Windows Media Player

Cristatus

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2004
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I was using WinAmp before, and I uninstalled WinAmp because I wanted to use the software bundled with my laptop that would allow me to play music using the hardware buttons on the front of the case (Acer 1714SMi). After uninstalling WinAmp, I tried playing my music in Windows XP SP2, with WMP ver 9.00.00.3250 and there is no sound in the videos I have, and the .mp3 files result in errors that won't even open in the player. Any suggestions? I'm going to re-format in about two hours anyways, but apart from a reformat, could there be any other help?
 

Cristatus

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Oct 13, 2004
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bah, format doesn't fix the problem

this is the exact error message:

Windows Media Player cannot play the file. The files is either corrupt or the Player does not support the format you are trying to play.


These are just normal mp3 files, and they used to play in WinAmp alright, but they don't play in WMP for some reason. Do i have to install some kind of codecs for them?

 

yukichigai

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Apr 23, 2003
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I seem to remember that certain editions of windows didn't come with mp3 support. What version are you using? XP?

Oh yes, you can reconfigure those buttons to work with Winamp 5. There's a configuration utility that will pick up the button presses, assuming they're the standard Play/Pause, etc. bindings. (Most are) You may have to do some minor registry editing (actually entry deletion) if it picks them up but won't respond.

I did the same thing with my laptop. I would have been fine if WMP didn't steal focus every time you hit the stop button.
 

Cristatus

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Oct 13, 2004
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the issue is playing things while the computer is off, because it lets me do this as well.
if you can find the regedit hacks, can you please post a link to it. I want to try it out

OTOH: yes, i'm using XP.
 

yukichigai

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Apr 23, 2003
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While the computer is off? Wait... whoa whoa whoa, the computer can't be off, truly off, if it's playing mp3s. It has to be running somehow.

Regedit hacks depend on the system. Usually there's some sort of "button manager" that handles such buttons. Find the registry entry for that and it'll usually have keybinds or at least keynames for the buttons. If it has keybinds you can manually reconfigure it. If it just has keynames... well, deleting them (after exporting that portion of the registry tree) usually lets Winamp use 'em.
 

Cristatus

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Oct 13, 2004
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What I meant was that while Windows isn't running, I can manage to play tunes using the buttons on my laptop chassis.

I'll try and find the things in regedit, but if you can find the link, that would be much more helpful.
 

Cristatus

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Oct 13, 2004
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yukichigai: i reformatted, and reinstalled all the proper software and drivers, then installed WinAmp, then uninstalled the software that does the hardware button mapping, and then reinstalled it again. it works with winamp now.

the only problem now is that i need it to use a certain folder while the computer isn't booted into windows. When the computer is off, and i use the hardware buttons, it looks for the .mp3 files in C:\my mp3, but i want it to look in my secondary partition (i.e.: somewhere else). i'm going to search in the registry for it right now, but do you know any other ways to change that?
 

yukichigai

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Apr 23, 2003
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Originally posted by: logic1485
yukichigai: i reformatted, and reinstalled all the proper software and drivers, then installed WinAmp, then uninstalled the software that does the hardware button mapping, and then reinstalled it again. it works with winamp now.

the only problem now is that i need it to use a certain folder while the computer isn't booted into windows. When the computer is off, and i use the hardware buttons, it looks for the .mp3 files in C:\my mp3, but i want it to look in my secondary partition (i.e.: somewhere else). i'm going to search in the registry for it right now, but do you know any other ways to change that?
Unfortunately, no. I'm completely unfamiliar with any systems that work like the one you're describing. It's kinda cool actually.

I suspect it's a registry entry, if it's modifiable(sp?). Just do a search for "mp3" and you'll likely find it, though you may have to deal with CLSIDs and fun crap like that.
 

Cristatus

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Oct 13, 2004
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I tried finding it, and I did find it, but the only thing that it gives me is two clicks instead of sound (this is when the machine is jukebox mode [when windows isn't running])