Windows Media Player

[Mad Max]

Greetings All !
Well, I've been fighting with my first Virus, first Trojan Horse and first
Home Page Hijacker. Hopefully , They are all gone, but only time will tell.
I've just noticed a new problem , my Windows Media Player is not
functioning.
Click on it in All Programs and I get a single "beep" , but no further
action.
Don't know if this has anything to do with the " bugs " I've been fighting ,
or not, so thought I'd post with the problem. Possibly I deleted something
that I shouldn't have. Just can't be sure at this point.
Am using Windows XPsp1 with all updates available up through today.
All virus protection and etc., also up to date.
I know this isn't much to work with but if anyone has any ideas or can give
me a clue about what to look for , or what info to post with , I would be
grateful.

[Sharon F]

On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:02:28 -0500, Mad Max wrote:

> Greetings All !
> Well, I've been fighting with my first Virus, first Trojan Horse and first
> Home Page Hijacker. Hopefully , They are all gone, but only time will tell.
> I've just noticed a new problem , my Windows Media Player is not
> functioning.
> Click on it in All Programs and I get a single "beep" , but no further
> action.
> Don't know if this has anything to do with the " bugs " I've been fighting ,
> or not, so thought I'd post with the problem. Possibly I deleted something
> that I shouldn't have. Just can't be sure at this point.
> Am using Windows XPsp1 with all updates available up through today.
> All virus protection and etc., also up to date.
> I know this isn't much to work with but if anyone has any ideas or can give
> me a clue about what to look for , or what info to post with , I would be
> grateful.

Viruses typically destroy legitimate files. The longer they are on the
system, the more files they can damage. Trojan horses are programs
with specific purposes. Some will replace legitimate files with altered
files of the same name. Some will also include a dropper virus that also
damage files over time. This is why it's so important to stay vigilant and
up to date against these things and to remove them as soon as possible.

After cleaning a virus from the system, it's not unheard of to find out
that there are some legitimate files that need replacing or to discover a
damaged feature or program.

Since the resulting damage in your case seems limited to Media Player, you
could try reinstalling it. Media Player 9 is the newer version of this program
and can be installed separately from the operating system.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/player.aspx

PS: If you eventually find other things wrong with your Windows setup, you
may want to consider running System File Checker (SFC.EXE) or perform a
repair install.

--
Sharon F
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User

[Mad Max]

Sharon F;
Thanks so much for your reply.
As you probably expected , by answering a question you are asked even more
questions and this is no exception. I'm sure it is apparent that I am one
dumb Okie and my computer expertise is only rivaled by my experience with
splitting an atom.
1) When downloading and reinstalling Windows Media Player, should the old
Media Player first be deleted using Add/Remove Programs ?

2) Is the way to System File Checker--- Start>Run>SFC.EXE ? And am I likely
to know what to do once I am there ?

3) Would you mind recommending a tutorial on Repair Install procedures,
just in the event I'm likely to be required to do so.

I suppose I could claim to have demensia, and probably do. However, that has
yet to be diagnosed.

Too old soon , Too late Smart.

Again , thank you .

"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:02:28 -0500, Mad Max wrote:
>
> > Greetings All !
> > Well, I've been fighting with my first Virus, first Trojan Horse and
first
> > Home Page Hijacker. Hopefully , They are all gone, but only time will
tell.
> > I've just noticed a new problem , my Windows Media Player is not
> > functioning.
> > Click on it in All Programs and I get a single "beep" , but no further
> > action.
> > Don't know if this has anything to do with the " bugs " I've been
fighting ,
> > or not, so thought I'd post with the problem. Possibly I deleted
something
> > that I shouldn't have. Just can't be sure at this point.
> > Am using Windows XPsp1 with all updates available up through today.
> > All virus protection and etc., also up to date.
> > I know this isn't much to work with but if anyone has any ideas or can
give
> > me a clue about what to look for , or what info to post with , I would
be
> > grateful.
>
> Viruses typically destroy legitimate files. The longer they are on the
> system, the more files they can damage. Trojan horses are programs
> with specific purposes. Some will replace legitimate files with altered
> files of the same name. Some will also include a dropper virus that also
> damage files over time. This is why it's so important to stay vigilant and
> up to date against these things and to remove them as soon as possible.
>
> After cleaning a virus from the system, it's not unheard of to find out
> that there are some legitimate files that need replacing or to discover a
> damaged feature or program.
>
> Since the resulting damage in your case seems limited to Media Player, you
> could try reinstalling it. Media Player 9 is the newer version of this
program
> and can be installed separately from the operating system.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/player.aspx
>
> PS: If you eventually find other things wrong with your Windows setup, you
> may want to consider running System File Checker (SFC.EXE) or perform a
> repair install.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS MVP - Windows Shell/User

[Sharon F]

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:46:06 -0500, Mad Max wrote:

> Sharon F;
> Thanks so much for your reply.
> As you probably expected , by answering a question you are asked even more
> questions and this is no exception. I'm sure it is apparent that I am one
> dumb Okie and my computer expertise is only rivaled by my experience with
> splitting an atom.
> 1) When downloading and reinstalling Windows Media Player, should the old
> Media Player first be deleted using Add/Remove Programs ?
>
> 2) Is the way to System File Checker--- Start>Run>SFC.EXE ? And am I likely
> to know what to do once I am there ?
>
> 3) Would you mind recommending a tutorial on Repair Install procedures,
> just in the event I'm likely to be required to do so.
>
> I suppose I could claim to have demensia, and probably do. However, that has
> yet to be diagnosed.
>
> Too old soon , Too late Smart.
>
> Again , thank you .
>

1) You should be able to install the downloaded MP9 over what you already
have installed. If it's the same version you had before, it should offer to
repair the installation.

2) Open a command prompt window and type SFC /? to see the list of
available command switches. The one most commonly used is SFC /scannow.

3) MVP Harry O has a nice section on his web site that covers the various
repair methods available with WinXP (including SFC):
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

--
Sharon F
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User

[Mad Max]

Thank you again Sharon F.
Think I'll leave it until morning and get a fresh start.
As always you have been more than helpful.


"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:46:06 -0500, Mad Max wrote:
>
> > Sharon F;
> > Thanks so much for your reply.
> > As you probably expected , by answering a question you are asked even
more
> > questions and this is no exception. I'm sure it is apparent that I am
one
> > dumb Okie and my computer expertise is only rivaled by my experience
with
> > splitting an atom.
> > 1) When downloading and reinstalling Windows Media Player, should the
old
> > Media Player first be deleted using Add/Remove Programs ?
> >
> > 2) Is the way to System File Checker--- Start>Run>SFC.EXE ? And am I
likely
> > to know what to do once I am there ?
> >
> > 3) Would you mind recommending a tutorial on Repair Install procedures,
> > just in the event I'm likely to be required to do so.
> >
> > I suppose I could claim to have demensia, and probably do. However, that
has
> > yet to be diagnosed.
> >
> > Too old soon , Too late Smart.
> >
> > Again , thank you .
> >
>
> 1) You should be able to install the downloaded MP9 over what you already
> have installed. If it's the same version you had before, it should offer
to
> repair the installation.
>
> 2) Open a command prompt window and type SFC /? to see the list of
> available command switches. The one most commonly used is SFC /scannow.
>
> 3) MVP Harry O has a nice section on his web site that covers the various
> repair methods available with WinXP (including SFC):
> http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS MVP - Windows Shell/User