Windows Vista Forums

Secret WMP copy in Program Files!!
  1. #1


    cvp Guest

    Secret WMP copy in Program Files!!

    Well well well!

    I had been complaining about the abysmal performance of WMP search (running
    64-bit Vista RC1). Quite by accident I noticed that all of the shortcuts etc.
    point to the WMP in "Program Files (x86)" but there is also a copy of WMP in
    "Program Files".

    So I tried it. What a difference in performance! On a 5 minute test, Folder
    search runs 24 times faster!!! What used to take 10 days will now take me 8
    hours (not wonderful, but bearable!).



    So, why are there these 2 copies of WMP? Why do the shortcuts point to the
    slow version?

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Guest

    Re: Secret WMP copy in Program Files!!

    Good questions. Can you change the shortcut?
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Walter

    "cvp" <cvp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:89F8D40F-97CE-4449-9B93-691A01F1DA03@microsoft.com...
    > Well well well!
    >
    > I had been complaining about the abysmal performance of WMP search
    > (running
    > 64-bit Vista RC1). Quite by accident I noticed that all of the shortcuts
    > etc.
    > point to the WMP in "Program Files (x86)" but there is also a copy of WMP
    > in
    > "Program Files".
    >
    > So I tried it. What a difference in performance! On a 5 minute test,
    > Folder
    > search runs 24 times faster!!! What used to take 10 days will now take me
    > 8
    > hours (not wonderful, but bearable!).
    >
    > So, why are there these 2 copies of WMP? Why do the shortcuts point to the
    > slow version?



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    cvp Guest

    Re: Secret WMP copy in Program Files!!

    Walter,

    Changing the shortcuts should be no problem, but I suspect there are some
    other classes etc. related to starting a program associated with given file
    extensions. I may just create a new shortcut.

    cvp

    "fake@add.com" wrote:

    > Good questions. Can you change the shortcut?
    > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > Walter
    >



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Bill Frisbee Guest

    Re: Secret WMP copy in Program Files!!

    It's quite possible that the version of WMP 11 for 64-bit isn't ready for
    prime time yet.

    Remember, when you are running a 64-bit Windows, running the 32 bit
    applications can have a decrease in performance due to WoW.

    Mind you I am NOT a 64-bit Windows Vista expert, my current system cant run
    64 bit!

    Bill F.

    "cvp" <cvp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:89F8D40F-97CE-4449-9B93-691A01F1DA03@microsoft.com...
    > Well well well!
    >
    > I had been complaining about the abysmal performance of WMP search
    > (running
    > 64-bit Vista RC1). Quite by accident I noticed that all of the shortcuts
    > etc.
    > point to the WMP in "Program Files (x86)" but there is also a copy of WMP
    > in
    > "Program Files".
    >
    > So I tried it. What a difference in performance! On a 5 minute test,
    > Folder
    > search runs 24 times faster!!! What used to take 10 days will now take me
    > 8
    > hours (not wonderful, but bearable!).
    >
    > So, why are there these 2 copies of WMP? Why do the shortcuts point to the
    > slow version?



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    cvp Guest

    Re: Secret WMP copy in Program Files!!



    "Bill Frisbee" wrote:

    > It's quite possible that the version of WMP 11 for 64-bit isn't ready for
    > prime time yet.


    Yup. Could be, but from a search performance viewpoint it's a damn sight
    more ready than the one invoked by the shortcuts. My cpu utilization goes
    down from 65% to 25% too.

    Actually playing music has become a secondary problem to creating the
    library. I'll get round to that next. I generally play on another machine
    (XP) over the lan anyway. This vista machine is the server/library
    maintenance one (and convert to other required formats), but I do need the
    ability to play.


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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