WMP 12 (Windows 7) won't play WRM'd WMA files

I download books from my local library (using Overdrive Media
Console)--licensed for three weeks. I can then upload them to my mp3 player,
and they work fine. When I use the identical process in Vista, they work
just fine.

However, on my desktop running Windows 7, a WMP 12 window appears, and I
quickly get:

Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file

When I click Web Help in that window, it takes me here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/C00D11B1

I don't see any usable clues there. The sound card and drivers are fine. No
yellow anywhere in the Device Manager, and no problems playing non WRM'd WMA
files from other sources, or WMA files that I create.

Overdrive Media Console cannot play these files in Windows 7 either, and
neither can VLC (VLC produces a clicking noise, and Overdrive just sits
there (when I click Play, the green play arrow returns very quickly and the
track time does not advance)--neither gives any kind of error message
whatsoever.

Since files play just fine when using the identical process in Vista, I'm
guessing that something is missing from Windows 7... but what? And how do I
fix it?

"Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" <> wrote in message
> Head to http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/...en/indivit.asp
> and see if you can click the button there to kick up the
> individualisation steps.

Thanks, Neil. Unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem--even after a
reboot.

A possible clue, however, is that if I try to play the files using VLC, I
get squeaking/squawking noises as if it's trying to play the content, but
maybe doesn't have the right kind of codec. Nothing intelligible... but it's
perhaps more of a clue than what WMP and WMC provide (which are apparent
misdirection--WMC suggests that the files are corrupted, which they are
not).

Note also that if I try to play files for which I don't have a valid license
(e.g., the license has expired), I get a message to that effect. So, the DRM
aspect seems to be working (at least so far as reading the licensing
information). I'm also able to sync these files to my MP3 player--until the
license expires... where they work just fine. So, it appears that WMP/WMC
(as well as VLC) are missing something they need in order to process the
content correctly. WMP/WMC don't even try--they give error message. VLC
tries, but produces noises instead of intelligible sounds.

I'm now wondering if maybe installing VLC overwrote something with a file
that doesn't work in Windows 7. I wish there were a way to
reinstalling/fix/repair WMP, but I don't see anything in the interface that
will do that, and WMP 12 is not available for download/install (at least not
as far as I can tell). Also... uninstalling VLC does not fix the issue.

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

"Herb Tyson [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I'm now wondering if maybe installing VLC overwrote something with a file
> that doesn't work in Windows 7. I wish there were a way to
> reinstalling/fix/repair WMP, but I don't see anything in the interface
> that will do that, and WMP 12 is not available for download/install (at
> least not as far as I can tell).

You mean like Turn Windows Features On or Off :: uncheck Media
Features->Windows Media Player, reboot, turn it back on by checking that
same checkbox?

That's your first wish. You may or many get another. ;-)

Windows 7: Making Wishes Come True Since 9/21. ;-)

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

In WMP's Help:About:Technical Support Information menu tool, what Indiv
Version/Level are you?

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--
"Herb Tyson [MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:...
>I download books from my local library (using Overdrive Media
>Console)--licensed for three weeks. I can then upload them to my mp3
>player, and they work fine. When I use the identical process in Vista, they
>work just fine.
>
> However, on my desktop running Windows 7, a WMP 12 window appears, and I
> quickly get:
>
> Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file
>
> When I click Web Help in that window, it takes me here:
>
> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/C00D11B1
>
> I don't see any usable clues there. The sound card and drivers are fine.
> No yellow anywhere in the Device Manager, and no problems playing non
> WRM'd WMA files from other sources, or WMA files that I create.
>
> Overdrive Media Console cannot play these files in Windows 7 either, and
> neither can VLC (VLC produces a clicking noise, and Overdrive just sits
> there (when I click Play, the green play arrow returns very quickly and
> the track time does not advance)--neither gives any kind of error message
> whatsoever.
>
> Since files play just fine when using the identical process in Vista, I'm
> guessing that something is missing from Windows 7... but what? And how do
> I fix it?
>
>

"zachd [MSFT]" <> wrote in message
news:...

> That's your first wish. You may or many get another. ;-)

"may or may not"
=P

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

12.0.7600.16385.

But, I managed to solve my problem... sort of. I uninstalled and reinstalled
the sound drivers for my audio card 8 times. The very last time, the system
said I needed to reboot. I rebooted, and the system said it couldn't load
any audio drivers--yellow flag. I loaded them from the Device Manager, and
it told me it needed to reboot. I did, and the audio card had a yellow flag
again. I reloaded the drivers, and it told me I needed to reboot. Scenario
was suspiciously similar to the previous two times. So, I decided to ignore
the reboot instruction, and tested to see if the WMA files would play. They
did!

So, it's fixed, apparently... but I suspect that when I reboot, the audio
card is going to be yellow-flagged again. So, that's why I said "sort of".

