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General discussion

wmpnetwk.exe is back and stealin my RAM!

Nov 3, 2009 7:52AM PST

I was looking around in the forums after I found that wmpnetwk.exe was taking 1.5GB of my 2GB of RAM, this is a problem that was never addressed with in the designing of Windows 7. I can't tell if it's using alot of my CPU power also because I have F@H on most of the time but I read that was also affected. I will be streaming media to my Xbox when the update for Media Center is released which will have Sky Player functionallity, so I want to leave that service enabled. I don't use .avi files either, only .mp4 and .wmv, so what is making wmpnetwk.exe use so much memory?

Discussion is locked

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MP4?
Nov 3, 2009 9:50PM PST

That's not a firm standard and what you should discover is some CODEC could fail, leak, grow. I know some won't want to read that MSFT does not consider bugs in CODEC they didn't provide something they need to fix.

That's my bet. It's the codec leaking. Good luck trying to find a MSFT sympathetic ear.
Bob

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Sorry
Nov 3, 2009 10:40PM PST

I use shorthand. I ment MPEG-4.

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Doesn't change a thing.
Nov 3, 2009 10:49PM PST

If you use any 3rd party codec you find yourself without support.

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What I use
Nov 4, 2009 12:39AM PST

The ones I have are RealPlayer, iTunes, Media Center and Media Player, AMD Fusion Media Explorer and Sky Player. I wouln't say they wouldn't have anything to do with that.

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Most of those have everything to do with this.
Nov 4, 2009 12:52AM PST

I won't detail which ones have or don't install/use a CODEC but you just gave up a clue there are 3rd party codecs.

Tell me how you configured WMP. That is, did you look in every nook and cranny to tell it not to monitor for new files, move your files, update your files from the internet and more? I can't write tutorials here. Not enough space or time.
Bob

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wmpnetwk.exe is back and stealin my RAM!
May 22, 2010 8:09PM PDT

Open WINDOWS TASK MANAGER
Go to the SERVICES tab
At the bottom select the SERVICES button and allow.
Scroll down and right click on "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service"
Select PROPERTIES.
In the GENERAL tab go to "Startup type" and select "Disabled" from the drop-down menu.
Click APPLY
Click OK

I just got back 1.5 GB of memory by doing this.

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worked like a charm
May 27, 2010 12:44AM PDT

I was having the same problem on Windows 7, did the above and back in business! Thanks Happy

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it's back
May 31, 2010 12:39AM PDT

I tried the same thing and as soon as I restart it goes right back to being set as automatic.

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it's back
May 31, 2010 6:40AM PDT

Not sure about this,but if you are not using Media Player,make sure it is not in your start-up sequence or in your startup folder.
The fault is with the exec,which Microsoft needs to address.
By making sure Media Player is not used or started in the background,and following my procedure...( don't forget to APPLY and OK at the end ) , you will nor lose the 1.5Gb of memory.

If anyone else knows a better way,thus allowing you to use Media Player,then please come forward.
This exec is not in the Vista version,if that is any help.

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GREAT FIX.... THANK YOU...
Sep 16, 2010 7:32PM PDT

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. FORUMS ARE THE BEST... AND IF I GET SMART ENOUGH Happy I WILL SHARE WHAT INFO I CAN AS WELL.... THANKS AGAIN.

">-HITL-> human-in-the-loop"

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Thank you
Jan 2, 2013 11:20AM PST

Thank you so much for the info, and thanks for sharing it. Everybody else you are a bunch of ********.

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Easy fix on start up
Jul 29, 2010 8:22AM PDT

When you start your computer pull up task manager, go to performance tab in the lower right corner there should be a resources button double click now go the top tabs and click on usage % the wmpnet should be on top right click and suspend process it has no effect on anything except sharing files with some sort of extender. If you want to use extender again just go into task mangager and restart wmpnet. Works like a dream, everytime.