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Alternative to Windows Media Player
Hi everyone~ I couuld use some insight. On my new laptop I noticed though its not on the start screen it has Windows Media Player. Never been a big fan though I used it on my last laptop with Vista. After the 8.1 update Media Player is real buggy and stops working.
When I went to Microsoft looking for some info, it stated that Windows Media Player is not compatible with 8.1 (x64). It will still play music, but I am looking for an alternative.
Any opinions on a media ( audio) player would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I am wondering if I should uninstall it so it does not cause problems with other programs?
Thanks again
OS
Windows 8.1
Computer type
Laptop
System Manufacturer/Model
HP Pavilion 17 Notebook PC
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4000M CPU @ 2.40GHz
Motherboard
1977 96.32
Memory
6GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
17.03 HD Backlit
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
HGST HTS541075A9E680
Cooling
HP Cool Sense Teechnology
Mouse
Microdoft 4000
New Member
VIP Member
Guru
OS
Vista and Win7
System Manufacturer/Model
2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
Hard Drives
5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Retired from the grind
VIP Member
Pro User
If you are talking about the metro interface. WMP should play in either one. If you are getting the error regarding WMP, something happened during the upgrade process to 8.1.
OS
Linux Mint 17.2
Computer type
Laptop
System Manufacturer/Model
Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
CPU
AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
Memory
12GB
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek HD
Monitor(s) Displays
LCD
Screen Resolution
1366 x 768
Hard Drives
Crucial M500 240GB SSD
Mouse
Logitech M525
Internet Speed
45/6 - ATT U-Verse
Browser
Google Chrome
Antivirus
None needed. It is Linux.
Other Info
Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer
A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
New Member
VIP Member
Guru
I like MPC-HC myself. Plays DVDs and all videos I've tried including dvr-ms which my broadcast TV recording software uses.
OS
Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
Computer type
Laptop
System Manufacturer/Model
Acer V3 771G-6443
CPU
i5-3230m
Motherboard
Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
Memory
8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
Graphics Card(s)
HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
Screen Resolution
1600x900 pixels
Hard Drives
Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
PSU
90 watt brick
Mouse
Bluetooth
Antivirus
Comodo
Other Info
Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Retired Bell Head
VIP Member
Pro User
OS
Windows 7 HP 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64BIT
Computer type
PC/Desktop
System Manufacturer/Model
ASUS - Home Built
CPU
AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
Motherboard
ASUS M5A99X EVO
Memory
Crucial Balistic DDR-3 1866 CL 9 (8 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
MSI R6850 Cyclone IGD5 PE
Sound Card
On Chip
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS VE258Q 25" LED with DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
Two WD Cavier Black 2TB Sata 6gbs
WD My Book Essential 2TB USB 3.0
PSU
Seasonic X650 80 Plus GOLD Modular
Case
Corsair 400R
Cooling
Antec Kuhler H2O 620, Two 120mm and four 140mm
Keyboard
AVS Gear Blue LED Backlight
Mouse
Logitech Marble Mouse USB, Logitech Precision Game Pad
Internet Speed
15MB
Antivirus
NIS, Malwarebytes Premium 2
Other Info
APC UPS ES 750, Netgear WNR3500L Gigabit & Wireless N Router with SamKnows Test Program,
Motorola SB6120 Gigabit Cable Modem.
Brother HL-2170W Laser Printer,
Epson V300 Scanner
WMP is too compatible with 8.1 x64. It work's fine on my 8.1 Pro w/MC x64 desktop and 8.1 x64 laptop. You probably need some driver and software updates. As for an alternative, use VLC media player. VLC can also play dvd's. WMP doesn't come with the dvd codec anymore and you need a 3rd party dvd codec for WMP to play them.
OS
Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center x64
Computer type
PC/Desktop
System Manufacturer/Model
self built
CPU
AMD FX 8350
Motherboard
Asus Sabertooth 990fx r2.0
Memory
G-Skill Ripjaws-X DDR3 2400 16 gbs.
