11.09.2021
How to enable Windows media player. Windows Media Player does not work, we will quickly solve the problem! Automatic recovery of Media Playera
Self-instruction manual for working on a computer: quickly, easily, effectively Gladky Alexey Anatolyevich
8.7. Customizing Windows Media Player for yourself
Despite the fact that the default settings are usually optimal for most users (especially beginners), there is often a need to change them. In addition, before you start using any software product, including Windows Media Player, it is recommended to review and, if necessary, edit the settings in order to “adapt” the program to your requirements.
To switch to the player setup mode, use the main menu command Service? Options. When it is activated, a window is displayed on the screen, which is shown in Fig. 8.10.
Rice. 8.10. Setting up Windows Media Player
As you can see in this figure, the settings window includes several tabs: Player, Copy music, Devices, Performance, Media library, File types, Net, etc. Depending on their purpose and functionality, similar parameters are grouped on them. In this book we will look at the most popular of them.
8.7.1. Configuring General Settings
Configuring general parameters for Windows Media Player is carried out on the tab Player(see Fig. 8.10).
Using the parameter Check for updates the appropriate mode for checking for Windows Media Player updates is selected. The set value determines the period of time between updates – once a day, once a week or once a month.
It often happens that a video file does not play because the computer does not have the required codec for it. You can enable a mode in which in such situations the required codec will be automatically downloaded from the Internet - to do this, check the box Automatically download codecs.
If this mode is disabled, the codec will be loaded only after an affirmative answer to the request issued by the program. By default, the Automatically download codecs checkbox installed.
If the checkbox is checked Launch the player from the Media Guide node, then when you start the player, a section will open in the taskbar Media Guide(subject to Internet connection). If this checkbox is cleared (or there is no active Internet connection), the section will open Playback(see Fig. 8.1).
In cover mode, display on top of all windows– if this checkbox is checked, the Windows Media Player window operating in cover mode will always be displayed in the foreground (i.e., on top of other application windows). If the checkbox is checked In cover mode, display a docked window, then in cover mode, a small docked window will be displayed at the bottom right of the screen (we already talked about this above).
When checked Allow splash screen to display during playback The process of playing multimedia files will be accompanied by a splash screen in accordance with the screen settings. Note that when playing video files, enabling this mode does not make sense.
Add music files to library when playing– when this checkbox is checked, playable files will be automatically added to the multimedia library. In this case, the checkbox becomes available Include files from removable media and from a shared network folder; if it is installed, then files played not only from the hard drive, but also from removable media, as well as from a network folder, will also be automatically added to the multimedia library.
8.7.2. Setting Copy Options
Copy settings are configured on the tab Copy music, the contents of which are shown on 8.11.
Rice. 8.11. Setting Copy Options
In field Folder for copying music displays the path to the directory to which music files will be copied in Copy from CD. To change the value of this parameter, click the button Change– a window will appear Browse folders, in which, according to the usual Windows rules, you need to select the required path. Below the button File name You can customize the music file name format. The necessary actions are performed in the window that appears when you click this button (Fig. 8.12).
Rice. 8.12. Setting the file name format
Specifically, you can specify the information included in the file name ( Track number, Executor etc.), and also select the type of separator between them in the drop-down list. Using buttons Up And Down determines the order of the elements of the file name. For example, you can specify the following music file name formats: 01-Song-Performer. WMA, or Artist_Album_Song_01.WMA, etc. (in this case 01 – this is the track number).
In field File format(see Fig. 8.11) contains a list of music file formats in which tracks can be copied from a CD.
If the checkbox is checked Music with copy protection, licensed music copied to this computer from a Windows Media CD will not be playable on other computers. This mechanism is designed to prevent violations of performers' copyrights and combat the illegal distribution of musical works.
Using the slider Music copy quality You can specify the optimal compression ratio for music files when ripping them in Windows Media format from a CD to your computer. The more compressed a music file is, the less hard drive space it requires, but the sound quality degrades accordingly.
8.7.3. Setting up devices used for playback and copying
As you know, playing and copying files is impossible without the use of appropriate devices: a CD or DVD drive, speakers or headphones, etc. The parameters of the devices used are configured on the tab Devices, the contents of which are shown in Fig. 8.13.
Rice. 8.13. Configuring device settings
On this tab in the field Devices Displays a list of used devices (CD or DVD drives, portable devices, etc.) connected to the computer. To view and edit the parameters of a device, you need to select it with the cursor and press the button Properties.
Button Update is designed to update the list of devices - when you click on it, the computer searches for new devices.
8.7.4. Configuring performance settings
The performance of Windows Media Player is adjusted on the tab Performance, which is shown in Fig. 8.14.
Rice. 8.14. Configuring performance settings
By switch Connection speed you can specify the optimal modem (Internet connection) speed. When set to Determine connection speed (recommended) Windows Media Player automatically detects the current connection speed (this mode is offered by default). If the value is selected Connection speed is, then a field opens for editing, in which the appropriate modem speed is selected from the drop-down list.
Switch position Network buffering determines the required buffering method. Possible values:
Buffer for... sec.– when selecting this value in the field that opens, use the counter buttons or use the keyboard to specify the required buffering time in seconds. It should be taken into account that the maximum possible value is 60 seconds
Using a button Additionally switches to the mode for setting additional video acceleration parameters. When you click on this button, a window opens on the screen in which you can configure digital video acceleration, mix settings, etc. The default values of the parameters in this window depend on the position of the slider Video acceleration.
8.7.5. Configure media library settings
We have already discussed above what a multimedia library is in Windows Media Player and why it is needed. However, this player element can be customized - the Multimedia Library tab is intended for this (Fig. 8.15).
Rice. 8.15. Media Library tab
If the checkbox is selected on this tab Add purchased music to my library, then multimedia files downloaded from the Internet are automatically placed in the media library. By default, this option is enabled.
You can also enable a setting in which objects deleted from the multimedia library will be automatically deleted from the computer - to do this, check the box Remove an item from your computer when removed from a media library.
8.7.6. Setting up visual images
We have already said above that Windows Media Player has the ability to use visual images when playing music files. In the program settings mode on the tab Plug-ins(Fig. 8.16) you can add, change or delete visual images.
Rice. 8.16. Setting up visual images
Here in the field Category you need to click the mouse to select the position visual images– as a result, a list of visual image collections available in the program will be displayed on the right. The information field immediately below this list displays a brief description of the collection of the visual image on which the cursor is positioned in the list.
You can add a new visual image or collection to the list using the button Add. The path to the visual image file (collection) is indicated in the window that appears when you click this button.
To remove a visual image or collection from the list, you must select the corresponding position with the cursor and press the button Delete. Remember that you can only delete those visual images and collections that were created using the button Add. Otherwise the button Delete not available.
Switching to the mode for editing the properties of the current visual image (collection) is carried out using the button Properties. When you click on this button, a window appears on the screen Properties, in which the screen size and off-screen buffer size are selected from the corresponding drop-down lists. When choosing the required screen size, keep in mind that stretching the image to full screen in some cases may lead to distortion of the image. When choosing the required off-screen buffer size, you need to keep in mind that the larger the screen buffer, the more computer resources are required for high-quality image reproduction. In general, you shouldn’t change these parameters unless absolutely necessary.
8.7.7. Selecting the file types that the player opens by default
You can independently define the media files that will be opened by default (that is, when launched by double-clicking the mouse) by Windows Media Player. To do this you need to open the tab File types(Fig. 8.17).
Rice. 8.17. Selecting File Types
On this tab in the field File types a list of media file types is displayed, and below it is an information field Description, which provides a brief description of the file type on which the cursor is positioned in the list.
To select the required file type, select its checkbox. By default, some selected checkboxes are dimmed - this indicates that Windows Media Player will only be able to play some files of this format. To give the player full access to these files, click on this checkbox - as a result, it will return to its normal form.
When you press the button Choose all All file types will be selected in this list.
