Windows Media Player v11 beta

[Guest]

Hi,

Have recently installed this both on my main PC and laptop. Installation and
functionality is fine, but I cannot connect to online services using my main
PC. Laptop connects online no problems, but I cannot get my main PC to
connect at all.

I have made sure that the Work Offline option is not checked, I have also
enabled the box "Connect to the Internet" in Options -> Player. Neither of
these help, and I get the message "Work Offline selected" when clicking on
MSN Music tab. Needless to say I am connected to the internet, but cannot
even get WMP to play any online media at all.

Any ideas what next please?

 

[Alias]

Hi,

Have recently installed this both on my main PC and laptop. Installation and
functionality is fine, but I cannot connect to online services using my main
PC. Laptop connects online no problems, but I cannot get my main PC to
connect at all.

I have made sure that the Work Offline option is not checked, I have also
enabled the box "Connect to the Internet" in Options -> Player. Neither of
these help, and I get the message "Work Offline selected" when clicking on
MSN Music tab. Needless to say I am connected to the internet, but cannot
even get WMP to play any online media at all.

Any ideas what next please?

Are you a BETA tester? If not, you should not install BETA software on
your machines. Uninstall WMP 11 and see if that helps or do a system
restore prior to the installation of WMP.

Alias

 

[Jon]

Are you a BETA tester? If not, you should not install BETA software on
your machines. Uninstall WMP 11 and see if that helps or do a system
restore prior to the installation of WMP.

Alias

You are slowly, but surely, metamorphosising from group rebel into a
potential mvp, with comments like that - telling people what they are
allowed, or are not allowed, to do on their computers.

Jon

 

[Alias]

You are slowly, but surely, metamorphosising from group rebel into a
potential mvp, with comments like that - telling people what they are
allowed, or are not allowed, to do on their computers.

Jon

I'm just giving my opinion and I am not interested in an MVP award. The
OP can do whatever he or she wants to do with his or her computer,
including not heeding my advice. Are you saying that it's a good idea to
install BETA software if one is not a BETA tester?

Alias

 

[Guest]

Are you a BETA tester? If not, you should not install BETA software on
your machines. Uninstall WMP 11 and see if that helps or do a system
restore prior to the installation of WMP.

Alias

Have rolled back to version 10, but still cannot get online services...
despite clicking on the link to "connect to services".

Tried a system restore this morning, but it won't do it, despite trying
three different restore points.

Starting to wish I hadn't bothered now. Any other ideas please?

 

[Jon]

I'm just giving my opinion and I am not interested in an MVP award. The OP
can do whatever he or she wants to do with his or her computer, including
not heeding my advice. Are you saying that it's a good idea to install
BETA software if one is not a BETA tester?

Alias

As a general rule, yes I think it is a good idea. Experimentation and trying
new things is how we all learn.

Jon

 

[Alias]

As a general rule, yes I think it is a good idea. Experimentation and
trying new things is how we all learn.

Jon

Then you are a BETA tester. Most people don't want to test BETAs and
learn how to straighten out their computer after the BETA messes it up
but want use their computer for other things. The OP discovered that my
advice is true.

Alias

 

[Alias]

As a general rule, yes I think it is a good idea. Experimentation and
trying new things is how we all learn.

Jon

So, have you got a solution for the OP to help him or her "learn"?

Alias

 

[Mike Williams]

I'm just giving my opinion and I am not interested in an MVP award. The
OP can do whatever he or she wants to do with his or her computer,
including not heeding my advice. Are you saying that it's a good idea to
install BETA software if one is not a BETA tester?

Well one becomes a beta tester as soon as one installs beta software.

A better way of putting it, is that if you are not prepared for the
consequences of installing/running software that is going to act even
more unpredictably than usual, and even act destructively on your
system/data then think twice. Backup everything, and then think twice again.

One also needs to look ahead to see what the support infrastructure
might be and if uninstall is possible. Since the OP posted here rather
than the m.p.windowsmedia.player newsgroup then that is in doubt already.

I put some of the blame in this case on the shoulders of the
Windowsmedia folks, who make the beta download a little too easy for the
unprepared. In the v10 beta, it was easier to find the beta download on
their site than the actual released v9 product. It's the same all over
again with this beta. The download pages contain NO prudent information
or warnings prior to exposing the download link. Finding uninstall
information is about 6 page/link clicks away (here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq/installation.mspx).

Microsoft in general has also polluted the waters by creating the
"marketing beta" which is usually very late in the cycle and pretty
stable. WMP v11 is still quite unstable, and probably more likely to
corrupt your (media) data than any other bit of software that Microsoft
releases.

 

[Jon]

So, have you got a solution for the OP to help him or her "learn"?

Alias

I used 'learn' in the broader sense of the word - including learning the
value of taking precautions when experimenting with new software, and
having suitable ways of restoring your system if things go wrong.

Jon

 

[antioch]

You are slowly, but surely, metamorphosising from group rebel into a
potential mvp, with comments like that - telling people what they are
allowed, or are not allowed, to do on their computers.

