WMP on Vista64.

BoomAM

BoomAM

BoomAM

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Joined
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Hi.
As anyone ever tryed this:
http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/chris123nt/archive/2006/10/10/WMP-on-Vista-x64.aspx
WMP on Vista x64

One thing I have noticed about Vista x64 is that the default Windows Media Player is the 32 bit version. Microsoft did this for compatibility reasons with codecs and such. But some people may want to restore the 64 bit WMP in light of a x64 FFDShow being out which decodes virtually all audio/video. Thankfully there is a relatively easy way to switch the system default WMP to x64 and back to x86.

To switch to x64, open a command prompt as administrator and type:

%windir%\system32\unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:64

Alternatively to swap back to 32 bit go to a command prompt and type:

%windir%\system32\unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:32

So there you have it, a relatively easy way to swap back and forth between x86 and x64 versions of Windows Media Player in Vista x64.

NOTE: It seems that this changes the OS shortcuts but it's not changing the actual file associations, I'm looking into this now.

UPDATE: There is one more step required to complete the transition to a full x64 Media Player.

Go into the registy and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\wmplayer.exe

And set the Values as follows:

(Default) - "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe"
Path - %ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player

Include the quotes on the value for (Default).

That's it, now you have a completely x64 Media Player experience. Enjoy!
Click to expand...

Im tempted to do it if i can find some x64 codec packs, as WMPx32 isnt particularly stable on my system for some reason?
 
Ease of use. No faffing. Just install FFDshow, AC3Codec & OggFilter and it plays everything without extra software?
At least it was like that on the XP version. :(.

Now im finding that im having to use VLC for more than just obscure file formats.
 
you get a shortcut for the reg edits with iirc vista 64bit codec pack. Wouldn't bother myself, I tried it and it was still missing a few codecs I use, so back to 32bit I went :D.
 
i only ever use wmp for music only with the plug in for FLAC, everything else i play on kmplayer.
does it make any difference going to 64bit rather than 32bit ?
 
I've done it. Did it a while ago and not had any problems. I only use WMP for MP3's though. For all my video files i use VLC.
 
BoomAM said:
Hi.
As anyone ever tryed this:
http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/chris123nt/archive/2006/10/10/WMP-on-Vista-x64.aspx


Im tempted to do it if i can find some x64 codec packs, as WMPx32 isnt particularly stable on my system for some reason?
Click to expand...

I still watch the odd video or listen to some music on WMP, but only compatible stuff - for everything else I use foobar2000 and VLC. I'm gonna go for it :)

Works well. Might just be me imagining things, but WMP seems to be more snappy overall under 64-bit :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks very much for posting BoomAM. Would it be ok if I added this little tweak to this thread here? :)

I would also have to agree with Craig321, it does seem slightly snappier unless of course it's both of our imaginations. :p:)
 
Fire Wizard said:
Thanks very much for posting BoomAM. Would it be ok if I added this little tweak to this thread here? :)

I would also have to agree with Craig321, it does seem slightly snappier unless of course it's both of our imaginations. :p:)
Click to expand...
Go for it. :).


So have you two done both parts of the tweak, the run command and the reg edit?
 
Cool.
Ive just done the command+reg fix, then uninstalled all my added codecs, then installed that x64 codec pack on the page mentioned, and it all appears to work fine.
If anything, WMP seems more stable thus far! :D.
 
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