Change Windows Media Player Settings

From the book Just Say No to Microsoft by Tony Bove (No Starch Press)

For Windows users who want to use alternatives to Windows Media Player

Note first that you can never really get rid of Windows Media Player, nor should you want to, if you use Windows. There are some media types designed for it that require you to use it. But you can use alternatives for all other media types.

Windows Media Player version 10 (current as of this writing) automatically takes over all media on your PC, installs Microsoft's rights management, and spies on your music and video folders. It looks for new things to stuff into its library without your knowledge -- unless you intervene by changing its options during the setup process or right after installing it. You are essentially about to put blinders on Windows Media Player to prevent it from performing certain tasks automatically.

Whether pre-installed or upgraded, Windows Media Player is usually set up as the default for everything from CDs and DVDs to MP3 music files -- shutting out all other players. It also tries to trick you into setting up Microsoft's MSN Music online music service as your active service by displaying a normal-looking license agreement:

During Windows Media Player setup, don't accept the first wizard page as if it were just a simple license agreement. See the fine print at the top? Say no to Microsoft -- decline the option to set MSN Music as your active online music service.

You can get around the problem of shutting out other players by changing the file types associated with Windows Media Player. The Customize the Installation Options page in the setup wizard lets you change the file types, as shown below. Click to remove the checkmark from each media or file type that you want to reserve for other players. I suggest you only check the box for Windows Media formats (as explained in the table below) and skip all other media types.

During Windows Media Player setup, be sure to uncheck the file and media types you may want to use with other players. Don't let Windows Media Player take over all these files and media types without a fight.

At the end of your Windows Media Player setup procedure, a dialog appears that lets you choose whether or not to search your hard disk and add files to its library, as shown below. This is another important time to say no to Microsoft. Click the No button, so that Windows Media Player doesn’t go off looking for media files to capture.

If Windows Media Player is already set up as the default player, you can still change the file types that automatically activate it. In Windows Media Player, select Tools > Options and then click the File Types tab. Uncheck the file and media types that you may want to use with other players. Remember, you can always launch Windows Media Player and open any of these files or media types, but if you turn off this automatic feature, you will have more choices.

Liberating Media for Other Players

To disassociate media file types from Windows Media Player, thereby liberating them to be used with other players, select Tools > Options and then click the File Types tab. Decide for each media type as follows: