WMP12 play controls missing, corrupt, or unresponsive

When I play a movie file (or an audio file by double-clicking it in
Explorer), the play controls are not present. There is a white rectangle with
a red X in the upper left corner (like corrupt content in Internet Explorer)
obscuring the play, next, and previous buttons; and the buttons do not
respond. SFC reports corrupted files it cannot fix, and I have tried
reinstalling WMP with Windows Features many times.

Windows Live applications are not affected. I am running Windows 7 64-bit
clean installed with a Digital River download using a generated ISO.

I am running the regular (not N or KN) version, and both WMP plugins (player
and DRM) are installed and enabled. Both the player plugin and player itself
are the same version. In case I didn't make it clear, this is in the player
itself, not the IE plugin itself. The plugin simply launces WMP (if I recall,
it used to work differently with an embedded player on the site), and Media
Center controls work fine. Interestingly, the play button (but not the
forward and back buttons) are visible in the music library of WMP. Thanks for
trying to help and for providing an additional diagnostic.

I would think a solution would be to have WMP12 setup for regular (non-N or
KN) versions of Windows, but the current setup program on the microsoft
website is only for N or KN versions. I'm aware I'm not directly contacting
MS here, but it would be the ideal solution (provided a corrupt file is the
culprit).


"Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:

> On Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:59:01 -0800, RSP16
> <> wrote:
>
> >When I play a movie file (or an audio file by double-clicking it in
> >Explorer), the play controls are not present. There is a white rectangle with
> >a red X in the upper left corner (like corrupt content in Internet Explorer)
> >obscuring the play, next, and previous buttons; and the buttons do not
> >respond. SFC reports corrupted files it cannot fix, and I have tried
> >reinstalling WMP with Windows Features many times.
> >
> >Windows Live applications are not affected. I am running Windows 7 64-bit
> >clean installed with a Digital River download using a generated ISO.
>
> It sounds like a broken WMP plugin in internet explorer from your
> description.
>
> Is it possible you got one of the windows 7 "N" editions from digital
> river ?
>
> They don't come with media player, so you could expect a broken plugin
> icon as the player itself isn't there.
>
> In IE itself, under Tools -> Manage Add-Ons, first click the dropdown
> menu for 'Show all add-ons' and make sure 'windows media player' is
> listed, and that it's set as Enabled.
>
> HTH
> Cheers - Neil
> ------------------------------------------------
> Digital Media MVP : 2004-2009
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
> .
>

Your description sounds similar to the screenshot at
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...f-0fdc2bec7935

.. Maybe your problem is related to this, and you can find some helpful
pointers in that thread?

Regards

--
Tim De Baets
http://www.bm-productions.tk

RSP16 wrote:
> I am running the regular (not N or KN) version, and both WMP plugins (player
> and DRM) are installed and enabled. Both the player plugin and player itself
> are the same version. In case I didn't make it clear, this is in the player
> itself, not the IE plugin itself. The plugin simply launces WMP (if I recall,
> it used to work differently with an embedded player on the site), and Media
> Center controls work fine. Interestingly, the play button (but not the
> forward and back buttons) are visible in the music library of WMP. Thanks for
> trying to help and for providing an additional diagnostic.
>
> I would think a solution would be to have WMP12 setup for regular (non-N or
> KN) versions of Windows, but the current setup program on the microsoft
> website is only for N or KN versions. I'm aware I'm not directly contacting
> MS here, but it would be the ideal solution (provided a corrupt file is the
> culprit).
>
>
> "Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:59:01 -0800, RSP16
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>> When I play a movie file (or an audio file by double-clicking it in
>>> Explorer), the play controls are not present. There is a white rectangle with
>>> a red X in the upper left corner (like corrupt content in Internet Explorer)
>>> obscuring the play, next, and previous buttons; and the buttons do not
>>> respond. SFC reports corrupted files it cannot fix, and I have tried
>>> reinstalling WMP with Windows Features many times.
>>>
>>> Windows Live applications are not affected. I am running Windows 7 64-bit
>>> clean installed with a Digital River download using a generated ISO.
>> It sounds like a broken WMP plugin in internet explorer from your
>> description.
>>
>> Is it possible you got one of the windows 7 "N" editions from digital
>> river ?
>>
>> They don't come with media player, so you could expect a broken plugin
>> icon as the player itself isn't there.
>>
>> In IE itself, under Tools -> Manage Add-Ons, first click the dropdown
>> menu for 'Show all add-ons' and make sure 'windows media player' is
>> listed, and that it's set as Enabled.
>>
>> HTH
>> Cheers - Neil
>> ------------------------------------------------
>> Digital Media MVP : 2004-2009
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
>> .
>>

"RSP16" <> wrote in message
news:5877AEF4-CD03-49F1-825F-...
> I would think a solution would be to have WMP12 setup for regular (non-N
> or
> KN) versions of Windows, but the current setup program on the microsoft
> website is only for N or KN versions. I'm aware I'm not directly
> contacting
> MS here, but it would be the ideal solution (provided a corrupt file is
> the
> culprit).

Happily, Microsoft is one step ahead of you here. The installer is already
on your system. Go to the Turn Windows Features On or Off control panel to
deinstall and reinstall the player.

Also, howdy.

Also, if it is a corrupt file, either the above step or using "sfc /scannow"
should catch/fix any corrupt files if that is indeed the issue.

--
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.