In any case, I guess I can live with having to manually reload the drivers
each time I boot up, since I don't have to reboot very often.

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com


"zachd [MSFT]" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> In WMP's Help:About:Technical Support Information menu tool, what Indiv
> Version/Level are you?
>
> --
> Speaking for myself only.
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
> --
> "Herb Tyson [MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>I download books from my local library (using Overdrive Media
>>Console)--licensed for three weeks. I can then upload them to my mp3
>>player, and they work fine. When I use the identical process in Vista,
>>they work just fine.
>>
>> However, on my desktop running Windows 7, a WMP 12 window appears, and I
>> quickly get:
>>
>> Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file
>>
>> When I click Web Help in that window, it takes me here:
>>
>> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/C00D11B1
>>
>> I don't see any usable clues there. The sound card and drivers are fine.
>> No yellow anywhere in the Device Manager, and no problems playing non
>> WRM'd WMA files from other sources, or WMA files that I create.
>>
>> Overdrive Media Console cannot play these files in Windows 7 either, and
>> neither can VLC (VLC produces a clicking noise, and Overdrive just sits
>> there (when I click Play, the green play arrow returns very quickly and
>> the track time does not advance)--neither gives any kind of error message
>> whatsoever.
>>
>> Since files play just fine when using the identical process in Vista, I'm
>> guessing that something is missing from Windows 7... but what? And how do
>> I fix it?
>>
>>
>
>

I looked and looked for that a couple of days ago, but couldn't find it.
Funny how easy it is once you know exactly where to look. <sigh>

I'll remember that for next time.

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com


"zachd [MSFT]" <> wrote in message
news:...

> You mean like Turn Windows Features On or Off :: uncheck Media
> Features->Windows Media Player, reboot, turn it back on by checking that
> same checkbox?

"Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote:

> I download books from my local library (using Overdrive Media
> Console)--licensed for three weeks. I can then upload them to my mp3 player,
> and they work fine. When I use the identical process in Vista, they work
> just fine.
>
> However, on my desktop running Windows 7, a WMP 12 window appears, and I
> quickly get:
>
> Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file
>
> When I click Web Help in that window, it takes me here:
>
> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/C00D11B1
>
> I don't see any usable clues there. The sound card and drivers are fine. No
> yellow anywhere in the Device Manager, and no problems playing non WRM'd WMA
> files from other sources, or WMA files that I create.
>
> Overdrive Media Console cannot play these files in Windows 7 either, and
> neither can VLC (VLC produces a clicking noise, and Overdrive just sits
> there (when I click Play, the green play arrow returns very quickly and the
> track time does not advance)--neither gives any kind of error message
> whatsoever.
>
> Since files play just fine when using the identical process in Vista, I'm
> guessing that something is missing from Windows 7... but what? And how do I
> fix it?
>
>
>

"Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote:

> I download books from my local library (using Overdrive Media
> Console)--licensed for three weeks. I can then upload them to my mp3 player,
> and they work fine. When I use the identical process in Vista, they work
> just fine.
>
> However, on my desktop running Windows 7, a WMP 12 window appears, and I
> quickly get:
>
> Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file
>
> When I click Web Help in that window, it takes me here:
>
> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/C00D11B1
>
> I don't see any usable clues there. The sound card and drivers are fine. No
> yellow anywhere in the Device Manager, and no problems playing non WRM'd WMA
> files from other sources, or WMA files that I create.
>
> Overdrive Media Console cannot play these files in Windows 7 either, and
> neither can VLC (VLC produces a clicking noise, and Overdrive just sits
> there (when I click Play, the green play arrow returns very quickly and the
> track time does not advance)--neither gives any kind of error message
> whatsoever.
>
> Since files play just fine when using the identical process in Vista, I'm
> guessing that something is missing from Windows 7... but what? And how do I
> fix it?
>
>
>

"Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote:

> I download books from my local library (using Overdrive Media
> Console)--licensed for three weeks. I can then upload them to my mp3 player,
> and they work fine. When I use the identical process in Vista, they work
> just fine.
>
> However, on my desktop running Windows 7, a WMP 12 window appears, and I
> quickly get:
>
> Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file
>
> When I click Web Help in that window, it takes me here:
>
> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/C00D11B1
>
> I don't see any usable clues there. The sound card and drivers are fine. No
> yellow anywhere in the Device Manager, and no problems playing non WRM'd WMA
> files from other sources, or WMA files that I create.
>
> Overdrive Media Console cannot play these files in Windows 7 either, and
> neither can VLC (VLC produces a clicking noise, and Overdrive just sits
> there (when I click Play, the green play arrow returns very quickly and the
> track time does not advance)--neither gives any kind of error message
> whatsoever.
>
> Since files play just fine when using the identical process in Vista, I'm
> guessing that something is missing from Windows 7... but what? And how do I
> fix it?
>
>
>