Trouble with Windows Media Player on Windows 7

Wilma says Windows Media Player 12 doesn’t work on her Windows 7 computer
Thanks for all the good advice in the past, I have a question. I liked WMP 11 better (the mini one on the taskbar) and I followed some bad advise on the internet to get it installed. It didn’t work and now my WMP 12 doesn’t work anymore either. Do I need to reinstall Windows 7 to get it working again? I hate re-installing Windows, there is always something not going as it should. I really hope you can give me some advise. Thanks again, Wilma

Our answer
Thank you, Wilma. Yours is an annoying problem which I have experienced as well. And while I do have a variety of media players installed, I still want my Windows Media Player to work. Windows Media Player leaves a lot to be desired but it’s still the default player in Windows and it does open and play a wide variety of media.

I suggest you try using the Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooter. You can open the Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooter by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting. Click View all, and then click Windows Media Player Settings.

If this doesn’t work for you, try disabling Windows Media Player and then enable it again. See if this works for you: Here’s how to disable and re-enable Windows Media Player:

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Turn Windows features on or off. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2. Click on Media Features, Uncheck Windows media Player, and then click OK

3. Restart your computer. Then follow the same procedure as above only this time check Windows media Player.

If none of those solutions work for you, try doing a System Restore back as far as you can. Try using the earliest restore point available and see if that works. If you use System Restore, you’ll have to reinstall any programs you’ve installed since the date of the restore point you used and you’ll also have to re-install any Windows updates that have been installed since then, but that’s still a lot better than re-installing Windows.

We hope we were able to help you, Wilma.
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