You can use Windows Media Player (WMP version 11) to play sounds, music, and digital movies on your computer and on the Internet, or listen to radio stations from all over the world. In addition, you can play and copy CDs, rip music from CDs, create your own CDs, play DVDs or VCDs, and copy music and videos to portable devices, such as portable digital audio players and portable PCs. Using Windows Media Player requires a sound card, speakers, and an Internet connection to view the Media Guide and other online stores, look for music licenses, and listen to radio stations on the Internet.

Windows also comes with Sound Recorder, a sound recording utility program you can use to create and modify a sound. You can use the sound to indicate a Windows event, such as starting Windows or if an error has occurred. Using Sound Recorder requires a sound card, speakers, and a microphone.

In addition to Windows Media Player, you can also use Windows Media Center to play media files on your computer or on the Web. Windows Media Center (New!) is an entertainment system integrated into your computer that lets you watch live or recorded TV, play video and watch pictures, listen to music and radio using an FM tuner or the Internet, play and burn CDs or DVDs, browse online media, and play games. You can also use Windows Media Center Extenders to add entertainment devices—such as a TV, DVD player, digital camera, or Xbox 360—to your system and control each one from Windows Media Center within a networked environment.

Before you can use Windows Media Player, you need to check to make sure you have the latest version (11 or later) installed on your computer using the About Windows Media Player command on the Help menu for the current player. If it’s not, you can download and install it from the Web at www.microsoft.com/downloads. You start Windows Media Player like any other Windows program. You can use the Start menu or a button on the Quick Launch toolbar. After you start Windows Media Player, you should check for software updates on the Internet. Microsoft is continually adding features and fixing problems. You can use the Help menu in Windows Media Player to access the updates.

Working with Windows Media Player Windows allows you to play music on your computer in the background while you work. After you insert a music CD into your CD-ROM drive and the music starts to play, you can minimize Windows Media Player and continue to work with other programs on your computer. If you are connected to the Internet when you play a music CD, Windows Media Player tries to locate information about the CD from the Internet, such as the name of the artist and the songs on the album. If the information is not available, the track number of each song displays instead.

Play a Music CD

1. Insert a music CD into your CD-ROM drive.

2. If the Audio dialog box appears, click Play audio CD (using Windows Media Player).

   

   The Windows Media Player window appears, and the CD starts to play on the Now Playing tab.

3. To pause the music, click the Pause button.

4. To stop the music, click the Stop button.

5. To play a specific song, double-click the song in the list.

6. To play the previous or next song, click the Previous or Next button.

7. Click the Minimize button to continue to listen while you work, or click the Close button to exit.

Did You Know?

You can play CD songs in random order. Click the Turn Shuffle On button.

You can stop a song from playing. Right-click the song in the list, and then click Remove from list.

You can play a CD continuously. Click the Play menu, and then click Repeat.

If you have a DVD drive and decoder hardware or software on your computer, you can play DVD movies with Windows Media Player. If you don’t have a decoder, you can purchase one from a third party manufacturer. If you only have a CD player, you can play VCD movies. A VCD is similar to a DVD, yet the video quality is not as high. When you play a DVD or VCD movie, a list of titles appear with a section of content from the movie. You can use the titles to browse through the contents of the DVD or VCD.

Play a DVD or VCD Movie

1. Insert a DVD into your DVD drive or a VCD into your CD drive.

2. If the Audio dialog box appears, click the option to play the DVD or VCD, and then click OK.

   The Windows Media Player window appears, and the DVD or VCD starts to play.

3. To expand the contents list of the DVD or VCD click the plus sign (+).

4. To pause the movie, click the Pause button.

5. To stop the movie, click the Stop button.

6. To play a specific title, double-click it in the list.

7. To play the previous or next section of the movie, click the Previous or Next button.

8. Click the Close button to exit.

Did You Know?

You can display captions and subtitles for a DVD. Click the Play menu, point to Lyrics, Captions, and Subtitles, and then click Off (toggles on and off) or Default to select the language you want to use.

Working with Windows Media Player Windows comes with master volume controls that allow you to change the volume of all devices and applications on the computer at once. You can increase or decrease the volume, or you can mute (turn off) the sound on your computer. The volume control is available by default on the notification area on the taskbar. The Volume icon makes it easy to increase or decrease the volume or mute the sound on your computer. In addition to changing the master volume on your computer, you can also adjust the volume of specific devices, such as a CD or DVD player, without affecting the volume of other devices.

