Windows Media Player - Intermittent error when trying to play media file-Server Execution Failed

Hi Mary,

Thank you for your reply - I followed the instructions in the update of 18 Jan by Afzal.  Disabled each startup up items and re-attempted - the problem still occured with all disabled and individual ones enabled as well.   The startup items in my list (with the Microsoft ones hidden) were:

• Apple Mobile Device (Apple Inc)
• avast! Antivirus (ALWIL Software)
• avast! Mail Scanner (ALWIL Software)
• avast! Web Scanner (ALWIL Software)
• Bonjour Service (Apple Inc)
• Google Update Service (gupdate) (Google Inc)
• iPod Service (Apple Inc)
• NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVIDIA Corporation)
• ServiceLayer  (Nokia)

I then tried the new user account, which started to show promising results.

Initially I was getting the "server execution failed" error on every second media file.  On a new account it didn't happen at all (worked about 10 tens in succession).  I then created a new user account as per the link provided by Afzal and copied across the appropriate files from the old user account (excluding the Ntuser ones).  After logging on with the new user it worked gain for about 10 tens in succession, before starting to play up again.

Now it appears to be happening every 5-6 plays of a media file.

Media files I'm using are AVI, MPG and MP3.

When the problem started again with the newly setup user, I tried using the Windows Media Centre and to this date I can play video files without an issue at all via WMC.  But as soon as I try WMP - problems reoccur again.  Can go back to WMC and problems don't appear.

Would appear to me that the issue is WMP related - as WMC works fine.

I checked the Windows Media Network Sharing Service startup type and it was set to Automatic (delayed start).  I changed this to Automatic.  Rebooted and no difference - still has same problem with WMP (again WMC all ok).

My PC is a custom built PC with 2GB RAM and a Gigabyte 965P-DS3P (rev 2) motherboard.

Windows 7 Ultimate is installed and was installed as a clean install as required.  I originally had RC7100 but this could not be upgraded as per MicroSoft instructions and a clean install was done.

Regards

Gemdarwen.

Hello Gemdarwen,

Thank you for your reply.

To verify are the media files all on the local PC or an external drive? Also, does the issue occur with the antivirus program temporarily disabled?

You may verify that the codecs for the media files are installed.

Windows Media Player automatically downloads all Microsoft Codecs and updates.  If a media file requires a 3rd party codec you may use your favorite search engine to search for the necessary codec to play the file.

Below is a link with information on installing additional codecs and how to tell which codec was used to compress a file.

Codecs: frequently asked questions

Also, you may see the reply by Bobby Mikkelson in the below thread on Monday, October 12, 2009 7:25 PM.  This thread may also be applicable for Windows Media Player 12.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistamedia/thread/be023b1e-73b7-46ff-909c-229aeb77d9cc

Please relay if the issue occurs with Windows Media Player open in between opening or trying to play each media file and if the files are being played direclty from the Windows Media Player library or another location.

Thank you,

Mary

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Thank you for your further suggestions.

The media files are all located on the local PC, but on a separate hard-drive within the PC - not an external hard drive.

I'm unsure of codecs (even after reading the link provided) but all the videos are home videos downloaded from my Sony Handycam so I don't expect them to be "unusual" coded ones.  Plus they all worked fine in previous editions of Windows (XP and Vista).

As for the information on Bobby Mikkelson's link, I can advise that playing the videos from within WMP Library causes no problems.  The videos can be stopped and restarted, or new ones played without an issue.

However, when I try from Windows Explorer directly by double clicking on the video file, I encounter errors again after every 2nd video.  I tried pausing up to 5 seconds between closing WMP and re-opening a new video file, but the same problem still occurs.  I disabled my anti-virus, and no change - still erroring each second video file when played via windows explorer.

Appears playing videos via WMP or WMC is no problem, but if you try via windows explorer you encounter problems.  I can work around this by now only using WMP or WMC to play files.

Thank you for the assistance, and I'd be interested to find out when Microsoft fix the problem when playing media files via Windows Explorer.

Regards

Gemdarwen.

I have the same issue. Files that don't work in WMP on my desktop with Windows 7 Home 64 bit are mpg, mpeg and avi. The source of the file makes a difference though. Files from my camera don't work on this PC but have no problems on my laptop with XP professional (or any other computer). Sometimes they start then hang, sometimes they don't start. When I stop WMP by clicking the x - that hangs too. Opening task manager will show DEFAULT IME not responding. And I get the server error that is reported in another thread above.

John

Been travelling and haven't had a chance to update. 

Still same problem.  Still no Microsoft answer to the problem that started this thread.  It does look like after 3 months Microsoft did bother to respond above but it doesn't appear to be anything useful for two reasons.  1) I don't have a video problem that I'm aware of.   2) It appears to be re-hash of the previous bs posts they've done without reading or directly addressing any of my initial posts.   Hey MS can I get a job?  I'm sure I can excel at failing to respond, ignoring people, not reading, and I'm very good at cut and paste.

Long story short, MS still has a problem they won't acknowledge or fix.