How to Fix Audio and Video Problems in Windows Media Player

It's often difficult to find the cause of audio and video problems in Windows Media Player. Trying to fix the problem by changing your Windows Media Player settings often fails to solve the problem. Windows Media Player can't be uninstalled under Windows XP, Vista or 7. However, there are other basic troubleshooting methods you can use to fix audio and video problems in Windows Media Player.

Use System Restore

System Restore is a utility in Windows XP, Vista and 7 that can restore your computer's settings to a previous date. If you know when you started having problems in Windows Media Player, you can restore your system to a time just prior to when the symptoms occurred.

To run System Restore in Windows XP, click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" and "System Restore." Click "Restore my computer to an earlier time." Click "Next." Choose a restore point that is prior to the time that Windows Media Player began having problems.

To run System Restore in Windows Vista or 7, click the "Start" button and type "System Restore" in the search box. Choose "System Restore" from the "Programs" list. Select the recommended restore point only if the date is before Windows Media Player began having audio and video problems. If it is later, click "Choose a different restore point" and click "Next" and choose an appropriate restore point.

Roll Back Windows Media Player in Windows XP

If you have installed a later version of Windows Media Player than came with your Windows XP computer, you can roll it back to the previous version. Click "Start," "Control Panel" and "Add or Remove Programs." Scroll down the list until you find "Windows Media Player." Click "Change/Remove." Follow the prompts that follow to complete the process of rolling Windows Media Player back to its previous version. Restart your computer. Return to "Add or Remove Programs" in "Control Panel," then click "Change/Remove" to uninstall "Windows Media Format 11 Runtime." Restart your computer. Go back to "Add or Remove Programs" again and remove "Microsoft User-Mode Driver Framework Feature Pack 1.0." After you restart your computer one last time, you may reinstall the newer version of Windows Media Player, if you like.

Update Audio and Video Drivers

You can usually find updated drivers for your audio and video devices on the device manufacturers' websites. Also check Windows Update or your computer manufacturer's website for the updates if your audio or video device came with your computer. If you've upgraded your audio or video device, you will also have to check the device manufacturer's website for the updates.

Obtain Codecs

In some cases, audio and video problems can occur when you install a new device for which Windows Media Player lacks the proper codec. You will receive an error message in Windows Media Player when this happens. This problem is common when you install a DVD drive on a computer that didn't have one before. Since Windows Media Player doesn't come with a DVD codec, and neither did the computer, the drive won't work to play DVDs. Check the Windows website or Download.com to download the proper codec packs.

If you continue to have problems playing audio and video files in Windows Media Player, visit the Windows Media Player FAQ or the Microsoft Support site for additional help.

For more information, read Best Freeware for Windows Media Player.