Set Volume Levels for Specific Devices

1. Click the Volume icon in the notification area on the taskbar.

2. Click the Mixer link.

3. Drag the Speakers slider to adjust the settings for the sound level you want.

   The volume for the speakers is the main volume control.

4. Drag the other sliders to adjust the settings for the applications you want.

   The volume for the speakers is the main volume control.

5. When you’re done, click the Close button.

Did You Know?

You can set the recording volume. Right-click the Volume icon, click Recording Devices, click a device, click Properties, click the Levels tab, adjust the volume level, and then click OK twice.

You can set the playback volume for left and right speakers. Right-click the Volume icon, click Playback Devices, click a device, click Properties, click the Levels tab, adjust the volume level, click Balance, adjust L and R levels, click OK, and then click OK twice.

The Windows Media Player comes with a built-in Media Guide that is updated daily with the latest music, movies, and entertainment news from the Internet as well as access to your favorite online media stores, such as URGE, Napster, Emusic, Mixplay, Getmusic, and Satellite Radio, where you can download music and more. WMP provides special integration with URGE, an online music service provided by MTV networks. The Media Guide is a web page that provides links to a variety of media topics ranging from music to sports. Selecting a link opens a web page with more information about the topic, or plays music or movies. Links to media files, such as music or movies, appear with different speeds, which indicate the speed at which the file downloads and plays on your Internet connection.

Use the Media Guide and Online Stores

1. Start Windows Media Player and connect to the Internet, if necessary.

2. Click the URGE button to display the URGE online store, or click the button arrow below it, and then click Media Guide or Browse all Online Stores.

   If necessary, follow the on-screen instructions to accept the license agreement and install any updates.

3. Click the links you want on the web page.

4. When you’re done, click the Close button.

Did You Know?

You can Automatically hide menus. To turn on/off Autohide menus, click the View menu, point to Menu Bar Options, and then click Autohide Menu Bar. Point to the menu bar location to show the menu and point away to hide it.

You can use Windows Media Player to listen to radio stations around the world that broadcast on the Internet. When you listen to a radio station on the Internet, the audio continuously streams to your computer. The audio is partially downloaded and stored in a buffer, a temporary storage area, before it begins to play. As more audio streams, Windows Media Player continues to buffer it, which minimizes the interruptions to the radio broadcast. When you play a radio station, a web page for the radio station is displayed in your web browser behind Windows Media Player. While you listen to a radio station, you can browse the web or work in other programs.

Listen to the Radio on the Internet

1. Start Windows Media Player and connect to the Internet, if necessary.

2. Click the arrow below the Online Stores tab, and then click the Media Guide.

3. Click the link for Internet Radio.

4. Click the name of the radio station you want to play.

5. Click Play.

   Trouble?

   If Play is not available, click Visit Website, and then play the radio station.

6. To stop playing the radio station, click the Stop button.

7. To add the station to your My Stations list, click Add to My Stations.

8. When you’re done, click the Close button.

Playing Media Over the Web or Network

When you play music from the Internet, Windows Media Player uses streaming, which is a method of delivering audio and video files across a network or the Internet without downloading an entire file before it plays. All streaming media files buffer before playing. Buffering is the process of sending a certain amount of information to the computer before the content actually plays. Windows Media Player monitors network conditions and makes adjustments to ensure the best reception and playback. If the information in the buffer runs out, you will notice a break in the playback. When a file finishes playing, it is not stored on your computer.

With Windows Media Player, you can play sound and video files on your computer. You can find and download sound and video files from the Internet or copy media files from a CD or DVD. The Library makes it easy to organize your media. You can quickly search for media by name or you can browse through the Library and select the media file that you want to play. When you start Windows Media Player for the first time or play a song, the Player automatically searches certain folders on your computer for media files and organize them by category, such as Artist, Album, Genre, Rated Songs, or Year Released.

Browse Media Files

1. Click the Library tab.

2. Click the Select a Category button on the address bar, and then select a category, such as Music, Pictures, Video, Recorded TV, or Other Media.

3. Select a view of that category in the Navigation pane.

4. To change the view:

   1. View More. Click the list arrow next to a button on the address bar, and then select a category.

   2. View Less. Click a button on the address bar to the left.

Change the Folders Monitored by the Player

1. Click the Library tab.

2. To add a currently playing track or playlist to the Library, play it now.

3. Click the arrow below the Library tab, and then click Add to Library.

4. Select the My personal folders or My folders and those of others that I can access option to select the folders to monitor.

5. Click OK.

Play Media Files from the Library

1. Click the Library tab.

2. Click an arrow next to the category you want to view.

3. Click a category.

4. Double-click the media file to play it.

Did You Know?

