Member Avatar for Knowsum

I am using XP service pack 3 and have installed WMP 11. I try to start the program and get the message " Windows Media Player is not installed properly and must be reinstalled. Do you wan:'( t to install the player from the Microsoft Web site?" Accepting 'yes' to this and reinstalling brings back the same message. I tried uninstalling but can only roll back to a previous version. A word from the wise would be very much appreciated.

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Short expert summary and an ordered, low-risk repair path. The “Windows Media Player is not installed properly and must be reinstalled” message on XP/SP3 is commonly caused by a version mismatch between WMP binaries (for example wmploc.dll) and what the registry says is installed after an update or manual file change. Microsoft documents this exact problem and provides a small supported fix you should try before manual registry edits or third‑party cleaners. (support.microsoft.com)

Recommended steps (do these in order; stop if one step fixes it):

  1. Run Microsoft’s WMP version-sync tool (close WMP first). On Windows XP run:

    %SystemRoot%\inf\unregmp2.exe /UpdateWMP

    This updates the registry version entry that WMP checks. Reboot and test WMP after running it. (support.microsoft.com)

  2. If the error persists, re-register the player DLL (elevated command prompt):

    regsvr32 wmp.dll

    Then try WMP again. Microsoft Answers/Q&A threads list this as the next supported troubleshooting action. (learn.microsoft.com)

  3. Repair Windows system files with System File Checker:

    sfc /scannow

    SFC will replace missing or corrupted system files; on XP it may request the original install media or an SP3-integrated source. See Microsoft’s guidance on using SFC if files cannot be fixed automatically. (support.microsoft.com)

Notes, cautions and followups: avoid blind registry cleaners or deleting the WMP program folder (as suggested earlier by ) because they often leave mixed-version DLLs and make this exact error harder to fix. If those supported steps still fail, download and run the official WMP 11 installer (the standalone installer is what recommended) or follow Microsoft’s uninstall/reinstall guidance. If the machine is still running Windows XP, remember that XP reached end of support on April 8, 2014—long‑term stability and security are improved by moving to a supported OS. (support.microsoft.com)

If the above commands produce error text or specific version numbers, include those exact messages when searching for help (they point directly at which DLL/version is out of sync).

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Member Avatar for mjdodd

One way is to use control panel add and remove progs and then uninstall.
If that does not work this is the really hard way.
delete the windows media player 11 folder. (I cant remember wher eit is!) and then use a registry cleaner to remove all the registry entries to the player! This saves doing, it by hand but yu could do that as well!

Then switch off and restart and then install the latest version.

It is wise to set a restore point before doing all this.

Best of luck
M

Member Avatar for Knowsum

mj thanks for that. I did as you suggested and cleaned the registry with more than one cleaner after the delete. Re installed WMP, re started the PC - same problem. "Windows Media Player is not ..."

Member Avatar for cguan_77

hi, try to install the latest service pack for your OS.. check if it will help...

Member Avatar for c-tech

had the same problem. i solved it by getting a copy of windows media player,no the one that is installed by windows during install but the one download manually. maybe try that and i believe it'll work.

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