Poppa_Meth]

thanks I'll give that a shot tonight. I've tried system restore but it doesn't go back far enough. I had to disable it to run Norton's MyDoom checker. didn't realize I had this problem till after the fact.

[BJ_M]

ahh -- if you are running norton (anything) -- it may be your problem (really - no joke)

though uninstalling norton anything may make things worse --

norton = banned from all our systems ..

[Poppa_Meth]

I don't really think Norton is the problem. I've been running it for 5 years with no issues. But my work computer has a near identical set-up to my home PC. I've run all virus checks and upgrades the same and the work PC has no issue with WMV files. Of course you never know with computers.

I have XP by the way. will running sfc have any negative side effects that can't be easily corrected with reinstalling upgrades? I have a cable connection so windows update won't be a problem. I just don't think its worth the trouble if its going to cause more problems than it fixes. I hardly ever use WMV format anyway.

[Poppa_Meth]

no luck with SFC. its ran fine but I don't see where it really did anything, it certianly didn't help the problem. I think the installation of WMP9 has somehow been corrupted. I notice the icon in the WMP folder for the setup utility is shown as the WMP Icon instead of a setup icon as I've seen it on other computers. It won't run correctly either. It just keeps saying it can't connect to updates. but I've run it on my other PC at the same time and it connects fine so the server isn't down.

Is there any way at all to completely uninstall it and reinstall it? a simple reinstall from the stand alone package doesn't help either.