You can automatically add media files to the Library when played. Click the arrow below the Now Playing tab, click More Options, select the Add media files to library when played check box, and then click OK.

You can delete a file from the library. Click the Library tab, right-click the file you want to remove, click Delete, click the Delete from library only or Delete from library and my computer option, and then click OK.

Instead of playing digital media files, such as music tracks, video clips, or DVD segments, one at a time or in sequential order from a CD or DVD, you can use Windows Media Player to create a playlist. A playlist is a customized list or sequence of digital media that you want to listen to or watch. A playlist allows you to group together media files and specify the order in which you want to play back the media. You can mix and match the media files on your computer, a network, a CD, or the Internet, creating a personal juke box. You can create an easy access general playlist called Now Playing List, create one with a specify name, or specify criteria to create an Auto Playlist.

Create a Now Playing List

1. Click the Library tab.

2. Right-click the the media files, point to Add to, and then click Now Playing.

3. Click the Now Playing tab.

4. To clear the Now Playing List, click the Clear List pane button.

5. To save the list, click the Now Playing button, click Save Playing List As, type a name, specify a location, and then click Save.

Create a Playlist

1. Click the Library tab.

2. Click the arrow below the Library tab, and then click Create Playlist.

3. Display the media files you want to add to the playlist, and then drag them to the playlist.

4. Type a name for the playlist, and the press Enter.

5. Click Save Playlist to save the playlist in the Playlists folder.

   1. To save a playlist in a another format, click the List button, and then click Save Playlist As.

Create an Auto Playlist

1. Click the Library tab.

2. Click the arrow below the Library tab, and then click Create Auto Playlist.

3. Type a name for the Auto Playlist.

4. Select the criteria options you want.

5. Click OK.

Add Media Files from Your Hard Disk to a Playlist

1. Open the folder window that contains the files or folders you want to add to a playlist.

2. Select the file(s) or folder(s) you want to include in the playlist.

3. Right-click the selection, and then click Add to ‘playlist name’.

Did You Know?

You can quickly play a playlist. Click th Library tab, and then double-click the playlist in the Navigation pane you want to play.

You can edit playlist. Click the Library tab, right-click the playlist you want to edit, click Edit in Pane, make your changes, and then click Save Playlist.

Working with Windows Media Player Windows Media Player (WPM) allows you to rip, or copy, one music track or an entire album from a music CD to your computer. When you rip music from a CD or download music from the Web to your computer, Windows copies music by the same artist into one folder in the Music folder and creates subfolders for each album. Windows gives you several ways to play the music on your computer.

Rip Tracks from a Music CD

1. Insert your music CD into the CD-ROM drive.

2. If the Autoplay dialog box appears, click Rip music from CD (using Windows Media Player) to burn the entire CD, or click Play audio CD (using Windows Media Player) to burn individual tracks.

   

   The WMP window opens, and plays on the Now Playing tab.

3. Click the Rip tab.

4. Clear the check boxes next to the tracks you don’t want to copy.

5. Click Start Rip (toggles with Stop Rip).

   The music is copied to the Music folder unless you specify a different location.

6. To stop the copy at any time, click Stop Rip.

Did You Know?

You can use error correction during a copy. Click the Tools menu, click Options, click the Devices tab, select the CD-ROM drive, click Properties, click Digital, select the Use error correction check box, and then click OK.

You can change the folder where you copy media files. Click the Tools menu, click Options, click the Rip Music tab, click Change, select or create a new folder, and then click OK.

Select Rip Music Settings

1. Click the arrow below the Rip tab, and then click More Options.

2. To change the location where Windows Media Player stores ripped music, click Change, select a new folder location, and then click OK.

3. Select the format and copy setting you want:

   • Windows Media Audio. Most common WMA format with widest range of quality and file size.

   • Windows Media Audio (variable bit rate). High quality with variable file size.

   • Windows Media Audio Lossless. Quality closest to the original with high file size.

   • MP3. Common and flexible format.

4. Drag the slider to adjust audio quality.

5. Click OK.

Did You Know?

You can turn off music copy protection. Click the Tools menu, click Options, click the Rip Music tab, and then clear the Copy Protect Music check box, and then click OK.

