After changing from Windows 8 to 8.1 videos won't play

Jim431

Media Player comes built-in to some Win8.1 OS downloads (32 or 64bit as required) and is listed as a "Window Feature" where you can unload it and re-load it.

This is useful if you want to restore it to default after problems (you could try this if all else fails). I think you already have it loaded judging from your first post but you can check using this tutorial.
8.1 is half way down. Look in the "Media Features" folder.

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-add-or-remove-unwanted-windows-features-programs-or-apps


If you haven't updated your video and audio drivers then that is probably where your problem lies.

SlimDrivers might be useful to identify what is required but I have had trouble with some of their driver updates so it might not work.
http://download.cnet.com/SlimDrivers-Free/3000-18513_4-75279940.html

If it doesn't work then you'll need to get info on your motherboard and any video/audio hardware plugged in to it and get the updates directly from the manufacturers websites.

Otherwise you could try "Fixing A Corrupted Windows Media Player Library" here:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/20754.how-to-fix-a-corrupted-windows-media-player-library-in-windows-8-1.aspx

sitesafe

Jim431 wrote: »

Media Player comes built-in to some Win8.1 OS downloads (32 or 64bit as required) and is listed as a "Window Feature" where you can unload it and re-load it.

This is useful if you want to restore it to default after problems (you could try this if all else fails). I think you already have it loaded judging from your first post but you can check using this tutorial.
8.1 is half way down. Look in the "Media Features" folder.

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-add-or-remove-unwanted-windows-features-programs-or-apps


If you haven't updated your video and audio drivers then that is probably where your problem lies.

SlimDrivers might be useful to identify what is required but I have had trouble with some of their driver updates so it might not work.
http://download.cnet.com/SlimDrivers-Free/3000-18513_4-75279940.html

If it doesn't work then you'll need to get info on your motherboard and any video/audio hardware plugged in to it and get the updates directly from the manufacturers websites.

Otherwise you could try "Fixing A Corrupted Windows Media Player Library" here:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/20754.how-to-fix-a-corrupted-windows-media-player-library-in-windows-8-1.aspx

Thanks Jim, I'm not a techie sort and my brain is scrambled after looking for so many ways round this when i don't really know exactly what/how i'm meant to do things. I've looked into making sure i've got the updated version and i've updated some drivers, but whether they were the right drivers is another story
. If i do too much i will forget what I've done and what it was for. It was during one of these sessions that I got the message above saying 8.1 wasn't compatible. I'm just very annoyed that I and many others are in this position, still.

sitesafe

RumRat wrote: »

Check the version of WMP that you have........Version 12.0.9600.17031 Works perfectly in Windows 8.1.
Make sure all your Windows updates are installed.[/QUOTE
Thanks RR, how do i check what version it is?

sitesafe

RumRat wrote: »

Check the version of WMP that you have........Version 12.0.9600.17031 Works perfectly in Windows 8.1.
Make sure all your Windows updates are installed.

Thanks, RR, how do i check for the version of WMP?

sitesafe

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

That's odd, because I'm running Win 8.1 - 64 bit, and Media Player is working OK :huh:

Very odd! But that's what it came up with...

sitesafe

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I didn't mean the latest version of Windows.

I meant the latest version of Media Player, video and sound drivers, etc.

Run Windows update (including optional updates), to make sure everything is right up to date.

Thanks BB, Where is Windows update exactly on your screen?

tavernman

Try using VLC as suggested in post #2 http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.en_GB.html

Jivesinger

sitesafe wrote: »

Thanks, RR, how do i check for the version of WMP?

• First find media player by using the key combination <WindowsKey> - Q
  (both keys together using the Windows Key like a Shift key, where the Windows Key is the flag symbol at the bottom left of the keyboard) to open Search...
• ... then type 'Media' to search for Windows Media Player
• Click on Windows Media Player and then <Ctrl> - M to show menus
• On the menu, click Help then About to show the version.

And yes Media Player is built-in to Windows 8.1 as standard (unlike Media Centre, but that's another story).

sitesafe

Jivesinger wrote: »

• First find media player by using the key combination <WindowsKey> - Q
  (both keys together using the Windows Key like a Shift key, where the Windows Key is the flag symbol at the bottom left of the keyboard) to open Search...
• ... then type 'Media' to search for Windows Media Player
• Click on Windows Media Player and then <Ctrl> - M to show menus
• On the menu, click Help then About to show the version.

And yes Media Player is built-in to Windows 8.1 as standard (unlike Media Centre, but that's another story).

Hi, thank you..I followed your instructions but what happens is that WMP shows up on the screen for just a few seconds and then a window pops up saying

'Windows Media Player has stopped working. A problems caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available.'

I can't seem to keep WMP open

sitesafe

tavernman wrote: »

Try using VLC as suggested in post #2 http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.en_GB.html

Thanks I will do, just a bit overloaded with info at the moment and trying the usual route first...me being a novice and all that...