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:'( Whenever I try to play a windows media player file off the internet it says it could not find it, even though I KNOW the link is working. any suggestions? anyone know how to uninstall media player?!?! ??? thanks. email me at <<edited out (due to remorse, becuase he would have been spamed by someone)>>

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by billabong

Dani AI

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Short expert summary and what usually goes wrong: many “could not find it” messages for internet links turn out not to be broken hyperlinks but either (a) a small Windows Media metafile (for example an .asx) that contains a different URL inside, (b) a protocol / namespace problem (mms://, rtsp://, etc.) or (c) a local Windows Media Player state problem (corrupt library/cache or missing codec). Before removing the player (as suggested) or blindly installing a newer version (as mentioned), run a few targeted checks so the actual cause is clear. (learn.microsoft.com)

Quick, reliable diagnostics to try first:

  • Save the link (right‑click → Save target / Save link) and open the saved file in a text editor. If it is an .asx/.wvx/.wax it will show one or more <REF HREF="..."> entries; that is the real URL the player tries to fetch.
  • Copy any referenced URL and try it directly with “Open URL” in a player or paste into VLC/another client — if that plays the stream, the site’s playlist is the problem.
  • If WMP shows an error code, note the code and check WMP’s Error Details for whether it reports an unsupported protocol or missing codec. (learn.microsoft.com)

Common local fixes (do these before reinstalling):

  • Run the Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooter and clear/rebuild the player database (delete files in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Media Player).
  • If the Player reports a protocol/namespace error, re-create its network namespace by re‑registering its network manager or removing the Wmsdkns.xml so WMP will rebuild it. From an elevated prompt:
    regsvr32 wmnetmgr.dll

    Then close WMP, delete Wmsdkns.xml (in your Local Settings\Application Data Microsoft\Windows Media\11.0 folder), and restart WMP. These steps are documented by Microsoft for the protocol/namespace and database cases. (support.microsoft.com)

If those attempts fail: updating or reinstalling the player (or toggling the Media Features / Windows Media Player feature off and on) is a reasonable fallback — it replaces damaged components. If the same URLs still fail after testing with another player (VLC), the problem is almost certainly server‑side (bad internal path inside the .asx, authentication/ACLs, or the host only serving a stream protocol you don’t have access to). If that is the case, the site owner must fix the playlist or server configuration. (support.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for Tekmaven

In control panel, goto add/remove programs.
Click windows setup
find Windows Media Player and uncheck it
keep hitting next till the wizard finishes :-)

(to reinstall it, go back there, and check it)

Member Avatar for Dani

Tekmaven, if you removed Mark's email address, how do you expect anyone to be able to contact him? There was a reason he posted it!

From now on, only edit posts which violate our terms of service. Thanks!

Member Avatar for vigneshvh

the problem in windows media player is commen,i think some error had occeared,dut u can solve this problem with out uninstalling media player by installing a new mediaplayer version so that new files of mediaplayer will replace old once and replace deleted file also

Member Avatar for vigneshvh

i accept u r idea but there is no need to untick previous ,other than that u can do reinstallation by a new version of windows media player -8,9,11,so it replaces all old files of mediaplayer,so that the problem will be solved

Member Avatar for billabong

Hi, I'm so sorry to do this - but HOW do I start my own thread??!! I'm desparate......

Cheers

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