Music file properties have disappeared in Windows Explorer

[Jaz]

I have thousands of mp3 files on my hard drive. Most have complete ID3
tags. For some odd reason, when I recently opened Windows Explorer (My
Music) to view my files , there is no information showing except the
file name. No Artist, Album Title, Genre, Duration, Bit Rate, etc....
The columns are all present in the folder's Details View, but no
information is displayed.

Also, when I right click on a file and choose properties and the
summary tab the only options are Track Number, Title and Comments even
though I'm chosen the advanced summary option.

When I open these files in Media Player and iTunes all of the
information is still present. It just won't display in Windows
Explorer for some reason.

I've seen other postings with the same problem, but no solution. This
really is bugging me! Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Jaz,

Click Start, Run and type:

regsvr32 shmedia.dll

Press Enter.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I have thousands of mp3 files on my hard drive. Most have complete ID3
tags. For some odd reason, when I recently opened Windows Explorer (My
Music) to view my files , there is no information showing except the
file name. No Artist, Album Title, Genre, Duration, Bit Rate, etc....
The columns are all present in the folder's Details View, but no
information is displayed.

Also, when I right click on a file and choose properties and the
summary tab the only options are Track Number, Title and Comments even
though I'm chosen the advanced summary option.

When I open these files in Media Player and iTunes all of the
information is still present. It just won't display in Windows
Explorer for some reason.

I've seen other postings with the same problem, but no solution. This
really is bugging me! Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Jaz]

Ramesh,

Following your instructions results in an error message that reads as
follows:

"shmedia.dll" is not an executable file and no registration helper is
registered for this file.

Your help is appreciated

Regards

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Jaz,

It looks like the file shmedia.dll is corrupt. Try renaming the file to old_shmedia.dll and let Windows automatically issue a fresh copy from the DllCache folder.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Following your instructions results in an error message that reads as
follows:

"shmedia.dll" is not an executable file and no registration helper is
registered for this file.

Your help is appreciated

Regards

 

[Jaz]

Ramesh,

I'm afraid that had no effect. I'm still getting the error message
regarding shmedia.dll not being an executable and no registration
helper available.

One thing I have noticed is that I have a couple of versions of
regsvr32 on my computer. One is in located in C:\windows\system32 and
a larger version is in a folder connected with some Samsung editing
software that came with a mobile phone a few months ago. Don't know if
this is of any relevance!

Your help is much appreciated as this really is annoying me.

Regards


rOn Sat, 6 Jan 2007 17:47:14 +0530, "Ramesh, MS-MVP"

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Jaz,

Suggestions:

1. Try mentioning the full path when registering:

"%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe" shmedia.dll

2. If you receive the same error again, expand a fresh copy of shmedia.dll from the Windows XP CD.

- - -
Regsvr32.exe file info (from my system)
5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)
11.5 KB (11,776 bytes)
- - -


--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

I'm afraid that had no effect. I'm still getting the error message
regarding shmedia.dll not being an executable and no registration
helper available.

One thing I have noticed is that I have a couple of versions of
regsvr32 on my computer. One is in located in C:\windows\system32 and
a larger version is in a folder connected with some Samsung editing
software that came with a mobile phone a few months ago. Don't know if
this is of any relevance!

Your help is much appreciated as this really is annoying me.

Regards


rOn Sat, 6 Jan 2007 17:47:14 +0530, "Ramesh, MS-MVP"

 

[Jaz]

Ramesh,

Trying suggestion 1 resulted in the same error message (i.e.
"shmedia.dll" is not an executable file.....).

I then searched my computer for an earlier version of shmedia.dll and
pasted that into system32. Windows automatically overwrites it with
the later version from the dllcache (Version 6.0.2900.2180)

I'm unsure how to expand a fresh copy from the Windows XP CD. Any tips
greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Jaz,

Try:

"%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe" "%systemroot%\system32\shmedia.dll"

If that does not help, see:

How to expand Windows XP files from the installation disk:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888017

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Trying suggestion 1 resulted in the same error message (i.e.
"shmedia.dll" is not an executable file.....).

