For those users like me who like to use WMP 9 instead of 10/11, I found a way to roll back to 9. When the system REFUSES to allow installation of 9, simply go to control panel/add,remove/show updates. The installed player and many other related updates will now be on the list. Simply remove 10/11 the usual way and the system will automaticaly rollback to 9 or to any previous player that was installed. If 9 is not installed at this point, you can now download it from any source including MICROSOFT. Hope this helps old school users like me.
Be careful though, as the newer versions of WMP have a habit of reinstalling themselves, via a file called setup_wm.exe in Program Files\Windows Media Player.
This is especially important if you are trying to get a specific WMP version when dealing with DRM and IBX individualization. Make sure that you manually deleted setup_wm.exe and that should help with part of the process.
To be honest I do not understand the jargon, although I do understand your point of view and your cautions. So far P10 is gone replaced with P9. If 10 reappears I will deal with it. I did leave all the 10 related updates thinking that now that P10 is gone the updates will do no harm if they still exist. Is there a way I can remove multiple programs as a group? This would be very helpful when a program removal needs to be restarted for the removal to take place. Very time consuming. Is it possible to select programs for removal as a group that all need a restart, put them on hold until the removal list is built and then restart which will remove the entire list? Opinions please. A strange issue has appeared on what appears to be a newer P4 DELL. I have 4 players installed. The issue is that P10 and now P9 ONLY will play one channel ONLY using either dvd or cd drive. The other 3 players function in stereo using either drive. Also the on board sound circuit does NOT work at all. I installed a sound card and solved the issue that way. The card works in all 3 slots. There is a place for a fourth pci connector but it was never put in. This is not a major issue since I have 3 other players, it is annoying. Opinions please.
Maybe a stereo option isn't checked in WMP? Though I think it's controlled by the OS sound and volume options? I would say that is strange, though I would check and make sure there's not more going on with your system hardware-wise, since you said the on-board sound doesn't work (or is it disabled due to the PCI card?)
I'm speculating, but you could have something faulty with the motherboard or bad memory. I wouldn't freak out though if you only see errors/issues with using your MP software.
As for my jargon:
WMP - Windows Media Player, like all OS included MS software, is a bugger to remove sometimes. There are multiple threads about this I've read across the web and it links back to the setup_wm.exe file I referenced or the WMP Runtime, which can be uninstalled in Add/Remove Programs. As for setup_wm.exe, is you mouse-over the file, it will say which version it is, so if you have 9 and it says 9.xxx then you are safe.
DRM - Digital Rights Management, which is nasty copy protection put on files so they are not redistributed by "illegal" means.
IBX - Individualization file, unique to your hardware and software, which is used to "lock" DRM protected files. Certain versions of IBX have been cracked to "unlock" DRM, which is useful in the case of purchased music. The IBX is directly related to the version and revision of WMP installed on your PC. Obviously the newer the version of WMP and IBX associated with it, the less likely you are to "unlock" your DRM protected files.
