??Help Removing Windows Media Player

ChinaCat1120 · 12-12-2002, 05:24 AM

How can I uninstall WMP? I use Winamp and WMP files take up too much space. I have "unhidden" it in the "Add/Remove Windows Components" but when I execute it, it's still there. Any problems with just deleting the whole folder and tweaking the registry manually?
Thanx!
:computer:

gbread49 · 12-12-2002, 06:35 AM

What version of WMP and Windows version?????

ChinaCat1120 · 12-12-2002, 06:19 PM

Sorry 'bout that! Using Windows XP Home and WMP 8.
Thanx!
:doh:

gbread49 · 12-12-2002, 06:49 PM

As far as I know WMP 8 is pretty much tightly integrated into the WinXP OS. Trying to remove it could cause you some major headaches. I definately would not recommend just deleting the Windows Media Player folder. Also, trying to find every entry and Key that references WMP in the Registry would be a nightmare.

My recommendation would be to just unassociate it with your media files (if you don't plan on using it) delete the shortcuts and TRY to forget that it is there.....

LPDad · 12-12-2002, 07:18 PM

China, You must have SP1 installed on WinXP --you can then basically Inactivate it (it was part of the Deal MS made during the lawsuit to allow "other" programs to be bundled with XP.

I will have to see if you can actually remove parts of it. Last I heard you could not actually get rid of it. Guess MS balked on removing it completely.

Roadblock · 12-12-2002, 10:01 PM

From what I can tell, the SP1 service pack doesn't allow you to remove it, but it is supposed to make it invisable. I would recommend keeping it anyway, in order to play the odd .wma or .wmv files that you might want to play. Just do like bgread said, and unassociate it with all files except windows media files

Lion7718 · 12-12-2002, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roadblock
From what I can tell, the SP1 service pack doesn't allow you to remove it, but it is supposed to make it invisable.

SP1 made it visable .

Roadblock · 12-12-2002, 11:07 PM

I meant that it gives you the option of hiding it, am I not correct in that?

Lion7718 · 12-13-2002, 12:12 AM

Before SP1, WMP did not show up in Add/Remove Programs...
after SP1, you got an extra Icon called Add/Remove Windows Components & Set Programs Access and Defaults. But I could be wrong also and just didn't notice the Icon before SP1.

gbread49 · 12-13-2002, 08:31 AM

The new "Set Program Access and Defaults" installed by SP-1 is not really a Add/Remove feature presay, in that it does not actually remove a Windows component. It just gives you the option of selecting which programs (M$ or non-M$) to set as system defaults and are accessible.

I did check "Add/Remove Windows Components" and after installing SP-1 there is now an option to remove access to WMP, (didn't notice it before..thanks lion...

) whether this actually uninstalls or just removes access to (as LPDad suggested) WMP, I'm not sure.

Someone want to give it a try????? *L*

One problem that I can foresee, by removing access to WMP, is that a user may not be able to render or play some web-based media content, depending on what program they have set as a default for playing streaming media. Some programs do not have the capability to render/play Windows Media formats, i.e., WMV, WMA, ASF......etc...

ChinaCat1120 · 12-14-2002, 02:45 AM

I guess I'm just stuck with it. . .
However, with my measly 20GB hard drive e'en the 20MB it takes up is alot of wasted space. . .
Thanx e'eryone for the input. I knew I could find my answers here.
UTC rules!

:love1:

12-12-2002, 05:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
ChinaCat1120 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 8	Windows Media Player How can I uninstall WMP? I use Winamp and WMP files take up too much space. I have "unhidden" it in the "Add/Remove Windows Components" but when I execute it, it's still there. Any problems with just deleting the whole folder and tweaking the registry manually? Thanx! :computer:

12-12-2002, 06:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
gbread49 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 744	What version of WMP and Windows version????? __________________

12-12-2002, 06:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChinaCat1120 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 8	Oops! Sorry 'bout that! Using Windows XP Home and WMP 8. Thanx! :doh:

12-12-2002, 06:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
gbread49 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 744	As far as I know WMP 8 is pretty much tightly integrated into the WinXP OS. Trying to remove it could cause you some major headaches. I definately would not recommend just deleting the Windows Media Player folder. Also, trying to find every entry and Key that references WMP in the Registry would be a nightmare. My recommendation would be to just unassociate it with your media files (if you don't plan on using it) delete the shortcuts and TRY to forget that it is there..... __________________

12-12-2002, 07:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
LPDad Admin & "Fixer" Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 2,293	China, You must have SP1 installed on WinXP --you can then basically Inactivate it (it was part of the Deal MS made during the lawsuit to allow "other" programs to be bundled with XP. I will have to see if you can actually remove parts of it. Last I heard you could not actually get rid of it. Guess MS balked on removing it completely. __________________ We don't need no stink'n TechSupport We ARE TechSupport. *LPDad* Administrator

12-12-2002, 10:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Roadblock Caped Spam Fighter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Roadblock Manor Posts: 1,558	From what I can tell, the SP1 service pack doesn't allow you to remove it, but it is supposed to make it invisable. I would recommend keeping it anyway, in order to play the odd .wma or .wmv files that you might want to play. Just do like bgread said, and unassociate it with all files except windows media files __________________ P2P Consortium Administrator

12-12-2002, 11:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Roadblock Caped Spam Fighter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Roadblock Manor Posts: 1,558	I meant that it gives you the option of hiding it, am I not correct in that? __________________ P2P Consortium Administrator

12-13-2002, 12:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
Lion7718 Staff Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 2,317	Before SP1, WMP did not show up in Add/Remove Programs... after SP1, you got an extra Icon called Add/Remove Windows Components & Set Programs Access and Defaults. But I could be wrong also and just didn't notice the Icon before SP1. __________________ "Protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies" You better not be touching my mannequin

12-13-2002, 08:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
gbread49 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 744	The new "Set Program Access and Defaults" installed by SP-1 is not really a Add/Remove feature presay, in that it does not actually remove a Windows component. It just gives you the option of selecting which programs (M$ or non-M$) to set as system defaults and are accessible. I did check "Add/Remove Windows Components" and after installing SP-1 there is now an option to remove access to WMP, (didn't notice it before..thanks lion... ) whether this actually uninstalls or just removes access to (as LPDad suggested) WMP, I'm not sure. Someone want to give it a try????? L One problem that I can foresee, by removing access to WMP, is that a user may not be able to render or play some web-based media content, depending on what program they have set as a default for playing streaming media. Some programs do not have the capability to render/play Windows Media formats, i.e., WMV, WMA, ASF......etc... __________________

12-14-2002, 02:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
ChinaCat1120 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 8	OK, OK. . . I guess I'm just stuck with it. . . However, with my measly 20GB hard drive e'en the 20MB it takes up is alot of wasted space. . . Thanx e'eryone for the input. I knew I could find my answers here. UTC rules! :love1:

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode