• Which version of Media Player am I using?

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    #478782

    I am running Windows 7 HP 64 bit and recently saw a tip on switching the default media player on 64 bit systems to the 64 bit version of MP. I have opened MP and cannot determine if the default is the 32 or the 64 bit version. Going to Default programs tells me nothing either. This tip was for Vista 64 bit users, but it would probably work on 7. Before I try this, any way to determine which player is the default and might I lose anything by switching to the 64 bit player as default?

    Thanks

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    • #1296351

      Run your media player then open task manager and check if the process running is presented as wmplayer.exe *32. That is the most likely option and it means it is a 32 bit app.

      • #1296409

        Thanks, that told me what I wanted to know. It appears that I am using the 32 bit version. I have done some searching and found that the fix for Vista does not work in 7. The fix for 7 does not seem to have a simple answer and requires a command line parameter and registry editing. I have not found a definitive way to do this yet so I am going to leave this alone for now. It is very upsetting that when you buy a 64 bit OS, you get parts for both the 32 bit and the 64 bit and they use the 32 bit version. I think MS should provide its users a fix for this.

    • #1296411

      64 bit apps are not than abundant and as long as the 32 bit apps run well, I see no problems in running them. We are still in a transition to a 64 bit computing environment. 64 bit apps are only getting to a wider audience now, due to Windows 7, so things will take time.

      I honestly don’t see the big disadvantage of using the 32 bit media player. Maybe you can tell me what you lose in that case?

      Also, you can create a shortcut to Windows Media Player 64 bits, or pin it to the start menu. It’s located inside your Program Files folder .

      You may also be interested in this: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/making-windows-media-player-64-bit-default/bd4872b3-75e8-4d81-ae8a-df50798d5113

      • #1296440

        64 bit apps are not than abundant and as long as the 32 bit apps run well, I see no problems in running them. We are still in a transition to a 64 bit computing environment. 64 bit apps are only getting to a wider audience now, due to Windows 7, so things will take time.

        This has been around since Vista appeared and there were both 32 and 64 bit versions of WMP 11 included in the 64 bit version of Vista. Not saying that you are not correct about other software.

        That only works by loading the player and then pointing it to open a file. If I want to play an MPV or MP3 file by clicking on it, the default 32 bit player loads it.

        The speed of the 64 bit app and the extra processor power. It may not be that much, but as long as I have the capability and both apps present on this system, I do not see why I should not be using the one designed for the OS.

        Also, you can create a shortcut to Windows Media Player 64 bits, or pin it to the start menu. It’s located inside your Program Files folder .

        That only works by loading the player and then pointing ti to open a file. If I want to play an MPV or MP3 file by clicking on it, the default 32 bit player loads it.

        You may also be interested in this: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w…a-df50798d5113]

        Yes I saw that page before and came to the conclusion that MS gave an incomplete answer. The download from the link to the file with all of the resources to complete the task has been taken down. Also the registry keys to change were not on my system.

        • #1296444

          This has been around since Vista appeared and there were both 32 and 64 bit versions of WMP 11 included in the 64 bit version of Vista. Not saying that you are not correct about other software.

          The speed of the 64 bit app and the extra processor power. It may not be that much, but as long as I have the capability and both apps present on this system, I do not see why I should not be using the one designed for the OS.

          That only works by loading the player and then pointing ti to open a file. If I want to play an MPV or MP3 file by clicking on it, the default 32 bit player loads it.

          Yes I saw that page before and came to the conclusion that MS gave an incomplete answer. The download from the link to the file with all of the resources to complete the task has been taken down. Also the registry keys to change were not on my system.

          To my experience, 64 bit apps are not always faster, performance wise, when compared with 32 bit apps.
          I am not a big media user, but my view on Media Player would be that there seems to be a lot of add-ons. Most likely, the available add-on, or most of them, will work with the 32 bit version, only. As I said, I believe we are not yet at a point where 64 bit apps are the mainstream, even in this case.

          Have you considered setting the 64 bit as the default app for the types of files that matter to you? Even choosing open with, when right clicking a file of a type that matters to you and choosing the 64 bit app?

          • #1296544

            Have you considered setting the 64 bit as the default app for the types of files that matter to you? Even choosing open with, when right clicking a file of a type that matters to you and choosing the 64 bit app?

            I tried that with an MP3 file and it does not work. I did however get Firefox to use it on a WMV file I received in an email.

    • #1296546

      What did not work? The default setting or the open with option?

      • #1296549

        That was a quick reply. You can go through all the motions of selecting the 64 bit player and it will not be added to the list. I have already added an MP3 tag modifier program to the list so I am adept at doing this. When I tried a downloaded WMV file, the 32 bit MP loaded it. It only worked on the WMV file attached to an email.

    • #1296570

      I have just tried going through the Open Width route, but Windows refuses to replace the 32 bit WMP version by the 64 bit version. Seems it is indeed hard to achieve what you want.

    • #1326063

      I am running Windows 7 HP 64 bit and recently saw a tip on switching the default media player on 64 bit systems to the 64 bit version of MP. I have opened MP and cannot determine if the default is the 32 or the 64 bit version. Going to Default programs tells me nothing either. This tip was for Vista 64 bit users, but it would probably work on 7graviola and cancer. Before I try this, any way to determine which player is the default and might I lose anything by switching to the 64 bit player as default?

      Thanks

      hi
      what if I use 32 bit version
      is going to crash so it can run …

      thanks

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