Can't open WMV files in windows media player

I keep getting error "The file type is supported by the Player, but the file
was compressed by using a codec that is not supported by the Player. " when
tried to open .WMV files. The same files used to work fine. Is it that some
windows media player system files got corrupted? Is there any way I can
replace them?

Mine is Windows XP home edition, service pack 2. Thanks.

 

What was changed to your system before they stopped working? If you open
one of the WMV files in GSpot - http://www.headbands.com/gspot , which
audio and video codec does it say is used in the file?

Regards

 

It shows "0x0161 (WMA v2),0x01:44100Hz 96 kb/s tot (2 chnls) " for audio,
and "WMV3,WMP v9 (VC-1 Simple/Main)" for video.

Before window media player stopped working, my laptop crashed and would not
boot up. I used the reinstallation CD to restore it. And since then, WMV
won't work any more.

Thanks for help.

 

Try reinstalling WMP 11, that will likely fix this.

Regards

 

The reason Windows Media player is not running is because of real player isn't fully uninstalled or is conflicting with windows player. I uninstalled real player and media player works. When you wmv files in real player. solution is just unistall real player. it works for me. Real player is conflicting with media player by intentionally shutting down windows player or unintentionally. windows player is free and real player is not so go figure.

It's such and easy fix and i'm surprise nobody at microsoft or any A+ tech didn't give an answer.

Uninstally real player or unassociate windows media player from real player

real player needs to be completely removed including the registries and leftover files that isn't removed from the unistall in control panels. That is something microsoft needs to do is to have complete removal of software installed in windows.


I just unistalled real player.



reboot and voila. windows media now opens. Wow.



simple solution. and you 'genious' gave me a 2 page solution that doesn't work. or half baked solution.
If the uninstall from windows doesn't work....you can use a free unistaller it's free to unistall completely the program as last resort. I used revo uninstaller at download.com/ This software been installed 4 million times and it should be in windows vista or windows 7. it completely removes the files that real player leaves in your computer with the uninstall program in windows..windows vista doesn't remove the registries or files leftover files from unistall. Use at own risk as the software is shareware. it works for me.



IMO, programs like real player have too much advertising thus so don't install DIVX player too.
There is a reason real player and DIVX player is free. They have advertising and and screws up your other windows programs.

After I completely unistall real player and DIVX players, many of the windows crashing or windows media player not opening stopped. Simple solution. These two programs are crashing the windows player or windows security is preventing some execution or software conflicts.

I can't believe that many posts in the internet and all bad wrong answers.
i posted as BABEWATCH at microsoft ...absolutely no support from microsoft and microsoft is making billiosn in profits....talk about corporate america. they don't care about the customer. the customer has to help themselves.