I then searched my computer for an earlier version of shmedia.dll and
pasted that into system32. Windows automatically overwrites it with
the later version from the dllcache (Version 6.0.2900.2180)

I'm unsure how to expand a fresh copy from the Windows XP CD. Any tips
greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

 

[Guest]

Ramesh,

I have about the same problem as Jaz. Music files (.mp3/.wma/.flac) all
don't have details. Also, all files don't have the usual icons, they just
have standard Windows file icons. I open all my music files with Winamp, so
they should have Winamp Icons.

Movie files (.avi) however are unaffected. They all have details and the
appropiate icons.

I tried all the solutions you gave here; running regsvr32 shmedia.dll went
fine, but didn't change anything. Getting a new one from the dllcache folder
or the Windows XP CD and running regsvr32 shmedia.dll went fine, but didn't
change anything either.

I've had this problem for a while, I believe right after installation, about
6 months ago, though I'm not sure. Many thanks for any help in advance!

Regards,
Ivo

 

[R. McCarty]

If you are Registry savvy, check the path shown for the following
two Registry keys:

HK_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\User Shell Folders
-Sub Key "My Music"

HK_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\Shell Folders
-sub Key "My Music"

 

[Guest]

There is no registry key called "My Music" in
HK_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\User Shell Folders

And in
HK_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\Shell Folders
the registry key "My Music" points to this path:
C:\Documents and Settings\Ivo\my documents\My Music

Hopes this helps, thanks for the assistance.

Regards,
Ivo

 

[R. McCarty]

Then add an "Expandable String Value" entitled My Music
and then modify it's value to the path you listed for Shell
Folders, Reboot - verify Registry Key & Value and then
open your My Music folder and check for Details columns.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Ivo,

Download FileExtInfo utility from here.

FileExtInfo - View the association settings for a file type easily:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fileextinfo.htm

Select .mp3 from the listing, and generate a file association report. Include the contents in your reply.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

I have about the same problem as Jaz. Music files (.mp3/.wma/.flac) all
don't have details. Also, all files don't have the usual icons, they just
have standard Windows file icons. I open all my music files with Winamp, so
they should have Winamp Icons.

Movie files (.avi) however are unaffected. They all have details and the
appropiate icons.

I tried all the solutions you gave here; running regsvr32 shmedia.dll went
fine, but didn't change anything. Getting a new one from the dllcache folder
or the Windows XP CD and running regsvr32 shmedia.dll went fine, but didn't
change anything either.

I've had this problem for a while, I believe right after installation, about
6 months ago, though I'm not sure. Many thanks for any help in advance!

Regards,
Ivo

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

The file associations / shell extensions registration are fine. I'm only concerned about the shmedia.dll part. Double-check if you've extracted the file shmedia.dll to the correct location, and register using Regsvr32.exe.

The following message is shown if the registration went successfully:

---------------------------
RegSvr32
---------------------------
DllRegisterServer in C:\WINDOWS\system32\shmedia.dll succeeded.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I tried McCarty's solution, but it didn't work, nothing changed.

And here's the report from FileExtInfo:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FileExtInfo v1.0 - Log file
1/8/2007 10:27:45 AM

Complete File association information for ---> .MP3
Useful for troubleshooting File association and other problems
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.MP3]

<snip>

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

one keeps reverting back to 65,5kb

Perhaps you overwrite the existing file (backup the original first) in the DllCache folder, and then overwrite the file in the System32 folder.

I'm wondering where that 65 KB file came from.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


It might be important: I'm running the Windows XP X64 Professional version.

As for shmedia.dll, I've got 2 files on my computer (and 2 duplicates in the
dllcache):

C:\WINDOWS\system32\shmedia.dll | file version 6.0.3790.1830 | 65.5kb

C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\shmedia.dll | File version 6.0.3790.1830 | 148kb

I've registered them first, which went fine and I got the succesful message.
But I still couldn't see details.Then I tried to replace them both with the
shmedia.dll file from my other computer (where I can see the details), which
worked with the 148kb one, but the 65.5kb one keeps reverting back to 65,5kb,
instead of the 148kb I replaced it with. Then I registered them both again,
with the succesful message. But still I couldnt' see the details.