Jon

Quote
"You should not...."
Hardly telling someone what they are 'allowed, or not allowed to do'
I call it good sound advice(from whomsoever it comes from) - wish I had read
similar advice a few years ago, but I had not come across newsgroups at that
time.
I have little computer knowledge, yet I warn others when possible, to avoid
beta unless they are aware of the consequences of downloading to their
computers.

One only has to read the posts from those who have downloaded a beta product
to realise they have no idea how to fix the problems or that the product was
a beta one in the first place.
From a personal viewpoint, I use my computer for home use, and not as a
test-bed for trial stuff, despite realising that there is an argument in
favour of assisting developers with their products, for the future benefit
of all.

If you are confident enough to handle beta stuff, then you do so.
But, please consider others who do not have the expertise, and give advice
accordingly - as Alias did.

 

[Jon]

Quote
"You should not...."
Hardly telling someone what they are 'allowed, or not allowed to do'
I call it good sound advice(from whomsoever it comes from) - wish I had
read similar advice a few years ago, but I had not come across newsgroups
at that time.
I have little computer knowledge, yet I warn others when possible, to
avoid beta unless they are aware of the consequences of downloading to
their computers.

One only has to read the posts from those who have downloaded a beta
product to realise they have no idea how to fix the problems or that the
product was a beta one in the first place.
From a personal viewpoint, I use my computer for home use, and not as a
test-bed for trial stuff, despite realising that there is an argument in
favour of assisting developers with their products, for the future benefit
of all.

If you are confident enough to handle beta stuff, then you do so.
But, please consider others who do not have the expertise, and give advice
accordingly - as Alias did.

Yeah, sure. Actually the original comment was intended to be a
semi-humourous jibe at the manner of Alias' response. On reflection I
should have put a at the end of it.

Jon

 

[Alias]

Yeah, sure. Actually the original comment was intended to be a
semi-humourous jibe at the manner of Alias' response. On reflection I
should have put a at the end of it.

Jon

I'll forgive you this time

Alias

 

[antioch]

Have rolled back to version 10, but still cannot get online services...
despite clicking on the link to "connect to services".

Tried a system restore this morning, but it won't do it, despite trying
three different restore points.

Starting to wish I hadn't bothered now. Any other ideas please?

Nasie
Alas you and a few others are wishing they hadn't bothered - but we learn by
our experiences - we can only hope that the consequences are not too hard on
us.
Hope it gets solved and you get to play your music/video etc.
Will you avoid beta stuff in the future??????????????
Antioch

 

[Jon]

I'll forgive you this time

Alias

Thanks Alias.. that makes me feel beta

Jon

 

[antioch]

Mike
I completely agree with you - all developers of beta stuff should be forced
to include a 'health warning' just like tobacco carries.
I downloaded beta stuff once - on advice from a comp mag - no
warning/advice, nothing. They got a letter from me a few days later but
didn't publish it
Never again - but I do have MS antispy beta 1 - but put that on less than a
year ago, when it had stabilised.
I think the only issue with it at that time was being able to set the
scheduler to a 24hr clock - that bit is till not fixed.
I shall keep it to the bitter end(July I think) then I will have another
look at Defender - or use another make.
Rgds
Antioch

 

[antioch]

Yeah, sure. Actually the original comment was intended to be a
semi-humourous jibe at the manner of Alias' response. On reflection I
should have put a at the end of it.

Jon

Under normal circumstances I would agree with you - but on this occasion,
his response was very mild/mellow - its as if he is going through 'a change
of life' or similar. I thought it was just me seeing this out of character
trait moving in.;-) ;-)
There is still room for improvement - would you not agree?
I think we had better stop talking about him behind his back.
He don't take too kindly to compliments ;-)
Antioch
P.S.
OT - have you got a solution yet for the poster???????????

 

[Jon]

Under normal circumstances I would agree with you - but on this occasion,
his response was very mild/mellow - its as if he is going through 'a
change of life' or similar. I thought it was just me seeing this out of
character trait moving in.;-) ;-)
There is still room for improvement - would you not agree?
I think we had better stop talking about him behind his back.
He don't take too kindly to compliments ;-)
Antioch
P.S.
OT - have you got a solution yet for the poster???????????

Yes, we seem to have forgotten the little matter of the OP. Unfortunately, I
don't know the answer to that one, sorry. Perhaps someone else does.

Jon

 

[antioch]

Yes, we seem to have forgotten the little matter of the OP. Unfortunately,
I don't know the answer to that one, sorry. Perhaps someone else does.

Jon

That's OK Jon - hope you didn't mind my jogging your memory
I seem to remember that uninstall and revert back to previous worked for
others. perhaps not everything was cleaned out.
Would suggest the poster does a bit of his own research in 'find' or Google.
Rgds
Antioch

 

[kurttrail]

As a general rule, yes I think it is a good idea. Experimentation and
trying new things is how we all learn.

Jon

Cool, then you should help all the MicroGuineaPigs out with their beta
problems.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."