WMP and MP3s
 

Moved all my music files across to a new computer with Windows XP/HE. Now I find that the installed Windows media Player will not play MP3 files. Went to the Windows Home page and they tell me that the version installed is the latest and there are no upgrades available for XP. Looked up MP3 and there it said that I must buy an attachment in order to play them. All my previous versions of WMP could play MP3, so I would ask here first whether ther is a fault in my program before i go ahead and buy anything.
Real Player (also pre-installed) does play MP3 but it will do so only one song at a time. Another disk player provided by HP on the machine will play MP3 but only from a CD, and will not recognise any MP3 files on the hard drive. Coincidence?

I have no idea about WMP, but Winamp is probably the best and most popular MP3 player around - lots of features and completely free (no ad- or spy-ware either)