Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any information on.
Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player, double-clicking
a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this happens,
opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes two
instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the process from the
task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media player. I
am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.

Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like WMP is locking up trying to unload the video card driver...
http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html#vdriver

--
(speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Now Playing: "Get on The Dance Floor" by "Rob Base" in WMP10.
--

"agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E8798A8F-BDE6-445D-A1ED-35D1A5E1F407@microsoft.com...
> Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any information
> on.
> Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player,
> double-clicking
> a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this happens,
> opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes two
> instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the process from
> the
> task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media player.
> I
> am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.
>
> Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?
>
> Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I took a look at your info file. Very nice and informative, but I'm not sure
how it applies here. My video drivers are relatively recent (I'll make sure
I get newer), but was your suggestion to reinstall DirectX also? Thanks. in
advance.

"zachd [ms]" wrote:

>
> Sounds like WMP is locking up trying to unload the video card driver...
> http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html#vdriver
>
> --
> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> Now Playing: "Get on The Dance Floor" by "Rob Base" in WMP10.
> --
>
> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E8798A8F-BDE6-445D-A1ED-35D1A5E1F407@microsoft.com...
> > Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any information
> > on.
> > Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player,
> > double-clicking
> > a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this happens,
> > opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes two
> > instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the process from
> > the
> > task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media player.
> > I
> > am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.
> >
> > Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>
>
>

My video card driver is recent, and it's terrible. Recent != perfect or
bug-free...

It sounds like you're hitting a bug in your video card driver. The link I
pointed you to covers how to work with most of the problems I'm aware of in
this arena.

-Zach
--
(speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--

"agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E58B93FF-8A67-47A3-828E-2554D1806260@microsoft.com...
>I took a look at your info file. Very nice and informative, but I'm not
>sure
> how it applies here. My video drivers are relatively recent (I'll make
> sure
> I get newer), but was your suggestion to reinstall DirectX also? Thanks.
> in
> advance.
>
> "zachd [ms]" wrote:
>
>>
>> Sounds like WMP is locking up trying to unload the video card driver...
>> http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html#vdriver
>>
>> --
>> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
>> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> Now Playing: "Get on The Dance Floor" by "Rob Base" in WMP10.
>> --
>>
>> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:E8798A8F-BDE6-445D-A1ED-35D1A5E1F407@microsoft.com...
>> > Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any
>> > information
>> > on.
>> > Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player,
>> > double-clicking
>> > a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this
>> > happens,
>> > opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes two
>> > instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the process
>> > from
>> > the
>> > task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media
>> > player.
>> > I
>> > am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.
>> >
>> > Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?
>> >
>> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>>
>>
>>

I too am having the same problem - MediaPlayer stays open and continues to
play media unless I first stop the media and then use Task Manager to end the
process.

I have had the same problem all the way through 3 video card upgrades. I've
also Googled the problem and found many other places the question is
unanswered. I hope Microsoft addresses this one soon - sometimes I end up
with 6 different processes all running MediaPlayer. It is very frustrating.

"zachd [ms]" wrote:

>
> My video card driver is recent, and it's terrible. Recent != perfect or
> bug-free...
>
> It sounds like you're hitting a bug in your video card driver. The link I
> pointed you to covers how to work with most of the problems I'm aware of in
> this arena.
>
> -Zach
> --
> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> --
>
> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E58B93FF-8A67-47A3-828E-2554D1806260@microsoft.com...
> >I took a look at your info file. Very nice and informative, but I'm not
> >sure
> > how it applies here. My video drivers are relatively recent (I'll make
> > sure
> > I get newer), but was your suggestion to reinstall DirectX also? Thanks.
> > in
> > advance.
> >
> > "zachd [ms]" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Sounds like WMP is locking up trying to unload the video card driver...
> >> http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html#vdriver
> >>
> >> --
> >> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >> Now Playing: "Get on The Dance Floor" by "Rob Base" in WMP10.
> >> --
> >>
> >> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:E8798A8F-BDE6-445D-A1ED-35D1A5E1F407@microsoft.com...
> >> > Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any
> >> > information
> >> > on.
> >> > Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player,
> >> > double-clicking
> >> > a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this
> >> > happens,
> >> > opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes two
> >> > instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the process
> >> > from
> >> > the
> >> > task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media
> >> > player.
> >> > I
> >> > am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.
> >> >
> >> > Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?
> >> >
> >> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

I'm not sure how Microsoft would be able to address what sounds like a
driver problem..... ?
Do you get the opportunity to send a crash report?