Getting a License to Copy Music

Most CD music is secured with a license to prevent illegal distribution. A license is a legal agreement that specifies whether the license expires or how you can use the file. The terms of the license are entirely dependent upon the person or company that provided the file. Windows Media Player cannot play licensed files without a license. When you copy music from a CD with the Acquire Licenses Automatically option selected, Windows Media Player searches the Internet for the license and copies it to your computer. If the license is not available, you can still acquire a license by copying the music and selecting the Protect Content check box on the Rip Music tab in the Options dialog box. As you copy the music, the licenses are issued. The license allows you to copy the music to your hard disk, a portable device, or a CD. If you want to view the license information for a file, right-click the file, click Properties, and then click the License Information tab. If you copy music without a license, you could be violating the music’s copyright. You can avoid license problems by backing them up. Click the Tools menu, click License Management, click Browse, select a folder, click OK, and then click Backup Now.

Windows Media Player makes it easy to burn (copy) music to a CD using a CD burner or copy the music and video you want to a portable device and keep it in sync. If you have a Portable Digital Media Player, such as an ipod or zune, you can download digital media from an online store and play it on the go. Windows Media Player verifies that there is enough space for the selected files on the portable device and then starts the copying process. As the music copies, the amount of used and free space on the portable device is displayed at the bottom of the Music On Device pane. You can synchronize music, video, and picture files to the device so you can bring your whole library with you. You can choose to automatically or manually sync your digital media between WMP and your device, known as a partnership. Set up Auto Synch once, and every time you connect your device to your computer, WMP updates the digital media between them, so devices that allow you to rate your music can automatically send them back to WMP.

Copy Music to a CD

1. Click the Burn tab, click the arrow below the Burn tab, and then click the type of disc you want to burn: audio CD or data CD or DVD.

2. Insert a blank CD or DVD in your CD recorder.

   If the Autoplay dialog box appears, click Burn an audio CD.

   If you need to erase your disc, right-click the drive in the Navigation pane, and then click Erase disc.

3. If you need to clear the List pane, click the Clear List pane button.

   

4. Drag the files you want to burn from the Details pane to the List pane.

5. To remove a file from the list, right-click the file, and then click Remove from List.

6. Drag the files in the list to arrange them in the order you want.

7. Click the Start Burn button.

Windows Media Player allows you to add functionality to the player using plug-ins. Plug-ins add or enhance the media experience with audio and video effects, new rendering types, and visualizations. Before you can use a plug-in, you need to download it from the Web and add it to the Media Player. You can find lots of Media Player plug-ins at www.wmplugins.com. Before you download a plug-in, read the online information about the plug-in for additional instructions.

Visualizations are plug-ins that display geometric shapes and color on the Now Playing tab when you play music. Visualizations are grouped together into collections. You can add and remove visualizations or download additional collections from the Web. You can also display special enhancement controls to change video settings, play speed, or audio levels with a graphics equalizer, choose color effects, and send a media link in an e-mail.

Select Enhancements

1. Click the Now Playing tab.

2. Click the arrow below the Now Playing tab, and then point to Enhancements.

3. Click the enhancement you want to display.

4. Adjust the enhancement controls.

5. When you’re done, click the Close button in the pane.

Windows Media Player gives you the freedom of expression to change the look, known as the skin, of the Media Player. Windows Media Player includes several skins from which you can select the one you like the best. When you select a skin, Windows Media Player changes from full mode to skin mode. You can use skins only when Media Player is in skin mode. Skin mode displays a smaller player, which provides more room on the screen for other programs.

You can view and play music files with relative ease in the Music folder. The Music folder is a folder specifically designated to play and manage music files. When you copy music files from a CD or download them from the Internet, the files are copied to the Music folder by default unless you specify a different location. The Music folder contains links to specialized music tasks that can help you play the music you store on your computer. In the Music folder, you can click Play All or Play on the toolbar or double-click an individual music file to open and play the music in Windows Media Player. If you click Play All in the Music folder, Windows Media Player opens and plays all the music in your Music folder and subfolder in random order. If you click Play All in a subfolder within your Music folder, Windows Media Player opens and plays all the music in the folder in consecutive order.

View and Play Music Files

1. Click the Start button, and then click Music.

2. Select the music files or folder you want to play.

3. Click Play or Play all.

Using Sound Recorder and a microphone, you can record your own sound files. Sound Recorder creates Windows Media Audio files with the .wma file extension. If you are using Windows Vista Home Basic or Business, Sounder Recorder saves files in the .wav format instead of .wma. Sound Recorder doesn’t play sounds; you can play your recording in a digital media player, such as Windows Media Player. Before you can use Sound Recorder, you need to have a sound card, speakers, and a microphone installed on your computer.