Than I replaced them both with the ones on the Windows XP CD using the
expand function and registered them both again, but nothing worked.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Beats me, Ivo!

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I've overwritten it in the dllcache and in the system 32 folder, so now I
only have the 148kb versions in my Windows folder. Then I restarted my
computer, but unfortunately, still no music file properties

:

 

[Jaz]

Ivo,

Out of interest, do you have iTunes installed? Someone else
experiencing this problem asked me the same question . I do and he
did!.

Ramesh - As stated in an earlier post, I have 2 versions of different
regsrv32.exe. Is this usual?

Many thanks

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Jaz,

That's the reason we mentioned the path explicitly for regsvr32.exe.

"%windir%\system32\regsvr32.exe" shmedia.dll

Perhaps you can send me a RA ticket so that I can look into this.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ivo,

Out of interest, do you have iTunes installed? Someone else
experiencing this problem asked me the same question . I do and he
did!.

Ramesh - As stated in an earlier post, I have 2 versions of different
regsrv32.exe. Is this usual?

Many thanks

 

[Jaz]

Bingo!!!

I've just managed to sort it out, although I'm not 100% sure how.

I tried Ramesh's suggestion below and got the usual error message
about shmedia.dll not being an executable file and no registration
helper is registered for this file.

I then tried the suggestion again, except using the full path to the
other version of regsvr32.exe which is located in a folder connected
with my Samsung phone software. Doing this brought up an error message
referring to file avifilL32.dll located in %windir%\system32 (sorry, I
can't remember the exact message).

I then cut and pasted avifil32.dll to my desktop and repeated the
proceduredescribed in the first sentence of the previous paragraph. A
message then informed me that shmedia.dll had been registered
successfully.

I opened up My Music to be met with the wonderful sight of all of the
fie properties linformation being displayed (artist, album title, bit
rate, etc). I'm so pleased to have resolved this as I found it a real
pain.

My only query now is what to do with avifil32.dll that's currently on
my desktop. I'm reluctant to put it back into the Windows\System32
folder for fear of causing further problems.

Ivo, I really hope that this is of assistance in sorting out your
problem.

Thanks to everyone that has helped with their suggestions (especially
Ramesh).

Best wishes

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Thanks for the update, Jaz. It's much appreciated!

Regarding "avifilL32.dll": To register shmedia.dll, the dependency module Avifil32.dll needs to be present. (You can use Dependency Walker (profiling) to gather this info.) I'm sure I would have cracked this issue if I had direct access to the subject computer.

The avifil32.dll needs to be in the system32 folder. Is there a copy present already in that folder?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Bingo!!!

I've just managed to sort it out, although I'm not 100% sure how.

I tried Ramesh's suggestion below and got the usual error message
about shmedia.dll not being an executable file and no registration
helper is registered for this file.

I then tried the suggestion again, except using the full path to the
other version of regsvr32.exe which is located in a folder connected
with my Samsung phone software. Doing this brought up an error message
referring to file avifilL32.dll located in %windir%\system32 (sorry, I
can't remember the exact message).

I then cut and pasted avifil32.dll to my desktop and repeated the
proceduredescribed in the first sentence of the previous paragraph. A
message then informed me that shmedia.dll had been registered
successfully.

I opened up My Music to be met with the wonderful sight of all of the
fie properties linformation being displayed (artist, album title, bit
rate, etc). I'm so pleased to have resolved this as I found it a real
pain.

My only query now is what to do with avifil32.dll that's currently on
my desktop. I'm reluctant to put it back into the Windows\System32
folder for fear of causing further problems.

Ivo, I really hope that this is of assistance in sorting out your
problem.

Thanks to everyone that has helped with their suggestions (especially
Ramesh).

Best wishes