--
(speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Now Playing: "I'm Mad (DJ Scratch jazzy remix)" by "EPMD" in WMP10.
--

"Jreamer" <Jreamer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A8153718-40C0-4EA7-8C5E-CB3E15D3E76E@microsoft.com...
>I too am having the same problem - MediaPlayer stays open and continues to
> play media unless I first stop the media and then use Task Manager to end
> the
> process.
>
> I have had the same problem all the way through 3 video card upgrades.
> I've
> also Googled the problem and found many other places the question is
> unanswered. I hope Microsoft addresses this one soon - sometimes I end up
> with 6 different processes all running MediaPlayer. It is very
> frustrating.
>
> "zachd [ms]" wrote:
>
>>
>> My video card driver is recent, and it's terrible. Recent != perfect or
>> bug-free...
>>
>> It sounds like you're hitting a bug in your video card driver. The link
>> I
>> pointed you to covers how to work with most of the problems I'm aware of
>> in
>> this arena.
>>
>> -Zach
>> --
>> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
>> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> --
>>
>> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:E58B93FF-8A67-47A3-828E-2554D1806260@microsoft.com...
>> >I took a look at your info file. Very nice and informative, but I'm not
>> >sure
>> > how it applies here. My video drivers are relatively recent (I'll make
>> > sure
>> > I get newer), but was your suggestion to reinstall DirectX also?
>> > Thanks.
>> > in
>> > advance.
>> >
>> > "zachd [ms]" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Sounds like WMP is locking up trying to unload the video card
>> >> driver...
>> >> http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html#vdriver
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
>> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> rights.
>> >> Now Playing: "Get on The Dance Floor" by "Rob Base" in WMP10.
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:E8798A8F-BDE6-445D-A1ED-35D1A5E1F407@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any
>> >> > information
>> >> > on.
>> >> > Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player,
>> >> > double-clicking
>> >> > a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this
>> >> > happens,
>> >> > opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes two
>> >> > instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the process
>> >> > from
>> >> > the
>> >> > task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media
>> >> > player.
>> >> > I
>> >> > am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.
>> >> >
>> >> > Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?
>> >> >
>> >> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

No - no crash exists... it's a bug - not a hard crash.

How do we know it's a driver problem. If I've had the same problem in all of
the following environments, don't you think there's a possibility that it's
not a driver problem?

Bug tested shows in:
Windows Home
Windows XP
Bug shows on various ATI and NVidia graphic cards.

"zachd [ms]" wrote:

>
> I'm not sure how Microsoft would be able to address what sounds like a
> driver problem..... ?
> Do you get the opportunity to send a crash report?
>
> --
> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
> Now Playing: "I'm Mad (DJ Scratch jazzy remix)" by "EPMD" in WMP10.
> --
>
> "Jreamer" <Jreamer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A8153718-40C0-4EA7-8C5E-CB3E15D3E76E@microsoft.com...
> >I too am having the same problem - MediaPlayer stays open and continues to
> > play media unless I first stop the media and then use Task Manager to end
> > the
> > process.
> >
> > I have had the same problem all the way through 3 video card upgrades.
> > I've
> > also Googled the problem and found many other places the question is
> > unanswered. I hope Microsoft addresses this one soon - sometimes I end up
> > with 6 different processes all running MediaPlayer. It is very
> > frustrating.
> >
> > "zachd [ms]" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> My video card driver is recent, and it's terrible. Recent != perfect or
> >> bug-free...
> >>
> >> It sounds like you're hitting a bug in your video card driver. The link
> >> I
> >> pointed you to covers how to work with most of the problems I'm aware of
> >> in
> >> this arena.
> >>
> >> -Zach
> >> --
> >> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >> --
> >>
> >> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:E58B93FF-8A67-47A3-828E-2554D1806260@microsoft.com...
> >> >I took a look at your info file. Very nice and informative, but I'm not
> >> >sure
> >> > how it applies here. My video drivers are relatively recent (I'll make
> >> > sure
> >> > I get newer), but was your suggestion to reinstall DirectX also?
> >> > Thanks.
> >> > in
> >> > advance.
> >> >
> >> > "zachd [ms]" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> Sounds like WMP is locking up trying to unload the video card
> >> >> driver...
> >> >> http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html#vdriver
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
> >> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> >> rights.
> >> >> Now Playing: "Get on The Dance Floor" by "Rob Base" in WMP10.
> >> >> --
> >> >>
> >> >> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> news:E8798A8F-BDE6-445D-A1ED-35D1A5E1F407@microsoft.com...
> >> >> > Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any
> >> >> > information
> >> >> > on.
> >> >> > Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player,
> >> >> > double-clicking
> >> >> > a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this
> >> >> > happens,
> >> >> > opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes two
> >> >> > instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the process
> >> >> > from
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media
> >> >> > player.
> >> >> > I
> >> >> > am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Anything's entirely possible, but I'm betting that few teams around the
world get as insanely tested/stress-tested as the player. Stuff like
"double-library" might slip through because it has no manifest performance
impact, but other than that it's actually pretty unlikely that performance
issues originating in the player would manage to make it their way in the
real world. It's possibly, just unlikely. You're welcome to be convinced
that the problem is in WMP, but I think that researching it that way is
*probably* chasing a red herring.

