Alternative to WindowsMediaPlayer 9 ?

[Parangles]

I want a non intrusive program to run .WMV files.
I have tried to set my real alternative classic player to play them but it won't work with some downloaded files.
Windows Media Player 7 will not install on my W98SE ( it seems to be only good for W98) and version 9 will not download without registration which I am not doing, plus it seems to be full of spyware. I'll pay for a simple program with no spyware.
Any suggestions ?

[mairving]

Are you sure about the registration? I have installed this version of Windows Media Player 9 plenty of times, none required registration. I don't think that I have ever installed it on Windows 98 though. I think that WMP is probably the least intrusive of the major media players.

[Parangles]

I went to that link you gave- when you click on "download' it leads you to another page and you have to sign up for some "net passport' before you can download the Player.
Why cant these people get out of my damn life ?

( Mairving-personal- that "villa " website gal is coming round tonight so I'll talk to her and get back to you by email in the AM)

[mairving]

Check your PM.

Just let me know about the other.

[Rainbow32]

Try jetaudio
http://www.jetaudio.com/

[TwoRails]

I put version 7 on a couple of 98SE boxes without problems but I did prefer 6.4. Have you tried (re)installing that version?

[Hi Ho]

Why not just register for your .net passport? It's not a big deal. I agree that WMP9 is the least intrusive of all the media players and it is all I use.

[glc]

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...99/MPSetup.exe

Doesn't ask me to register. I don't have a passport and never will, and this download doesn't require IE to get to, works just fine with Opera.

[ric449]

Originally posted by Parangles version 9 will not download without registration which I am not doing, plus it seems to be full of spyware. I'll pay for a simple program with no spyware. Any suggestions ?

Windows Media with spyware? No way, Microsoft are trying to get rid of spyware, not spread it.

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

Has anyone tried WMP10? I find it a lot better than version 9. Maybe you want to try that.

Edit: Just noticed that you have 98SE, and I don't think 10 works with that,

[Parangles]

WMP version 7 definately would not load on my W98SE. I tried 3 times from different sites. It partially loads and then aborts with 'incomplete installation' messages. The Microsoft site says they recommend V7 only for 98, not 98se.
glc- I'll give your link a try, and if not, Jetaudio- I see it has had some high praise.

" Why not just register for net passport? its no big deal."
Yes it is- a few years from now when you go to buy some toilet paper and you have to give them your consumer ID number, and your phone# and address etc, maybe some people will wonder why, but I won't.

Happy 4th to all- Its about personal INDEPENDENCE.

[Hi Ho]

I just use fake information. I don't have fake info on my passport though because my Hotmail account is my main email.

[TwoRails]

Originally posted by Parangles WMP version 7 definately would not load on my W98SE. I tried 3 times from different sites....

Have you tried to run the installation from your HD instead of from the Web? Here's the link to d/l v7.1:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

[jong2k4]

This program gets a few hangups from playing wmvs, but I find ZoomPlayer to be a player superior to Windows Media Player. It's freeware to boot.

[aym]

Media Player Classic is another alternative for WMP, and it's free.

[Parangles]

Just to wrap this up... Thanks to all - aym_7 - I went with that WMP Classic. It works fine !

Ric449- Try this : download some M$ program like WMP and note the size downloaded, say 8Mb. Then go to their uninstallerand uninstall it, and see how much it removes..about 6.8Mb I think.Third part uninstaller software takes out some of the remainder but not all.
What happened to the rest ? what is it ? ... Hmmm.