windows media player 8
 

i have version 8 of windows media player which comes with windows xp, an annoyance of the thing which has been happening for the past few weeks is when i click on a link such as example: 'www.cableforum.co.uk/folder/filename.mpeg' the link fails to open in windows media player, it just states 'connecting' and 2 seconds later media player dissappears, it (windows media player) wont load up until i 'endtask' it from the background...

anyone have a possible fix for this ?

:)

Re: windows media player 8
 

Download a new version of WMP and install it? I hear WMP 10 is out soon ;)
Could be a thrashed file, damaged setting somewhere causing it, will have a google in a bit. Any errors in your event viewer?

Re: windows media player 8
 

i dont want a newer media player, also nothing does come up in event view.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Have you tried add/remove windows Components in the Add/Remove programs in Control Panel?

Re: windows media player 8
 

Have you got Win XP SP1 still? If so that will have the windows media player version 8 on it. You may have to re-install it to get it working properly :(
Any reason for not installing WMP9? I know it's normally the case of "If it ain't broke" but at the moment it IS broke ;)

Re: windows media player 8
 

Perhaps He doesnt want to install it because of how slow it is?

Re: windows media player 8
 

Slow? It loads in less than 6 seconds here :confused: Even though I am allowing it net access and it's pulling info from the WMP site.
Unless he has the setup files for WMP8 handy then Kronas may find himself having to install WMP9 or he can wait till WMP10 if he wants. That's out in a day or two from what I have read

Re: windows media player 8
 

yes version 9 is slower, i dont like the look of it either.

i cant find the version 8 setup file anywhere....

yes. i still get the same problem.

Re: windows media player 8
 

You might be able to find the files for WMP8 on the windows XP cd as that is where it comes from... if you are lucky. Will go see if I can find another source though.
I don't have a gripe with WMP speed wise and you can skin it to change the look of it, there are other media players out there though :)

Re: windows media player 8
 

There is a Windows Media Player folder In C:\Program Files. Go into that and try to re run the setup file.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Pwersonally I dont like WMP, Seems too...default. Get WinAMP 6 :D

Re: windows media player 8
 

Where'd you get 6 from? It's only up to 5.05 on winamps site.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Oops. 5.05 Full..>_< Ooops.

Re: windows media player 8
 

I use winamp purely for mp3's, and Media player for DVD's (or any other kind of video for that matter), only half of my video's run properly under winamp whereas everything seem's work under WMP.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Hmm..PowerDVD works pretty well with DVDs, I also like the "catch" option (useful in the matrix figthing scenes) :) Whatever floats your boat.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Kronas, have you tried re-installing the codecs for windows media player 8? Might be something to think about???

Re: windows media player 8
 

If you're that worried about speed - have you tried 'mplay32.exe'

Which /should/ be in your C:/windows/system32 directory :)

This is basically media player 5.1

Re: windows media player 8
 

WMP on my machine uses the codec supplied with PowerDVD, I just prefer the interface for films, Winamp is crap with it's video file support for some reason, regardless of the codec I use, normally they play with no sound, or with sound and no picture, or they keep pausing causing the sound track to be a few seconds behind the film etc.

Re: windows media player 8
 

thats a bit basic :shocked:

yes i have, i even reinstalled the components as wayne suggested using the setup file, its still doing the same thing. :mad:

Re: windows media player 8
 

Have you installed anything recently that might be causing the problem? ie: software

Re: windows media player 8
 

Yes - but it is fast...

Personally I don't have a problem with media player 9 or 10.

It was just a suggestion.

Re: windows media player 8
 

nope, not that i can remember.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Try http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=wmp for Windows Media 5-7 (sorry NO 8) I love http://www.oldversion.com it is full of great stuff :p:

WMP9 is doing funny things...

Say a video is 540x362 (MPG)
Open in WMP9 & see the File/Properties & it shows as 640x362) :dunce:

Anyway... I use BS-Player (FREE & Easy). Hit P & it saves a JPG for you:D

Re: windows media player 8
 

if speed is an issue wmp10 is much improved in this area as it no longer tries and goes to a ms homepage before allowing you to play a file. Loading on mine is almost instantanious, its up and ready before i can get the mouse to it in the middle of the screen (from quick launch). It's got a 'different' look as well, has a good mini player mode to boot

Re: windows media player 8
 

When is MP10 coming out

Re: windows media player 8
 

Hehe, I just noticed a funny little thing.
If you have WMP 9 and you hover your mouse over the close (X) button when running the default skin (not the actual proper close button but the skin's version as seen in attachment), the CPU usage hits the roof and the visualisation runs very slowly.
Very well programmed... :rolleyes:

EDIT: Actually it happens even if you hold your mouse pointer over the play/stop controls.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Dont know about the rest of you but my main gripe with MP9 is the way it handles full screen mode. when you move the mouse these two over sized bars move in from the top and the bottom of the screen and resize the video to accomodate themselves. on MP7 & MP8 (Is there a differance between those two?) the bar is much smaller and doesnt resize the video to accomodate the bar. ive also noticed codecs seem to occasionally delete/currupt themselves when using MP9, something I have yet to see happen with MP8. It annoyed me no-end when I found out MP9 is a compulsary component of SP2 :mad: It annoyed me so much I didnt even bother setting up MP9 on my laptop, I just went straight to Winamp5, wich I have been holding out using for the same reasons bifta said, though this time it seems solid as a rock.

Re: windows media player 8
 

I've seen reports that it is due by the end of this week, I've also seen complaints that it is still buggy though ;) We shall see if MS have sorted it out ready for release, will release it while still needing fixes or will delay the release date. Anyone want to guess which one they will do?? ;)

Re: windows media player 8
 

I use WinAmp for everything, fast, looks good (like the way I have it, like a task bar at the bottom :) )

Fansy WMP 6 kronas? Still have it on my system :D

Re: windows media player 8
 

:tu:

thanks i generally use Winamp better sound quality and better program Microsoft should just stop with media player and just include a copy of Winamp :p:

Re: windows media player 8
 

Delay the release date just like they did with SP2.

Re: windows media player 8
 

OK, apart from this I'm getting a few strange problems with WMP9.
Sometimes when playing a .wav or .mp3 file it will pause after about 1 minute, then start again.
It also seems to have a much longer pause when I stop a track playing * and it won't repeat an mp3 properly until the third play.

* This is due to network/internet access AFAIK.

Re: windows media player 8
 

Does look that way lol If you want a look at the new MSN music site that will be launching with it then..
http://beta.music.msn.com/default.aspx
Remember it is in beta though just like WMP10 that you can get from here
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...ad/default.asp
DO not install unless you are willing to test BETA software as WMP10 is still proving troublesome to a number of users ;)

Re: windows media player 8
 

I've been using WMP 9 since it came out, and haven't had any problems like that. It might seem an obvious question, but have you checked your sound card drivers?

BTW, @ everyone. As far as I am concerned, the only decent version of WinAmp was version 2. Every version since has caused me problems on various PCs. Windows Media Player (whatever version) is better than any version of WinAmp (apart from 2).