One thing you can do here is to load a registry monitor. By tracking what
the wmplayer.exe is doing when you try to close it, that *may* be enough
information to give you a likely answer on what is locking up here. That's
how I recently tracked down an ActiveSync-induced failure in the player on a
system that I had no other available debug tools on... =\

-Zach
--
(speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Now Playing: "I'm in Love" by "Evelyn King" in WMP10.
--

"Jreamer" <Jreamer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5DC339B9-0426-4833-9127-0786FE3EF780@microsoft.com...
> No - no crash exists... it's a bug - not a hard crash.
>
> How do we know it's a driver problem. If I've had the same problem in all
> of
> the following environments, don't you think there's a possibility that
> it's
> not a driver problem?
>
> Bug tested shows in:
> Windows Home
> Windows XP
> Bug shows on various ATI and NVidia graphic cards.
>
> "zachd [ms]" wrote:
>
>>
>> I'm not sure how Microsoft would be able to address what sounds like a
>> driver problem..... ?
>> Do you get the opportunity to send a crash report?
>>
>> --
>> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
>> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> Now Playing: "I'm Mad (DJ Scratch jazzy remix)" by "EPMD" in WMP10.
>> --
>>
>> "Jreamer" <Jreamer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:A8153718-40C0-4EA7-8C5E-CB3E15D3E76E@microsoft.com...
>> >I too am having the same problem - MediaPlayer stays open and continues
>> >to
>> > play media unless I first stop the media and then use Task Manager to
>> > end
>> > the
>> > process.
>> >
>> > I have had the same problem all the way through 3 video card upgrades.
>> > I've
>> > also Googled the problem and found many other places the question is
>> > unanswered. I hope Microsoft addresses this one soon - sometimes I end
>> > up
>> > with 6 different processes all running MediaPlayer. It is very
>> > frustrating.
>> >
>> > "zachd [ms]" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> My video card driver is recent, and it's terrible. Recent != perfect
>> >> or
>> >> bug-free...
>> >>
>> >> It sounds like you're hitting a bug in your video card driver. The
>> >> link
>> >> I
>> >> pointed you to covers how to work with most of the problems I'm aware
>> >> of
>> >> in
>> >> this arena.
>> >>
>> >> -Zach
>> >> --
>> >> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
>> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> rights.
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:E58B93FF-8A67-47A3-828E-2554D1806260@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I took a look at your info file. Very nice and informative, but I'm
>> >> >not
>> >> >sure
>> >> > how it applies here. My video drivers are relatively recent (I'll
>> >> > make
>> >> > sure
>> >> > I get newer), but was your suggestion to reinstall DirectX also?
>> >> > Thanks.
>> >> > in
>> >> > advance.
>> >> >
>> >> > "zachd [ms]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Sounds like WMP is locking up trying to unload the video card
>> >> >> driver...
>> >> >> http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html#vdriver
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> (speaking for myself and doing this in my free time)
>> >> >> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
>> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> >> rights.
>> >> >> Now Playing: "Get on The Dance Floor" by "Rob Base" in WMP10.
>> >> >> --
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "agrafixman" <agrafixman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> >> message
>> >> >> news:E8798A8F-BDE6-445D-A1ED-35D1A5E1F407@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> > Here's an intermittant problem that I can't seem to find any
>> >> >> > information
>> >> >> > on.
>> >> >> > Sometimes when I play a video file and then close the player,
>> >> >> > double-clicking
>> >> >> > a new video file does not bring up the player at all. When this
>> >> >> > happens,
>> >> >> > opening the task manager always shows at least one and sometimes
>> >> >> > two
>> >> >> > instances of WMPLAYER.EXE in the processes list. Ending the
>> >> >> > process
>> >> >> > from
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > task manager then allows double-clicking a file to open the media
>> >> >> > player.
>> >> >> > I
>> >> >> > am running XP and Version 10 (3646) of the media player.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Any ideas of (a) what causes this? and (b) How can I fix it?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>