Vista - Bizarre prob traced to WMP11 not playing mp3 files at 'random'

Hi,

I'm running Vista Ultimate x64 and noticed a problem recently when playing music via windows media center.

However, having played around in WMP11 also, WMP is doing the same thing so I believe the problem is somewhere in there.

Initially the problem started when trying to play a collection of mp3 files off my local drive. Whether it be via an existing playlist or simply by selecting an album within WMC.

The problem is that a track plays and then WMC/WMP freezes on the next track. If I skip to the next track that plays, but then the next track freezes. Sometimes the 1st track on the list doesn't play but the next will. Sometimes the 1st plays and then the next won't!

So, I closed WMC and opened up WMP directly. (This happens in both x86 and x64 versions of WMP by the way).

If I create a playlist, the same thing happens a track plays, then freezes, if I skip on, the next track plays and then the next one freezes.

It gets stranger...

If I go into the library and double-click on a track it may or may not play. If it did play, if I click on another track that one freezes. If it didn't play, the next track I click on plays and then the next freezes.

At first I thought this was simply a case of screwed up files.. it gets sillier.

If a track doesn't play when I double click on it, if I double click on it again it does play!!!

That's all well and good, but doesn't help when tracks are in a playlist.

A few other things of note.

When playing the tracks through WMP on another PC via media sharing it works fine.

If I go to the track in Windows Explorer on the actual PC or the networked PC, right-click on it and click on play it opens in WMP and plays fine.

I've tried searching for answers but nothing comes up relating to my experience.

I'm wondering if it is a codec issue (I've installed the latest audio drivers etc), but what confuses me is that it isn't specific mp3 files that are not working, more a case that every odd file will play in a list and that mp3s that don't play 1st time will if I select them again.

Has anyone had any experience of this problem or have any ideas where I need to look to find a solution... it's driving me mad not being able to listen to my playlists or albums?

(By the way, I also purged the WMP library database and temp files and rebuilt the library from scratch... same result)

Thanks.

Hmm...gets stranger.

OK, mp3 file that I know doesn't play in WMP11.

Double-click on it the in library. It won't play.

Double-click on it again. It does play.

Double-click on it again. It won't play.

and on it goes...

Hmm, take a look around here Microsoft may have an answer. Have you tried uninstalling and re-installing the WMP maybe it was something in the installation. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...userlocale=409

Hi, lad29, and welcome to the forums.

WiMP 11 is built into the system and as such cannot be *directly* uninstalled. Out of curiosity, though, have you tried checking your system for inconsistencies, such as a recovery repair, or even a ?

Hi guys, thanks for the replies and welcome.

Yeah, I've run check disk a couple of times and had no problems. I haven't ran sfc though so will give that a go just in case anything comes to light.

As mentioned I haven't tried uninstalling WMP as in Vista it's part of the OS so a direct uninstall/reinstall isn't possible. AFAIK.

Anyway, will give that a whirl and check out that link too.

Cheers.