WMP 11 stopped working

Some time back, WMP 11 stopped working in Vista Ultimate.

Anywhere I click on a short cut or the file itself, all I see is the
cursor blink and nothing happens.

Upon looking in the WMP directory, I notice all the files there have
the date of 11/2/2006 except:

Three files, WMPCONFIG.EXE, WMPLAYER.EXE, and WMPSHARE.EXE have the
date of 8/15/2007.

This is about when WMP stopped working.

Either there was an update or something else happened?

I have downloaded the XP (?) version of WMP 11 from MS but it won't
install - says you can't install an older version?

And of course, you can't uninstall WMP 11.

How can I get back to the original, working version?

WLW

Right click on the Taskbar. Select Task Manager. Select Process tab. Click
Show processes from all users button. Approve UAC. Find wmplayer.exe in the
Image Name column and highlight. Press End Process button. Try opening
Windows Media Player again.

You might want to investigate what on start up is loading wmplayer.exe.

--
I Bleed Blue and Gold
GO BEARS!


<> wrote in message
news:...
> Some time back, WMP 11 stopped working in Vista Ultimate.
>
> Anywhere I click on a short cut or the file itself, all I see is the
> cursor blink and nothing happens.
>
> Upon looking in the WMP directory, I notice all the files there have
> the date of 11/2/2006 except:
>
> Three files, WMPCONFIG.EXE, WMPLAYER.EXE, and WMPSHARE.EXE have the
> date of 8/15/2007.
>
> This is about when WMP stopped working.
>
> Either there was an update or something else happened?
>
> I have downloaded the XP (?) version of WMP 11 from MS but it won't
> install - says you can't install an older version?
>
> And of course, you can't uninstall WMP 11.
>
> How can I get back to the original, working version?
>
> WLW

Hi wwallick--

Sometimes WMP can be fixed by referring to specific error fixes. You don't
get an error on the desktop, but you can try looking in event viewer to see
if you can get a numbered error. Then you can use the two resources I give
you to try to match it up. If that doesn't work, then I know you can fix it
with the measures that follow.

If Cal Bear's suggestion does not work, I'd do these:

Eventvwr.msc in run box>Windows Logs in left pane>Application>use down arrow
to look for WMP errors as source.

References that you can use to match errors you find in Event Viewer:

Windows Media Player Help Articles List
http://msmvps.com/chrisl/articles/17315.aspx

Windows Media Player: WMP mini FAQ (Zach Robinson Lead Developer WMP Core
Team MSFT
http://www.zachd.com/pss/pss.html

If you cannot find the error in Event Viewer to match with these resources
then use one of these to fix it:

***SFC as a Remedy***:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.


How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista):

http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.


You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449

Good luck,

CH





<> wrote in message
news:...
> Some time back, WMP 11 stopped working in Vista Ultimate.
>
> Anywhere I click on a short cut or the file itself, all I see is the
> cursor blink and nothing happens.
>
> Upon looking in the WMP directory, I notice all the files there have
> the date of 11/2/2006 except:
>
> Three files, WMPCONFIG.EXE, WMPLAYER.EXE, and WMPSHARE.EXE have the
> date of 8/15/2007.
>
> This is about when WMP stopped working.
>
> Either there was an update or something else happened?
>
> I have downloaded the XP (?) version of WMP 11 from MS but it won't
> install - says you can't install an older version?
>
> And of course, you can't uninstall WMP 11.
>
> How can I get back to the original, working version?
>
> WLW

Hi wwallick--

Sometimes WMP can be fixed by referring to specific error fixes. You don't
get an error on the desktop, but you can try looking in event viewer to see
if you can get a numbered error. Then you can use the two resources I give
you to try to match it up. If that doesn't work, then I know you can fix it
with the measures that follow.

If Cal Bear's suggestion does not work, I'd do these:

Eventvwr.msc in run box>Windows Logs in left pane>Application>use down arrow
to look for WMP errors as source.

References that you can use to match errors you find in Event Viewer:

Windows Media Player Help Articles List
http://msmvps.com/chrisl/articles/17315.aspx

Windows Media Player: WMP mini FAQ (Zach Robinson Lead Developer WMP Core
Team MSFT
http://www.zachd.com/pss/pss.html

If you cannot find the error in Event Viewer to match with these resources
then use one of these to fix it:

***SFC as a Remedy***:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.


How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista):

http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.


