IE 7 / WMP 11 media files problem

[albert3801]

It seems that ever since Windows Media Player upgraded to version 11 (although it may have happened since upgrading to IE 7) I'm having a problem playing audio/video files in IE 7 which require external players to play.

This happens on web links to files such as .mp3, .mov etc that are not set up on the server as streaming files or use embeded players in ie 7. The problem is only with links to the actual file. Previously I would click on those and the relevant player would start up as a separate application and load and play the file. Now I just get a new ie7 tab open up which is totally blank with the URL of the media file in the address bar. The file will actually download (there is data transfered from the net for it) but only the blank tab opens up and it won't play.

The only way I can play these links is to right click and then do a "save target as" to save them somewhere and then play them from there.

The problem does not happen with files that I have set up to play in WMP 11 by default - with these WMP 11 opens up fine and plays them. It's just with files using third party programs.

Any ideas? Is there a security setting in IE 7 preventing these third party programs from starting when clicking on a link in IE 7?

[albert3801]

I've got this working again by resetting default programs in Control Panel -> add remove programs and making winamp the default media player. Now everything is as it should - except Quicktime. I'll need to play around with that one a bit more.

[Johanna]

The problem does not happen with files that I have set up to play in WMP 11 by default - with these WMP 11 opens up fine and plays them. It's just with files using third party programs.

I'm glad you solved your problem. For anyone else reading this, if you prefer to use other software players to open and play certain files, assign them in Windows Explorer> Tools>Folder Options> file types. You can scroll through the list of extensions and select default players or viewers there, too.

Thanks Albert for posting back with how you resolved the issue. Everyone learns when we post solutions on the forums.
Johanna