Graphics Card(s)
MSI N760 TF 2GD5OC
Sound Card
on-bord Realtek ALC 889/ALC 892
Monitor(s) Displays
ViewSonic VX2250wm-LED
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 Pro 256 gb. ssd. & Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 3.o tb.
PSU
Corsair HX-850 watt
Case
Corsair Carbide 500r White
Cooling
Corsair Hydro Series H-100, 3 120mm. & 1 200mm. case fan's
Keyboard
Logitech wired
Mouse
Logitech wired
Internet Speed
30 m.b.p.s.
Browser
IE 11 & Firefox 26
Antivirus
BitDefender Internet Security 2014
Other Info
Iomega Pro Series U.S.B. 2.0/eS.A.T.A. 2.0tb. h.d., Seagate Backup Plus U.S.B. 3.0 3.0tb. h.d., Hauppage WinTV HVR-1850 t.v. tuner, Logitech x530 5.1 speaker's, Logitech c615 webcam, Logitech h150 headset, M.S. Xbox 360 wired gamepad & Xbox 360 as W.M.C. extender
Thank you all for the ideas. I did a refersh and update of WMP and now it is working well. Does VLC or the others mentioned have the same features of searching and providing Album, Artist and cover art for music tracks? As far as codec is the k-lite codec pack the best choice?
Much appreciation for the tips!!
OS
Windows 8.1
Computer type
Laptop
System Manufacturer/Model
HP Pavilion 17 Notebook PC
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4000M CPU @ 2.40GHz
Motherboard
1977 96.32
Memory
6GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
17.03 HD Backlit
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
HGST HTS541075A9E680
Cooling
HP Cool Sense Teechnology
Mouse
Microdoft 4000
Well-Known Member
VIP Member
Guru
My favorite :
PotPlayer - Download using it as replacement for KM Player I used previously, no need for extra codecs ether.
OS
Windows 8.1 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
System Manufacturer/Model
Home made
CPU
AMD Ryzen7 2700x
Motherboard
Asus Prime x470 Pro
Memory
16GB Kingston 3600
Graphics Card(s)
Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
Hard Drives
Samsung 960 evo 250GB
Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
WD 1 TB Blue
WD 2 TB Blue
Bunch of backup HDDs.
PSU
Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
Case
Raidmax
Cooling
CCM Nepton 140xl
Internet Speed
40/2 Mbps
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
WD
Be nice to all, please?!
Pro User
As far as codec is the k-lite codec pack the best choice?
With VLC or MPC-HC you also do not need to install any codecs. I have not installed any for years.
OS
Win 8.1.1 Pro x64
Computer type
Laptop
System Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo E525
CPU
AMD A4-3300M @ 2,0GHz
Memory
6GB DDR3 1333MHz
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon HD 6480G 512MB shared
Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hard Drives
WD 465GB
Cooling
Fusion Tweaker
Keyboard
Logitech K360
Mouse
Logitech M705
Internet Speed
50/50 MBps
Browser
Yandex
Antivirus
No AV & No Firewall
Other Info
Headphones: Sennheiser RS170
for Music, I use WMP
For videos, I use MPC-BE + madVR + LAV + Smooth Video Project
nothing beats that combo in terms of quality and smoothness of videos played @ 60 FPS
OS
Windows 8.1 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
System Manufacturer/Model
ALIENWARE 18 Laptop
CPU
Intel Core i7-4940MX Extreme CPU @ 4 GHz
Motherboard
Alienware 0FT9KT
Memory
32 GB Kingston HyperX 1866MHz DDR3 PC3-14900 RAM
Graphics Card(s)
Dual GeForce GTX 780M SLI 2x4GB GDDR5 RAM
Sound Card
Realtek ALC668 HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 18.4" WLED FHD (1920 X 1080) TrueLife Display IPS 16:9 1080p [SDC4C48]
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
2x SanDisk Extreme PRO 960GB SSDs + 850 EVO 1TB mSATA SSD
Keyboard
Alienware TactX Keyboard
Mouse
Logitech G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse
Internet Speed
50 MBPS Download / 10 MBPS Upload
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
ESET NOD32 Antivirus