WINV-6.3.3

Besides customizing the desktop appearance of Windows, you can also add sound effects to common Windows commands and functions, such as starting and exiting Windows, printing complete, opening and closing folders, or emptying the Recycle Bin. You can select a sound scheme (a collection of sounds associated with events), or you can mix and match sound files to create your own sound scheme for your computer. You need to use Wave files with the .wav file extension.

Create and Select a Sound Scheme

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then double-click the Sound icon in Classic view.

2. Click the Sounds tab.

3. Click an event to which you want to associate a sound.

4. Click the Sounds list arrow, and then select a sound, or click Browse and locate the sound file you want to use.

5. Click the Test button to preview the sound.

6. Click Save As, type a name for the sound scheme, and then click OK.

7. To select a sound scheme, click the Sound Scheme list arrow, and then select a scheme.

8. Click OK.

Did You Know?

You can add sounds to the list. If you put WAV files in the Media folder, located in the Windows folder, the sound files appear in the Sounds list.

You can remove a sound associated with an event. On the Sounds tab, click an event, click the Sounds list arrow, and then click (None).

Windows Media Center (New!) is an entertainment system integrated into your computer that lets you watch live or recorded TV, play video and watch pictures, listen to music and radio using an FM tuner or the Internet, play and burn CDs or DVDs, browse online media, and play games. Because Windows Media Center is designed to be used as an entertainment system, the display and navigation are unlike any other Windows program. When you start Windows Media Center, the program uses the entire screen and doesn’t use menus or toolbars. You navigate by using the up and down arrows to specify a main category, and then left and right arrows to specify a subcategory. Play, Record, and other VCR/DVD type commands are available in the bottom right corner when you point to them. You can use your mouse or a remote control to navigate the system. Before you can play FM radio or watch TV, you need additional hardware installed on your computer, an FM tuner and a TV tuner card along with a remote control. You can also connect and use a digital TV and networked DVD player (NewSP1).

Start, Navigate, and Exit Windows Media Center

1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, and then click Window Media Center.

2. Point to the large icon in the middle of the start screen, and then move the pointer up or down to display an arrow.

3. Point to or click the up or down arrow to scroll the list of categories: Tasks, Online Media, Pictures + Videos, Music, TV + Movies.

4. When the category you want appears in the middle, point to it to display left and right arrows, if available for the category.

5. Point to or click the left or right arrow to display the subcategory you want, and then click the icon.

6. To get back to the main screen, point to the upper-left corner, and then click the Back button.

7. To exit, point to the upper-right corner, and then click the Close button.

You can set up and customize Windows Media Center (New!) by selecting Tasks on the start screen, and then selecting Settings. In the Settings area, you can set general options for Windows Media Center and specific options for each of the media types, including TV, Pictures, Music, and DVD. You can also set options for extenders and libraries. A Windows Media Center Extender is a device you connect to your computer, such as a TV, DVD player, digital camera, or Xbox 360, that you want to control from Windows Media Center within a networked environment. Before you get started with Windows Media Center, it’s a good idea to set general options, which include startup and window behavior, visual and sound effects, program library options, Windows Media Center set up, parental controls, automatic download options, optimization, and privacy.

Change Windows Media Center Settings

1. On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to Tasks.

2. Display and click settings.

3. Click the type of settings you want to change: General, TV, Pictures, Music, DVD, Extender, or Library Setup.

4. Click the setting type you want to change.

   

5. Specify the options you want. Use the up and down arrow to display option screens.

6. When you’re done, click Save or Cancel.

7. Click the Back button to navigate back to the start screen.

Windows Media Center (New!) uses all the media files you already have on your computer and integrates it into an entertainment system. The same video and music files you use with Windows Media Player are available for use with Windows Media Center. For example, when you rip music to your computer, you can play it using Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center. You can choose either one, the preference is yours. As you navigate to a media area, you can select options to find the media you want, and then use the media specific commands and controls to view, play, or change the media files.

Find and View Windows Media Center Files

1. On the Windows Media Center start screen, scroll to to a media type: Pictures + Videos, Music, or TV + Movies.

2. Display and click the media type library you want, such as video library, music library, or picture library.

   1. If you know the library and want to play all the media, click play all.

   

3. Navigate to one of the sort criteria and find the file you want to view. You can sort by folders or date taken.

4. Use the available commands for the media you want to view, play or change.

5. Use the controls on the lower-right to pause, play, stop, and navigate through the media.

6. Click the Back button to navigate back to the start screen.

   1. You can select Now Playing or Now Playing + Queue on the start screen to quickly access and play items in the queue, which is a custom list of all the media you want to play.