Windows 7 - Windows Media Player 12 Crashes Virtually Everytime

Anonymous
2009-11-28T08:32:24+00:00

Hi,Almost everytime I open Windows Media Player 12 it crashes. Usually the Window opens but is greyed out and the cursor indicates that it is busy.I have tried both of the following Methods to resolve the issue. Method 1.

  1. Click on Start and in the search bar type cmd.exe
  2. Right click on cmd.exe and click on Run as Administrator
  3. In the command prompt type the following command

     net localgroup "Administrators" "NT Authority\Local Service" /add 4. Press enter and restart the computer

Method 2.Uninstalling and Reinstalling the Windows Media Player:

**Step 1.Uninstalling the Windows Media Player:**1. Go to Start and in the search type "Turn Windows features On or Off".

  1. Click on "Turn Windows features On or Off".
  2. Browse to the Media Features and uncheck the mark in front of Windows Media Player.
  3. Restart the computer

Step 2.

**Reinstalling the Windows Media Player:**1. Go to Start and in the search type "Turn Windows features On or Off".

  1. Click on "Turn Windows features On or Off".
  2. Browse to the Media Features and place a check mark in front of Windows Media Player.
  3. Restart the Computer.

Method 2 fixes the problem. However, it has gotten to the point that WMP 12 is unusable as it crashes almost everytime and I'm not prepared to have to restart my PC twice in order to view a video or listen to some music.Come on Microsoft - please get your this sorted and give us a proper, permanent fix to this inherant Windows 7/WMP 12 problem.Regards,Jonesyboi

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2015-07-02T20:20:22+00:00

I had this problem for months it was really  pissing me off. But I sorted it.

The problem was corrupted files in pictures, not wmp or the music that I assumed would be the issue.

Cure................ go to pictures and video. I had some files that had no image. These were the corrupted files that were causing the problem. I had 8 photos  & 2 videos that I downloaded from my iPhone 5. I Just don't understand how or why it happened. Not a clue.

Even deleting them was hard, as I went to delete them WMP would shutdown.

So I googled and download ' File Assassin' job done all working fine now.

I was cursing Microsoft WMP, but in fact, Apple was the cause of the problem.

Good luck, WMP is so much better than ITunes.

If it works let me know. I Just would like to know if it helps someone.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-12-07T22:24:04+00:00

    This Microsoft fix seems to be working for me.

    http://support.microsoft.com/gp/video\_freezes\_or\_crashes

    So this is what it says is crashing WMP 12..we will see now that all my codecs have been removed sigh. We need a completely new more advanced Media Player and a new tagging solution...unless Microsoft is wanting us to use 3rd party stuff. 

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-20T22:23:24+00:00

    I tried this, but it still doesn't work. I'm trying to play *.avi or *.mkv files and it tries to open, but suddenly gives me an error that it has to close. I'm getting sick and tired of Microsoft's products. They are trash and they expect you to keep buying more and more updates for more and more money and more and more useless software. I've been having this issue for the past tree months. I guess I'll just have to go to the FLV player. At least when Windows Media can't open the file, IT CAN.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-09T17:54:31+00:00

    ****Possible fix*****

    I just looked at my pictures and found one that was weird format and blank (no thumbnail) and deleted it.  WMP works!  (for now)

    Here's what I posted elsewhere on this forum:

    WMP was working fine but now the last few months it won't open.  I don't even get an error code.  The player opens but is blank and I get the circle that says it's working.  I can't click on anything.  To close it I have to open task manager and "end task".  

    Not sure if this is related, but itunes has a similar problem in that I click on "open program" or double click the icon and nothing happens.  I have to double click a bunch of times and it finally opens.

    Anyway, on to WMP, I tried method 2 and it worked.  With only MS programs running WMP opened and ran.  I then put the computer back to running all normal programs and WMP still worked.  Then I closed my laptop to put it in sleep mode overnight.  I opened it up this morning, and the problem is back.  So I must have some program that is conflicting with it.  

    I don't have the stock antivirus software anymore but I do have bitdefender.  The ms support links to download the "easy fix" take you to a new page and they don't list this type of proble with WMP.  I ran one of the options and it says that I may have a configuration issue, but I don't know how to change the configurations if I can't open it.

    Anyone else have a good answer  for this or have my problem specifically (no error, just a blank open)?

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-09-14T21:00:15+00:00

    Hi,

    Have you already tried re-installing the Windows Media Player? If not, we suggest that you try re-installing the said program and check if that would work. You can download it using this link.

    Let us know how it goes.

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