Messed up again with DesktopXXX
Sunday, December 11, 2005 by Darco | Discussion: DesktopX
 |
|
Page 1 of 2 | |
|
|---|
Reply #2 Monday, December 12, 2005 12:18 AM
Darlene,
Start by deleting the DX cache folder > reinstall the MS Script file > use the Help\Check for player updates in WMPlayer > download and install if available.
If this fails, try to use the "Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components button (left task panel) > deselect WMPlayer (remove check mark) > follow prompts to remove access > reboot > repeat, but select WMP this time > follow prompts to reset access to WMP.
Hopefully this will resolve the issue. 
Reply #4 Monday, December 12, 2005 8:01 PM
thanks for getting back to me. Here are some of the things that you suggested that I tried today, Deleted the DX Cache folder, reinstalled the MS Script file, downloaded and installed the security patch for the WMP. None of this worked, went to the control panel > Add Remove Windows Components, could not deselect the WMP because it is not listed there. They had Games and Accessories, it wasn't under Accessories, Internet Explorer (only to remove it from the start menu), update root certificates, indexing services and MSN but no Window Media Player or anything close. In currently installed programs (the one you get when you go into control panel) the only thing listed was Windows Media Format Runtime plus the patch I had just installed. I don't think there is anywhere to uninstall the media player. so I couldn't follow the second part of your instructions. Anything else you can think of? I downloaded and saved WMP 9 and also WMP 9.5 when they came out. They are not available now for Windows XP, in updates they only offered me WMP 10, which I mentioned It could not install when I tried it stopped halfway through. Do you think I could mess it up any more if I tried to install say WMP 9 on top of my broken WMP 8 or do you have any other suggestions.
Darlene
Reply #5 Monday, December 12, 2005 9:56 PM
Darlene,
At this point, I would probably suggest using System Restore to get to a point before you installed the DX media objects/widgets.
In many cases, these DX objects are calling to the Media Player offered via Stardock Central, which can read and play media.
If System Restore fails, you could try to install the WMP 9, as the installer should search for other versions during installation - and inform you if any problems arise (note - make sure to set a restore point before attempting this installation).
If all else fails, and you have the Windows XP installation disc, you can do a "Repair" operation to restore Windows XP. This generally leaves the current programs installed intact, though some custom settings may be cleared.
If you do a repair, back-up all your saved files, and then do the following:
1 - Restart your computer and hit whatever key is indicated to enter the "BIOS" settings (usually referred to as "Set-Up") > look for the Boot Options screen or section in BIOS settings (it will be a list of devices in numerical order, which indicates the order in which the computer looks for the Operating System to load).
2 - Set the CD drive as the first device, if it is not already set that way (there should be text indicating how to move devices up and down in the list) > hit the proper keys (usually indicated on the bottom of the screen) to save changes and exit.
3 - After booting successfully to Windows, place the Windows XP installation disc in the CD drive, and restart the computer.
4 - During boot - watch for the text "Hit any key to boot from CD", and then hit a key. Wait a bit as set-up gathers information and displays a screen with the option the hit "Enter" to enter Set-Up.
5 - Hit "F8" when prompted to accept the EULA > wait to see the screen offering options to "Repair Windows XP", or to "Install Windows XP" > select the option to repair by hitting "R" > follow the prompts to repair the current installation of Windows.
That should set you straight, but obviously is a last resort - so hopefully, someone with more knowledge than I have will drop by with a better alternative.
Will check back.
Reply #6 Monday, December 12, 2005 11:34 PM
System Restore only worked for me once, do you think clicking on the WMP 9 would really mess me up or just not load. Or would it break Windows XP? You seem to know what you are doing, I'm impressed!! I will continue to be your DX tester after a rest and recoup and will continue with my reports. I am sure I will be crying again soon because I just can't let thing rest. Thanks for putting up with me and thanks to you Sir Bichur also. Reply #7 Tuesday, December 13, 2005 7:08 AM
Darlene,
No problem....I understand being cautious when you first start out in computers.
It sounds like WMP starts, so have you tried going into WMP "Tools > Options", and doing the following:
1 - File Types tab = select all file types and then click "Apply".
2 - Network tab = make sure all protocols are selected, if not - select all and then click "Apply".
3 - Plugins tab = look for any plugins from the objects/widgets that you installed, and if found - select them and remove them.
A couple easy things to try.
Reply #8 Wednesday, December 14, 2005 1:45 PM
Did the thing with the file types have them all checked, did that a few days ago. Looked in the plugins folder, besides the SDPlugin folder the other plugin folder only had one plugin for a calendar. Going for the System Restore again, this time before I installed DX.
Darlene
Reply #9 Wednesday, December 14, 2005 4:37 PM
Reply #10 Wednesday, December 14, 2005 8:35 PM
Darlene,
I would say yes to reinstalling WMP 8, and if successful - update to 9.
I believe you need 9 to update to 10, which may be why the installation failed before.
I definitely recommend restoring Windows to the default Windows XP "Luna" theme, including all icons, and removing any "Run at startup" options you may have set in Widgets, DX, ObjectDock, etc.
Microsoft, though clearly not perfect, is pretty good at designing their installers to look for previous installations of the software - and work with the existing settings to provide for a successful install, or to abort the install if something prevents it.
