Windows Media Player vs Real Player
Thread Starter
Nixor ut Ledo
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: In a Beaut of a State
Windows Media Player vs Real Player
With the burgeoning use of broadband I find I am getting a lot of .wmv files sent to me. Unfortunately every time I open them up it opens up RealPlayer which then searches for updates and tells me that there are none to support that file.
I'm sure that the file would open with WMP (it is installed on my system) but how the hell do I change from one to the other as a preference? And can I switch and change at will?
I'm sure that the file would open with WMP (it is installed on my system) but how the hell do I change from one to the other as a preference? And can I switch and change at will?
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 52
From: .
Assuming it's Win XP (others are the same I think) go to help, type in "file association" and the answer is there.
Or Right-click the file you want to open in a different program, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, click Change.
Click the name of the program in which you want the file to open.
Or Right-click the file you want to open in a different program, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, click Change.
Click the name of the program in which you want the file to open.
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 15
From: Wellington,NZ
Heres a link to Media Player Classic. Down the page a bit, left side, under tools. http://www.free-codecs.com/Software/Media_Players.htm
With installation you can add codecs for "real" and "quicktime alternative", and get rid of those nasty buggy resource hogs that keep phoning home.
With installation you can add codecs for "real" and "quicktime alternative", and get rid of those nasty buggy resource hogs that keep phoning home.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 0
From: fairly close to the colonial capitol
With the burgeoning use of broadband I find I am getting a lot of .wmv files sent to me. Unfortunately every time I open them up it opens up RealPlayer which then searches for updates and tells me that there are none to support that file.
I'm sure that the file would open with WMP (it is installed on my system) but how the hell do I change from one to the other as a preference? And can I switch and change at will?
I'm sure that the file would open with WMP (it is installed on my system) but how the hell do I change from one to the other as a preference? And can I switch and change at will?
The suggestions Spanners gave will work in Explorer for that extension and is probably the best solution if that is the only issue.
Another way would be to un-install Real Player, re-install Windows Media Player from MS at www.microsoft.com/mediaplayer - you will be redirected and are given choices of MP 11, 10 and older versions here then get the latest Real Player and install using advanced options.
My suggestion above is not without risk, but should return your computer to normal XP file associations, where media player opens AVIs, MPEGs, WMVs, WMAs, WAVs and more.
Good Luck!
Combine Operations
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: U.K.
I tried a different version of Vapilot2004's suggestion:
Uninstall Realplayer, then reinstall it. I was given a long list of files which Realplayer thought it should control. I unticked every box in sight, and everything ran the way I wanted, including Realplayer. This was a version or two ago, so the system might have changed now, but it was quick, simple and effective.
Uninstall Realplayer, then reinstall it. I was given a long list of files which Realplayer thought it should control. I unticked every box in sight, and everything ran the way I wanted, including Realplayer. This was a version or two ago, so the system might have changed now, but it was quick, simple and effective.
Recidivist
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
From: Essex, UK
Can but agree with SD.
I look after some PCs for non-tech people and have always removed Real Player if their PC comes with it installed.
WMP is almost unique in being a M$ 'approved' product here!
I look after some PCs for non-tech people and have always removed Real Player if their PC comes with it installed.
WMP is almost unique in being a M$ 'approved' product here!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
Likes: 686
From: Twickenham, home of rugby
Agree that there are still some BBC clips that are only Real, but more and more they are shifting to wmv (I think). I spoke to a friend who works in the Beeb, and he did tell me that the intention was to move towards a choice of formats.
I hate Real so much that I live without the clips!
Amazon.co.uk only has track samples in Real, BUT if you go to the .com site you get a choice of 2 other formats.
SD
I hate Real so much that I live without the clips!
Amazon.co.uk only has track samples in Real, BUT if you go to the .com site you get a choice of 2 other formats.
SD
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 0
From: fairly close to the colonial capitol
Never liked RealP either. For some net content it's required.
Keeping Danny in Sandwiches
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 0
From: UK
vapilot2004
I'm getting code 80070005 at the end of the installation. The webhelp really doesn't give any help at all. I have tried downloading the file then installing and also directly installing through a temp file. The same code comes up.
I am reluctant to uninstall and try a clean install again as I get warnings about what might not then work in Windows if I do. I suspect that this might be a Microsoft catchall but don't want to risk it.
Any help appreciated.
I'm getting code 80070005 at the end of the installation. The webhelp really doesn't give any help at all. I have tried downloading the file then installing and also directly installing through a temp file. The same code comes up.
I am reluctant to uninstall and try a clean install again as I get warnings about what might not then work in Windows if I do. I suspect that this might be a Microsoft catchall but don't want to risk it.
Any help appreciated.
