Vista - Media Player prompts for images.metaservices.microsoft.com passwor

The last time I started windows media player (not center), I started getting
an "Enter Network Password" prompt every 1-3 minutes which blocks windows
media player.

The prompt indicates the following:

Enter Network Password
Connecting to images.metaservices.microsoft.com
Realm: images.metaservices.microsoft.com
User Name:
Password:
Checkbox to Save password to password list.

I have no idea what media player is trying to connect to or why. It acts
like media player has internally lost connection with some functionality
originating from the microsoft site. I've never configured any live accounts
or similar activities with media player.

I do have an XBOX 360 and sharing enabled. This worked pretty much right
away without any problems. I rebuild the connection after getting this
prompt and its working, but the password prompt continues to show up.

I'm not willing to enter any of my own password information for fear that
something bad might be happening.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Barney

"BarneyM" wrote:

I have been getting the same request for a UserName and Password on 3 of my
systems. I believe I noticed it around 20 December. I believe I only get
the challenge when my WMP is open for extended periods. Was this perhaps a
result of a recent MS update?

I am getting the same error with Media Player, it coincides with network
access. I would like to hear of a fix.

"BarneyM" wrote:

I just recently did a new XPSP2 install on a new computer and I'm getting the
same message. I've been using WMP 11 for the past 6 months without any
issues on my previous XPSP2 install. Now with my new XP install I get the
message all the time. Is there any way to tell the WMP programming team
directly?

"froghopper" wrote:

The same thing happened to me. You just need to enter your Hotmail account
as your username and your psswrd for it. This is so you can download the
images for your music in Windows Mediapalyer.

"equation" wrote:

"BarneyM" wrote:

I have had the same problem since December 19.07 and despite a clean
re-install of Vista Ultimate 64 bit, the problem persists. I notice that
after a few hours of being open both the 32 bit and 64 bit WMP11 result in
the "metaservices" prompt.

I will be talking with tech support again on Jan 15 so any further input
might help. I will post a solution if and when I get one.

Thanks

Senior Bit



It would be helpful to know what version of Vista and media player you are
using.

I might have stumbled across a inadvertent fix (sort of). In Tools >>
Options >> Privacy Tab - I unchecked "update music files by retrieving
media info from the internet". I restarted WMP11 and the problem seemed to
stop. I then wanted to see if it would come back if I checked "update music
files by retrieving media info from the internet". So I checked the box,
restarted WMP11 and mysteriously no more images.metaservices.microsoft.com
pop up. I hope this works for everyone else!

Here is my new problem. When I right click on an album and select "Update
Album Info" I get no update. Typically in the past it would locate the album
art (for well known albums) as well as update any track info. AND I still
have "update music files" checked!!

Solution From Tech Support at Microsoft tech support....

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsvista.htm

But you need to be patient.

I did this on Friday and the "prompting" problem persisted all weekend.
Suddenly on Monday the nework prompt went away and has not returned for two
days. Tech support told me today the it may take as long as 72 hours for the
procedure above to work its way through the computer based on number of files
and extent of computer use. I must admit I don't fully understand this
explanation but there you go.

Hope this solution works for all of you.

Senior Bit

Please ignore my previous post.

The problem mysteriously returned.

Back to tech support - will advise.

Senior Bit

I'm not sure if this bit of info might help anyone, but WMP prompted me for
this about the same time my playlists and library cache files got
corrupted... Just started today.