4 Ways to Reinstall Windows Media Player
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Windows Media Player is a popular multimedia player that comes pre-installed in the Windows operating system. However, there may be times when you face issues with the media player that can only be resolved by reinstalling it. Here are four methods to reinstall Windows Media Player on your computer.
1. Use Windows Features
The easiest way to reinstall Windows Media Player is by using the Windows Features option available in the Control Panel.
– Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu or by pressing the `Win + X` keys and selecting Control Panel from the options.
– In the Control Panel, click on Programs and Features.
– On the left side of the window, click on “Turn Windows features on or off.”
– Scroll down until you see “Media Features,” then click on the “+” icon to expand the list.
– Deselect “Windows Media Player” and click OK. This will uninstall Windows Media Player from your computer.
– Restart your computer.
– Now, revisit the “Turn Windows features on or off” screen and re-enable “Windows Media Player” by checking its box. Click OK, and this reinstallation process should be complete after another restart.
2. Run System File Checker (SFC)
If there are corrupt system files causing issues with your Windows Media Player, running System File Checker can repair and reinstall them.
– Press `Win + X` keys and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
– Type `sfc /scannow` in the command window and hit Enter.
– The SFC scan will identify and fix any corrupt system files, including those related to Windows Media Player.
– Once the process is completed, restart your computer to see if it has resolved any issues.
3. Reset Windows Media Library
Corrupted media libraries can also cause issues with Windows Media Player. To fix this problem:
– Close any open Windows Media Player.
– Press `Win + R` keys to open the Run dialog box.
– Type `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Media Player` and hit Enter.
– In the folder, select all files and delete them. This action resets your media library.
– Restart Windows Media Player, and it will automatically rebuild the library.
4. Perform a System Restore
If none of the above methods work, you can try performing a System Restore to a point when your Windows Media Player was working correctly.
– In the Control Panel, search for “Recovery” and click on it.
– Choose “Open System Restore” and click Next.
– Select a restore point when your Windows Media Player was functioning correctly, then click Next.
– Confirm your restore point selection and click Finish to start the restoration process.
– Once completed, restart your computer to check if Windows Media Player is operating as expected.
By following these methods, you should be able to reinstall Windows Media Player and resolve any problems you may have encountered.