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General discussion

Windows video viewing question

by Jansetau Feb 8, 2011 12:09PM PST

Hi all.

I have a new PC installed with Win7 Ultimate that I had built last week. The MB is Gigabyte H67A with 4 Gigs of Ram and a one TB WD Black Caviar Sata3 HD

That said and from what I have read it appears the Windows Media Centre and Player 12 are automatically installed when Windows Ultimate is installed onto the HD.

My question here is:

When I click the Windows Media Centre button I am presented with a visually attractive display and from there I can select whatever function I wish to use, music, video or whatever. This works well.

However, when I click on a .WMV file attachment to an email I am presented with a very ordinary Windows Media Player to view/play the .WMV file. BUT I am also presented with a popup message headed "Windows Media Player" and the text there-in states:

"Your device is using an outdated driver that is no longer supported by Windows Media Player".

I am the given the option to "Close" or "Web Help".

Web Help is of no help at all.

Can anyone advise on this please?

I am up to date with all my Windows updates.

Regards.

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Try a different way.
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Feb 8, 2011 8:36PM PST

We don't recommend accessing a file attachment direct from an email. The security risks are considerable.

Instead, right click the attachment and select "Save As", (or whichever similar option is offered in your email software), then save the file to your hard drive. I usually use the Desktop as a temporary storage area. That way you can right click the file and scan it with your anti-virus before opening it.

When done, if you then open the file it should play with the default media player which is the one you expect it to play in.

Why does an older version of WMP open when you access the file direct from your email? I 'believe' this happens because it is your email software that is attempting to play the video. There may be options/settings in your email software to associate file extensions with your preferred applications, but by default it seems your email software is opening an older version of WMP. Windows 7 may still have older versions of WMP installed in the OS, and this is what your email software is calling up.

I hope that helps.

Mark

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Two experiments
by Kees_B Forum moderator Feb 8, 2011 8:42PM PST

Save that attachment to your hard disk. Then:
1. Open it in WMP12 like you describe. Does this work?
2. Now doubleclick it in (Windows) Explorer. What happpens?

Please post back with the results.

Kees

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Video viewing
by Jansetau Feb 9, 2011 5:09PM PST

Hi Guys.

Thanks for the response. Saving to desktop and then opening it with a right click then "Open with" and selecting Windows Media Centre" does the trick.

I have since found out that for some reason or other if I open it directly from emails, Windows tends to load Windows Classic player, hence the warning about outdated drivers.

This no longer presents a problem.

Regards

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Re: opening
by Kees_B Forum moderator Feb 9, 2011 5:24PM PST

If, while choosing Windows Media Center to play it with, you put a mark in the checkbox "Always use this program to open files of this type" (or a comparable sentence) Windows remembers this. Then there's a very good chance your email program will know it also and use Media Center in stead of the classic player. Worth a try?

Kees

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Mefia player
by Jansetau Feb 9, 2011 10:30PM PST

Yep. Thank you.

Regards

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