how to remove Windows Media Player from the list of Toolbars on the Taskbar

  • Thread starter Thread starter jvv
  • Start date Start date
J

jvv

Hi,

I posted about this yesterday on the Windows XP General
newsgroup (902pm April 24) but without any solution. The
problem seems to boil down to this: somehow Windows Media
Player got installed on the list of toolbars accessible
via the taskbar at the bottom of the page.

I've tried the usual solution for removing toolbars
(simply uncheck it), but since it isn't checked to begin
with, nothing happens.

Why is it a problem? Whenever I startup my system, WMP
automatically opens. I also tried several solutions (e.g.
looking in the startup folder - WMP not there, going to
Start > Run > MSConfig, etc. but WMP also not to be found
in there.

Any ideas how to tame WMP? I tried uninstalling it, but
was unsuccessful. Said it was in use.

thanks
 
JVV--

I think WMP is always on that toolbar list by default but thatwouldn't
account for this:

"Whenever I startup my system, WMP automatically opens"

Why don't you try redownloading WMP9 from

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp

The official MS party line is that you absolutely cannot uninstall WMP9, but
I have seen links from here work:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winme/r1064364201

Also you could try a system restore point.

You may want to pitch this to the Windows Media MS newsgroup where Zach D
from MSFT WMP team helps regularly.

Chad Harris

___________________________________________________________________
 
If WMP is opening on startup, then the program itself is set to open at
startup, or a file, which WMP is set to play or open, is set to open on
startup.

Start > Run > msconfig
brings up up the System Configuration Utility and should show you most
everything set to start from the usual locations.

What does WMP do, initially? What does it open/play?

I suppose it is possible that you have been infected with a virus.
Variants of the GAOBOT virus, which are currently spreading very
extensively, put wmplayer into
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
 
JVV--

I pitched your question to the WMP group at
*microsoft.public.windowsmedia.player* and I'll paste the answer I got. You
may find something on the extensive WMP site or there could be malware. I
want to emphasize that I have picked up on this. Often a broad gamut of
WMP9 problems can be fixed by redownloading it. I have seen this happen on
groups including the MS public WMP groups over and over, and suggested it
and had it work a number of times. Whether or not this is replenishing
intact .dlls and other files, I don't know for sure. You also could run
SFC--System File Checker, which may improve the situation of some files that
are causing this problem. Note the comment that:

"After you get all of the malware removed then you will want to reinstall
Windows Media Player over itself. Depending on how WMP was installed on
your machine you may already have the installer. If you do it is located in
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\Installer. The file name of the
installer is "mpsetupxp.exe"

If you don't see the folder then run C:\Program Files\Windows Media
Player\setup_wm.exe and that will re-download the installer and install it."
__________________________________________________________________________

Here's the post and response:

What would cause WMP9 to open on start and not appear on msconfig's startup
tab (where it usually does not show up) and how is this corrected?

If WMP doesn't open when you click on the icon or the WMP icon has changed
it is likely being caused by Malware on your system. There are more than a
few programs that will help you get rid of this. Below are some options for
you to try.

This might also cause WMP to launch when you log in or turn on your PC.
http://www.nwlink.com/~zachd/pss/pss.html#startup

PestPatrol
http://pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/w/winpup32.asp

CWShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Housecall AntiVirus
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

After you get all of the malware removed then you will want to reinstall
Windows Media Player over itself. Depending on how WMP was installed on
your machine you may already have the installer. If you do it is located in
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\Installer. The file name of the
installer is "mpsetupxp.exe"

If you don't see the folder then run C:\Program Files\Windows Media
Player\setup_wm.exe and that will re-download the installer and install it.

--
Get Instant WMP Answers
http://tinyurl.com/35rfv


Chris Lanier [MVP]

____________________________

Chad Harris
_________________________________________________________________________________
 
Several hours later I think I have fixed the problem. I
did a System Restore which has created other problems but
I think I will be able to resolve them in time. Now the
WMP is behaving and not opening on startup.

Thank you,

Jordan Van Voast
 
Hi,

These are two separte issues. To remove the listing under Taskbar/Toolbars
use this utility:

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

As for your second issue: Does MP automatically start and is being listed
in the Notification Area or is the program window, itself being
initialized/opened upon boot? This makes a great difference.

Without knowning more, I would suggest checking the listings under the
runkeys for this entry. You are looking for the path having spaces in it,
if so, enclose it in quotes. Same goes for checking msinfo32, etc.
 
Hi Jordan,

Sorry, should have read on...before replying.

Which other problems have been created from the system restore?
 
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