8.7.8. Network setup
If you plan to use the player on a local network, you can view and, if necessary, edit the contents of the tab Net(Fig. 8.18). Here you define the parameters of the protocols and proxy server that will be used by the player when receiving multimedia files.
Rice. 8.18. Configuring network settings
In the selected area Protocols by checking the appropriate boxes, you specify the Internet protocols that will be used to receive streaming media. By default, all checkboxes are checked: Multicast, UDP, TCP And HTTP. When checking the box Ports in the field to the right to receive data specifies the port through which streaming content is sent. The use of this mode makes sense only when using the protocol UDP, so if the checkbox UDP removed, parameter Ports for receiving data becomes unavailable. In the selected area Setting up a proxy server the parameters of interaction of each protocol with the proxy server are determined. When the button is pressed Settings a window appears on the screen Protocol settings, which configures the proxy server for the current protocol. The default settings in this window depend on the selected protocol. For example, for the HTTP protocol in this window the mode is set to Web Browser Proxy Settings, in which the player uses the same settings as the Internet browser to access the Internet.
From the book Windows Programs and Files author Klimov A From the book Folk Tips and Tricks author Klimov A From the book Windows Registry author Klimov Alexanderauthor
From the author's book From the author's book From the author's book4.1. Windows Explorer As we noted above, Windows Explorer (Fig. 4.1) was developed by Microsoft and is supplied to users along with the operating system. We have already met it briefly above - in the chapter “First acquaintance with Windows OS”. Rice. 4.1. Windows ExplorerHowever
From the author's book8.1. General description of Windows Media Player Is the Start command used to launch the player? All programs? Windows Media Player. When it is activated, a window is displayed, which is shown in Fig. 8.1. Rice. 8.1. Windows Media PlayerHere is a view of the player that
From the author's book8.6. Service functions of Windows Media Player The commands included in the Tools menu are intended to access the service functions of the player. Let's look at the most popular ones. Command Download? Visual images allows you to switch to download mode from the Internet
Initially, Windows Media Player (version 12) is included in the Windows 7/8/10 operating system. In turn, the presented guide will be useful to those who use Windows XP or Vista and want to figure out how to install this popular media player.
Step 1. Download
In the browser, open the Windows Media Player page on the MyDiv website. Here we click on the link highlighted in green:
We wait for the player installer to download and launch it.
Step 2. Verification
Before installation, we will be asked to verify the authenticity of the operating system. Press the button Check:
Step 3. License terms
After verification, we will be prompted to read additional terms of the license agreement. We read the text of the document, then click on I accept:
Step 4: Installation
You need to wait a certain amount of time while the files are being prepared:
Step 5. Launch the player
Once the installation is complete, the player will start automatically:
Transfer any musical composition directly to the player, select it and click on the button Play/Stop to test the sound.
Many people think that Windows Media Player is gradually losing its popularity, but this is not entirely true. There have been so many updates and additions to the player lately that you can completely customize it to your liking. While playing various types of files, you can change the player skin and install various add-ons. While the player has always been a core component of the Windows OS, Windows Media has become a really good one in the last few years. The latest, version 12, contains a number of interesting features that will certainly interest you. We will talk about these features and much more in this article.
Player update
If you have an older version of the player installed, we strongly recommend updating it. Windows Media is completely free and always available for download on the official Microsoft website.Automatic mode: Open Windows Media Player, press Alt, go to the Help menu, and click Check for Updates.
If you don't want to manually check for updates every time, you can turn on "automatic check". To do this, follow these steps:
Step 1
Open Windows Media Player, press the Alt key, expand the Tools menu, and open Settings.
Step 2
In the “Player” tab, specify how often the player checks for updates.
First start
When you launch Windows Media Player for the first time, you need to spend a few minutes setting up the player's initial settings. They consist of several steps:Step 1
The Windows Media Player installation wizard will appear, which at the first stage will ask you to choose which type of settings to use: recommended or custom. If you select recommended, the player will automatically set all the settings without your intervention. In this case, skip this section and move on to the next one.
If you want to configure the player yourself, select the "Custom Settings" option and click the "Next" button.
Step 2
The first to open is the Privacy Options dialog box. Check the boxes next to the items you really want to use and click Next.
Step 3
At this point, WMP will ask you if you want to add a shortcut to your desktop and Quick Launch, and will also ask you to mark it as the default. Set the required settings and click “Next”.
Step 5
At the final stage, the player will offer to set up an online store to access paid content. Select “Do not set up an online store” and click the “Finish” button.
Always remain anonymous online
When installed, Windows Media Player generates a unique ID for your computer. This identifier is used in many places, including on some web resources. Thanks to it, Windows Media Player can independently request information about media data and exchange service information. Although the developers claim that the player does not transmit any personal information, there are sometimes cases where they can track what you watch. If you do not want information about your player usage to be accidentally leaked online, disable this feature. For this:Step 1
Hold down the Alt key, then open the Tools menu and select Options.
Step 2
Go to the “Privacy” tab and uncheck the box next to “Send a unique code...”.
Update the codec
Once you have installed a new version of Windows Media Player, you will also need to install additional codecs to support certain file types. A codec is nothing more than an additional add-on for Windows Media Player that helps identify and play many file formats. We recommend installing the K-lite codec package. It alone is enough to enable support for almost all audio and video data formats. You can download it from the official website of the developer.It is also worth enabling the option to automatically download codecs by going to the player settings and in the “Player” tab, check the “Automatically download codecs” option.
Adding artwork and visuals to the player
Covers and visuals enhance your player's experience and allow you to customize the look and feel of your player. The only problem is that you can no longer download them from the official Microsoft website, so you will have to search for covers and visualizations on the Internet.New version of WindowsPlayer 3.9
- Updated codecs
- Fixed hardware decoding with new video card drivers
Program update
- Added support for new file types (.avcs, .heifs, .heif, .avci, etc.)
- Added support for AV1 codec
- Updated codecs
- Bugs fixed
Program update
- Updated codecs
- Bugs fixed
New version of WindowsPlayer 3.6
- Now the sound on the laptop is even louder! - new volume increase algorithm
- Codec update
New version of WindowsPlayer 3.5
- Codec update
- Fixed a crash when opening damaged files
New version of WindowsPlayer 3.2
- H.265 and VP9 decoders updates
- Fixed player crash with some versions of NVIDIA drivers
New version of WindowsPlayer 3.1.1
- Resolved conflict with some antiviruses (Error 412)
New version of WindowsPlayer 3.1
- Optimization of video codecs. Radical reduction in resource consumption on some systems.
- Optimization of memory consumption on NVIDIA video cards
- Fixes in displaying 10-bit video
- Fixed DXVA hardening on some video cards
New version of WindowsPlayer 3.0.2
- Fixed a bug that caused an error on AMD video cards.
New version of WindowsPlayer 3.0
- Added HTS-HD hardware decoder
- Optimization of WEBM and HEVC hardware decoders
- Fixed incorrect time display when playing blu-ray streams
- Faster rewinding on files with broken indexes
WindowsPlayer Update
- Updated audio codecs Opus, ATRAC, Nellymoser and others
- Opus support for audio tracks in videos
- Optimized 4K video decoding H.265 and VP9
- Added support for HEVC Main10
- improved playlist playback
WindowsPlayer 2.9.4 update
- Fixed an annoying bug with muting sound
- Fixed incorrect work with NVIDIA and AMD video processors
- Many minor corrections based on your feedback
- Support URL types: rtspu, rtspm, rtspt and rtsph for RTSP protocol
New version of WindowsPlayer 2.9
- Playing 4K video now requires 2 times less resources!
