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

Anonymous
2009-12-24T02:35:18+00:00

Windows Media Player - Server Execution Failed

I'm currently running Windows 7 Ultimate, 64-bit version.

Just recently started receiving this error about 2 weeks ago. The first media file I open with WMP works fine. All subsequent media files, regardless of type, hangs for about a minute and a half then pops up an error.

Nice error box with a red X stop sign and then:

C:/path to the file I tried to run/name.extension of said file

"server execution failed"

Task manager shows WMP running in background, stopping the process does not help. Restarting explorer does not help either. Full shutdown/restart just restarts the cycle. First file works, then the rest don't. No time issues either, I can launch it, play songs all day, change songs at random, etc.. If I close it, then try to restart, I get the error. Does not matter how long I wait between closing and restarting.  Does not matter what file is opened.

This error is in the event log at times corresponding to my "server execution errors"

The server {ED1D0FDF-4414-470A-A56D-CFB68623FC58} did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.

Also tried:

Control Panel, Programs, Turn Windows Features On/Off and disabled WMC and WMP.

Rebooted.

Went back, re-enabled both programs.

Rebooted.

Worked for about 10 minutes, then started back with the same error. 

I have also tried all of the suggestions available here: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/troubleshooting-windows-media-player-in-windows-7  with no result.

I've ran 7 since the beta was first available and had zero issues with this.  I did a clean install of the retail version when it released, and had no issues until now.  I have not installed anything other than Windows Updates.  Computer is clean, I've ran multiple malware/spyware scans and antivirus scans.  

I've also tried the system file checker (SFC), which found nothing.

It's also interesting to note, Windows Media Player Classic works flawlessly.

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-12-28T18:39:58+00:00

    Found a helpful post over at http://www.sevenforums.com/media-center/27995-wmp12-server-execution-failed.html.  I tried Nkarytia's suggestion of taking ownership of the codec keys.  I then uninstalled and reinstalled the k-lite codec pack.  Almost all of my music then started working.  Still got a few of the same "server" errors, but quickly discovered that they were now limited to just about 20 or so songs.  I copied them over from my backup drive, and now they play as well.   I had not tried copying backups over initially.  I've seen a couple corrupt songs over the years, but not ALL of them, ALL at once.   500+ MP3 files on a brand new drive, that were working fine previously, just don't suddenly go bad....

    It truly appears that one of Microsoft's recent "updates" to WMP caused MP3 file corruption.   I've seen the library itself get corrupted (not since Beta though), but have not seen it affect the files. Is it possible that huge library that becomes corrupt can cause the files to corrupt? 

    I'll post back if I have any more difficulty, but for now it appears this may be resolved.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-12-28T18:45:13+00:00

    Just found this article, its dated, but seems to describe what I just encountered on the supposedly "fixed" retail version.  I wonder if it has been really fixed, or if this is still a problem.   Interestingly enough, most of the songs that I found to be corrupt, had very large tags......

    http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/01/windows-7-mp3-corruption-fix-arrives-via-automatic-updates.ars

    http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/01/warning-wmp12-beta-could-corrupt-your-mp3s.ars

    The corruption issue occurs every time that metadata is edited in an MP3 file that already contains lots of metadata in the file header; several seconds of audio at the beginning of the track may be lost permanently. Specifically, any information that causes the header size to exceed 16KB will trigger the loss. In Windows 7 Beta, Media Foundation programming interfaces perform metadata editing of MP3 files, so the problem can occur when MP3 files with large headers are played back in Windows Media Player or Windows Media Center, as well as when metadata for an MP3 file is edited by Windows Explorer (including album art, artist, album name, track, and several other tags).

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-12-28T20:01:44+00:00

    I spoke too soon.   WMP is now giving the same "server execution" error on MP3's that were previously working.  I'm really not going to be happy if it just corrupted all my files again. 

    Again, Winamp and Windows Media Player Classic play these corrupted songs FINE.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-12-30T13:39:34+00:00

    Bump.

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  5. Anonymous
    2009-12-31T13:57:44+00:00

    Bump.

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