Win Media Player 11 Beta version...wow!

Tony Palmer · From: St Augustine,FL

I gotta say, I've only downloaded this an hour ago and can't stop playing with it.
It has so many features for your music library!
The coolest is it adds the photo cover of the CD next to each song, gives the artist, the album, even the songwriter!
For more info and free download go here
find.pcworld.com/53594

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

I put it on, Tony, and it is definitely an improvement over WMP v.10. Had a bit of trouble at first finding the options I'm used to.
Like VISUALIZATIONS. I prefer the ALCHEMY - RANDOM mode.
But if you click around long enough, I guess you're bound to find it. I didn't bother with URGE. MTV is not my bag. Actually, come to think of it, TV is really not my bag either [with a few exceptions].

Thanks for the notice.

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Biggest mistake I ever did was buying a Toshiba laptop with Windows Media Edition 2004 on it. Toshiba doesn't provide an upgrade to the 2005 edition. Microsoft only provides the Windows Media Edition 2005 to OEM's so I can only get it through Toshiba and Toshiba's not supplying or supporting it.

Upgrading to Windows Media 10 broke the features of WME I liked and I was never able to use those features again.

Now Windows Media 11 is not comptible with Windows Media Edition 2004.

Everytime I think about it I get steamed. I'll never buy another Toshiba (this is the 3rd laptop of theirs I've had issues with).

Jon Moen · From: Canada

Bill, what were the features that you couldn't use after upgrading to WMP10?

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Well,

I just discovered something I don't like about WMP v.11.

I have some home made CDs with various artists on them and I simply titled the CDs A-B, B-C, C-D etc. Almost all the CDs [14 total] have more than 20 songs on them; anywhere from 21-25 on almost all of them.

I went to rip them in WMP11 so as to put them back on my hard drive and WMP only recognized 20 songs. What's with this? I'm pretty sure v.10 SAW & PLAYED ALL the songs.

I tried to rip in Creative Media Source Player, too, and it only saw 20 songs.

Is there some check-off box I'm missing here, or is the way it is?

I may take v.11 off and re-install v.10 and see if my hunch is right.

Any input would be helpful, all.

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

I would like to remind anybody who is planning on installing WMP 11, that it is still a beta product. That means you should not use it on your only computer, upon which you rely to perform important daily tasks. Beta software is notorious for taking out operating systems, or munging your settings to the extent you have to restore a system restore point or re-install the OS and applications.

It is safer to test beta releases on another less important computer, or as a limited user account other than the one you use daily.

------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Thanks Wiz. I am aware of the risks with new beta programs; but Tony made such a convincing
case for v.11, that I said, "what the heck".

My fault, for sure; but it does seem to work quicker and easier than v.10

I hope I can still go to Windows Update and put v.10 back.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Tried to get rid of v.11 and it is not listed in ADD/REMOVE and there is no UNINSTALL in Program Files/WMP.

I tried to install v.10 and a flag said there was another newer version and that the install could not continue.

GREAT!

What now?

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Chip;
Unless you saved a system restore point just before upgrading WMP, and are able to restore that point, you will have to reinstall Windows over itself to "repair" the media player issue. To do this you must have your original XP CD and the hologram sticker with the licensed Product Key.

Insert your Windows XP CD, making sure that your BIOS is setup to boot from a CD first. Power on and when you see the text "Press any key to boot from the CD," press any key. Setup will initiate by checking hardware, keyboard, etc, then come to an options screen. Follow the option to Setup Windows XP. Another screen will load where there are options to install a fresh copy or repair an existing installation. Choose R to repair the existing installation. Follow the prompts and when the Product ID screen appears type in the gozillian characters that make up the Product Key code. Allow Setup/Repair to continue until it is complete and you end up at you login Welcome screen. All your settings will be preserved, but all Windows Updates and patches will need to be downloaded again. There may be dozens of critical patches and updates that may require several download-install-reboot sessions, until there are no more updates available. You will have to download the WGA tool and re-validate and re-activate your copy of Windows.

Additionally, you may have to reinstall some applications, including security and anti-virus programs.

Good luck Chip.

------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 27 June 2006 at 09:08 PM.]

[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 27 June 2006 at 09:09 PM.]

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Thanks again Wiz,

I was able to restore back to 6/19 and got WMP v.10 back.

But, it's screwy. One CD still only shows 20 songs, but others show their real amount [over 20].

But I'm gonna stick with with v.10, now.

I'm never gonna go for another beta program again. Should have thought twice. Let others work it out. This stuff wears you down. It's NO fun, and I got better things to do.

STILL - how can v.10 see only SOME of the songs on one CD, and then see ALL the songs on another CD?

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Bad CD, or corrupted Table Of Contents on that CD.

John Daugherty · From: Rolla, Missouri, USA

Wiz, you said "may require several download-install-reboot sessions".
Can't you install several or all of your updates, then reboot one time? I have a CD filled with updates so I can re-install them.

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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Tony Palmer · From: St Augustine,FL

Oooooh, ouch, Chip! sorry for the trouble you're having.
Just like touching a stove to see if it's really hot, I ripped a CD I had burned myself with WM11 and experienced no such problem, thankfully.
I did notice a box to check in the Rip menu (under more options) that enables copy protect music....mine was not checked....maybe this did it?
The procedure Wiz decribes is quite painful to read...surely there must be another solution?

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Thanks Tony, but no problem, really. I was lucky to simply go back to a restore point.

I think I'll just wait a little longer before going for v.11, again.

BTW, anyone, when does a beta version cease becoming BETA and turns into a full-fledged version? After MS feels enuff bugs have been reported and 'patched up'? I don't have a clue.

[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 28 June 2006 at 11:50 AM.]

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Thanks for the BETA info, Wiz. I think it's good to know this stuff.

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