Windows Media Player will not open

I have been having problems with my laptop since trying to download the windows live essentials update. I was unable to update to the new WLE and got really frustated and deleted everything Windows live off my computer to try and successfully update this. I have a feeling this why I can no longer access Windows Media player on my laptop.

I still have the shortcuts to WMP but when I click on it, it appears to try and load but nothing happens. I have followed various threads about opening task manager, it's definatly not already running and I have also tried opening WMP as administrater but it still wont open. I was going to do a system restore to before I started trying to get the WLE update but it was over a week ago and I can only system restore up to 5 days ago!!
When I go to add/remove programs in control panel, it doesn't show Windows media player but when i try to download it again it says I already have a more updated version installed.

I will be so annoyed if I have now lost WMP as I had all my music neatly organised which took me ages to do.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated
Thanks

Welcome
When you see the system restore dates, in the lower left tick the box show extra restore points

With
WLM

Go to search and type the name of the program, Windows Media etc.
also

Reboot the computer
also

Download and try to use Ccleaner, to make sure that it is not just remnants of Player that you have; making it appear that it still in the system.

Make sure Player is set to default
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/restore-windows-media-player-to-default-programs-vista/

Hopefully one idea will work