In other words, I believe you will be safe in making the attempt.
If system restore is not working, you might clear the current restore points by turning it off, and then starting it again. This would allow you to set a point before attempting to install WMP 8.
If you want to do this, you would do the following:
1 - Right-click "My Computer"
2 - Click on "Properties"
3 - Click on the "System Restore" tab
4 - Select "Turn off System Restore on all drives" > click "Apply" > confirm that this is what you want to do in the pop-up dialog.
5 - Deselect the "Turn off System Restore on all drives" > click "Apply" > click "OK"
6 - Go to System Restore, and create a new restore point.
Good luck, and will check back.
Reply #11 Saturday, January 14, 2006 3:00 AM
I know it took a long time to get back to you, but with the Holidays and everything. I did a lot of reading also, forums and google searches. I wasn't going to let this go with my Windows Media Player not playing. Here is what I did, I only had the Windows Media Runtime in the control panel, and couldn't remember seeing it there before. In one of my google searches someone was having the same problem as I was. I kept coming back to this particular thread whenever I would do a google search of anything to do with the WMP. He tried everything and when nothing worked out of frustration tried to uninstall Windows Media Runtime from the control panel, well it didn't uninstall it rolled back. So I finally tried that and mine rolled back also, to what version I haven't a clue. But most of my streaming media, like Coast to Coast started playing again. But not some of the news pages that were showing a clip and some radio stations, also most of my film clips were not working, just the audio.
They were all showing before, so there was more work to do. I had three things left to try, direct x 9 from Microsoft, K lite Codec pack or WMP 6 Codecs.
Well I installed WMP 6 Codecs and now everything is working. I hope anyone else out there who has this problem benefits from this. Thank you for all of your time and help. I will still be your tester for Desktop XXX.
Which brings me to my next problem, you know the big bug that Microsoft had with the WMF. They were not releasing the patch for a week and on my ZD Net newsletter they had a patch released from someone as a temporary fix. It was a WMF_fix hexblog 14.exe unofficial patch. Well I downloaded it and saved it.
Reply #12 Saturday, January 14, 2006 3:12 AM
Which brings me to my next problem, you know the big bug that Microsoft had with the WMF. They were not releasing the patch for a week and on my ZD Net newsletter they had a patch released from someone as a temporary fix. It was a WMF_fix hexblog 14.exe unofficial patch. Well I downloaded it and saved it. A couple days later Microsoft released their patch and when I went up to their site they scanned my computer and did not offer it to me. It was KB912919. I guess they didn't offer it to me because I don't have sp1 or sp2. If you were in my position would you put on the unofficial patch?
I wish they taught this stuff when I was in school.
Reply #13 Saturday, January 14, 2006 6:14 PM
I don't understand exactly how codecs work, but I do know that every time I've had a problem with WMP it turned out to be a codec problem.
Reply #14 Saturday, January 14, 2006 6:33 PM
| I guess they didn't offer it to me because I don't have sp1 or sp2. If you were in my position would you put on the unofficial patch? |
Darlene,
Without SP2, you will lose a few of the updates, as they (MS) are using the product verification which looks for that service pack to offer supplimental updates. All the security patches should be offered, but not the "additional softwares".
As for the 'unofficial' patch, I do not know how that one was written, and what requirements it was written for. I would research that one a bit before installing it - or hopefully someone like 'yraq' will stop by with more information on that patch. Note - I simply waited for MS to release the patch due to my running SP2.
J-Mac's suggestion might be your best route for the first step if you do not want to install SP2.
Glad to hear you got the functionality back.
Just out of curiosity, is there a specific reason you do not install the service packs for XP?
Reply #15 Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:51 PM
Reply #16 Saturday, January 14, 2006 9:11 PM
The 'un-official' patch does the same thing as the MS patch.
Without SP1/SP2, you will get no MS security updates.
Reply #17 Saturday, January 14, 2006 10:15 PM
Yrag, do I need thumbnails or should I just not put it on? Something already happened to my computer since yesterday I only have five things in my temporary internet files. The only thing I did recently is renew my Norton's System Works subscription, and I found them over there in their web cleanup, advanced. I used to delete them every night before I closed my computer all but about 5 cookies that I subscribe to like Wincustomize. I wonder what caused me not to have a cache, everything is still loading and I am still logged in. Where did they go? Is this something new?
Reply #18 Saturday, January 14, 2006 10:34 PM
| Yrag, do I need thumbnails or should I just not put it on? |
The 'patch' does not affect your images. So you can apply it (it will show in your Add an Remove panel). Having said that, if you don't have any of the service packs installed...ah...why bother?
If you go to the Microsoft site, you can send for the CD with the service packs on it. I assume it's still free. I think you'll find the CD install (assuming Norton doesn't have a say) will go smoothly. At some point, you're going to have to bite the bullet, so......food for though.
The Temp Internet folder should be cleaned by Norton (don't know if that's new or not). If Norton keeps them somewhere else, that shouldn't be a problem unless the pages are loading slow...if they are, turn the web filtering off.
Reply #19 Saturday, January 14, 2006 11:28 PM
Reply #20 Sunday, January 15, 2006 12:07 AM
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
|
|
Page 1 of 2 | |
|
|---|
Reply #1 Sunday, December 11, 2005 11:43 PM