98SE: my Win Media Player 9 refuses to work

I'd like to know what's wrong with my Windows Media Player 9--> why it won't work and how to fix it.

I once had Win98 1st Edition, and then upgraded to Win98SE about 2 months ago. I had stripped out IE years ago from my system because I once only favored Netscape and now, for some years, only Firefox. I recently installed IE just to get Windows Media Player 9. Then I used 98Lite to get rid of IE. All seems to be fine but Windows Media Player 9 always says:

"Windows Media Player cannot play the file because there is a problem with your sound device. There may not be a sound device installed on your computer, it may be in use by another program, or it may not be functioning properly." Well I don't see any other program using the sound device.

But my Real Player works and the simple Microsoft CD player works, and I have system sounds so there's nothing wrong with my sound card.
[The Everest system analyst app says I have "DirectX, v. 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)" and "Audio Adapter Intel 82801AA I/O Controller Hub - AC'97 Audio Adapter [B-1] ".]

When I turn to my Windows Help to look at Sound Troubleshooter, I see a list of radio button items. I pick the closest one ( "I receive the error message: 'The CD Audio device is in use by another application.' ") and when I click "Next ", there's a blank help screen--> no help at all. [I suppose when I get rid of IE some help stuff vanished.] [How would I get that help back without installing IE?]

What do I have to do to get Windows Media Player 9 to work?


Thanks

.............

From the Everest app, on my system:


Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 SE
OS Service Pack -
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

Motherboard
CPU Type Intel Pentium IIIE, 800 MHz (6 x 133)
Motherboard Name IBM 6594A3U
Motherboard Chipset Intel Camino i820
System Memory 384 MB
BIOS Type IBM (03/30/01)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM2)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter SR9 Xtreme - 16MB SGRAM (16 MB)
3D Accelerator S3 Savage4
Monitor IBM 6332 E74 [17" CRT] (66-G2348)

Multimedia
Audio Adapter Intel 82801AA I/O Controller Hub - AC'97 Audio Adapter [B-1]

Storage
IDE Controller Intel(r) 82801AA Ultra ATA Controller
IDE Controller Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
IDE Controller Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
Floppy Drive GENERIC NEC FLOPPY DISK
Disk Drive GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE<7
Optical Drive SAMSUNG CD-ROM SC-148F (48x CD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions
C: (FAT32) 13619 MB (11613 MB free)
D: (FAT32) 5824 MB (5824 MB free)
Total Size 19.0 GB (17.0 GB free)

Input
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Mouse IBM Mouse

Network
Network Adapter PPP Adapter. (4.159.181.227)
Modem SupraMAX 56i Voice PCI

Peripherals
Printer HP Deskjet 932c series
USB1 Controller Intel 82801AA I/O Controller Hub - USB Controller [B-1]

 

This worked in the past for another member:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=16782

Perhaps it will work for you.