Annoying behaviour in WMP when plugging in USB stick

[Alain Dekker]

I like Windows Media player to be in Skin Mode. Whenever I plug in my pen
drive (and my work requires me to do this several times a day) the damn
program jumps to Full Mode. I'll decide when I change to full mode you
moronic program!

I'm using WMP 10.00.00.4036.

I've tried the following:

* Turned off Sync options in Tools > Options > Devices;
* Used TweakUI to turn off Autoplay on the USB drive and off "Removeable
devices"

How can I stop WMP from changing modes? If I cannot, could whomever idiotic
programmer at MS responsible please correct this.

Thanks,
Alain

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

If I cannot, could whomever idiotic programmer at MS responsible
please correct this. <<

Think the only thing one can hope for is that these programmers will go
to hell and be assigned roommates who were users who feel the same as
you and I do.

WMP and Activesync are designed and maintained by control freaks who
assure that there are no options such as registry pokes to prevent their
programs from doing what they feel they should do and these teams are
actively isolated from any user feedback.

The best I can suggest is that you repost in the WMP section... and
report back what you find there.

As you can tell, I've given up.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]]

I do have a thought... windows places hidden files in the usb drive
root. I have found

WMPInfo.xml
WMSyncCaps.xml

You might open these and see what they contain... for example the first
file on a sample drive contains,

<DeviceInfo>
<WMP DeviceID="{<some type of serial#>}"
RelationshipID="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"/>
</DeviceInfo>

There is also a hidden folder named

MSMETADATA

which contains a database of wmp info

Thinking out loud here, it might be possible to replace the content with
something that tells wmp "hands off"

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

 

[Alain Dekker]

Hi,

Thanks for the response. I'm so pleased at least someone feels the same way
I do and wants this incessant "ActiveSync" to stop!!

I tried posting in the WMP group, but without success - no-one replied.
I found the WMPInfo.xml file (but not the other XML file ot the hiden
directory) and had a look inside:

<DeviceInfo>
<WMP DeviceID="{2EBB7A80-08AE-45B5-8259-D1687DDA6911}"
RelationshipID="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"/>
</DeviceInfo>

I tried searching for that GUID in the registry, even parts of it, not
found. Strange.
Inspired by the locating of this virus-like file on my pen drive, I've now
spent about 30 minutes trawling the internet and found nothing to help me.

I did find this very interesting article which apparently asks the very
question I want to ask:

http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=754352

Sadly, even this guy couldn't find the answer. There doesn't appear to be a
"Hey don't try and sync with me" option.

A while back I bought a Acer PDA which is very nice. This installed
ActiveSync and now that program starts up ALL THE TIME! I eventually renamed
the processed involved (wcescomm.exe and rapimgr.exe) and wrote a batch file
that renames to these files before loading when I want ActiveSync to load,
and stops the processes...and afterwards, stops the processes and renames
the files. I'll decide when it loads, not Windows!

Whomever writes these terrible programs should be ashamed of themselves. I
constantly hear at work, "Oh my laptop is so slow, I have to get a new
one...blah, blah". I then look in the HKCU and
HKLM...Windows/CurrentVersion/Run locations in the registry and remove
unwanted processes. I switch off Services like Task Scheduler and many
others that I've never found anyone ever uses...ever, check out the Start
folder, fancy effects Windows applies whenever drawing windows, etc, and hey
presto! they've got a laptop they cannot BELIEVE runs so fast. I've never
found anyone who knew how to do all the simple steps I've learnt with
experience, so how is a non-techy supposed to do it? They won't! They'll
just buy a new PC or faster memory when this is NOT required.

Ok, enough rant. Hopefully Hell has a very special place for these evil
ActiveSync/unnecesary Service/other virus-like programmers...well this hope
is apparently my only recourse (

Alain

I do have a thought... windows places hidden files in the usb drive root.
I have found

WMPInfo.xml
WMSyncCaps.xml

You might open these and see what they contain... for example the first
file on a sample drive contains,

<DeviceInfo>
<WMP DeviceID="{<some type of serial#>}"
RelationshipID="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"/>
</DeviceInfo>

There is also a hidden folder named

MSMETADATA

which contains a database of wmp info

Thinking out loud here, it might be possible to replace the content with
something that tells wmp "hands off"

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]