Bug in Windows Media Player allows hijacking computers

Good Show from the Finns!!!!! :) I'm glad M$ was honest enough to admit the foul-up rather than just try to hurredly release a new 'cover up' version of WMP. Perhaps the problem is more severe than we realize, and M$ had no choice. Only either pure desperation, or insatiable curiosity (as in the recent HMV download offer), will I advance past WMP 6.4. It's a staple, uninhibited, uncrippled viewer. -- Me --

I don´t really like WMP versions 7 and up anyway. 6.4 seems to still be one of the best players around, although I guess I´ll have to try out The DivX player, since it will be utilizing hardware features on my graphics card.

Thank god i don't use Windows Media player.

WMP version 6.4 is A-ok as a simple, utility audio/video player. Anything later than that spells trouble. I wouldn't install anything past Direct-X version 8.0 either. Ver 9.0 cannot be removed (uninstalled) without a very special, hard-to-find utility program.

Well it´s not that hard to find. If you ask around on discussion forums that cover things like graphics cards, someone usually has a link.

(Perhaps). Point is, Ghostdog, I don't believe that a person should have to rely on hurredly-developed third-part fix-ups (thank god we have them) to counteract MicroSoft's ever-intrusive and insistent way of doing things. Be very very leery of any microsoft software that can't be UNinstalled, once INstalled.

I agree, there should be an option to uninstall DirectX. I´m sure many people would appreciate an option like that.

Please forgive me if I ask this in the wrong place but I was wondering if Ghostdog knows where I could get a link to get windows media player removed from my computer. Anytime I try to use any other media player, WMP starts and crashes. thanks in advance

You should stay away from Media9 player. This one (and those that are sure to follow) contain a phone home tattle tale for those playing mp3's that are not ligitmate files. It is one of the reasons they want to make it hard to remove. Personally, I prefer QCD player and have Media player removed from my computer. I don't like wma files nor do I wish to support the Micro$uck$ platform more than necessary. They can keep DMCA supported files I will keep what I have and we will both have to live with that. There is not much that Micro$uck$ puts out that is not eyed with a fine tooth comb by hackers for any advantage they can find to gain access to your computer.

Shawn: I was forced to install WMP9 a while ago to view a presentation, but I didn´t have any major problems when un-installing it. Are you using XP?

Yes, I have XP home edition

I remember hearing awhile ago that WMP is a part of Windows XP itself. Maybe you can´t un-install it at all? I´m a Windows 2000 user myself, so I can´t really check, but if you ask around someone should be able to tell you if you can un-install it. Try looking for the uninstaller in WMP´s folder. Could you clarify a bit what you mean when you say "anytime I try to use any other media player, WMP starts and crashes"?

Ya, if I try to use any media player besides WMP (ie. Nero, video lan, roxio) then WMP starts at the same time causing my computer to shut down and reboot, forcing me to use WMP exclusivly. Any ideas are much apprieciated as I would like to use a program other than WMP. (BTW it is version 9) thanx for your help thus far.

You could try to change to file associations, if you haven´t gone down that road yet. Access any folder, open "Folder options" from the Tools-menu, go to "File types" and look for specific media files that are set to be played back by WMP and click "Change". Then just select a program from the list that pops up. This is the way it works on Windows 2000. XP should act similarly. Let me know if it works.