You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449

Good luck,

CH


<> wrote in message
news:...
> Some time back, WMP 11 stopped working in Vista Ultimate.
>
> Anywhere I click on a short cut or the file itself, all I see is the
> cursor blink and nothing happens.
>
> Upon looking in the WMP directory, I notice all the files there have
> the date of 11/2/2006 except:
>
> Three files, WMPCONFIG.EXE, WMPLAYER.EXE, and WMPSHARE.EXE have the
> date of 8/15/2007.
>
> This is about when WMP stopped working.
>
> Either there was an update or something else happened?
>
> I have downloaded the XP (?) version of WMP 11 from MS but it won't
> install - says you can't install an older version?
>
> And of course, you can't uninstall WMP 11.
>
> How can I get back to the original, working version?
>
> WLW

On Mon, 3 Sep 2007 20:56:09 -0400, "Chad Harris"
<vistaneedsmuchowork.net> wrote:

One thing I was able to do: I found out what update changed WMP on
Aug. 15 and uninstalled it. This restored the original files.

BUT WMP still won't run.

I will follow your suggestions and see what happens.

Thanks

WLW

>Hi wwallick--
>
>Sometimes WMP can be fixed by referring to specific error fixes. You don't
>get an error on the desktop, but you can try looking in event viewer to see
>if you can get a numbered error. Then you can use the two resources I give
>you to try to match it up. If that doesn't work, then I know you can fix it
>with the measures that follow.
>
>If Cal Bear's suggestion does not work, I'd do these:
>
>Eventvwr.msc in run box>Windows Logs in left pane>Application>use down arrow
>to look for WMP errors as source.
>
>References that you can use to match errors you find in Event Viewer:
>
>Windows Media Player Help Articles List
>http://msmvps.com/chrisl/articles/17315.aspx
>
>Windows Media Player: WMP mini FAQ (Zach Robinson Lead Developer WMP Core
>Team MSFT
>http://www.zachd.com/pss/pss.html
>
>If you cannot find the error in Event Viewer to match with these resources
>then use one of these to fix it:
>
>***SFC as a Remedy***:
>
>SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
>backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
>and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
>twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
>scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
>folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
>corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
>Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
>It protects these things from changes by any source including
>administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.
>
>
>How to Run SFC:
>
>Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
>at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
>when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
>and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
>with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.
>
>***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***
>
>How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
>Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
>***can boot to Vista):
>
>http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
>If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
>components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
>than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
>it not understanding its full functionality):
>
>Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:
>
>http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>
>You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
>also sometimes effective):
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
>
>How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
>http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
> It will automatically take you to this on your screen:
>
>http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>
>That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
>thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
>and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.
>
>The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
>like this:
>
>http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif
>
>Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
>let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
>doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
>don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
>Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
>have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
>from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
>others won't.
>
>
>You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
>same way as in XP:
>
>***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx
>
>
>***Using the F8 Environment***
>
>***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
>by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
>with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:
>
>The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
>options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
>updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
>to both).
>
>Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
>generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
>
>You could also:
>
>Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
>1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
>prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
>Configuration
>
>
>Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
>use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
>choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
>Prompt.
>
>These methods are outlined in
>
>A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/
>
>Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:
>
>http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx
>
>System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
>link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
>location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
>locations.
>
>How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449
>
>Good luck,
>
>CH
>
>
>
>
>
><> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> Some time back, WMP 11 stopped working in Vista Ultimate.
>>
>> Anywhere I click on a short cut or the file itself, all I see is the
>> cursor blink and nothing happens.
>>
>> Upon looking in the WMP directory, I notice all the files there have
>> the date of 11/2/2006 except:
>>
>> Three files, WMPCONFIG.EXE, WMPLAYER.EXE, and WMPSHARE.EXE have the
>> date of 8/15/2007.
>>
>> This is about when WMP stopped working.
>>
>> Either there was an update or something else happened?
>>
>> I have downloaded the XP (?) version of WMP 11 from MS but it won't
>> install - says you can't install an older version?
>>
>> And of course, you can't uninstall WMP 11.
>>
>> How can I get back to the original, working version?
>>
>> WLW