How can I remove WMP?

[edwinz]

I find hard to remove WMP completely from the system coz i want to keep SP2. Wat shall I do...

[teedoff087]

Don't use it. Simple as that.

[imon9]

first read this:

http://www.quinnware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3864

then, u can uninstall WMP by go to "control panel", "add or remove prgrams":
from the list, choose WMP and uninstalll.... this is not all yet

next, go again to "control panel", "add/remove prgram", "add or remove windows component":
UNCHECK WMP from the list

that should completely remove WMP from ur comp, but there will be a folder containing some files in ur C:\program files\
i dun remove them, so i don;t know whether it will cause problem it u remove them.. anyway , if u try, let me know..kekeke

then, after WMP been remove, u will find some problem arising, like u can't view video embedded in website, the solution is to install a LITE version of WMP 10: it includes only the codec and web-intergrated components, so u shouldn;t be bothered to install them. (i know some would ask, why install WMP back, if we want to remove it at the 1st place. but trust me, this IS by far the best solution)

the link is for the "SPECIAL" lite version is not made by microsoft...hhehehe, download it here:
http://ksphere.free.fr/site/codecspackage.php

that all, have fun

[Protocol]

Don't use it. Simple as that.
It doesn't answer the question, but I agree. It isn't hurting anything leaving it there. The same answer with people looking to remove IE. Leave it there. Except that IE is even harder to remove without running into problems down the track.

[Todd The Kiwi]

i have read on tweakxp (among other sites) that windows media player and internet explorer
are part of windows and cannot be removed.
a good example i read was it would be easier to remove the control panel :o

[Scythe_njt]

Using this http://www.nliteos.com/ program you can create an install of windows that doesnt include WMP (among other things).

Unfortunately I wouldnt recomend it as when I nuked WMP it left my system unable to play wma/wmv and it wouldnt allow me to install drivers for these :cry:

[Toe]

I'd just grab a copy of WMP 6.4 in that case, last version before the OMG HYOOGE v7.0 came out.

[matty28carter]

Using this http://www.nliteos.com/ program you can create an install of windows that doesnt include WMP (among other things).

Unfortunately I wouldnt recomend it as when I nuked WMP it left my system unable to play wma/wmv and it wouldnt allow me to install drivers for these :cry:

I'm sure they fixed that now, as before they said it nuked a registry entry and a few other things and that prevented any Windows Media codecs being installed. You can download just the windows media codecs from various sites now, the codec pack of choice is K-Lite codec pack from www.codecguide.com

[Shewolf]

I thought it could not be removed as Todd says.
The thing to do is ignore it, leave it in a dark corner on your PC and just give another player preference.

[matty28carter]

WMP or IE cannot be removed from WinXP directly (i.e you can't uninstall it) however you can use a special tool that will strip it out of the OS from the install CD. You rip the install CD with n-lite www.nliteos.com and then it removes it from the installation CD. However removing IE causes more problems then its really worth. Removing WMP shouldn't be too painful anymore, but I haven't tried it... yet.

[Tokelil]

What about embedded video/sound on websites if WMP is removed?

[Toe]

What about embedded video/sound on websites if WMP is removed?
There's other plugins that can take care of that stuff. Though I'm not sure how exactly WMA works if WMP is COMPLETELY removed.

[acushla]

Back in March of this year I decided that I also had had enough of WMP and went through the usual procedures of removing a program.

To no avail.

It seems impossible to delete it as it simply replicates itself and it is also impossible to move it in the hopes of disrupting it's path.

I decided to get serious with it and after a lengthly search through GOOGLE did manage to come up with this page:

http://www.auditmypc.com/uninstall-...layer10beta.asp

...which admittedly is referring to the BETA 10 version, but I was so frustrated I went ahead with it anyway.

This does not do the trick either.

In 'Set program Access and Defaults' I have indicated 'use my current media player' and in 'enable access to this program' (which I am assumming refers to WMP) I have left the area unchecked.

Still does not seem to do any good. Windows is constantly attempting to have me install it...and I have simply given up and accepted the fact that I have to live with this and just keep telling it no whenever it wants to install.

Another area I find it particulary aggressive in is claiming itself to be the default app for various media file types.

This, however, can be solved by going into My Computer, Tools, Folder Options and File Types and changing the whatever file you want to open with whatever program you want.

If anybody should find a way of at least disabling WMP from any activity...please send me a PM.

[Toe]

Eh, that's a standard part of XP's 'technology'. It'll do that with pretty much any OS-related file. There's ways around that, though I've never really bothered to look at em, as I run 2000. :)

[jawpr]

Back in March of this year I decided that I also had had enough of WMP and went through the usual procedures of removing a program.

To no avail.

It seems impossible to delete it as it simply replicates itself and it is also impossible to move it in the hopes of disrupting it's path.

I decided to get serious with it and after a lengthly search through GOOGLE did manage to come up with this page:

http://www.auditmypc.com/uninstall-...layer10beta.asp

...which admittedly is referring to the BETA 10 version, but I was so frustrated I went ahead with it anyway.

This does not do the trick either.

In 'Set program Access and Defaults' I have indicated 'use my current media player' and in 'enable access to this program' (which I am assumming refers to WMP) I have left the area unchecked.

Still does not seem to do any good. Windows is constantly attempting to have me install it...and I have simply given up and accepted the fact that I have to live with this and just keep telling it no whenever it wants to install.

Another area I find it particulary aggressive in is claiming itself to be the default app for various media file types.

This, however, can be solved by going into My Computer, Tools, Folder Options and File Types and changing the whatever file you want to open with whatever program you want.

If anybody should find a way of at least disabling WMP from any activity...please send me a PM.


It has been many months since I have even seen WMP. All I did was bring it up and uncheck everything that had a check by it under every option. I also have reassociate all files to the other players on open. Works for me.

[acushla]

It has been many months since I have even seen WMP. All I did was bring it up and uncheck everything that had a check by it under every option. I also have reassociate all files to the other players on open. Works for me.

You know...I hadn't really considered this option. My problem now, of course, is that it is not installed...which precludes my unchecking any boxes.

Your post does, however, give me reason to consider that if I went ahead and installed it...and then left every box unchecked...at least then it would no longer keep trying to reinstall itself.

My question is: Does that mean WMP won?

[jawpr]

My question is: Does that mean WMP won?


Who cares if it works?

[acushla]

Who cares if it works?

I'm not certain if your 'Who cares if it works?' directly refers to my little bit of humour...meaning in a battle of the wills between my determination to not have anything to do with WMP and WMP's determination to stay alive on my computer...the fact that I am probably going to reinstall it...that is what I meant when I ask "Does that mean WMP won?' :)

[matty28carter]

What about embedded video/sound on websites if WMP is removed?

I believe that the codecs and dll's that come with the k-lite pack will take care of that for you, theres 2 options for windows media formats in there. They do it with real player & quicktime so I assume they've got windows media.

[NinjaZX1000]

I did pretty much the same thing as jawpr, although i just made qmp default for all audio and media player classic default for all video. i didn't uncheck anything in wmp.

still annoying that in firefox, wmv files will often go to gray and i'll have to switch windows back and forth to watch it. sorry, OT.

[Mistoffeles]

My question is: Does that mean WMP won?

It means Micro$oft won :devil: :robot:

Here's a suggestion:

:ninja: http://www.distrowatch.com :ninja:

:silly:

/smilieoverload off

[acushla]

It means Micro$oft won

Clicked your link only to discover there must be some mistake.

Nothing at all about WMP...just a lot of Penguins and some chocolate bar (I think) called Linux. :laugh:

Perhaps it's because I'm using OPERA and not FIREFOX.

Thanks nevertheless. :cheeky:

[matty28carter]

Yes... some kind of mistake, it asked me if I wanted to join the banana union. Interesting. Wow they even have a review of Windows... http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=review-winxp