- Removed flickering when resizing windows
- Fixed image recovery after Windows lock screen
- Support for multimedia keys and Windows MCE remotes
- Fixed switching audio tracks
- Prevent pressing pause when rewinding
- Fixes and improvements in playing Internet streams
- Full support for hardware acceleration of WEBM format
Added support for 3GA files
- The selected program language is saved
- Fixed video output when DirectX acceleration is not available
- Removed the window at startup when DirectX acceleration is not available
New version of WindowsPlayer 2.7
- Work on improving the player engine
WindowsPlayer version 2.6
- Improved startup time on Windows XP
- HQ does not turn off spontaneously
- Support for "icyx://" streams
- Audio tracks in ATRAC3+ format
- Accelerated DXVA2 decoding on Intel video cards
- Accelerated decoding of high resolutions on AMD video cards
- Added support for video codec Duck TrueMotion 1/2
WindowsPlayer version 2.5
- The most correct tracking of new versions.
WindowsPlayer version 2.4
- Even more formats to play video and audio formats
- When you click on the timeline, you can see a screenshot of the current frame for quick viewing
WindowsPlayer version 2.3
- Added video playback in H.265 (HEVC) format with hardware decoding support
- Added hardware decoding of VP9 video format
- Accelerated detection of streams in a video file
- Fixed DV decoding from some video cameras
WindowsPlayer version 2.2
- Added support for Apple intermediate codec
- Added support for DivX codec version 7
- Added support for HDV, AVCHD video formats
- Added support for M4A audio format
- Accelerated hardware decoding on AMD video cards
- Accelerated 4K video playback
- Opening a file from the previous playback position has been accelerated
- Fixed file association
- Bugs fixed
WindowsPlayer chronology
Windows Player vs Windows Media Player
Debriefing - why is the new video player WindowsPlayer better than Windows Media Player?
HQ function
Software improvement of video image quality - rich colors, saturation and brightness of the picture
In this article we will look at all the nuances and features that significantly increase the WindowsPlayer program in the ranking above Windows Media Player. Let’s not “pull the cat by the balls”, let’s get down to business!
Interface
Let's start with the interface of the Windows Media Player program. It's boring and what's more, it hasn't changed for more than the last four years. If we pay attention to the quick access panel at the very top of the program, we can notice many tabs such as “Playing”, “Library”, “Copy from disk”, “Recording”.
As my survey among my friends and acquaintances showed, no one has any idea why they are and never use them. In WindowsPlayer, the developers did not implement this solution into the program shell, which significantly improves the program interface; it becomes simpler and more functional.
Full screen mode
Now let's look at the full-screen interface of the two programs.
In Windows Media Player, the bottom panel does not seem to have changed. It was as big and uncomfortable as it was and remains that way, only it stretches across the entire length of the screen.
Please note that in WindowsPlayer the borders of the interface window are beautifully collapsed, and the bottom panel becomes modified into a convenient translucent panel, with good and convenient dimensions.
Technical side
WindowsPlayer provides such wonderful and useful features as “video enhancement” and “audio quality enhancement”
Near the above buttons in WindowsPlayer we see a quick access button to the program’s equalizer. (on the bottom playback panel). The equalizer is convenient and beautiful. Quickly called and closed. The color is translucent, which gives the interface multimedia quality and the quality of the developers’ work.
The equalizer is convenient and beautiful. Quickly called and closed. The color is translucent, which gives the interface multimedia quality and the quality of the developers’ work.
In Windows Media Player, searching for the equalizer took about seven minutes.
And yet I found it. We are seeing a complex graphic equalizer with strange numbers and arrows. Probably created for people with ten years of experience in audio studios. =))
Context menu
Small nuance: As we know, usually by pressing the second mouse button we can call up the context menu for further settings or selection of functions.
Here we see some pedantry. Everything is in order and short, simple and functional! We can select directly from this menu the file to play, select a video or audio track, if there are several of them.
We are far from pleased with the far from incomprehensible functions. Which you can clearly see in the screenshot. In turn, I would like to focus on the advantages
Conclusion: WindowsPlayer was more pleasing. The interface is very simple and multimedia. I'm pleased with the quality of the graphical shell. Performance at the highest level. The program deserves respect!
About flaws I would not like to emphasize Windows Media Player again. The program is outdated and requires urgent repairs and updates from its developers!
