Media player preview

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tony Talmage
  • Start date Start date
T

Tony Talmage

I've recently lost the ability to see the preview for media files in the
left-hand area of the folder window. I noticed last night that my media
player icons had changed - they were still media player icons, they just
weren't what they used to be. At the same time, I noticed the lack of
preview for any media file on the drive. So I redownloaded WMP9, the
update, and the codecs from the Windows Update Catalog and reinstalled
everything in hopes that would fix things. Nope.

Anyone know of anything I can do to regain the ability to preview media
files? I know it doesn't allow me to play like in Win2k, which is a shame,
but I still find it helpful when looking for specific media that hasn't been
named according to the content.

--
Tony Talmage
Web Developer
Graphic Education Corporation
URL: http://www.graphiced.com
Phone: (888) 354-6600
 
Windows Media Player has nothing to do with it.

Right click the folder | Properties | Customize tab |
Make sure it's set to Videos under: Use this folder....
You may want to check this also Also apply this template...

Also make sure of this setting...
Start | Run | Type: control folders | OK |
General tab | Show common tasks in folders |
Apply | OK

Now you should have a link in the left hand pane:
Video Tasks
Play All
 
Wes,

I tried setting the folder type to Videos (even though
the folder contains mixed content) and I saw no change.
Also, I already had the "show common tasks" option
active, so no change there, either. The media files on
my machine are not all contained in one folder, but
rather strewn about the place, as I have a very haphazard
method of organization. Anything else I could do to
restore the ability to preview?
 
Tony,

Do you see:
Video Tasks
Play All
In the left hand pane???
If not, click the Folder icon on the Toolbar.
Or if you see the Folders Toolbar, click the Close X.

SWAG....
Try this:

Start | Run | Type: regsvr32 shimgvw.dll | OK
 
Wes,

When I have the folder set as a "Videos" folder, yes, I
see the "Play All" task. But, as I noticed no change
with the preview abilities when I had the folder set
to "Videos" and thus turned it back to "Documents (for
any file type)", I no longer see the "Play All" task;
that's to be expected.

I ran the regsvr command you gave me, and it successfully
registered the module, but I still see no change in the
preview abilities of these media files. Do note that
thumbnail view also does not show previews, but I'm sure
that's due to the exact same issue.

Are there any other things you can think of I could try?
 
Tony,

Type "regsvr32 shmedia" in Start/Run.

If that does not help, please mention the file-type of the videos.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

Windows 2000 Group Policy Registry Table:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/gp/gpref.asp

Wes,

When I have the folder set as a "Videos" folder, yes, I
see the "Play All" task. But, as I noticed no change
with the preview abilities when I had the folder set
to "Videos" and thus turned it back to "Documents (for
any file type)", I no longer see the "Play All" task;
that's to be expected.

I ran the regsvr command you gave me, and it successfully
registered the module, but I still see no change in the
preview abilities of these media files. Do note that
thumbnail view also does not show previews, but I'm sure
that's due to the exact same issue.

Are there any other things you can think of I could try?
 
I am currently at work on a Win2k machine, but I will try your suggestion
and post with results once I get on my WinXP machine. And, as far as file
types, I'm looking at .mpg, .mpeg, .avi, .asf, and .wmv.

--
Tony Talmage
Web Developer
Graphic Education Corporation
URL: http://www.graphiced.com
Phone: (888) 354-6600


Tony,

Type "regsvr32 shmedia" in Start/Run.

If that does not help, please mention the file-type of the videos.

<snip>
 
Ramesh,

"regsvr32 shmedia" worked famously - all media types now
show previews both on click as well as in thumbnail
view. Thanks to you and Wes for all your help.

--
Tony
-----Original Message-----
Tony,

Type "regsvr32 shmedia" in Start/Run.

If that does not help, please mention the file-type of
Click to expand...
the videos.

<snip>
 
Tony, glad you've got it working! :-)

Ramesh, I've already stolen this fix!!! ;-)
Thank you!!!
 

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