Windows media player suddenly won't play a file I was just playing

Homer Simpson · 12 Feb 2016

I'd like to know why windows media player won't play my media files after a reboot. Didn't change codecs. Didn't delete anything.

I did try to restore cos I suddenly couldn't go online but the restore said that it didn't work so I assume nothing was changed

Same exact file, same folder, now won't play.

Oh, and Chrome now won't open. Makes the little "timer" spinny icon thing, then that stops, program isn't open. I know that's a different problem but it started at the same time

Thanks for any help

It's extremely frustrating to switch to what you think will be a new and improved os and have these things happen

And it's not like I have an old printer that won't work now or something. This is windows media player

Samsung User · 12 Feb 2016

Instead of coming on here and posting the above and swearing
Why don't you ask nicely for some help.
Members otherwise will just read your post and ignore it or report it

Homer Simpson · 14 Feb 2016

OK I tried again

cereberus · 14 Feb 2016

Homer Simpson said:

OK I tried again

Ok. Try running sfc /scannow.

If WMP does not work after that, try VLC

With chrome, I would just uninstall and reinstall.

PJLLB · 14 Feb 2016

You migh try uninstalling and the reinstalling WMP from the Window Features control panel media features area.

Homer Simpson · 14 Feb 2016

I can't find any "media features" and it's not listed under Programs and Features anyway, so I don't seem to be able to uninstall it

I can't think of a good reason why the same file doesn't work 5 minutes after it did work, without my changing any settings

cereberus · 14 Feb 2016

Homer Simpson said:

I can't find any "media features" and it's not listed under Programs and Features anyway, so I don't seem to be able to uninstall it

I can't think of a good reason why the same file doesn't work 5 minutes after it did work, without my changing any settings

WMP is a core part of OS.

Homer Simpson · 15 Feb 2016

cereberus said:

WMP is a core part of OS.

Well I kinda assumed it might be.

Everything has worked until now, with WMP and the windows 7 codec pack
Windows 7 Codec Pack

It was working with Win10, too, until recently. I suspect it might've been one of the installs Win10 forces on me without really telling me that is causing some of the media files to not work. I don't see anything else it could be, similar to the winsock protocol file that randomly goes missing and suddenly I can't connect anymore even though I haven't changed anything.

Yes, I can use VLC. This is really an admission that Win10 has unsolvable problems. Forgive my frustration. Thankyou

PJLLB · 15 Feb 2016

cereberus said:

WMP is a core part of OS.

I'll post this again. WMP shows under the Media Features in the Turn Windows features on or off area just like other Windows features such as Hyper-V, etc. I recently had some strange WMP behavior. So I uninstalled it and the reinstalled it and it corrected the problem.

davidhk · 15 Feb 2016

Homer Simpson said:

Well I kinda assumed it might be.

Everything has worked until now, with WMP and the windows 7 codec pack
Windows 7 Codec Pack

It was working with Win10, too, until recently. I suspect it might've been one of the installs Win10 forces on me without really telling me that is causing some of the media files to not work. I don't see anything else it could be, similar to the winsock protocol file that randomly goes missing and suddenly I can't connect anymore even though I haven't changed anything.

Yes, I can use VLC. This is really an admission that Win10 has unsolvable problems. Forgive my frustration. Thankyou

Suggestion only :
Install K-Lite codec pack. It's much better than Win7 codec pack.

http://www.codecguide.com/