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Resolved WMP won't play wmv files

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by JSS3rd, 2012/10/06.

  1. 2012/10/06
    JSS3rd Lifetime Subscription

    JSS3rd Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I have a large library of videos in .wmv format, which Windows Media Player played perfectly when I was using 32-bit Win7 HP.

    Since upgrading to 64-bit Win7 Pro, I get an error message (Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file) anytime I try to play a .wmv file.

    FWIW, .mpg files open and play in WMP.

    I installed the VLC Media Player, and it plays the .wmv files perfectly, but I'd prefer to use a single player

    Any thoughts?
     
    JSS3rd,
    #1
  2. 2012/10/06
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi Jim. It looks like you are missing a codec required to play .wmv files in Windows Media Player.

    Download and install the K-Lite Codec Pack Standard 9.3.0.

    After the pack has installed, reboot Windows 7 and you will be able to play any video/audio file type in Windows Media Player without having to use 3rd party media players such as VLC.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #2


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  4. 2012/10/06
    JSS3rd Lifetime Subscription

    JSS3rd Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Evan,

    I downloaded and installed the codecs (and the update), but it didn't help. I still get the error message.
     
    JSS3rd,
    #3
  5. 2012/10/06
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    Try double clicking on the 32-bit version of WMP in Program Files(x86) then opening the .wmv file within WMP.
     
    Whiskeyman,
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  6. 2012/10/06
    JSS3rd Lifetime Subscription

    JSS3rd Geek Member Thread Starter

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    There's only one wmplayer.exe file in the folder, and no way of telling whether it's 32-bit or 64-bit.

    ADDENDUM: Because WMP 12 is built into the Win7 OS, rather than being a separate program, it stands to reason that the bit version of WMP is the same as the bit version of the OS, i.e. 64-bit Win7 = 64-bit WMP.
     
    Last edited: 2012/10/07
    JSS3rd,
    #5
  7. 2012/10/06
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Do wmv files play with the Classic Media Player that you installed with the K-lite Codec Pack?

    Do you have any other codec packs installed on your machine?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #6
  8. 2012/10/07
    JSS3rd Lifetime Subscription

    JSS3rd Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Evan,

    Yes. Truthfully, I wasn't aware that The Classic Media Player had been installed with the codec pack. Thanks for pointing it out.

    Not that I'm aware of. I certainly didn't install any.
     
    JSS3rd,
    #7
  9. 2012/10/07
    savagcl Lifetime Subscription

    savagcl Geek Member

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    JSS3rd, Media Player Classic and the k-lite pack (Mega) is all i ever use. Works
    great on music and videos both, without all the fluff most others contain.
    As long as the input file is a good format, it plays.

    K-lite is normally for 32-bit but there is an update (patch?) for 64-bit systems.
    Recommend you get both downloads.

    I can't remember the last time i used wmp.....
     
    savagcl,
    #8
  10. 2012/10/07
    JSS3rd Lifetime Subscription

    JSS3rd Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Clif,
    64-bit K-lite is a separate codec pack (currently 9.3.0), but there's an update which will update not only both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions, but the Classic Media Player, as well.
     
    Last edited: 2012/10/07
    JSS3rd,
    #9
  11. 2012/10/07
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Jim, since you marked your thread as resolved what did you do to solve your problem with Windows Media Player?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #10
  12. 2012/10/08
    JSS3rd Lifetime Subscription

    JSS3rd Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Evan,

    I guess I fudged a bit, as I didn't actually resolve the WMP problem.

    Instead, I switched to using the Classic Media Player installed with the K-lite codec pack. The VLC Media Player also worked well (but the icon annoyed me :)).
     
    JSS3rd,
    #11
  13. 2012/10/08
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Ah ok. Thanks for letting us know. :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #12

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