Help With Windows Media Player [Solved]

Margarita Skies · Jun 26, 2011

Hey.

I am having a little problem. I have 743 music files on my computer. When I open the Windows Media player, only 733 of those files show. How can I get all 743 files to show? Do you have any idea why this happens?

Once again thanks for helping and I promise not to get impatient and edit the thread, erasing all the information in it like I did last time. I still feel so embarrassed about that. Ok, so I am going to go and listen to some music and do some writing and I will be back to check on the thread tomorrow morning. I am just waiting for my mp3 player to finish charging to disconnect it from the computer and start enjoying my music again.

Love always,
Magali.

alleycat · Jun 26, 2011

Are all the files in the same folder?

Cath · Jun 26, 2011

Are all the music files the same format? Is it possible some are just not compatible with WMP?

Margarita Skies · Jun 26, 2011

Hey, guys. I couldn't help but to come back and reply when I saw there were replies on the thread. Thank you so much.

alleycat said:
Are all the files in the same folder?

Yes, they are, in My Music.

Cath said:
Are all the music files the same format? Is it possible some are just not compatible with WMP?

Yes, all of them are mp3 format and I didn't really think about that.

PEBKAC2 · Jun 26, 2011

What happens if you try to open the "missing" files by double clicking them?

Margarita Skies · Jun 27, 2011

PEBKAC said:
What happens if you try to open the "missing" files by double clicking them?

They will open and play in the Windows Media Player, but they still won't show in the library. That's the problem I have, not showing up in the library.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 27, 2011

Magali said:
They will open and play in the Windows Media Player, but they still won't show in the library. That's the problem I have, not showing up in the library.

Have you told the media player to do a search for music files. and add all it finds to the library?

alleycat · Jun 27, 2011

You could have a corrupted "database" file (the list that WMP keeps of all your files of different types). You can remove and redo it, but let's wait before looking at that option. Someone else might have a better idea (and, frankly, it's been a long time since I've dealt with this--I'd have to go look to find the procedure for doing it).

Margarita Skies · Jun 27, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
Have you told the media player to do a search for music files. and add all it finds to the library?

No. I don't know how to do that in the new WMP.

alleycat said:
You could have a corrupted "database" file (the list that WMP keeps of all your files of different types). You can remove and redo it, but let's wait before looking at that option. Someone else might have a better idea (and, frankly, it's been a long time since I've dealt with this--I'd have to go look to find the procedure for doing it).

Yes I am going to wait for new suggestions. Thanks for your help, though. You guys are all amazing.

Williebee · Jun 27, 2011

Magali,

I'm wondering if the file not listed was, at some point, deleted from the Windows Media Library (note - not deleted from the computer, just from the library).

I'm running WMP 11. You might go to File - Add to library and look for the box next to "Add files previously deleted from library" to see if it is checked. If not, and the possibility above is the cause, then checking the box might bring it back. (You want to look at the list of Monitored Folders, too. Checking the box will bring back other listings from other monitored folders.)

Margarita Skies · Jun 27, 2011

Williebee said:
Magali,

I'm wondering if the file not listed was, at some point, deleted from the Windows Media Library (note - not deleted from the computer, just from the library).

I'm running WMP 11. You might go to File - Add to library and look for the box next to "Add files previously deleted from library" to see if it is checked. If not, and the possibility above is the cause, then checking the box might bring it back. (You want to look at the list of Monitored Folders, too. Checking the box will bring back other listings from other monitored folders.)

For some reason, the "File" pane doesn't appear anywhere automatically. I actually have to right click somewhere on the top and it appears but the "add to library" command doesn't appear. Every time I play one of the files that are missing from the library they start playing and appear on he "unsaved list" but not on the library. As a matter of fact I am playing one of those songs right now. I had to transfer those songs to my MP3 player from the Windows Explorer, because I couldn't do it from the WMP. When I explored the mp3 player drive on the Windows Explorer I also had to drag the tracks to the music folder in my MP3 player because when I did this on Saturday, only 733 tracks were transferred to the mp3 player from the WMP.

Williebee · Jun 27, 2011

Hey, AC?

Licensing issue?

alleycat · Jun 27, 2011

Williebee said:
Hey, AC?

Licensing issue?

Gosh, I'm not sure. I wouldn't think so if she can still get them to play at all.

My first thought, if it wasn't something simple, was more in line with one of your earlier posts.

I'm wondering if the file not listed was, at some point, deleted from the Windows Media Library (note - not deleted from the computer, just from the library).

That's why I mentioned the "database file" (I don't think it's actually called that) being corrupted.

This might be one for the Microsoft forum; often times someone there can immediately spot a problem (and solution) because others have had it in the past.

Williebee · Jun 27, 2011

Yeah, at a minimum, if it was licensing, then MS would be prompting her about not being able to verify license info. Nuts.

ETA: If it is a database corruption, I found this.

Again, standard disclaimer: Your mileage may vary. Use at your own discretion. You've never heard of us.

Margarita Skies · Jun 28, 2011

Ok, guys I tried everything they talked about in the link Williebee provided and nothing worked, but since the tracks I'm missing in WMP are already in my mp3 player I think the best thing I can do right now is leave this alone. Thanks guys, for all your help, but from what I saw on that link lots and lots of people are having the exact same problem. Do you guys have the name of another free media player I can use that can sync all my files to my mp3 player in the future? I know about iTunes and I've used it for months, but I am not sure if iTunes will only sync music files to an iPod and the mp3 player I have is a Philips Go Gear Vibe, 8GB.

Margarita Skies · Jun 28, 2011

Update:

I just figured out what the problem was. The files I was missing were in the Public Music Folder, not in the Music Folder, and that's why WMP couldn't detect them and put them in the library. I just downloaded the Real Player, newest version of course. I've used it years before, with my other computers and it's nice. I am going to try it out. There were some files and folders in My Music that didn't really belong there because all I want there are my MP3's and that's why I thought I had more files than I really did, but I am going to delete those stupid folders so I don't get confused anymore. Anyway, thanks for all your help. I like the Real Player a lot better than the Windows Media Player. It allows you to download videos from any site, so that's a nice feature I could use in the future.

Sincerely
Magali.

Margarita Skies · Jun 28, 2011

Another Update:

After deleting those stupid extra folders and files that didn't have anthing with music, that made their way in there somehow, it turns out I don't have 743 music files like I thought, but 740, and for some reason, the Real Player only has 736 of them in the library. That's ok, I guess, nothing I can't deal with, like a virus or a fried hard drive. This little problem is not going to cost me money or cause me any major problems, so I am going to mark this topic as a solved question. I can't thank you enough and I've run out of words to describe you guys. Amazing.

Magali.

Help With Windows Media Player [Solved]

Margarita Skies

alleycat

Still around

Cath

The mean one

Margarita Skies

PEBKAC2

Will crit for food.

Margarita Skies

Jamesaritchie

alleycat

Still around

Margarita Skies

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

Margarita Skies

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

alleycat

Still around

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

Margarita Skies

Margarita Skies

Margarita Skies