Guide: How to install Windows Media Player 10 in Windows 7

[jeffshead]

WMP10 gave similar results. I'll try WMP11 next and report back.

[Andrea Borman]

It is possible to install WMP 9 on Windows 7 but according to what I read you have to hack the installer files with Resource Hacker. I saw this video on You Tube and several others where some people managed to get WMP 9 working on Windows 7. But it is a complicated process and it did not work for me. See this video I found on You Tube here-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp7qmclz5fI

I think you would have to do the same thing for WMP 10. And I have not been able to install either on Windows 7, not even by copying the WMP 9 and WMP 10 program files from my Windows XP computer,no.

But I do however have WMP 11 on both my Windows 7 and Windows 8. But it is WMP 11 for Windows 7 which is version of WMP 11 that someone made adapted to run on Windows 7. I found out about it from here-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40OJ4Gtvvnk

And I now have WMP11 on Windows 7 and Windows 8. Andrea Borman.

[jeffshead]

@Andrea

Thanks for the reply.

I've installed WMP9-11 on Win7 x64 and none of them, including WMP11, are fully functional.

They have issues with file associations and the context menu.

If you used the installer from WinMatrix and it worked for you that means you have Win7 x86. It won't work on x64. They do have a tutorial for x64 but it has the issues I mentioned previously.

[Andrea Borman]

Yes I have Windows 7 32 bit not 64 bit. And I also have Windows 8 Consumer Preview 32 bit. And WMP 11 for Windows 7 works on Windows 7 32bit and Windows 8 32 bit.

Also WMP 5.1,Mplay32 from Windows XP also works on Windows 7,Windows 8 and Windows Vista. You just copy the Mplay32 exe from Windows System32 on Windows XP onto Windows 7,Windows 8 and Windows Vista. Then place the Mplay32 file in Windows/System32 on Windows 7,Windows 8 and Windows Vista.

So as well as having WMP11 which is working on Windows 7 and Windows 8,I also have WMP 5.1 or Mplay32, as it is called on Windows 7 and Windows 8. And also on Windows Vista. And it runs alongside WMP on all 3 versions of Windows, the same way it does on Windows XP.

So WMP 5.1,Mplay32 from Windows XP also works on Windows 7,Windows Vista and Windows 8. But WMP 6.4,Mplayer 2 from Windows XP,however does not. WMP 6.4 only works on Windows XP.

I never buy 64 bit Windows 7 as I think it is slow and it is also not compatible with 32 bit Windows XP software. If you did a custom install of Windows 7 from the full install CD you should also have the 32 bit Windows 7 CD.

Could you not install the 32bit version of Windows 7? That would be better for you if you want to install and run your software from Windows XP and Windows Vista.As most Windows XP and Vista operating systems are 32 bit. Andrea Borman.

[jeffshead]

@ Andrea

I have both 32bit and 64bit installs.

In all of my testing, Win7 x64 is not slower than x86 and it's actually faster with 64bit software. I am also able to run all of my old apps on Win7x64 without any problems whatsoever.

I've wasted many hours on trying to get this to work. I'll try one more time and see if I can figure out the reg edits that are needed to make WMP11x64 the default player.

[Andrea Borman]

Jeffshead,So if you have got 32 bit Windows 7,why not just install WMP11 for Windows 7 like I have done. That definitely works on Windows 7 and Windows 8.

According to the You Tube Videos I have seen and other posts I have read on the web. It is also possible to run WMP 9 on windows 7 but it involves a hack with the WMP 9 installer files. You could possibly run even earlier versions of WMP this way,WMP 7 but I don't know how you would do it. Andrea Borman.

[jeffshead]

@Andrea

The particular computer I want WMP11 has Win7x64 and is fully loaded with all of my apps and settings so I do not want to reinstall everything just for WMP11.

What happens when you browse to and highlight one or more audio files, select "Add to Windows Media Player List" from the right click context menu?

It does not work for me with Win7 x64 WMP11. Does it work for you on Win7 x86?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Andrea Borman]

Jeffshead, WMP 11 is working for me on both Windows 7 and Windows 8. It plays videos and audio files. And I have just had a look at WMP11 on my Windows 8 and yes I can create play lists and add music to it.

Also the only thing that is not working for me is the WMP 11 taskbar toolbar. Even though the WMP toolbar option is listed in taskbar Properties.When I minimised the player it still plays if I have WMP toolbar ticked but does not displayer the taskbar toolbar.

But that is to do with Windows 7 and Windows 8, as that features is not included in Windows 7 or 8.Also when I play audio files they all play well but I don't get the colored visual effects you get on WMP 9. But you don't get that on WMP11 on Windows Vista either, just a plain black screen and the audio music.

So yes WMP11 is working on Windows 7 and 8 the same as any other media player. And the skin chooser mode is also working.

But the only one you can install is WMP 11 for Windows 7. When I copied the WMP 11 program file from Windows Vista onto Windows 7 it did not work. And if you try to download WMP11 from the Microsoft website it won't let you install it.

So the one from WinMatrix has been adapted to install and run on Windows 7 and also works on Windows 8. But the official Microsoft version won't install on Windows 7.

I don't understand why, if they were able to make a WMP 11 for Windows 7, which works,they don't just make a WMP9 or 10 for Windows 7. That would solve the problem.

But if you look at that You Tube video again it says you have to turn off WMP,Windows Media Centre and Media features in turn off Windows features.

And when you install WMP 11 you click restart later.Then delete the registry key "installed versions" in Media Player set up. Then restart your computer.

And if you want to go back to WMP 12 you just turn it on again in Windows features and WMP 11 will be upgraded to WMP 12. But you can go back to WMP 11 anytime by going though the whole installation process again.

And also WMP 5.1,Mplay32 from Windows XP works on Windows 7,Windows Vista and Windows 8. But that is actually called Media Player. And is the very first version of WMP they made.Included in Windows XP and Windows 2000,98,and 95 and NT. But not included in Windows Vista and after that.
Andrea Borman.

[jeffshead]

Andrea, thanks for the information.

If you right click on songs and select "Add to Windows Media Player list" does it work for you?

[Andrea Borman]

Yes I can add audio and video files to WMP 11 in both Windows 7 and Windows 8. And I can also set it as the default player. And I can do the same thing with WMP 5.1,Mplay32. Andrea Borman.