Windows 7: Getting into Your Multimedia (part 1) - Configuring Windows Media Player for the First Use

Before you can get started with Windows Media Player 12, you’re going to need to configure the player for first use. Afterward, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the interface and the supported media formats.

Windows Media Player Not Always Installed Generally, Windows Media Player 12 is installed by default with Home Premium and Ultimate editions of the Windows 7 operating system that are for sale in the United States. In Europe and elsewhere, these editions of the Windows 7 operating system may not include this media player. Additionally, as Windows Media Player is a feature of the operating system that can be turned on or off, your computer may have this feature disabled, depending on who configured it. If you find that Windows Media Player is not available, you should first check Windows Features to see whether the feature is turned off by clicking Start→Control Panel→Programs→“Turn Windows features on or off.” In the Windows Features dialog box, expand the Media Features node by double-clicking it. If you the option for Windows Media Player is not selected, select it and then click OK to make the media player available. If you do not have an option for Windows Media Player, you can download and install the media player by visiting http://download.microsoft.com.

1. Configuring Windows Media Player for the First Use

With Windows Media Player 12, navigating your media library is easier than ever—if you master the subtle changes in the interface. When you first start Windows Media Player by clicking Start→All Programs→Windows Media Player, you’ll have to specify how Windows Media Player should be configured. As Figure 1 shows, you have two choices.

Figure 1. Choosing the initial settings for Windows Media Player

Recommended settings

Configures the default settings you’ll want to use most often. If you want to change the settings later, click Organize and then select options. In the Options dialog box, select the Privacy tab. You’ll have similar options as with step 2 of the Custom Settings procedure.

Custom settings

Allows you to configure the settings to use. This gives you more control over the way Windows Media Player obtains and stores media information.

You can configure Windows Media Player to use express settings by clicking “Recommended settings” and then clicking Finish. With express settings, Windows Media Player is configured as your default music and video player. Windows Media Player can download CD and DVD information from the Internet, obtain media usage rights automatically, and send anonymous usage information to Microsoft for the Customer Experience Improvement Program.

You can configure Windows Media Player to use custom settings by completing the following steps:

1. Select Custom Settings and then click Next. This displays the Select Privacy Options page shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Choosing your privacy options

1. Use the following settings to configure your privacy settings and then click Next:

   Display media information from the Internet

   Select this option to allow Windows Media Player to try to obtain media information for the CDs and DVDs that you play. With music CDs, this allows Windows Media Player to retrieve the full details about the CD, including the album cover, album title, album artist, and song titles for each track. To obtain the media information, Windows Media Player sends the CD or DVD identifier to a database operated by your default online store or a Windows Media database, such as the one at http://fai.music.metaservices.microsoft.com. The online store or Windows Media database then sends the information back to your computer, where the information is stored. If your computer is offline, Windows Media Player stores the request for media information so that it can try to obtain the media information the next time you connect your computer to the Internet.

   Update music files by retrieving media information from the Internet

   Select this option to allow Windows Media Player to update music files by retrieving media information from the Internet. Windows Media Player can automatically obtain and update missing media information for music files that are added to or stored in your library, as long as the information is available. Choosing this setting will cause Windows Media Player to modify your music files by updating their metadata (when the information is available).

   Download usage rights automatically when I play or sync a file

   Select this option to allow Windows Media Player to acquire usage rights automatically for protected content when a file requires them. Usage rights allow you to use protected Windows Media-based files in a specific way. With a play right, you have the right to play the file. With a burn right, you have the right to burn the file to an audio CD. With a sync right, you have the right to sync the file to a portable device, such as an MP3 player. You cannot play, burn, or sync protected content if you do not have a license. In some cases, you may be required to pay for the license. In other cases, you may be required to complete a form before the content provider will issue the license to you.

   Send unique Player ID to content providers

   Select this option to allow Windows Media Player to send its unique identifier to web servers. The identifier identifies the player connection to a server and does not contain any personally identifiable information about you. Web servers typically use the identifier to monitor your connection, gather statistics, and provide access to content.

   Cookies

   Click this button to configure how cookies are used on your computer. Windows Media Player uses the cookie settings in Internet Explorer to communicate with other computers when playing streaming content and to communicate with the web sites that provide content to the player. Cookies also enable content providers to provide personalized services from their web sites.
   

   I want to help make Microsoft software and services even better by sending Player usage data to Microsoft

   Select this option to send Microsoft anonymous information about the way you use Windows Media Player. Microsoft uses this information to improve future versions of Windows Media Player. Anonymous information about your hardware configuration and how you use related services is also sent to Microsoft.

   Store and display a list of recently/frequently played: (Music, Pictures, Video, Playlists)

   Select this option to allow Windows Media Player to save lists of your most recently played files. These lists are used to allow you to navigate using the Forward and Back buttons and other similar options for music, pictures, video, and playlists.

2. On the Select the Default Music and Video Player page, you can set Windows Media Player as the default music and video player and then click Next. Or, you can choose the file types that Windows Media Player will play. In this case, when you click Next, the Set Program Associations dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 3. You will then need to:

   1. Select checkboxes for file types for which Windows Media Player should be the default.

   2. Clear checkboxes for file types for which Windows Media Player should not be the default.

   3. Click Save to save your settings.

3. On the Choose an Online Store page, you can choose the online store that you want to use or elect to set up a store later. Click Finish to complete the initial setup.

Figure 3. Selecting the file extensions that should be opened in Windows Media Player